Nerf unveils "DRM for darts"

[dabeyc]

i’d be interested in a nerf gun that shot coffee soaked darts directly into my face

[Exonauts]

[Mister44]

It’s basically a more safe version of airsoft which is a more safe version of Paintball. Both paintball and airsoft should have eye protection when played, though people goofing around with the spring loaded ones often don’t. Paintball is a must always because they are made to go 300 fps, and can be made to go even faster. While I am out of those circles, I never year of people using subpar safety goggles with that game any more.

@AlexG55

I think it was designed to fire chalk-loaded darts that left a mark on the target, but was powerful enough to leave a bruise when fired at the close ranges common in the game.

That sounds cool. But yeah, if it is traveling that fast it runs the risk of eye injury. As a TOY I can see them keeping them underpowered and safe. If modders want to make them more powerful and then were like paintball masks, I say go for it.

@dabeyc

i’d be interested in a nerf gun that shot coffee soaked darts directly into my face

I think you want a Super Soaker with coffee in it.

[NativeSpeaker]

Oh, I don’t doubt that people who practice this as sport wear safety gear. I’m mildly concerned about practical jokes in the wild, by people with enough money to buy such a toy but not a lot of common sense.

[Garymon]

@dabeyc

i’d be interested in a nerf gun that shot coffee soaked darts directly into my face

That would give new meaning to the phrase, a shot of espresso.

[Artor]

Fortunately, there is a vibrant Nerf-hacking community that takes the guns apart to beef up mainsprings, increase magazine capacity, mod them to look like movie props, etc. There is likely already instructions on YouTube on how to break the DRM.

[Artor]

@Mister44

Cool - it seems to me if they just wore eye protection, you could make more powerful dart guns for fun.

Are you thinking of Airsoft?

[LurkingGrue]

[Mister44]

It would be slower and shorter range than airsoft, and less ammo. Sort of like a… nerfed paintball.

[deltaecho]

The “DRM” is apparently the shape of the dart itself:

[shmello]

@JeffK13

Also, “Rival” is a Nerf product line, not a rival company, which may be part of the confusion.

Marketing genius. Even if our Rival ™ wins, we win!

[nodolra]

@JeffK13

This doesn’t seem like DRM. It feels more like an engineering restriction, in that it only works with the brand new darts designed for this brand new product line. I am sure there will be compatible knockoffs soon enough,

Agreed though it sounds like they’re hoping their patents will allow them to sue anyone selling knockoffs.

Definitely not DRM though, as there doesn’t seem to be anything “digital” about it. And, unlike most DRM, it’s not protecting any copyrighted content, so if someone can figure out a way to make compatible darts that’s different enough from the official ones to not infringe on patents, they wouldn’t be guilty of circumventing DRM under DMCA 1201.