NPL=USPL
An official press release has hit the Nation in the News section (too lazy to link and they don't need my help) so take a look if you're interested. It's a distinct improvement over the tourneyspeak of the last unofficial release that was showing up on assorted team websites and places like PBReserve (link in sidebar). This one isn't heavy on detail but it's not intelligence insulting either and I did enjoy the conclusion where it nattered on about setting rules, standards and guidelines for safe, competitive paintball tournaments worldwide. It's good to have goals but how 'bout getting past the first event before taking on the world?
Still nothing concrete on format (beyond being 7-man) except the conferences will populate the regional events and it makes me wonder if that means mixed prelims of some sort like the old days. Just a guess 'cus I don't know. I suppose you could run an event with an 8 team pro bracket. Kinda.
UPDATE: To add some necessary clarity. As of right now apparently the pro division is 16 teams divided into Eastern and Western conferences. One supposes evenly divided, so 8 teams per conference. Hence my guess. But it could as easily be a 7 game prelim going directly to a semi-final. (Was that helpful or just more confusing?)
There is developing a faction within the industry looking to fight the idea of the latest ROF restrictions. In a form letter one of the arguments made is that ROF restrictions don't trickle down to the local level so it's a waste of time BUT another argument is that such restrictions stifle innovation and technological development. I'm open to either argument but not both simultaneously. If the restrictions have no impact they aren't stifling anything. Perhaps a better argument is that the restrictions may impact tournament play at the local level and as a consequence may reduce the level of bidness interest in innovation and tech development.
Anyway, the bigger picture is that I'm beginning to think this is an issue that isn't going to go away anytime soon and could easily re-enter the format wars depending on what the USPL does.
Friday, January 16, 2009
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12 comments:
I can hear the screech from Davidson already...
Go Baca Loco, put it all out there on both leagues. I think someone needs to break all this craziness down, especially for the smaller guys. Keep up the great work!
Lane makes me mad and acts like a 2 year old. I will be nice and keep it at that.....
Appreciate it, anon. I think everybody involved is doing the best they can (including Lane) but I also think it's a good idea to open up some of these decisions for discussion. And as a no life paintballer it helps keep me off the street. And of course I'll be in Phoenix.
Phoenix will hopefully be fun.
Baca Loco I appreciate you stating all the facts both positive and negative. I also know it must be difficult being a coach of a pro team and having the good ol boy network monitor this board. It a shame others dont vocie their opinion in the same fashion, but trust me I know how really small the paintball community is. Just to let you know, I do read your forum on a daily basis, and yes you are doing a great job. I do beleive the USPL as stated by someone on PBReserve does have legs, but the facts about Chuck H. never sticking around for the lonh haul definitely leaves a sour taste in my mouth. As we both know if the USPL fails, I'm sure the PSP will penalize all of those that didnt committ. Trust me I know how the system works. I would like to hear more from this USPL committee asap and not all these I stole this off Rich Telford's laptop crap. We need solid facts with names, trust me I understand this is all new developments, but a strong business plan has these things mapped out. Trust me we both know if the USPL fails the PSP will castrate the teams that boycotted them. USPL needs to list their steering committee and make sure we all know everyones roles. I like all the concepts, at least the things I read about the USPL, but I also fear the favortism Chuck H. brings to Dynasty. Trust me no need for solid evidence here, clear fact... Alex Fraige is bright and overall I beleive all the names mentioned want the best for the USPL to succeed. This whole thing is really making tournament paintball interesting. The one true unknown at this point is the fact no one really knows how many teams are going to honestly show up due to the weak economy. Many teams in the past we're factory driven and supported. We all know Pro teams are barely getting by with their sponsorships, especially paint allocation. Traditionally the first event for the PSP is generally low attendance, my bet USPL strategically did HB for their's. As we all know HB is a blast and if they put together a huge USPL kickoff PSP can be in big trouble quick. My honest opinion Lane rather be fishing any way... Again keep up the good work on keeping us all posted, I may be retired but I do care about the sport I put so much time and energy in.
Oh and one more thing, it honestly makes me mad that more people dont post or leave a comment. Great topics and post deserve comments. All you lazy paintballers get your fingers moving. Remember this is your future and all of you determine the direction this ship sails....
On the subject of ROF formats trickling down to local level I can definately say that they do right over here in the UK. And when it comes to stifling innovation in technology I really don't think these innovations will be coming in the rate of fire department-after all just about every mid to high end gun out there is capable of firing faster than any site I've ever played allows. I've got to say that I think lowering the ROF at lower levels will improve the game play from what we see at the moment where the newer players just sit in their bunkers to afraid to make a move.
Ed does bring up a good point about capping the ROF, and I firmly beleive its a good idea. I'm tired of hearing innovation will be stalled or halted. Trust me I can still think of hundred different things even the 2009 paintball markers can improve on. NASCAR to me is the best example of this. There are certain requirements that need to be met by NASCAR regarding the engine etc. etc. So what do the pit crew do? look for other avenues of tweaking the car. That's high performance at another level. At what rate should the guns be capped, I'm not sure, but anywhere from 13-15 seems to make sense. Maybe lower level teams should have their ROF regulated a bit lower, I think it would allow younger players to get more creative and feel more secure in moving...
I played pro in both the NPPL and NXL. The one thing I can testify is that the uncapped semi auto is an absolute joke... Trust me from experience every pro out there is cheating one way or the other. Bouncing triggers, gun board programs, you name it, its out there. Its all about if you get caught or not. The funny thing is the NPPL once had this robot, I think that lasted a whole 2 events. It tool so long to find the machine, turn it on, then what the gun mysteriously turned off or the special program when back to default settings. The other treat was all the players that had to sit there and wait on their teammate and wonder if he was going to make the next game. As for the great ol NXL, full proof right... They have radar guns, and pac timers and headsets well I hate to bust your bubble Tony M. not sooo much. Players do have certain tactics for getting around all these restrictions. In Tony's defense he does run a tight ship and trust me from experience there is a lot less cheating going on in the NXL and PSP. As we all know you cant prevent all cheating but if the penalty is severe enough like in NASCAR you will rarely run into it.
PS I hate NASCAR for the record
Ed, where are you at in the UK? Hit me up on iPigeonDeux@Googlemail.com.
Where do we go from 10bps though? We had 15.4, and the industry couldn't sustain the amount of paint being shot. We could say the same with 13.3/12, as people were shooting the same amount of paint at a slightly slower speed. Now we're onto 10, which is supposedly (Like 13.3/12) going to save us all money. What could happen is that the paint sponsors will get used to supporting teams shooting 10bps, then when the time comes (couple years time, itll probably be raised. nice little cycle will probably appear), all these teams that are on 10bps paint sponsorships will get a big shock, because the companies aren't willing to support them.
Pete.
Retiredpro
Thanks. Always nice to hear a kind word. When I made the move to a blog the only folks I sent notification to were a few paintball friends and all the movers and shakers I had email addys for. I'm not really doing anything I didn't do in the magazines--I just have more space. :-) Otherwise, it's never really been an issue.
For all its faults, past and present, I think paintball remains small enough that the players can and do make a contribution and could do more and the movers & shakers are more responsive than in most much more impersonal business situations. Sure, it's frustrating at times but I'm sure it is for everybody.
Ed & retiredpro
Innovation doesn't happen in a vacuum. As retiredpro suggested it comes when clear lines are drawn and folks try to figure how to do better within the framework of what's allowed. Say for example some peeps start using *real* semi-auto guns in the lower PSP divisions and the league doesn't worry about their ROF? How long before some enterprising small company tries to build a mechanical semi-auto that can shoot faster? That's innovation and technology too, isn't it?
Innovation will continue, just in a different direction. Having a ceiling on the rate of fire means that your product only has to perform up to and just a little bit beyond a certain level. So you can maximize performance in other areas.
Thats exactly what I was thinking Chris. ROF is only one element of performance if this is limited you focus on other areas. And Baca Loco thats kind of the sort of thing I was thinking of. I'd love to see more mechs shooting better but this isn't likely to happen against electros if you don't cap the rate.
Chris
I'm in Yorkshire you can find me on facebook-just look for Edward Holey
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