If by that you mean the tournament pro level paintball industry, well it is not really dying, but it is metamorphosing as the industry responds to the economic crisis. The days of unlimited sponsorships and industry gratis is long gone -- they just don't have the money. Independent paintball firms are being supplanted by mega corporate distributors and the mom and pop paintball store is becoming a thing of the past thanks to the internet world. The industry is changing as it recognizes that NPPL style pro level paintball is not the only game out there in the paintball world. You will see a resurgence of woods, and especially pump play, over the next several years as paintball goes back to its roots. One just has to look at the industry interest in scenario and big game promotions. There is money to be made there. I see the weekend walk on player saving his/her money and participating in only select events over the summer as opposed to the every Sunday speedball habit.
Paintball is not dying per se, however it isn't the healthiest industry out there either. Face it, when mom and dad, or the average paintballer has to shell out close to $100 a day to play paintball, in these economic times, that money may go to the grocery bill or in the gas tank before it ever gets to the paintball field.
Over the next several years I see the industry reducing the amount of marker manufacturers out there, or at least cutting back on the model years. I mean anyone who has held an '08 ego has basically held an '09 -- there may be some simple milling differences, but the guts are pretty much the same. And in this day and age, who has a grand laying around just to satisfy the need to upgrade year after year. Some of the smaller manufacturers will go away, or merge with others. Smart Parts hasn't helped the world of open source marker development with their patent infringement lawsuits and the subsequent licensing agreements taking r&d money out of the hands of those who might even consider developing something new. At least in the electro field where SP runs amok.
There is some innovation in the industry though -- spyder has their 'new' 11mm pb pistol, Tippman with the TPX, and CCM is developing some great stuff in terms of the high end pump markers. But basically the technology of the paintball marker isn't that different then it was 10 years ago. The corporate environment has taken some of the fun out of trying new things and presenting them to a niche community to evaluate. Nowadays everything has focus groups and business plans, litigation, and patent enforcement -- really puts the squelch on development.
So... TL;DR -- Paintball is sick, but not dead... at least not yet.
a lot of smaller companies have been eaten up by the larger ones due to the recent economy, but that does not mean paintball is dying, there is just less variety in equipment out there now, but that doesnt mean companies will not start up again once the economy is going uphill again
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Crawdaddy
I'm not going to lie if I were rich and famous I'd be running people over with my car all the damn time.
blue to black dm6
hyper 3
top hat mod
laser eyes
CP flow plug
32 degrees drop forward (yes i like my drop forwards)
cp micro on/off asa
deadly winds 14" fibur barrel with full freak
Dye rotor with speed feed
centerflag 68/4500 with on/off
Medic is right, pump play is making a come back. A little as 3 years ago I knew almost no one who had a pump, now half my team does and another good portion of other players in the area do. Everyone is looking for that thrill of paintball, but to not hit the wallett so hard.
The people are cooler too, they are eager to help new people and they don't trash talk each other except in a fun way. Many players are ex and current military, police, swat, spec-ops, etc. I actually sold off my paintball gear and have converted to airsoft. My average game cost: $25
tokyo, IMO you really don't know what your talking about and as phrased earlier your just blowing hot air. I've noticed pump coming into play now. I've yet to see anyone locally take it on a speedball field. Yet there is rec-ball one where I've noticed more and more people using them. Along with oldschool friday my field has where its nightball, pump and gravity feed only. I've yet to resort to start playing pump, I have noticed the Azodin pumps appear to be a nice gun w/ a nice price.
i dont think its dying but the way the sport is now has to change. I got into the sport about 6 months ago, so i had this vast selection of gear and no idea what to get. so i went to a local pb shop and got decent gear and a spyder victor. My first time playing was at a local field i felt really good about myself then you meet the guys with the egos and dm8 and bob longs and your morale just dies and they give you weird looks. This sport needs to help the new players and show them the ropes not look down on them because of their non high end markers or equipment. everyone starts somewhere
well I haven't played in over 4 years now, most of my buddies I played with haven't played in atleast 3, I know around here it's just not how it used to be. I'd love to start playing, I just don't have the money anymore
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sabman
Because power is good.....like cheese and fruit snacks.
The people are cooler too, they are eager to help new people and they don't trash talk each other except in a fun way. Many players are ex and current military, police, swat, spec-ops, etc. I actually sold off my paintball gear and have converted to airsoft. My average game cost: $25
I found it to be the exact opposite. I am a Marine Combat Veteran and now SWAT Officer in the civilian world. The primary reason I chose paintball over airsoft is because almost all the airsoft players I met took it waaaaay too seriously. Everyone runs around with rank structures on their team talking trash about how much they "train" and acting like they are actual warriors. It made me gag. I started playing speedball and so far everyone I've met has been very laid back and extremely nice.
If you find airsoft more to your liking, good for you. I'm not saying it's a bad game either, just not for me.
The people are cooler too, they are eager to help new people and they don't trash talk each other except in a fun way. Many players are ex and current military, police, swat, spec-ops, etc.
you just described many paintballers. ive met many that are proud to help me and give me some spare parts. example: most of the people on this very forum, thats here for that purpose. sadly, you have met some not-so-great people in the world of paintball. the cocky, smart-mouthed type. well, too bad for you that you cant decipher whos who in the world. not a good way to live. you know that everyone jokes around with eachother with fun trash talk. it makes people try harder, train harder, and head towards a common goal. and most are actual weapons forces, go to a game and ask: "whos milt, police, swat, etc..."
you obviously never delved very far in the paintball community.
hes says his average game cost is 25. the field fee here is $10. 500 rounds: $10. 5000 psi of air: $5.
add em up.
to save time for you ill put the total here: $25.
that can last me a day.
for other people, they get more into it.
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(Talking about matching jersey and pants):"this looks serious, oh lets go be near those guys, they look like they know what theyre doing." "how so?" "dude, they got uniforms."
i really dont know what im talking about...
Own:
Angel IR3, WGP 98 Autococker, WGP 99? Pump, Spyder Tlx/Xtra, Delta .68 Pistol, 68/30 & 68/45 HPA, 68 Carbine, 2 Pro-Lites, 68 Classic Automag, BKO, more..
Wishlist:
Springs, Timmy, 10 round tubes, CO2 cartridge band, triggers, VloJr or Empire B, and other misc.
LEGIT, IM SERIOUS (sgt.slaughter jacked this from joe):
Is paintball really dying?
Is paintball really dying?
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