In the 1970s in the UK, an action figurine called "Action Man" was an extraordinarily popular toy, alongside its popular US counterpart, GI Joe. These toys allowed children to engage in the politics of the world around them, as they navigated who were the good guys and bad guys through play. This idea was reflected in the toy sales and the toy accessories released. An example of this was the SAS outfit of Action Man, released just months before the Siege of the Iranian Embassy. Similarly, toy guns released in the '60s and '70s reflected WWII weaponry. These toy guns were so realistic that in dim light the real gun could not be differentiated from the toy. These guns and figurines became not only toys, but ways that kids understood the world around them and specifically the complex ideas of war, nationalism/patriotism, and the military. For some, it was even an introduction to their future career.

Companies quickly realized, too, that the more violent the toys, the higher the sales. When computer and video games began to gain popularity, this idea took on a whole new meaning. In the hyper-realistic world of video and computer games, kids could connect with these ideas on an even more realistic level. So realistic, in fact, that the British army endorsed the use of Xbox and PlayStation games to help prepare their soldiers for combat. Today, there are even more shooter games than in the 20th century, with even more realistic aspects. Read on to figure out Nerf's role (if any) in the War Entertainment industry and its evolution over time.