Keeping up with Dart Zone 

Hi. This video is long because I wanted to talk about a few points with minimal editing. It's certainly not for everyone but I hope some of my thoughts and experiences resonate with a few of you. You're welcome to think that I'm completely wrong as well. TLDW: I like Dart Zone but their quality control is seriously lacking, they still don't know how to run events, and they're heavily investing in "blaster" everything for the DZ brand exclusively. Don't let brand loyalty blind you to shortcomings and questionable decisions even when you're told "we listen to the community".

You either die the hero or live long enough to see your self become the villain

I largely concur with this. They got a lot of goodwill in the hobby because they were the "underdog" who listened to the hobbyists and made products out of the box that we could use compared to Hasbro who basically did whatever they wanted. But there's been too many flawed releases between the 1.2, mk3, Deuce Pro, and Omnia, and others I'm forgetting to simply give them a pass. Their change in corporate demeanor also doesn't help. At this point, it's foolish for anyone in the hobby to buy a Dart Zone product because they're trying to support the "Good guy", but if you think they're producing something that you will make good use of, there's no reason to not get them. They're a corporation, not our friends.

Thanks for voicing out what we're all feeling. Take care, Brett.

They've had a string of blasters lately that have consistently felt like they were the result of a monkey's paw wish and it'd be 90% great and the you get to the "BUT" cursed part that's something fundamentally awful and almost ruins the blaster entirely. They seem to keep taking stuff out of the oven a little too early and the product has been critically suffering as a result. They just need to slow down and be more thorough about crossing their t's and dotting their i's.

I love a lot of the Dart Zone blasters, but even the ones I’ve bought I always watch reviews before I buy a blaster. I do that for all brands. That’s what reviews are for. And I watch reviews from multiple channels to get an overall opinion. I do see the good Dart Zone has done for the hobby, but I will not be blind to what they have and probably will continue to do. We all have to remember that Dart Zone started as a toy company, and for the most part, they still are. They exist to sell a product. I try to remind myself of that sometimes. I do like Dart Zone, I really do, but man, they are certainly starting to slip lately.

I think that the first failures that we saw with their products was caused by trying to fulfill too many hobby wishlists without calculating how those features work together. I know everyone dogs Nerf's extremely long development cycle, but it works for a reason. Maybe DZ should look at extending their development cycle a little and make testing a bit more extensive. Or maybe I'm dumb.

Wow. This was a great summary of the Dart Zone experience. Thanks for putting in all the time and work to do this. Keep up the great work.

I like the idea of the pumpgrip on the mk4 being a vertical, horizontal, and angled foregrip all in one. No idea how it feels in the hand, but I appreciate the innovation attempt

I will say the new revolver the dartzone max outlaw is a home run, getting a second and already have the lower power springs ordered from their site

WAKE UP BABE NEW BERET DART ZONE DRAMA VIDEO JUST DROPPED!!!!!!!!!

Im glad you made this video, people need to understand that companies gonna company now matter what we think. Love em or hate em, they gonna act within their best interest to meet quota. Even if all they did was what we wanted, theres no possible way they could please everyone. Only time will tell if they truly do care about customer interest.

Speaking on the CO Blaster Bash side of things, I paid for both tickets, the time slot ticket and the "Zombie Attack" ticket. It ended up devolving into morning and afternoon slots presumably because the attendence was lower than anticipated. I beleive it was a net loss for Dart Zone as they had spent thousands on transporting so many blasters and even more on batteries. Unfortunately, they did skimp out on darts. They provided a pool their rival rounds and full length darts that were used and didn't work well with springers which were provided or you could bring. In addition, they provided no information on what you could and couldn't bring to the event. I came prepared with a bag of blasters, a tool bag for jams and repairs, and a cooler of beverages to stay hydrated. I was turned back immediatly upon finding the enterance and had to go drop off all my bags in my car and couldn't bring the cooler or any of my drinks in. I managed to carry quite a bit of stuff back with me and thankfully it was all within their legal fps caps that they didn't specify either. All in all, I did have a great time and made the best of it (and I got to go home with a MkIII) but I agree that dart zone shouldn't be putting on events. Especially with as little advertising and communication as they had with this one.

Love this stream of consciousness! Thank you

Enjoyed this video. Really really captures everything happening, and I think it's all presented pretty fairly.

Great honest Vid Man, and this is why I watch you, cheers 👊🏻👽

Honestly I've never used the term "blaster tag", but I agree that it's just an unnecessary cost that is just going to be bad press for them.

It's a good thing we have X-Shot now, who randomly woke up and chose greatness somehow

Missed ya buddy. Love the long-form videos.

I can wait another 50 minutes to go to bed

I'm a big Worker fan at the moment. I did just purchase the Outlaw. I'm loving it so far.

I appreciate DZ joining the pro line. The Nexus and short darts off the shelf brought a fresh wind to the hobby. I live in Europe so I do not directly benefit from this change, it is hard to get to any of the new blasters due to the high price and/or FPS restrictions. So, I need really hard to think on what to buy. Got a Nexus Pro (great blaster), got a Tomcat due to the hype it was surrounded with. It came with the shell warped to the left, according to the local distributor all blasters were affected. Waited for a replacement, wasn’t warped that much. The catch is making problems instead, sometimes it is only possible to release the trigger by slapping the blaster on the side. Adding the drum loading problems, shoulder stock wobble, I should have stayed away from it. I purchased the Harrier and never regretted that decision. DZ should slow down, have more attention to details and better quality control. Still I will go for the Outlaw :)

The only DZ Bamboos I like are the originals, which weighed pretty close to a gram if I remember correctly. The 2.0s were dog water... just straight dog water... the 2xs... pretty sure they're sill ligher as well so I'll just stick to worker Bamboos at this point. The MK1.0 likes them and they're fairly accurate as well.

If I remember correctly, Dart Zone did more than ignore complaints about the MK 1.2. They blamed it on user error, despite those users being competitive players with years of blaster experience. Although I don't really care about Dart Zone since their stuff still isn't available here. The only part that might be relevant to me is the 'blaster tag' trademark.

once you get to the top you stop innovating

They have definitely come a LONG way since the first blaster they put out at 180$ plus shipping...and it was hot trash that was really cool...it jammed so so much...was hard to unjam as well. But they definitely still have issues

Hey Dart Zone......you good? Seriously though, great video. I agree with many of these points and have felt this way about DZ's products for a while now and feel the same way. Needed to be said.

I guess will just have wait until someone gets the Cease and Desist letter from Dart Zone re: the Blaster Tag trademark.

They need to relax on pro dart blasters for bit make RIVAL ones

I saw the sh17 for Blaster bash two days after. I live 60 miles away! Pshh.

i got the mk4 and it was shooting low and to the right. i had to sand and shim the fps extention to make it shoot straight

Bert - if you're listening...i'm kinda bummed myself but i'm not giving up...I'm motivated you see. I recently (before even trying pro-x and seagulls) kicked out all long dart blasters from my collection with the exception of my 5or7kg alphatrooper (pick and choose spring based on speed of prime 5kg was fave but poor dist.) and the 12kg ionfire (using falconfire upgrade spring) both of these systems rocked the precisepro/exactstrike series darts and the ionfire even takes trimmed down darts...but my upgraded rival killed it and yeah my upgraded hyper does even better. Haha my 12 and 13 coil k25 hop-up hyper even beats the pro-x out of the box...but...a stock hammershot spring behind the pro-x spring brings it up to spec...but I still have 800+ mother fluffin' gorsh dern long darts and daaaaaaag nabbbbbit I want the best long dart sys...even if I have to upgrade/downgrade --- it's come down to this MK 1.2. Don't hate me...the prime on nexuspro jerks my twice broken arm and I foresee that happening with other iterations too like the stryker...it came down to jurrasic pro or the 1.2 and I have a feeling I can get one last hurrah with my long darts with that 100 fps spring and perhaps a spacer. Kinda like a pre-pro-x that kept it's long dart feature. I have dreamed a dream and now that dream has --- aww nuts!!! I may regret this...but I just watched every 1.2 video. Yours actually depressed me the most...but also made me make my final decision. Already have a pro-x and seagull...I wanna see something really really beat my donkey slappin ionfires with trimmed exact strikes or all the darts from a 35 rd drum landing in the same spot like the 5kg alphatrooper!! Last chance for long darts...and it's worth $80 to try. 😢 (dart zone lng and lng sureshot in the mail...they may be the same just diff colors)

Represent!

Hey man! Have you checked out the XYL Unicorn? Half dart CQB style blaster. Im loving it so far!

Bert is a straight shooter, plus he recognizes the beauty of the roblox snek blaster, I've been waiting for a reason to upgrade from the max stryker for a bit and still don't see it

Dart Zone showed us their true colors long ago when the Liberator was released with its claims on the box of "Performance FPS". They're happy to release trash and engage in deceptive marketing and have been for a long time. And they have never got the dart fit on a cylinder right. They're not especially evil, but they're no better than Nerf, Buzz Bee or X-Shot at the end of the day.

Let's make a fun list of well-known Pro release issue: Mk1.0/Mk1.1: incredibly finnicky with most darts, or the slop in the prime Nexus: priming slop/some would break at the buffer tube, no so great ergo Aeon: small Nexus with heavier prime MK2: Some models were underpowered Stryker: better ergo Nexus, not compatible with all Nexus parts though Jurassic Pro: wobbly stock, not the strongest construction, personally don't like the ergo MK3: Feeding/jamming issues, mag compatibility, technically full auto fire rate being lack luster but that's not an actual issue. Tomcat: Rotation mech related misfires Duece Pro: Rotation mech related misfires MK1.3: Many Omnia: Misaligned flywheels and fire delay/circuit failure. Does not mean I hate DZ but the trend shows a bit of reason to have a cause for distrust.

Sometimes you like to use blasters still in the box, not just ready out of the box

I'm with you about wanting to use blasters out of the box. I have modded. I've been involved in this hobby for many years. I'm an old school modder before kits and 3d printed parts. I've been there done that. Modded many retaliators and Longshots and stryfes. I don't enjoy that so much anymore especially with so many so called playable blasters out the box. I liked the nexus pro and max Stryker (not perfect blasters but playable at a decent price point) but the other more expensive blasters I've been let down in similar ways as you expressed. I wasn't quick enough to get the omnia pro thankfully but the other offerings I really don't even want to play with because I don't want to use a blaster if I'm worried about it performing correctly. My homemade brass breech Longshot performs better and more reliable then a lot of these blasters and anyone that's made a brass breech mag fed blaster knows how finicky they can be

I don’t have a 1.2…but as far as the MK 4 goes I’ve never had a jam with it. Is it inaccurate, yes, but you can tune it really easily.

You know it’s a good day when Brett uploads.😁

I don't understand this Bert video

14:00 Why Did I buy a MK4? When it's a Swift clone? Because to me, it Does offer Useful Features the Swift does not: Locks. The breech locks shut so you don't double prime. The trigger locks so you cannot accidentally fire with an open breech. Yes, I am a wierdo. Most people don't like locks; I do. I like having safety features on a blaster that keep it from self-destructing.

Hi Brett well I may disagree with some of your examples at some point in the video I definitely agree with a lot of what you’re saying. I can still agree with you even if I disagree on a specific example you use. For what it’s worth a dart zone has won a lot of favor for me so I’ll admit my biases and say it’s Difficult to talk about their negative sometimes because they have done a lot of cool things but I think it’s important for reviewers like you to keep them striving for higher standards or at least keep them at a set standard so I appreciate you making this video to discuss things that you honestly are worried about. Hopefully in the future they’ll put more time into development for their blasters and find ways to make them more economical. Also hopefully X shots new pro series can give them enough competition to also drive further innovation. I know I’ve been having a lot of fun with my X shot longshot

Great video! At the end of the day, Dart Zone is a Company, they worry about themselves first, and THEN the consumer. LMFAO @34:15 made me giggle (if you know you know) 🧄

Thank you for the info. I generally tend to wait a few months before I go in on Dart Zone products. Too many issues with my MK1.2 and my MK3 broke my trust. I am now on the “Worker” train since they have been showing consistently great products this year.

Ordered the simple new hammer action pistol Max gor myself for Xmas. Love the style, size, power! It broke with no hammer locking and shooting anything after less than 20 shots! A POS😢

also at least they do listen , nerf doesn't at all nobody is saying perfect dude

Sad, I've had a Nexus Pro since day one and never have problems with it even after all these years.

First off: NEED that shirt lmao Second: Dart Zone ABSOLUTELY missed the mark by not calling their podcast The Dart Zone, or something similar. I mean, come on! Last and most important I think Dart Zone’s biggest problem truly might’ve been peaking too soon. They should’ve kept doing what they did w/the Nexus and just iterate it into perfection; they were already taking steps in that direction w/the Stryker, so it kind of makes you wonder what happened. *Sigh* here’s hoping they follow Hasbro’s lead and just hire some of the community to consult on their next blaster’s dev cycle. -the Foam Mandalorian

I LIKE YOU VERY MUCH !!

Pretty much all of their blasters aside from the Mk4 are side-grades at best, downgrades at worst. It's why I've stopped bothering to pay the exorbitant price to import one from stateside to Aus and review one. They're the same blaster, new look.

I passed on all 3 of their blasters. Sticking to worker nerf.

Speaking the truth dude. I’ve been buying more worker blasters this past year simply because the Dart Zone has been dropping the ball lately. I still like Dart Zone but I’m hoping in 2024 they actually make something good in the pro line because that MK4 was really just dumb.

imo... omnia still beats the stryfe x out of the box (except if it doesn't rev)

If the marketing was better and they didn't change the date, the colorado blaster bash could have been a lot better. But the pricing structure was wacky lol

From what I see worker is still the best. Their product keep surpassing the previous. I am sure the next will be a top brushless flywheel with mosef at affordable price. Do not buy Omnia now, wait for worker phoenix 3.0. I am sure they will come out one.

I pretty much always prefer the classic thumb tab mag release like an AK47 i really don't like the pistol grip well push button releases

What I see is, you love Dartzone and you truly want them to do good that why criticism is necessary.

Cant even get Dart Zone stuff in the uk without big import charges. Even if we buy from Blaster Time in Holland there is extra delivery charges to get from there to here. Worker is and has been for a long time putting out better stuff than Dart Zone and you cam get Worker stuff anywhere in world for basically the same price no matter what market you are in.

For many in the hobby is a moot point for the difficulty of getting any Dart Zone product at all at the right side of the Pond. On that sense, they are losing to X-Shot, because at least a Longshot _can be bought_ around here, while a Mark [insert number here] remains as unattainable as that *sweet* Bert Zone T-shirt

Well that sounds like yur problem right there as too why they don send u blasters any more, u didn’t do a designated/full review on the MK-1.2 they sent ya…. 😕

Cool

dirt zon

I realize how naive I was about them because I was so happy with the Mk 1.1 and Mk 2. It’s a shame because there’s a lot to love about their blasters, but now their designs are falling short and it’s costing us. The Omnia is the last straw for me. I bought it believing it was a reliable, tested product. I didn’t consent to testing it FOR them with my hard earned money. With Pro in the name, a blaster should at least function properly out of the box. Worker is eclipsing Dart Zone these days. I’m favoring 3D printed blasters more lately. At least the community gives the community what it wants.

No outlaw?

When the large corporation acts like a large corporation. I don’t see how this is much of a surprise, they’ve listened to us a lot but in the end companies like this always need to make more money

I hate the argument of “oh you can just go in and fix the blaster” like it’s a product that should work on arrival. Mods should be an extra change that can tune up performance or change aesthetics. You shouldn’t have to go in and do the companies job.

We won the Pro Tour in 2022. We were supposed to be the company that ran the event or tournament but we didn’t as it was a conflict of interest. Instead we fielded 2 teams practiced since 2019 and won everything. We were disappointed with the rules, blaster jams just as anyone else. We wanted that tournament to hit espn or garner thousands of views but it didn’t accumulate to much. Our hobby has many different organizations running their own pro events or tournaments but how do we unify to the point where we can have an actual pro league with teams in each major city etc. We need the financial backing to make that happen. Living in NY why would we travel with 10 players to California for a $500 prize? We are all for helping this sport grow but feels like we are still all over the place.

#stryfekiller

Corporate lawyers explain a lot of the things you are confused about. Corporation that size cannot directly admit fault. Ever. It opens them up to legal risks that they couldn’t defend. Any public statement has to run through a PR team and a legal team, and it’s obvious they wrote the final version. It also explains the trademark registration. I work as a consultant in the tech industry, and you see copyrights and trademarks filed there at a rate comparable to a proton pack spewing foam down range. They filed it in case they need it, and more importantly, to make sure Hasbro doesn’t do it first. I am not saying any of this excuses their actions. I’m just providing some missing context. I have confidence that they will fix the issues with the Omnia, and they’re going to be able to treat the community right, IF WE HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. You can love a company and still criticize them when they make mistakes. (I am a longtime Blizzard fan, I know better than most the struggle of loving and hating a company at the same time). this type of conversation is what we need, because, unlike Hasbro, Dart Zone is trying to listen.

The DZ Dictator is still my favorite of the entire product line from DZ. Its accuracy issues are easily fixed by a 6" scar (which both gives more barrel space for the volume of air the plunger tube generates, and adds spin to the dart), and it's just more fun.

gotta wonder if those holding back their reviews on the omnia until the issues are corrected are being compensated in some way. many reviews have dropped and were more or less favorable. but a handful of reviewers and channels are holding back, and to my eye it seems to be the biggies.

SELL THE MK-4.0 IF U DON WAN IT BRO. 😭

The only thing I disagree with is when you said "our small hobby." Small hobbies don't get an aisle at Wal Mart.

no offense , but the mk 4 is more powerful then 1.2 not less and two all your questions about the mk 4 were talked about when dartzone revealed it , go watch the video literally everything you questioned were addressed in that video 👍😁 , also on the omnia maybe you got a bad one , i know mine literally has none of those issues ....they have fixed it since

If a product has a fault and it's being sold, it is a completely legitimate thing to complain about no matter how "simple" the fix is. Shut up fanboys.

If we can still be mad at Nerf for their bullshit 3 years later, its only fair we do the same for Dart Zone

I feel like there's a lot of nitpicking trying to make a point . I think any company is gonna put sales first . Are they on Hasbros level right now ? No ,hopefully DZ don't go that way , but they are miles ahead of the competition. Are they perfect ? No , but better at least .

First🤓

I'm just tired of hearing all the complaining. Let me say this WITHOUT DART ZONE, WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE THE SHORT DART SCENE. Seriously DART Zone made pro blasters affordable and easy access. Idk I really think without them we wouldn't have all the other companies trying to improve on their designs