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04-25-2013, 04:44 AM
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#22
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I think that this demographic at one point WAS forgotten. At that time the industry was pushing hard to have everyone pick up the newest, latest, greatest, fastest, lightest...and expensive equipment...
Tourneys were being pushed so hard in an attempt to "legitimize" paintball as a sport in the eyes of greater society. Woodsball was almost forgotten as well!
But the industry began to shift again, Woodsball came back HARD. New guns and gear started to hit the market from retailers who had previously never seen a TREE let alone woodsball. But that kit was still expensive...
Pump exploded as an answer to cost. Many players started to switch to pump to save a bit of cash and keep their playing time up! The industry took note and released a new flood of pumps! But for many people, pump is not the only style of play. Many would like to play reserved when they wanted to but have the option for firepower when they needed it. But there was still no real option for this unless you wanted to use autocockers, mags or other heavy mech guns... There was no simple, light, cost effective mech semi really...
In the last two years however I think there has been some notice taken by the industry of the player the OP describes. The "serious rec Baller". There have been quite a few equipment releases lately that seem to be geared directly to those people who want that middle ground.
Azodin and Spyder are putting out entry level but good equipment. GOG's Enemy is pretty awesome so I am told...Empire is bringing back the autococker?!! Electros continue to come down in price and go up in quality.
The industry seems to have begun listening to what players want. I think they are beginning to remember us...
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04-25-2013, 09:15 AM
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#23
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The Last Thing You'll See
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: NY ((718)) NY
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fubarius
You ever get the feeling that the paintball community has forgotten about the serious recballers? Not the "new players", who need to be protected so they're not scared away. And not the "serious competitive players", who need to be segregated away to protect everyone else. But what about those who are neither? The "all of the above" player. The "couple hours of woods, then a few on the airball course, then finish up with a pump" players. The players who enjoy a nice slow pace, but can also rip it up when the situation calls for it. They enjoy a fast pace as well, but know when to turn it down. The players who enjoy a game on the inflatables, but don't NEED them. The players who play hard, but fair. Intense, but fun. They'll rip a lane off the break, but one ball when they have have a clear shot. They play woods, but they're not exactly 'woodsballers'. The play speedball, but they're not exclusively 'speedballers'. Heck, they sometimes play tournaments, but they're definitely not 'tournament players'. They're paintballers through and through. Any field, any tech level, any time. They make up a large percentage of the regular crowd, but no one notices since they tend to blend in with whatever crowd happens to be there. The speedballers assume they're just more speedballers. The woodsballers assume they're just more woodsballers. They belong, yet don't belong, at the same time.
Anyone else else feel like they're in the "forgotten middle"?
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What are you even talking about? Those people....no one talks about those people because those people....my people....no we just don't exist.
At least thats what people will lead you to believe.
Gotta be a noob, renter, woodsballer with no real skill or have to be a super competitive, ultra aggressive, only play rec if it involves team practice, strict tourny player. Us middle ground folks just don't exist. Its just not possible that we can have fun while being well experienced, highly skilled but prefer to play paintball strictly for the LOVE of it.
Forgotten middle??? Who are these mythical people you speak off?
__________________
The Trio: CSL - LV1 - CS1
Obnoxious, NY - High Velocity, NY - Liberty, NY - Cousins, NY - Top Gun, NJ
On Target, NJ - Accurate, NJ - Skirmish, PA - CPX Sports, IL - Paintball Explosion, IL - P&L, MA - Pev's, VA - SC Village, CA
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04-25-2013, 11:16 AM
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#24
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Politeness isn't weakness
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Northampton, PA
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Well, the Original post was in 2k9. I think that back then it may have been fairly true but in the recent years, things have picked up for us hybrids. For the longest time, all I wanted was camo, tournament grade gear. Now all the big companies make them. It allows me to use the same gear from one field to the next without standing out or feeling unprepared for one aspect or the other.
As far as talking about our ilk, why would anybody? We're the quiet ones. The people that make the noise are the ones people talk about.
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04-25-2013, 12:17 PM
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#25
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Victoria, BC, Canada
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Close to 40% of the customers at our field are gear owners. Of those, some are what I would consider highly skilled, the rest just not playing often enough to become that skilled. Of the skilled players, an even smaller percentage are what I would call highly skilled, aggressive players. From this field owner's perspective, I don't have a problem with highly skilled players and I don't even have a problem with highly skilled aggressive players, as long as those players are playing within the rules. Where the problem for me arises is when highly skilled, aggressive players are are playing consistently more aggressive than anyone else they are playing with. In that regard, if players are highly skilled and want to play very aggressively, that can be a problem because theye are, in most places, a number so small that it is difficult to accumulate enough like minded individuals to play that way. And because the number of those individuals is relatively small, it's difficult for many field owners to accommodate them, making them feel like they are not wanted or forgotten.
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04-25-2013, 07:54 PM
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#26
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Radical!
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Crashville
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Heck yes! Weekend Warrior veterans! I didn't feel like part of a "forgotten" or "overlooked" group of ballers back home, seemed like recball was as popular as tourney ball.
Out here, i'm feeling the pain. The 2 closest fields separate everyone into 2 groups - rentals only, & everyone else. I don't like playing with bonus-balling hotshots with bad attitudes, that's why i quite tournaments. I hate being lumped together with them when i'm just trying to relax & have fun.
At least there's a field not too far (hour or so) that treats recballers like recballers, 2 hrs if i feel like a road trip. I also joined an outlaw group that is as laid back as me. So all is not lost. But it's hard keeping the spirit of the true weekend warrior alive.
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04-25-2013, 10:45 PM
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#27
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Boston, MA
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Described me perfectly.
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04-26-2013, 06:01 PM
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#28
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Played on a team that was "in between" called the Hellhounds. We worked like hell on the speedball field and controlled the woodsball field. It confused the system because we were competetive in both arenas. Pissed off the speedball players which was always good.
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04-26-2013, 06:11 PM
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#29
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AA Paintball
Played on a team that was "in between" called the Hellhounds. We worked like hell on the speedball field and controlled the woodsball field. It confused the system because we were competetive in both arenas. Pissed off the speedball players which was always good.
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Where are you located?theres a local woods all team named the hell hounds ...
__________________
Pump,shoot,repeat .
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04-26-2013, 10:20 PM
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#30
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: NWI *219*
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Couldn't agree more with the first post.
__________________
NOBAMA
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04-27-2013, 01:55 AM
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#31
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Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Pgh, PA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fubarius
You ever get the feeling that the paintball community has forgotten about the serious recballers? Not the "new players", who need to be protected so they're not scared away. And not the "serious competitive players", who need to be segregated away to protect everyone else. But what about those who are neither? The "all of the above" player. The "couple hours of woods, then a few on the airball course, then finish up with a pump" players. The players who enjoy a nice slow pace, but can also rip it up when the situation calls for it. They enjoy a fast pace as well, but know when to turn it down. The players who enjoy a game on the inflatables, but don't NEED them. The players who play hard, but fair. Intense, but fun. They'll rip a lane off the break, but one ball when they have have a clear shot. They play woods, but they're not exactly 'woodsballers'. The play speedball, but they're not exclusively 'speedballers'. Heck, they sometimes play tournaments, but they're definitely not 'tournament players'. They're paintballers through and through. Any field, any tech level, any time. They make up a large percentage of the regular crowd, but no one notices since they tend to blend in with whatever crowd happens to be there. The speedballers assume they're just more speedballers. The woodsballers assume they're just more woodsballers. They belong, yet don't belong, at the same time.
Anyone else else feel like they're in the "forgotten middle"?
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Despite generally being adults with disposable income, we have eclectic tastes and often a pre-existing marker collection, so manufacturers find us hard to market to; and fields find it difficult to sell us memberships because we have family obligations preventing us from playing as much as we used to. When we can sneak out on the weekend, we are more likely to change it up and go to different fields.
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04-27-2013, 02:11 AM
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#32
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Starting over
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: 813/727
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whats woodsball?
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04-27-2013, 02:39 AM
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#33
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a.mor85
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Modesto, CA
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Lol welcome to the middle class! Lol
__________________
Time is Luck
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04-27-2013, 11:25 PM
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#34
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What's a 12ie?
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Port Orchard, WA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by adammorales4
Lol welcome to the middle class! Lol
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That's great! "Middle class paintballers".
I'm kind of glad this thread was dug up again. Maybe we're the typical walk-ons, playing as often as we can, and getting in every game no matter what style of play.
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04-29-2013, 06:13 PM
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#35
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Dye sucks.
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: |Bay Area, CA|
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Very well said.
__________________
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|RIP YAGI|Remember Brett Olson; Rest in paradise|
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honculada: I don't know if I like that new reg from ccm. Its like constant reminder of how small my penis is.
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04-29-2013, 06:29 PM
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#36
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Challenge Accepted.
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Essex County, NJ
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Yes that's me. I know what you mean, players like us don't get enough respect. I don't play to light people up. I play to have a good time and meet great new people, even though I'm serious too.
__________________
Empire Axe
V-Force Grillz
Ninja CF 68/4500
Empire Halo Too
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04-29-2013, 06:30 PM
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#37
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Tobias Fuenke
Join Date: May 2002
Location: OC
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HK and Extreme Pros Paintball here in So Cal just did a great event on Sunday out at SC Village for this exact type of player.
We played woodsball and some airball, some epic battles with players from all levels on each side. BBQ'd, talked paintball, and handed out some free HK gear as well as a sick raffle from Extreme Pros. Everyone was there just to have a great time and enjoy the sport. Keep your heads up, some of the top companies in the game are still lookin out!
__________________
MY GEARBAG SALE, TONS OF STUFF,GUNS HOOPERS PARTS GEAR ETC CHEAP!
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04-29-2013, 06:50 PM
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#38
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Want A Cookie?
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Pittsburgh
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I consider us to be the unicorns of paintball. Like a graceful, legendary figure that if necessary can ram people with a horn.
Being totally serious it's kind of strange now that I think about it. Everyone at my field completely segregates into these two play styles. I do my best to get the new players out on the airball field and in the woods though. I think that playing both sides of the sport just for fun is the best way.
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04-29-2013, 07:01 PM
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#39
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Austin, Tx
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Horizon
Close to 40% of the customers at our field are gear owners. Of those, some are what I would consider highly skilled, the rest just not playing often enough to become that skilled. Of the skilled players, an even smaller percentage are what I would call highly skilled, aggressive players. From this field owner's perspective, I don't have a problem with highly skilled players and I don't even have a problem with highly skilled aggressive players, as long as those players are playing within the rules. Where the problem for me arises is when highly skilled, aggressive players are are playing consistently more aggressive than anyone else they are playing with. In that regard, if players are highly skilled and want to play very aggressively, that can be a problem because theye are, in most places, a number so small that it is difficult to accumulate enough like minded individuals to play that way. And because the number of those individuals is relatively small, it's difficult for many field owners to accommodate them, making them feel like they are not wanted or forgotten.
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I'm in charge of creating groups at my field. On an average Saturday we have about 200 people. Maybe 10-15 of those are guys with their own gear. It's hard to put them in a group where the newer guys won't freak out just because they have good markers and equipment. They'll go easy and one ball yet the new players (new players, but older guys) still flip out when they get shot by the good player just because he has a better marker. Then they come ***** to me and the serious recballers have their group brought down from a solid thirty to a measly 10 to 15. I feel bad for doing it but I have to when the customer complains.
What I'm trying to say is, those players make my job hard.
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04-29-2013, 07:21 PM
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#40
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Gun Tech
Join Date: May 2007
Location: New Jersey
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Present!
I play in the woods
and I play on the field
But I really just love playing paintball.
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04-29-2013, 08:10 PM
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#41
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Arctic Wolf
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Alaska
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Forgotten is the goal. Recognition just makes me a target. Paintball propaganda doesn't effect me anymore. Why should the marketers even bother?
Last edited by Subterfuge : 04-29-2013 at 09:22 PM.
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04-29-2013, 08:30 PM
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#42
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Wichita
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Describes me to a T. And overlooked and under estimated ( at least first few games LOL) is how I feel.
NATE
__________________
Trading paint since 96'.
Autotrigger = Ramping for Pump Guns ;p
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