34 replies to this topic

[Rogue Warrior]

So now we are back to square one. *idea pops into head* glow in the dark darts and playing in a dark, badly lit room. Because then you would have teenagers imitating their favorite action movie by dodging glowing projectiles.

Edited by Rogue Warrior, 01 September 2008 - 09:11 AM.

[analogkid]

I can see what your saying, its not a bad idea, but I am not going to pay someone to use a Nerf facility, and I think that many others here would echo that. The idea has potential, but maybe not inside the NIC.

[Rogue Warrior]

I think that the train of thought for this was people who don't even know that the NIC exists.

[CrazyIvan VI]

I'm responding from some posts in the Lancer thread.

Some people were mentioning the fact of having blasters that are already powerful before modification, and then to have 'Dart Tag' centers where you would go and Nerf.

NO.

Why would we want powerful guns out of the box? That's one of the joys of Nerfing, is building your gun how YOU want it and doing what is in your skill level to it.

And why would we need a Dart Tag Center to go play at? We can play in fields, buildings, etc. Many building owners don't mind, because there is very little risk to them of something happening to their building. Where as with airsoft and paintball, you can ruin a room with them. That is why there is a dedicated center.

If Nerf went into dedicated centers, in the end, you wouldn't be able to use homemade darts, they would try and turn a profit on only letting you use their darts, and not being able to pick darts up off the ground. I could see that happening, because it's how people would try and turn a profit.

Just my 2 cents.

[rork]

Crazy Ivan's right;all this talk about a "dart tag center" is just solving a non-existent problem. ~Rork

[CaptainSlug]

There is nothing that is broken and nothing that really needs fixing or improving. The only positive thing that could happen would be more participation in what already exists.

First, thank you all for your enlightening posts. I'm not here as a carpetbagger, trying to co-op your maverick hobby. Think of this as creative speculative fiction on the future of nerf war.

You don't really understand what a Nerf War is now, which is why your theory as presented simply doesn't make any sense to those of us that have. This hobby would not derive any actual benefit from the "speculative fiction" you are presenting.

Also, BustaNinja is right, I haven't attended a Nerf War, yet. But. I will as soon as I can. One of the thing that got me thinking of dart tag centers was that a Nerf War game was canceled at a local college, the Rochester Institute of Technology, over the usual "PC" concerns. So, games in some public places can be a problem.

A college or institute is not a public place and therefore has different rules. Finding venues for Nerf wars is not very difficult. It just takes some work prior to the event to reassure the relevant authorities.

But, in respect, to another BustaNinja's comment, commercializing has already started with the selling of modded and custom painted nerf guns on from guys on this forum on Ebay. Not to mention all the sale of homemade dart. So, the Pandora's Box of "nerf for profit" has already been opened.

No sorry. There is no considerably amount of profit to be had from selling modified/customized/homemade Nerf anything because the profit margins are so extremely thin.
Those that do sell items mostly do so to provide an item or service that is unobtainable by any other means (foam and PETG for example). I can assure you there is no way to make a living or even a noticeable supplementary income from Nerf unless you for some reason did not have to pay more than 10% market price for the supplies involved.

Edited by CaptainSlug, 01 September 2008 - 07:09 PM.

[DflyDen]

There is nothing that is broken and nothing that really needs fixing or improving. The only positive thing that could happen would be more participation in what already exists.

First, thank you all for your enlightening posts. I'm not here as a carpetbagger, trying to co-op your maverick hobby. Think of this as creative speculative fiction on the future of nerf war.

You don't really understand what a Nerf War is now, which is why your theory as presented simply doesn't make any sense to those of us that have. This hobby would not derive any actual benefit from the "speculative fiction" you are presenting.

Also, BustaNinja is right, I haven't attended a Nerf War, yet. But. I will as soon as I can. One of the thing that got me thinking of dart tag centers was that a Nerf War game was canceled at a local college, the Rochester Institute of Technology, over the usual "PC" concerns. So, games in some public places can be a problem.

A college or institute is not a public place and therefore has different rules. Finding venues for Nerf wars is not very difficult. It just takes some work prior to the event to reassure the relevant authorities.

But, in respect, to another BustaNinja's comment, commercializing has already started with the selling of modded and custom painted nerf guns on from guys on this forum on Ebay. Not to mention all the sale of homemade dart. So, the Pandora's Box of "nerf for profit" has already been opened.

No sorry. There is no considerably amount of profit to be had from selling modified/customized/homemade Nerf anything because the profit margins are so extremely thin.
Those that do sell items mostly do so to provide an item or service that is unobtainable by any other means (foam and PETG for example). I can assure you there is no way to make a living or even a noticeable supplementary income from Nerf unless you for some reason did not have to pay more than 10% market price for the supplies involved.

Obviously, you and I see, and do, things in life differently. It's sound as if you have set yourself up to be the Nerf War Gatekeeper. Good luck. I respect your opinions on the subject of Nerf Wars, which your rightfully entitled to, but saying "There is nothing that is broken and nothing that really needs fixing or improving..." is short sighted. There is always room to improve something. You mod nerf guns because your not satisfied with them out of the box. You make homemade darts because the stock one don't fit the needs of your modded guns. You wouldn't do these things unless you thought that was a problem to be fixed. So, in my opinion, you see a need for improvement, also. The bottom line is you do it for fun and your own enjoyment. I hope that continues for you.

My ideas may not pave the way to Nerf War heaven, but voicing those ideas in a open forum will always be a good option. I'll choose to continue my exploration of new ideas concerning nerf, and you can have the pleasure of shooting them full of holes, or just ignore them. Perhaps, others (after they stop laughing or cursing at me), will give it some thought and come up better, more practical solutions to this problem that doesn't need fixing. So, I'll just agree, to disagree with you..

Peace.

[CaptainSlug]

I respect your opinions on the subject of Nerf Wars, which your rightfully entitled to, but saying "There is nothing that is broken and nothing that really needs fixing or improving..." is short sighted. There is always room to improve something.

All that can be improved is making it easier for wars to be organized efficiently. That is something Langley is putting a great deal of work into at the moment.
In my opinion there's nothing about the wars themselves that needs improving. I don't have as much war experience as those that have been a part of this hobby for 4 or more years, but I have attended 15 wars in the past 2 years.
I don't consider anything you have suggested to in any way be and "improvement" upon what exists now. Partly because most of them would involve spending more money, and partly because they are counterintuitive to the nature of the hobby.

I am no gatekeeper or protectorate. I'm simply trying to point out that your view of the hobby and your measure of its level of "success" doesn't seem to match up with reality.

To me, furthering the "success" of the hobby as a whole depends on increased participation, reduced levels of required investment (cheaper, simpler, and more durable manufactured or homemade blasters), and an increasingly informed and capable user base.
Any broad commercialization of the hobby itself would accomplish the opposite and limit the knowledge base and expertise to a select few. And I do not want to see that happen.

Edited by CaptainSlug, 02 September 2008 - 11:49 AM.

[VACC]

I think the problem here is simple. It's not that making Nerf into a Lazertag analogue (which, for reallity's sake, you have to admit has not been sucessful in the united states for more than a decade) is a horrible idea, it's that you're pitching it to the wrong demographic. This is a community BUILT on organizing and participating in free nerf wars accross the country and internationally. We HAVE a means of playing our sport on our terms with our friends for no cost aside from the toys we already own. We don't need the family fun centers.

Now, none of this is to say that the business model you're proposing isn't feasible. From the perspective of someone who is not already involved with the sport, it could be very intriguing. It's just not something I have, in nearly 15 years of organising and participating in nerf wars, found myself missing.

VACC

[DflyDen]

I think the problem here is simple. It's not that making Nerf into a Lazertag analogue (which, for reallity's sake, you have to admit has not been sucessful in the united states for more than a decade) is a horrible idea, it's that you're pitching it to the wrong demographic. This is a community BUILT on organizing and participating in free nerf wars accross the country and internationally. We HAVE a means of playing our sport on our terms with our friends for no cost aside from the toys we already own. We don't need the family fun centers.

Now, none of this is to say that the business model you're proposing isn't feasible. From the perspective of someone who is not already involved with the sport, it could be very intriguing. It's just not something I have, in nearly 15 years of organising and participating in nerf wars, found myself missing.

VACC

Thank for you thoughtful reply. It added greatly to my understanding of the community here at Nerf Haven, in a very positive way. I'll do my best to learn more about the this particular way of Nerf Wars, and players. Again, one of the things that attracted I to the forum was the creativity shown in the modding and paint jobs (that's from my artist background, I'm a sucker for pretty pictures). I like the DIY attitude. Apply that in all area of you lifes and the world will be a better place (sorry... that's the adult dad side, rearing it's ugly head).

I wasn't attempting to say the laser tag center model would be better, just an alternative for some players. I respect the fact this may be the "wrong demographic" for this idea, as it stands, but the toughest, most honest, critics are the ones who care the most. Everyone has shown that in spades, including CaptainSlug, BustaNinja and others, who have my thanks. . I'd still like to knock around the idea a bit, from time to time, present them here for the the groups honest views. Really, it's just all talk, a fun debate.

In the meantime, as soon as I can figure out how to upload a pic, I'll add my first mod. I add Mag-Strike guts to a FireFly. It's still a work in progress, but I'll post the mod section soon.

Thanks, again.