16 replies to this topic

[Knexrule11]

K'NEX to enter blaster sector in 2015 with new K-FORCE brand

-“From our research we know that our fans are already hugely interested in utilising K’NEX for this kind of play.”

K’NEX is all set to enter the blaster sector next year with the launch of its new K-FORCE brand.

The firm will be joining the likes of Hasbro’s Nerf and Mattel’s BoomCo with its upcoming range of K-FORCE Build & Blast foam dart blasters, set to debut at London Toy Fair in January 2015.

“We are excited to be revealing a collection of building sets that enable children to build and customise their own K-FORCE Build & Blast, foam dart blasters,” said Paul Fogarty, K’NEX MD.

“We are so proud of the work that has gone into developing this line. From our research we know that our fans are already hugely interested in utilising K’NEX for this kind of play.

“This coupled with K’NEX’s open-ended creativity will open the door for kids to a world of customisable blasters that previously they could only dream of. This collection adds something completely different for fans of construction as well as those who love blasters – both will enjoy designing and building their own blaster as well as the fun of target practice, and, when they’re finished, it can be taken apart and rebuilt or customised in a new way.”

The firm will also be welcoming a series of new, but trusted, themes in 2015, as well as introducing another new category launch.

“As well as this fresh take on blasters, at Toy Fair we’ll be showcasing building sets that build on themes that are proven winners with our target market – from vehicles to dragons, dinosaurs and more,” continued Fogarty.

“We will also be showcasing at least one more additional and exciting category launch for next year. We’re looking forward to working with retailers to create excitement and action in store with striking new product in 2015 – Toy Fair 2015 is set to be a busy one."

[Yannick]

To be honest, I don't like the new series. It reminds too much of Nerf, though I think it's good that they produce a new product!

[Maxlaam]

Well, since it's out I'm now allowed to talk about this too.

My first thought when we received this news was negative too, but it's an understandable choice for K'NEX to make. Nerf is a leading brand when it comes to foam dart guns and arrows. BoomCo is trying hard but not doing too well, at least over here in Europe. Then there is the counter part called Zing Air which focuses on more bow and arrow type toys. Both BoomCo and Zing Air are incredibly fun toys, I played with both of them and I own a Nerf gun myself. I have to say, they are all great quality toys, but Nerf does have the leading brand name.

My personal thought was that K'NEX was always fairly much against weaponry made from their product. They never post anything toy gun related when people submit pictures to their Facebook. K'NEX Innovation never gotten the same recognition as us, most of their members built guns. Which all just added to my confusion when I first heard about the toy guns they were developing.

They are simply tapping into a new toy line which may have big potential, foam guns have proven to be popular over the last few years, expanding their toy line is a very wise choice to get brand recognition. It's one of those things that even the older kids may want to try out. I'm pretty sure this will spark a lot of interest for K'NEX.

The comparison to Nerf is exactly the point. To jump onto the band wagon with something that already proved to sell well.

I'm excited and I'm curious to see how this new line will turn out to be.

[Gvus]

I actually like this idea, I am happy that the guns seem to be made mostly of typical knex parts, not a bunch of giant special parts and a few real ones. I might even go buy one just to check it out. It is also a smart plan for knex as a company with the popularity of next guns as well as how many people build knex guns. I hope the products in this line come for a decent price, and actually have a decent price count and still take some time to build.

[Cedars650258516]

I'll be the first to say the bow gun thing looks pretty sick. I feel like those pieces would be more flexible or strong than the pieces K'nex has out now. Personally, I think our members could utilize those somehow, if not in a roller coaster, but a roller coaster mechanism or perhaps a ball machine or something. It should be interesting to see what happens as far as this site goes, though I think the waves felt here will be small ones. Out in the real world I can't see it catching on like wildfire but it's not going to be a crash and burn either. I'm sure I'll see a commercial and maybe see a younger cousin or friend's sibling using it, but it won't impact me personally as much. Those kind of toys aren't really at the top of my interests list at this point in life. It'll be exciting to see how well K'nex will do with this though, the future is always full of excitement!

[-i!Koozie!i-]

^ yeah. Are those bungee knex pieces??

[TEDDSTER]

I think this will be good for Knex, but the sets do look a little limited. When I say limited, I am talking about the launching mechanism. But it does look like that they are bringing back some darker colored pieces though. We'll see!

[Zorn]

Now I'm sure from a business perspective stuff like this will do great. What kid doesn't love to shoot things?

From the perspective of myself, it's something I'd never purchase or consider purchasing. Really since around 2006, since the introduction of a lot of the micro parts and specialty sets (Mario kart, Angry Birds, Titan fall, Lego bricks, ect) I haven't purchased a single "new" K'nex set.

It's kind of a let down for me that K'nex has shifted focus to becoming more of a company that makes "toys" based off of fads or well recognized products from somewhere else. I miss the old approach of relying of creative, jaw dropping set design to sell a product. (Like if you saw Big Ball Factory on the shelf, that was the coolest thing ever.) Now they have made some SS style sets recently, which is great. However my fear is that with the success of stuff like this and their other products, we're going to see less and less sets that the majority of the members on this site require to construct the models that we do. Which we have already been experiencing for quite a few years.

[The Stig]

Whoa!! It's like Nerf guns that you make!
Nice job, Knex. I love it.

[CCI]

I actually like it. It gives the ability to create the "weapon" of your choice. Now I'm no big gun toting redneck (actually quite the opposite) this still appeals to me and I'm sure it appeals even more to most of their market. So well done K'nex!

[Gvus]

These new product releases are really making me wish I was still in contact with the guys at Knex. I got the Email of a guy there who had been talking to me all day when I visited but I lost the freaking paper he wrote it on, so that kinda sucks now...

[Connector1o1]

I have to say, as a Nerf modded myself, I think this is a really cool concept. It will be fun to customize and build stuff, but it's not going to compete at all with Nerf or boomco, because it is not a solid form of a dart launcher. It might appeal to younger kids, but most of the needing community will have no use for this, and that's a huge amount of audience. I will probably buy some of this, but it will be only for the kick of it. But I have to applaud them, it's a good concept.

Edited by Connector1o1, 23 January 2015 - 11:33 PM.

[Cobra Roller]

I think the whole customizable aspect really keeps this fresh. I just want to buy a ton of these and make a huge over-the-shoulder gatling gun.

[ZachCreate]

As long as the price isn't over-the-top, I'll buy some of these and build something weird with it.

[Maxlaam]

I think this will be good for Knex, but the sets do look a little limited. When I say limited, I am talking about the launching mechanism. But it does look like that they are bringing back some darker colored pieces though. We'll see!

Good call, I wonder what special items will be in those sets, they might be incredibly usefull for us!

[Mister Piglette]

I do not like this at all. To be honest, they look too cheap. I'm not really a blaster kind of person, but when I looked at this, I was like really? It doesn't surprise me Knex would go this route, and I totally second this:

It's kind of a let down for me that K'nex has shifted focus to becoming more of a company that makes "toys" based off of fads or well recognized products from somewhere else. I miss the old approach of relying of creative, jaw dropping set design to sell a product. (Like if you saw Big Ball Factory on the shelf, that was the coolest thing ever.) Now they have made some SS style sets recently, which is great. However my fear is that with the success of stuff like this and their other products, we're going to see less and less sets that the majority of the members on this site require to construct the models that we do. Which we have already been experiencing for quite a few years.

I'd rather have a set that I can utilize all the prices in a great amount, than have all these little dinky sets Knex has been making.

[Gvus]

Has anyone seen this yet?



The box says shoots 75 feet, this is the same number Nerf advertises on their good guns so that's good. From the looks of it the guns are a special trigger and a blaster section linked by real knex, this looks promising.