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Originally Posted by ezmonet
What has changed in the last 11 years  . |
I've been playing steady since the mid 80s, and I personally don't think much has changed.
Now, when I say that, people go "What? Are you crazy?". But the basic fundementals have remained the same. Here are some small differences:
1- Tournaments and Fields switching over from woodsball to speedball, because it costs LESS to run, and makes MORE money. Most tournaments are now speedball-formats, which is probobly the biggest change. Speedball was a gimmick 11 years ago. Now it is main-stream.
Thats why you see "inflatable bunkers". It costs LESS to setup, and can be done quicker. TIME as always EQUALS MONEY. And money rules the sport more then ever.
#1 is the only "Big" difference. Here are some smaller ones:
#2 - Most mid/high level guns are fully electronic. The main difference being the mechanical trigger is replaced with a super-light mouse-click. The main benefit being able to fire faster, along with more control over the functions of the gun.
#3 - Most mid/high level guns run on HPA, as the price has become affordable. All low/mid guns still run CO2, and is still the most popular gas. I don't see it going anywhere anytime soon.
#4 - Yes, the guns fire a little faster. Most people could shoot 7-8bps 11 years ago. Now, most people can shoot 10-12bps. A small change, but helped by the REMOVAL of the force-feed ban in 2001, which meant that you could fire STREAMS of 10-12bps without worrying about chopping a ball.
#5 - Cheating is widespread, and a major problem. CHeating, of course, has always been a problem since paintball works on the honor-system. But the switch to electronic guns has meant it is EXTREMELY EASY to have elaborate cheat modes that are virtually impossible to detect.
Otherwise, not much has changed.
A typical newbie, with a generic Tippmann or Spyder, who goes to an average woodsball ball, would see NO DIFFERENCE between 2004 or 1995. All the tactics and styles have remained unchanged.
-nick