I've been in paintball for 14 years. For a long time as a rec player, more recently competitive. I played in the autococker/automag days and have been a part of the scenario, woodsball, & speedball scenes. I've owned a ton of equipment & heard every type of hype, even bought into hype on several occassions (I even owned a qloader once lol). Paintball hasn't changed. The argument that is going on now about HK's appeal has happened over a variety of companies who have tried to reach a target market and make an unmistakable brand for themselves.
Whether you like that branding or not is your personal preference & nothing more. Trying to rationalize it by mocking a particular brand because of it's fans only makes you look insecure.
Back to Dynasty & HK specifically. Every team makes its sponsorship decisions based on their own preferences and what they think will give them the greatest opportunities. Dynasty, a long running successful team obviously feels like partnering with HK has huge potential. Only time will tell how that ends up.
If you don't like HK, thats cool, not everyone likes that style. I like Planet Eclipse gear & am not as big of a fan of Dye's style (which is also unmistakable). That doesn't mean the guy walking around in Dye gear is an idiot. It just means we have different preferences.
Also, HK is admittedly a group of guys who love paintball & love to party & hang with their friends. How they choose to do this may seem irritating to some, exciting to others. In fact, this type of marketing has worked well enough for them that they have moved from basic soft goods to a major line of gear. Proving that this "lifestyle" they have created through their brand is a highly profitable. If you don't like it, thats cool, don't buy with them, buy whatever you want. Don't condemn them for their success though or demean it by mocking their clients. Are some of their clients morons? Yes. Name a brand that doesn't have moronic clients. What about the tippman guy who spends hundreds of dollars upgrading his gear instead of just spending the same money on higher end gear? I may completely disagree with his preferences, but they are his to make, and there are plenty of companies to satisfy those preferences.
I am not saying that anyone here isn't entitled to their opinion or voicing it. I am saying that maybe we can do that with a little better respect and class.
You want to talk about what actually hurts the sport? It is the pointless name calling, immaturity, lack of sportsmanship, & self destructive attacks on other paintballers/companies who don't share our particular perspective. It isn't HK or kids being kids.
As a side note I would like to say, think what you want of the HK guys, but their attitude in this sport isn't negative, it's energizing and fun. Thats why they are popular (even if their antics are immature). They are incredibly nice individuals who genuinely care about every aspect of this sport and growing it as a community. If anything their ability to goof around, have a good time, & outright positive outlook regarding the entire culture of paintball will only bring in new blood.
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I've been in paintball for 14 years. For a long time as a rec player, more recently competitive. I played in the autococker/automag days and have been a part of the scenario, woodsball, & speedball scenes. I've owned a ton of equipment & heard every type of hype, even bought into hype on several occassions (I even owned a qloader once lol). Paintball hasn't changed. The argument that is going on now about HK's appeal has happened over a variety of companies who have tried to reach a target market and make an unmistakable brand for themselves.
Whether you like that branding or not is your personal preference & nothing more. Trying to rationalize it by mocking a particular brand because of it's fans only makes you look insecure.
Back to Dynasty & HK specifically. Every team makes its sponsorship decisions based on their own preferences and what they think will give them the greatest opportunities. Dynasty, a long running successful team obviously feels like partnering with HK has huge potential. Only time will tell how that ends up.
If you don't like HK, thats cool, not everyone likes that style. I like Planet Eclipse gear & am not as big of a fan of Dye's style (which is also unmistakable). That doesn't mean the guy walking around in Dye gear is an idiot. It just means we have different preferences.
Also, HK is admittedly a group of guys who love paintball & love to party & hang with their friends. How they choose to do this may seem irritating to some, exciting to others. In fact, this type of marketing has worked well enough for them that they have moved from basic soft goods to a major line of gear. Proving that this "lifestyle" they have created through their brand is a highly profitable. If you don't like it, thats cool, don't buy with them, buy whatever you want. Don't condemn them for their success though or demean it by mocking their clients. Are some of their clients morons? Yes. Name a brand that doesn't have moronic clients. What about the tippman guy who spends hundreds of dollars upgrading his gear instead of just spending the same money on higher end gear? I may completely disagree with his preferences, but they are his to make, and there are plenty of companies to satisfy those preferences.
I am not saying that anyone here isn't entitled to their opinion or voicing it. I am saying that maybe we can do that with a little better respect and class.
You want to talk about what actually hurts the sport? It is the pointless name calling, immaturity, lack of sportsmanship, & self destructive attacks on other paintballers/companies who don't share our particular perspective. It isn't HK or kids being kids.
As a side note I would like to say, think what you want of the HK guys, but their attitude in this sport isn't negative, it's energizing and fun. Thats why they are popular (even if their antics are immature). They are incredibly nice individuals who genuinely care about every aspect of this sport and growing it as a community. If anything their ability to goof around, have a good time, & outright positive outlook regarding the entire culture of paintball will only bring in new blood.
That's what I been saying.
All his video showed was younger player being youthful. For that one video I can run online and find 5 others depicting kids acting a similar way without HK influence. Kids are kids, simple as that.
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Midwest Based Sports and Action Photographer
I love how everyone complains about HK, yeah they party hard and play paintball (sometimes at the same time). If you actually know the guys from the Hk crew they are great guys and almost spend more time promoting paintball than anyone else.
In terms of sponsorship,even beyond paintball, the objective is to better your organization anyway possible and Dynasty believes HK clothing will do so.IMO i think this is a smart move for dynasty because now almost every major paintball company is represented in the pro divisions.
This new sponsorship dynasty ventured to is going to be different and interesting just fact that theyre not empire anymore and seeing them rocking HK. **** Ollie was the first to rock the hk shredder and don't tell me any of you guys didn't like them. Personally I haven't used those shoes lol. But hey let's see how next season goes..
HK has been producing more and more products, instead of just headbands and shirts. they actually have more gear and rumors are being spread about " a mask" and "hopper" true or not this company is growing. you can't bash this merge. its unconventional yes. but not dumb in the least bit
Dynasty went from professionals to clowns just like that.
1. Good business move for HK on making the move to Dynasty further making their brand more recognized. (and in the music scene as well.)
2. HK makes all their money targeting people between the ages of 12-28 (roughly).
3. You can't make fun or bash on kids for imitating the HK moniker. I'm sure that's what HK wanted to do and create and if you still do, you're just as immature and ignorant as the kids you make fun/bash on.
i agree the HHH think is annoying as hell, but at the same time when i think of HK i think of guys who are having fun playing the sport they love, because whenever i see the guys from HK in a vid they are goofing around. no it is not professional, but it is necessary. these are not business guys who saw an opportunity in paintball, they are players who want to get out there and have fun.
I'm older, was out of the sport for a while, got back in and I like how HK is trying to make it fun and drive the sport. When it gets too serious is when we forget what its about.. just have fun. Hell some of their stuff is actually ok.. if you dont mind neon colors
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