[Team.Infected]

Originally Posted by robs45

the reward of the top two moving up isnt reward enough???

Originally Posted by John

Well you have to remember the PSP wants to entice some D1, Millenium and NPPL teams into the new Challenger division.

I've been wondering that too. How do prizes work for the Challengers division?

I was asking out of curiosity, yes moving to championship division is a nice reward but I'm just thinking that d1 teams that are being asked to move to pro and team that now want to join the psp to play pro may need something in addition.
Some teams might think why move to pro if they will be stuck in the challengers all season when they may be a top 5 team in d1. They could think it is more beneficial to stay in d1 to collect prize money and podium finishes if they are not confident that they will be a consistent top 10 team in pro. Yes it's everyone's goal to play pro, yes playing pro is a good learning experience, and yes majority teams never podium and come out empty handed. But if there is a small prize for challengers then teams may be more willing to take the beatings with hope that they will at least get a prize.
I can see ones mentality as we should play another 1-2 seasons in d1, gain more exp, rack up some wins and prizes to help with cost and then once more matured move up.

Maybe as a prize for the challenger bracket could be for the 3&4th place team and just like entry for the next event. The top 2 teams move to champions. Just as an additional motivation to be willing to take the chance and play pro. Now they can justify moving to pro as we will gain great experience and have a chance to play the next event free or best case scenario place top 2 and go to the champions bracket.

Idk though. Really just spitballing and curious.

[Team.Infected]

On another note I hope teams that once played psp and stopped or play in other leagues but not psp come join the psp league now. A team like xsv would be a nice sight back in psp. Ton tons are already joined up. Curious to see if and which other pro teams from other leagues join

[Shootingropes]

Originally Posted by m3s0h0rn7

Semi-LOL-Pro.

I couldn’t imagine how things could get much worse.

Isn’t the point of all this to sell water-balloons and “chew the fat” of our Nation’s soft core violent interests? How does this do that?

Instead of acting to work with others the PSP continues to cater to the like-mindedness of an overly burdened marketplace in the hopes of selling a privatized game format. I don’t know how these people can afford to put together a package like this, both in the sense of purpose and financially.

Basically it guarantees that half of the former Pro teams working towards investment are now “challengers”? The PSP rips off an NPPL stand-by division, but instead cuts its leading marketing production in half?

They weren’t selling hot dogs to begin with, how will they ever convince those mutts to stick around?

The further down this path they go the more convinced I am that tournament paintball appeals to those without creativity in a vacuum of sales.

Statistics show that sameness in social environments produces asymmetry and eventually polarization to the point of, let’s just say, moral and evolutionary bankruptcy. I’m sure there isn’t a far off corollary here.

(Then again, I play for free, so none of this effects me whatsoever. What can I say, I am bias.).

What the **** are you talking about, Mr. Hawkings?

[Team.Infected]

I wonder how long it took him to write that while looking at the dictionary and thesaurus every other word lol

[m3s0h0rn7]

Originally Posted by JohnSherman

You sound like one of those people who runs their rants through a thesaurus in order to sound intelligent.

Anyway, the teams that will be populating the Challengers division will have an opportunity to win their way up to Champions. Just because people were given the chance to play Pro doesn't mean they've earned it. Teams like Aftershock will have to prove that they deserve to face the best teams in the world, it won't just be a given anymore.

Stop it, you’re too kind!

I do try, really, really hard to make it easy enough for people to read such foolishness in text. It's not an easy thing to describe such idiocy.

There is little difference—No bearing, no metric, besides of course ones invented by a very slim margin of “influence”. (They like to hold these "insider" meetings like it's some Situation Room 100 stories underground and play dress up in the robes of self-importance).

“Challengers” already have that opportunity- it’s called “competition”, bro.

Adding another gate to the equation doesn’t make the destination any sweeter or more valuable when its arraignment has proven more profitable with less intervention. It goes to distinguish a track record of further invisibility among the eyes of potential clients and customers. Paintball is seen less and less by "outsiders" and more to the assinine "repeat" customer of an average 3-year player lifespan.

A limited liability company selling an idea with needless corporatism, further dividing itself and product.

The whole thing really is too much. Try reading a book. It flies in the face of even the insane to continue doing the same thing with ever worsening results. Eventually at least, the insane die of boredom, but this is just masochism.

Say, wouldn’t it make a “whole lot o sense” to start selling posters, calendars, DVD’s and t-shirts to a mass market audience? You could even split up the profits among the teams! Didn’t people used to a-do that sort of thing, say, before the PSP had proportions of the monolithic? NXL anyone? Oh... right.

So, wait- even after dissociating itself for nearly a decade, the PSP still doesn’t have an audience of that size? And you say they’ve promised this thing before? This advertisement of categorical success? Some purchasing power of the player in self-identities?

No TV coverage?

No internet advertisements?

No Magazine, paper or news related items of human interest?

Not counting of course the void created by the PSP to replace these sorts of things only to advertise to the already mentioned like-minded population of paintball. (Which is continuing to thin btw…) I guess paintball is better protected when it's least exposed.

I wonder why that is? UHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH-town is riding again my friend. HUZZAH!

[n3s7]

dude, you're trying too hard...

[Pando]

Originally Posted by VPB-ChristianW

... all it does is raise the stakes. What paintball lacks is interest in the "lesser known" teams - the "why should I care" factor. This makes us even care about those games where we otherwise wouldn't and elegantly solves the scheduling difficulties of a huge pro division (at the cost of another field...ouch!). So I'd give Raehl credit for the idea. But the "I don't care who plays just make them fight it out with broken bottles in the parking lot to see" sounds redneck enough to be Lane. On the other hand the story telling potential sounds like Matty... All in all a good compromise.

Nailed it.

[BIGCAN-RULES]

Everyones entitled to their opinion (except E-thesauraus guy) but to me as a fan, the PSP has put something in place that will allow me to see the best possible paintball being played anywhere. Only the absolute best will compete in the premier division and these "top" teams will have to continually practice, prepare,etc to remain on top all season (Patriots anyone?). My only question, will rosters be locked at a given point to stop the shipjumpers? Contracts being signed and enforceable by the league would take the sport that extra step it needs towards legitimacy.

Great move PSP, can't wait to see Dynasty and vicious on the podium in dallas

[Trey A]

How willl they do series prize for challengers division!!??

[UndecidedPball]

I think that some people in this thread don't understand the whole point of the new format. The Challenger division is NOT a semi-pro division. That division is ment so the bottom two teams from Dallas be able to have a chance of winning at the 2nd event. It makes sense with what PSP is doing. Why give teams like CEP the chance to be able to play the best paintball teams and just get smashed. Bring some d1 teams up to the Challenger division and have CEP prove themselves there. If teams really think they can play at the pro level it shouldnt be handed to them and if they cant perform why let them stay. Make them work for their spot

[stingi17]

Originally Posted by UndecidedPball

I think that some people in this thread don't understand the whole point of the new format. The Challenger division is NOT a semi-pro division. That division is ment so the bottom two teams from Dallas be able to have a chance of winning at the 2nd event. It makes sense with what PSP is doing. Why give teams like CEP the chance to be able to play the best paintball teams and just get smashed. Bring some d1 teams up to the Challenger division and have CEP prove themselves there. If teams really think they can play at the pro level it shouldnt be handed to them and if they cant perform why let them stay. Make them work for their spot

[smarthomes]

The CEP guys won 2 events their D1 year and got 2nd at Cup behind Ton Tons (that decided to play D1). There were only 4 events that year. Nothing was given to us and we didn't buy our Pro spot. We might of been able to stay D1, but we decided to step up and play the best teams in the World. It hasn't been pretty, but we can't afford to pay allstars and for endless skids of practice paint either. We love playing paintball, so we keep on grinding trying to become better players and a better team.

I agree with the changes being made and CEP looks forward to the season. The simple fact is that there is a huge gap between D1 and Pro and the changes the PSP are making will help develop new pro teams and keep it exciting for the fans.

[vivriley71083]

i think it is going to be good for the sport

[*Daylight*]

dumb. should make the relegation like pro soccer.

[baddogh27]

Soccer and paintball are different the NPPL tried that and it just ended up with dynasty and xsv owning two pro spots. I am not saying it couldn't work but I like the way it is laid out. I am not sure but I feel like it was also stated that their would be prizes for the teams who place in challengers, hopefully they will be better than d1 prizes. This is a great step for our sport all of the points and all of the matches will matter more. And you won't have to see all these matches that are just formalities.

[Henrybg]

Originally Posted by m3s0h0rn7

Semi-LOL-Pro.

I couldn’t imagine how things could get much worse.

Isn’t the point of all this to sell water-balloons and “chew the fat” of our Nation’s soft core violent interests? How does this do that?

Instead of acting to work with others the PSP continues to cater to the like-mindedness of an overly burdened marketplace in the hopes of selling a privatized game format. I don’t know how these people can afford to put together a package like this, both in the sense of purpose and financially.

Basically it guarantees that half of the former Pro teams working towards investment are now “challengers”? The PSP rips off an NPPL stand-by division, but instead cuts its leading marketing production in half?

They weren’t selling hot dogs to begin with, how will they ever convince those mutts to stick around?

The further down this path they go the more convinced I am that tournament paintball appeals to those without creativity in a vacuum of sales.

Statistics show that sameness in social environments produces asymmetry and eventually polarization to the point of, let’s just say, moral and evolutionary bankruptcy. I’m sure there isn’t a far off corollary here.

(Then again, I play for free, so none of this effects me whatsoever. What can I say, I am bias.).

This helps to bridge a gap not to cater to your interests

[i EaT yEaRbOoKs....]

So what does this do with the prizes? Pro normally wins 10k right? Will there be a set amount in for the challengers division? Or is the prize playing for the 10k next event?

[Pump Scout]

Originally Posted by xxinvision

It blows my mind how crucial this makes event 4.
mfw heat, damage, and russians all choke and play challenger for wc.

Originally Posted by JohnSherman

Only two teams drop down...

Plus, when you consider points, winning World Cup doesn't mean the slightest bit more than winning any other event. I'm not seeing how this makes the fourth event "crucial."

Theoretically possible. Let's take four high level teams as examples. Dynasty, Heat, Legion, Damage. Chicago 2013, Damage and Heat drop their respective balls, and come in dead last in the Champions division, relegating them to the Challengers division for Event 4. At Event 4, Dynasty and Legion have a bad weekend, placing bottom two in Champions, which relegates them to Challengers division for Cup. Meanwhile, in the Challengers division at Event 4, Heat and Damage fail to take top two spots, which keeps them in Challengers for Cup.

This is kind of the beauty of the setup - the face of each of the divisions of the pro level will always be changing. It's not guaranteed that the top/bottom two teams will always be swapping. Half of each division could, in theory, be different going to Cup than it is going into Event 2.

[kwik]

the only issue with the theoretical setup described by pump is you then have 4 of the top teams, the ones with the most fans, in the dvision not being televised except for their finals match.

I dont have an issue with this per say, but I wonder what kind of issues it may cause with those watching the telecasts wanting to see those teams.

[Pump Scout]

And that's the motivation for the teams to rock the house. It's not likely to happen that way, but it's possible. The teams in the Champions division will have to stay motivated to stay out of the bottom two spots, and the teams in the Challengers division will be motivated to scratch their way into their top two. Could the whole thing cause issues for the teams? You bet it could. But it's also going to make sure that if there's a team that's well past their prime, or came up too soon, or whatever the case may be, they're not going to be constantly in the top divisions based on nothing stronger than a long-standing name, or team owner. The cream will rise to the top, as it should be.

[robs45]

I just hope the other teams that will fill the challengers division are teams that have earned it or are regulated up. Not a throw together d3 team trying to prove themselves.