Editing Nerf (section)

==History==
[[File:nerflogo-original.png|thumb|right|Original Nerf logo (1969–1990)]]

[[Parker Brothers]] originally developed Nerf, beginning with a {{convert|4|inch|mm|adj=on}} polyurethane foam ball. In 1969, [[Reyn Guyer]], a Minnesota-based games inventor, and [[Minnesota Vikings]] kicker [[Fred Cox]] came to the company with a football game that was safe for indoor play, and after studying it carefully, Parker Brothers decided to eliminate everything but the foam ball.<ref name=Guyter2016>{{cite web|url= https://www.reynguyer.com/nerf.html |title=Nerf Story |publisher=Reyn Guyer |date=2016-01-03 |access-date=2024-10-05}}</ref> The inventors' in-house name for the ball was the "[[falsie]]-ball," referencing the sculpted [[padding]] for [[bra]]s used to create the appearance of larger [[breast]]s.<ref name=Guyter2016/> Parker Brothers instead chose the name "Nerf," taken from [[Nerf bar]]s, the protective tubing used to avoid minor collisions during [[off-roading]].<ref name=Guyter2016/>

In 1970, the Nerf ball was introduced as the "world's first official indoor ball." Marketing slogans promised that one can "Throw it indoors; you can't damage lamps or break windows. You can't hurt babies or old people."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nerfz.com|title=Best Nerf Gun Reviews for 2018|work=Nerfz|access-date=2015-10-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151028235423/http://nerfz.com/|archive-date=2015-10-28|url-status=live}}</ref> Some of the first TV commercials for the balls were joint promotions with [[General Foods]]' [[Kool-Aid]] drink mix, with [[Micky Dolenz]], [[Davy Jones (musician)|Davy Jones]] and [[Michael Nesmith]] of the [[The Monkees|Monkees]] playing with the balls on a living room soundstage (Kool-Aid sponsored the 1969–70 Saturday morning reruns of the [[The Monkees (TV series)|Monkees' 1966–67 TV series]]). The ball filled a strong consumer need and by the year's end, more than four million Nerf balls had been sold.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.history.com/exhibits/toys/gijoe.html |title=The History of Toys |publisher=History.com |date=2008-01-04 |access-date=2009-11-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028075851/http://www.history.com/exhibits/toys/gijoe.html |archive-date=October 28, 2007 }}</ref> The {{convert|4|in|adj=on}} ball was followed by a large version called the "Super Nerf Ball". Shortly after, in 1972, a basketball game called "Nerfoop" and the Nerf football (developed by longtime NFL kicker [[Fred Cox]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Ex-Vikings kicker Fred Cox, inventor of Nerf football, dies at 80 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28132640/ex-vikings-kicker-fred-cox-inventor-nerf-football-dies-80 |work=ESPN.com |date=November 21, 2019 |access-date=November 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191122165657/https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28132640/ex-vikings-kicker-fred-cox-inventor-nerf-football-dies-80 |archive-date=November 22, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Smyde, Joe |title=Fred Cox not kicking; Nerf football sales keeping him for life |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39425583/the_pittsburgh_press/ |newspaper=[[The Pittsburgh Press]] |date=October 4, 1989 |access-date=November 22, 2019}}</ref>) joined the family, with the latter quickly becoming Nerf's most popular ball.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gizmodo.com/5621784/nerfs-eureka-moment|title=Who Needs an Indoor Ball? YOU Do, Apparently|work=GIZMODO|date=August 25, 2010 |access-date=2010-09-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100827183431/http://gizmodo.com/5621784/nerfs-eureka-moment|archive-date=2010-08-27|url-status=live}}</ref>

The company continued to add to the Nerf line until they handed control to [[Kenner Products]], a sister company.  In 1987, Kenner was bought by the [[Tonka]] Corporation, which itself was purchased by [[Hasbro]] in 1991,<ref name=hasbrohist>{{cite web|url=http://www.hasbro.com/default.cfm?page=ci_history_pb |title=The story of Parker Brothers |publisher=Hasbro.com |access-date=2009-11-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030030956/http://www.hasbro.com/default.cfm?page=ci_history_pb |archive-date=October 30, 2008 }}</ref> which then became the owner of Nerf.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.hasbro.com/corporate-2/images/2013_HasbroHistory.pdf|title = The history of Hasbro, Inc|publisher = Hasbro.com|access-date = 2009-11-07|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131215002710/http://www.hasbro.com/corporate-2/images/2013_HasbroHistory.pdf|archive-date = 2013-12-15|url-status = live}}</ref> Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, the Nerf brand served under the subsidiaries OddzOn and [[Larami]] before Hasbro took full control of the brand.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nerfcenter.com/news/01-19-2001a.htm|title=NC News - Larami Takes the Helm|publisher=Nerfcenter.com|access-date=2011-09-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402214128/http://nerfcenter.com/news/01-19-2001a.htm|archive-date=2012-04-02|url-status=live}}</ref>

Nerf released the first [[foam dart blaster]] in 1992. Over the years, Nerf has continued to expand the line, adding new looks to existing products, with later lines of Nerf products ranging from sport balls and foam dart blasters to video games and accessories.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hasbro.com/nerf|title=NERF - Welcome to Hasbro's Official NERF site|publisher=[[Hasbro]]|date=2008-07-15|access-date=2009-11-07|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081113123305/http://www.hasbro.com/nerf/|archive-date=2008-11-13}}</ref>

In February 2013, Hasbro announced the release of its "Rebelle" line, a sub-line aimed at girls, with its first products released in fall of 2013.<ref name="EW">{{cite magazine |url=http://family-room.ew.com/2013/02/08/hasbro-introduces-nerf-rebelle-line-for-girls-starting-with-the-heartbreaker-bow-exclusive/ |title=Hasbro introduces Nerf Rebelle line for girls, starting with the Heartbreaker bow -- EXCLUSIVE |author=Busis, Hillary |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=2013-02-08 |access-date=2013-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130211043218/http://family-room.ew.com/2013/02/08/hasbro-introduces-nerf-rebelle-line-for-girls-starting-with-the-heartbreaker-bow-exclusive/ |archive-date=2013-02-11 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In November 2013, [[powerHouse Books|POW! Books]] published ''The Ultimate Nerf Blaster Book''. Written by Nathaniel Marunas, the book highlights the history of Nerf and provides details on every N-Strike, Dart Tag, and Vortex blaster produced at the time of the book's release.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.powerhousebooks.com/?p=16477 |title=''NERF: The Ultimate Blaster Book'' |publisher=[[powerHouse Books]] |access-date=2014-01-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103181351/http://www.powerhousebooks.com/?p=16477 |archive-date=2014-01-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/36/49/24-nerf-blaster-expert-2013-11-29-bk_36_49.html |title=Master blaster: Prospect Heights dad wrote the book on Nerf |author=Mixson, Colin |newspaper=The Brooklyn Paper |date=2013-12-02 |access-date=2014-01-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103132752/http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/36/49/24-nerf-blaster-expert-2013-11-29-bk_36_49.html |archive-date=2014-01-03 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2015, the Rival line of blasters was first released. The first products released were the Rival Apollo XV-700 and the Rival Zeus MXV-1200. These blasters fire a new type of ammunition, known as "High Impact Rounds", which are small foam balls that can reach a higher velocity than foam darts. The Rival line is targeted towards an older audience, with each product listing the age of 14+ on the box.

In 2021, the Hyper line of blasters was announced.<ref name="Hasbro 2021-02-25">{{cite press release |url=https://corporate.hasbro.com/en-us/articles/iconic_nerf_brand_unveils_a_revolutionary_new_performance_segment |title=Iconic NERF brand Unveils a Revolutionary New Performance Segment |date=2021-02-25 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703064700/https://corporate.hasbro.com/en-us/articles/iconic_nerf_brand_unveils_a_revolutionary_new_performance_segment |archive-date=2021-07-03 |access-date=2021-09-09 }}</ref> Initial products included the Hyper Rush-40, Hyper Siege-50, and Hyper Mach-100. Hyper rounds are similar in design to Rival rounds, but are smaller and made of a thermoplastic elastomer material that is more rubber-like than the foam used in Rival rounds.<ref name="The Verge 2021-09-08">{{cite news |last=Hollister |first=Sean |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/8/22663549/nerf-hyper-rush-40-siege-50-mach-100-review |title=Nerf Hyper Review: Where The Rubber Meets The Foam |work=[[The Verge]] |location=New York |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |date=2021-09-08 |access-date=2021-09-09 }}</ref>