[Jason(FK)]

Originally Posted by Legacy

Looks Cool.

So how long do we have to take advantage of the introductory price and where do you place that payment (bunkerkings website or somewhere else)?

Bunkerkings Europe Crowdfunding Campaign

Bunkerkings USA Crowdfunding Campaign

[Jason(FK)]

Originally Posted by firefoxx04

What is wrong with spire 3?

Nothing is wrong with the Spire III, this is another excellent option on a high-end loader with a smaller profile, different style, better balance, and an angle indicator training feature.

[Jason(FK)]

Originally Posted by Paul77

Jason, just tried to call the shop but its closed already.

I ordered one but would prefer if you could create a full package for the people who want it

-CTRL
-NTR
-Ramps i realize if the funding is raised the ramps may become included.
-N Charge

I just dont want to mess around with multiple orders

You're the man! The Ramps are not available yet, and I am pretty confident we will reach the goal so you'll make out even better. I get the shipment concern for multiple packages but the other items are small packages so that may help. Will you be at cup?

[Jason(FK)]

Originally Posted by Maximum6

I just ordered a black one.

I’m wanting the spring ramps and NTR speed feed to be included

The spring ramps are not available yet, and I am hoping we reach the stretch goals to get you all hooked up. Order the NTR now since we just got them back in stock! It is packed small so you'll get it quick and cheap!

[Jason(FK)]

Originally Posted by Legacy

Well this is what $60 cheaper if you jump in now. That’s the biggest temptation for me with it right to move on from my original spire.

I am standing behind this product and I am telling you as a player and not the brand manager that this feels insanely comfortable on the gun. I also am grateful that we tested this thing over and over completely working out the smallest issues to the largest issues. The final product of this thing truly won me over and I love it!

[Jason(FK)]

Originally Posted by Modat

So does this have the reload leds?
Is the firmware upgrade able via phone?

Not gonna lie, the tilt indicator seems extremely pointless.

It does not have a reload indicator and the firmware is not upgradable via phone. You may have been one of the ones that liked the feature on the Spire III but a lot of players wanted to be able to just change features right then and there on the loader so we went with that route and printed the modes on the board to make it simple.

The angle indicator is absolutely not pointless. Let me paint you a picture from someone that has made a career in paintball as a back player.

Sweet spotting off the break is a skill that takes a ton of repetition to become an expert at it. Now, most paintball players outside of the pro division will never be able to shoot the amount of paint to make you feel truly confident to rely on muscle memory.

So think of the Hitting Tee in baseball. Everyone laughed at it, right? What dummy thinks hitting this still ball will increase your ability to hit a pitch coming at 80+ mph. Well after players sucked up their pride and started to use the Tee it became a world-class training device used from children all the way to the pros. Because they could individually train, train muscle memory, hand-eye coordination, contact position, power transition, and more.

If you believe that any training device is "Extremely pointless" then with as much respect as I can I doubt you have what it takes to become a professional player. You should soak up any and all knowledge and training. Especially those that allow you to save money and train literally anywhere.

[Jason(FK)]

Originally Posted by eatp8nt

I'd also like if you could order as a full package. However I'd like to the speedfeed, ncharge, ramps(if doesn't hit goal) discounted since I'm sure black friday and boxing day will put that stuff on sale. Saves people from ordering twice. Once for this kickstarter and once for when the sales hit.

I completely understand and this was honestly a long discussion amongst our brainstorming meetings. The NTR can and will most likely be out of stock again so it was safer to allow people to order them now since we can't guarantee that they would be in stock when the CTRL lands.

N-charge is a virtue branded product. The CTRL is plug and play compatible but BK does not sell the N-charge so it will have to be ordered through Virtue.

[Jason(FK)]

Originally Posted by skatman

The main reason I would buy this is the quick change lid/speedfeed option compaired to staying with my v3 rotor. Never liked the R2 rotor. However two questions arise. I would never use the tilt indicator.
Can the tilt indicator be turned off? (IE to save battery life)
Why are the color options half and half? Why no solid grey/red/green/blue etc.?

You will fall in love with much more than just the quick change speedfeed when you start to use it. The Angle indicator uses such a low amount of voltage so no need to worry about it killing batter life and you can look right past it.

I do think that if you give the angle indicator an attempt you will truly enjoy the training aid. You can train at home or anywhere and just help develop your muscle memory. Have you ever snapped shot into a mirror to work on decreasing your profile and picking up speed? Same concept.

[Jason(FK)]

Originally Posted by karl_eller

"Optional" spring ramps? Come on, guys, I thought you'd figured it out with the Spire III, nobody wants to buy a high-end hopper and then have to fork out more for extra parts to make it work properly. I understand the IR not having them out of the box, it's a budget hopper, but not your new flagship model.

I'm tempted, but even at the introductory price, with all the upgrades and shipping I'm still looking at $250+, putting it in the same price as a Spire III + speedfeed bought locally.

As odd as it sounds not everyone wants the spring ramps and the loader can and will exceptionally without them. The ramps help when the paint stack is low or you're moving and shooting with a low amount of paint but I did play 2 events without the ramps while they were being created and never complained about the performance from the loader.

This loader doesn't need to be sold cheap I promise you that the campaign deal is exceptional for this loader. The performance, comfort, and low profile is outstanding. I promise that you will love how this feels on your gun. I wish I could just let everyone feel it on my gun, it is ridiculous.

[Jason(FK)]

Originally Posted by hth_1

You make a good point, seems pretty targeted to anyone not using a spire 3 already. I probably would have considered buying one if I didn’t already own a couple of spire 3

This is targeted to anyone with a paintball gun. This thing is so comfortable, easy to clean, low profile, simple operation, and works flawlessly

[Jason(FK)]

Originally Posted by John

I am very interested in checking this out. Will you guys be at World Cup with a booth?

Of course, we will! Stop by and check it out!

[Jason(FK)]

Originally Posted by SpinE

just wait till it's out for a couple months, they'll drop the price just like they did with the CMD.

You could definitely just save now using the Crowdfunding Campaign. I will take fault on the CMD Price drop because I moved into the Brand Manager Position and pushed to get a darker "Black" line for the CMD.

These already are mostly blacked out and I have an all black and camo model so I wouldn't bet on a price drop.

[Jason(FK)]

Originally Posted by John

I thought the CMD was cheapest through the pre-release?

You are correct. The last CMD Price drop was to bring in the highly requested Black Line of goggles. Those have not been price dropped and are doing exceptionally well. <3

[y0ukn0wit]

Preordered. I'm a woods guy, love that "kryptek" camo on that loader. Smaller profile spire 3, sold.

Now when can we get a CMD in that "highlander camo" print? Please and thank you

[Jason(FK)]

Originally Posted by Mrbpacking

I’m pretty sure the CVO specifically says it’s supposed to be used with a force fed loader - which to my knowledge the spire or those like it - are not??

They did say that the CVO shot better with the forced fed loader. We won ICC the first year shooting them with spires with no issues. We could have and should have won this year shooting them with spires but we may have had a few guys party a little too hard haha.

I used the CTRL this year at ICC with zero issues, and again at the ICPL. I will make you guys a shooting video asap of the CVO shooting with the CTRL.

Chris Williams and a few others rocked Cockers while using the CTRL with absolutely zero issues. We even fanned that trigger like a rock star haha!

[John]

Haha. Long day of World Cup practice and then lots of questions to answer. Keep it up!

[Jason(FK)]

Originally Posted by Rado269

Why is a black hopper $10 more than one with a colored bottom, but it's going to cost $24.95 to buy a colored top half? Seems like a full colored hopper would be cheaper. Or you know that a half-colored hopper will drive people nuts and they will spend the extra to get the top half.

Does the odd tilt light double as a reload light? Does the marker have an audible noise when low? I'm guessing neither of these are features since the ramp is an add-on and the hopper has no way to tell if it's low.

Also, what defines perfectly balanced? In the video the only thing that touched on this was a spring ramp on either side. Since this is an upgrade, does this mean it's not perfectly balanced out of the box? Where is the balance point that makes it perfect?

I'm not personally a fan of the "buy upgrade features" format presented, particularly when they're features that should be standard on a high end product, like matching colors and a ramp.

Needs some sort of video demonstrating how the modified code enables better feeding. Maybe show it ripping at 20bps and gently feeding an autococker at one ball per pull? Just interested in seeing the marketing jargon expanded upon.

Style of the hopper is nice but I'm not seeing anything that makes this a pick over a Spire 3 other than someone specifically wanting a Bunker Kings product.

Excellent questions honestly.

There is no reload indicator or audible noise when low. You are correct the smart ramp is what identifies those so without the smart ramp it does not work that way.

The two-tone color was a combination of advice and input from professional players that said they would not mind bright colors while using a colored bottom and blacktop which will help reduce the loader being seen from the opposing team while shooting downfield.

I will make a video of this baby feeding paint while ripping the gun at a high ROF for everyone.

The loader is perfectly balanced on the gun. The feedback on the majority of the guns sits just in front of the halfway mark on the gun. The CTRL centers the weight by staying low to the gun, storing the paint in the back of the loader mostly to pull the weight to the true center of the gun, and the lower profile helps reduce top-heaviness sway.

If you could honestly hold this on a gun it would speak for itself.

[Jason(FK)]

Originally Posted by lawf

looks great, would definitely use one but there is nothing wrong with my Spire IR, does everything i could want a loader to do.

Spire IR is a great loader. This is just better with more awesome features.

[Jason(FK)]

Hey guys so much love! Going to get some rest for practice tomorrow. I will be back on after practice tomorrow and try to get all of your questions answered.

[VPB-ChristianW]

Originally Posted by Lazzrus

Christian or Jason. My biggest concern is that I see the same guts with the exception of a second ramp inside as the Spire. I have a Spire already that I like and works fine with my autococker. I would like to have a virtue loader to use with my CVO. However if the CTRL has the same guts as the Spire I don't see it working with a CVO any better than the Spire. I didn't hesitate at all to get the CMD and have been MORE than happy with that purchase. Until I see it perform with a CVO, I will hold off purchasing this one.

From what I've seen... Some cvos just break paint. It might be because some have lots of blowback? The Adrenalin guys won an event with Spire IIIs and Cvos, Infamous just took 2nd if I'm not wrong, but they use the eclipse mechs.

I've seen Rotors break paint too with a cvo for what it's worth. Your call if the antijam performance benefit of the Spire III is worth it vs not pushing hard constantly on the paint (which of necessity increases the potential for a locking up in a jam).

The Spire III and the Ctrl both have the captured way which is both larger and partially covered to keep paint from shifting out both those design features do increase the peak rof and consistency of a high rof, especially compared to the IR/Spire200.

The CTRL uses a different logic, which is more responsive -- feeding activated after the first shot via accelerometer and doesn't stop feeding until after the stack as sufficient back pressure.

From what I've seen, if a mech gun has a breaking paint problem that's loader induced it's often when shooting your loader nearly dry, which usually won't matter to much what loader you use since the last few balls are more likely to feed slower.

The mech world definitely opens up all kinds of cans of worms we closed years ago with guns also being harsher on brittle paint etc. I was out half the game against Farside at the recent ICPL fixing the pump arm that rattled lose on my Cocker. Hah. Good times.

[Shufflefield]

No reason the ramps aren't stock. The angle indicator seems neat, but the most useful and innovative thing I can see is the rear ramp. As someone mentioned above, the front ramp is stock on the Spire III so it doesn't make sense that it wouldn't be on this + the rear ramp. and 25 bucks for a top shell (with no capacity upgrade) is too much. If the goal is met it's reasonable. But I would like the option to buy bottoms for 10 bucks after launch as well (really, I would spring 30 bucks to add a green top/purple top/green bottom/and buy the purple core set, but I am just really weird about purple and green).

I sprung for a cmd on the kickstarter with no regrets. It really is they best mask I have used and own. I would love to grab one of these, but 200+ for a full monty hopper is just too much these days. Even the Spire III is over priced. I assume niche market is why things cost so much on the higher end, but really I don't understand why a fully loaded ctrl (choice of color combo/ncharge/ramps/speed feed) isn't sub 150 off the break.

And on that note - and this isn't a slam on virtue/BNKR - Why are speed feeds not STOCK on every hopper these days? Who, even rec players, uses a lid if it's not raining? I know this stuff is the price leader stuff, the paintball equivalent of the candy in the grocery store check out line, but Speed feeds aren't really "special candy and last minute batteries" anymore, they are kind of necessary. It's like selling a marker with an intentionally crappy barrel which also doesn't happen anymore.

It's a rough balance. On one hand I get it. There isn't enough people buying this kind of stuff to really justify lower prices. But at the same time, for those of us that are in, we could use a break. Lower price may or may not "grow the sport" though. Who knows. I don't want to be too negative, but damn I am feeling the pinch.