Last week's question wanted to know what was your first introduction to paintball. The responses were fairly typical but instructive nonetheless. For all the Average Joe Ballers out there clamoring for friends taking friends to play paintball--you were right. It was the number one response by a huge margin. More people were introduced to paintball by a friend than the next three largest vote getters combined. And if friends bringing friends to play paintball is by far and away the most commonplace method how many local fields encourage the practice with special promotions and/or discounts? (I have no idea. But back when dinosaurs roamed the earth I don't recall the local field(s) I played at doing stuff quite like that. It was more like discounts based on past purchases or group related discounts.)
Anyway, rounding out the votes magazines garnered 5% as did TV (5%) with other media straggling in at 2%. Parties (16%), Outings (12%) & Other (14%) rounded out the other significant vote recipients. Some percentage of "Other" votes probably could have gone into one of the defined categories as well but mostly seemed to amount to stumbled across paintball from something seen or read or from a friend or acquaintance.
So who's going to organize a national Take a Friend to Play Paintball Day?
For the observant among you--Yes, you've guessed correctly and there is no new Monday Poll this week. If you've got an idea or are curious about something feel free to post up your Monday Poll suggestions in the comments. Or you could go crazy and comment on the post. Just throwing it out there.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Pro*file: Colt Roberts
Name: Colt RobertsAge: 28
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Occupation: HVAC Lead Installer
Family: Don and Deborah Roberts (parents), Desiree Mauldin (my love), Foxy (Pomeranian), JC (Bengal Cat), and Moses (Flame Point Siamese).
General interests other than paintball: Big time gamer nerd, any sport you name it, ancient civilizations.
1. What was your first paintball experience and who introduced you to the game?
Originally I decided to start playing because of a group of my High School friends. They all had this great idea to buy guns and start playing. This really got my attention because I had always wanted to try it and was finally at a point financially that I could. So I go to the local paintball store and buy all my stuff. I was bad with my Spyder 2000 for sure. Turns out I would be the only one to actually get the equipment so after a month of it collecting dust I went back to the store and asked the manager where a good place to play was. He told me about the field that he was playing out of called Lonestar. So I went Sunday morning ready to play and soon found out that it was team practice on Sunday mornings. So I decided to jump in and next thing I knew I was on a team that day playing a tournament the following weekend. After that I was hooked and have been playing tournament paintball ever since.
2. What team do you play for now?
San Antonio X-Factor
3. What teams have you played for in the past?
TBA, Fuel, TX Storm, Avalanche, Arsenal, Naughty Dogs, X-Factor.
4. What role do you play on your current team?
Corner or snake insert. Unless needed somewhere else. I'll play anywhere.
5. Who are your favorite paintball players?
Dave Bains, Bobby Aviles, Frankenstein from old Russian Legion.
6. What’s your best paintball experience or memory?
Winning Huntington Beach Pro (X-Factor) and the Smart Parts World Championship (Naughty Dogs)
7. What’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve done in order to play paintball?
We drove from San Antonio, TX to Atlantic City, NJ and camped just to play Novice 5 man. We ended up taking second so it wasn't a total waste of time.
8. What is the single most important lesson the up and comer needs to learn?
Play people better than you every chance you get. That's the only way to get better. If you don't believe me just go out to your local tournament and look for the teams that have been playing rookie 3 man for 22 years. Learn that and learn respect. Don't run in thinking you're some hot shot that deserves a full ride when you've only played rookie 5 man.
9. What keeps you playing paintball?
I still love to play. Not to mention I'm competing at the pinnacle of the sport. I just can't walk away.
10. Do you (or any of your teammates) have any superstitions related to playing paintball?
Grayson Goff has to stay up all night playing wizard games before a match.
VFTD: Thanks, Colt. Way to throw Grayson under the bus. Things have been kinda slow, rumor-wise, lately so maybe you can blow this up into an ongoing feud. For the kids. Just a suggestion. While we're at it--Let's hear it Grayson. We need to know more about your wizard games.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Keeping It Real
If you stopped by looking for a new Pro*file check back tomorrow. (Yes, Friday is the regularly scheduled day when I have some and I do--but not today. I'ma little busy.) The Pro*file was getting bumped a day in order to post on this weekend's WCPPL field layout--which should play well except things may bog down a bit in the snake--only I simply don't have time to do it right and do it today. Should be posted Sunday (or Monday) so y'all playing the event can tell me if I got it right or not.
What I do want to comment on today is a conversation that occurred on one of my local sports talk radio channels while I was on the road earlier. The subject was LeBron James and what a loser he is. How he'll never be another Michael Jordan or even another Kobe Bryant even if he is a billionaire by the time he's thirty. The conversation annoyed me on so many levels it's hard to keep track of them all. How much I despise the star system that is the modern NBA; how much some sports figures are deified; how easily and superficially the same guys are then crucified and over the most trivial of things. How completely detached from reality do you have to be to see things that way? I guess that makes Mr. Local Sports Radio Talk Guy the ultimate loser 'cus he isn't ever going to win or lose anything of a similar nature while he pulls down that not-quite-a-major-market-afternoon slot-on-an-afterthought-station paycheck. And could somebody please tell me how many championships Mike won all by himself? Just what is it that affords the Jordans and Bryants and opportunity to be idolized? What if Jordan wasn't a basketball player? What if, instead he was a car salesman or a garbage collector?
Look, I agree with this much--if LeBron has to win a title carrying a team and a city on his back it isn't going to happen. It's foolish to believe otherwise because it doesn't happen--not even for Micheal Jordan. And James isn't Jordan. He doesn't have the iron will or the pathological self-confidence. Yet, despite appearances it remains a team game. But what's really at the bottom of all this? If Michael Jordan or LeBron James were paintball players some would still idolize them but mostly they'd be told to grow up, get a life, quit wasting their time and figure out before it's too late that paintball is a dead end.
What I do want to comment on today is a conversation that occurred on one of my local sports talk radio channels while I was on the road earlier. The subject was LeBron James and what a loser he is. How he'll never be another Michael Jordan or even another Kobe Bryant even if he is a billionaire by the time he's thirty. The conversation annoyed me on so many levels it's hard to keep track of them all. How much I despise the star system that is the modern NBA; how much some sports figures are deified; how easily and superficially the same guys are then crucified and over the most trivial of things. How completely detached from reality do you have to be to see things that way? I guess that makes Mr. Local Sports Radio Talk Guy the ultimate loser 'cus he isn't ever going to win or lose anything of a similar nature while he pulls down that not-quite-a-major-market-afternoon slot-on-an-afterthought-station paycheck. And could somebody please tell me how many championships Mike won all by himself? Just what is it that affords the Jordans and Bryants and opportunity to be idolized? What if Jordan wasn't a basketball player? What if, instead he was a car salesman or a garbage collector?
Look, I agree with this much--if LeBron has to win a title carrying a team and a city on his back it isn't going to happen. It's foolish to believe otherwise because it doesn't happen--not even for Micheal Jordan. And James isn't Jordan. He doesn't have the iron will or the pathological self-confidence. Yet, despite appearances it remains a team game. But what's really at the bottom of all this? If Michael Jordan or LeBron James were paintball players some would still idolize them but mostly they'd be told to grow up, get a life, quit wasting their time and figure out before it's too late that paintball is a dead end.
Enlistments for the Week
Y'all don't make world domination easy. But that's okay. The DPA (Deadbox Puppet Army)--see the sidebar (d'oh!)--is pleased to report two new recruits this week.
VFTD welcomes Mike (Yo, Mike) & dave skeen (hey dave) to the ranks of the DPA.
As for the rest of you lazy slackers it's not if but when. World domination may seem like an impossibility, it's not; it's an inevitability. Take your cue from dave. He didn't bother with an avatar or anything fancy and I bet it took only a minute so there's no excuse. It's simple really, join the DPA or be a forgotten footnote in the annals of history. No pressure.
UPDATE: Not that I'm about name dropping but there's a new recruit today jumped on board. One of the original wild & crazy kids, T-Hump, Tyler Humphrey. No fancy avatar, no flashy look at me. Go on, check it out. Hey, T, wassup? Thanks and say hey to everybody.
VFTD welcomes Mike (Yo, Mike) & dave skeen (hey dave) to the ranks of the DPA.
As for the rest of you lazy slackers it's not if but when. World domination may seem like an impossibility, it's not; it's an inevitability. Take your cue from dave. He didn't bother with an avatar or anything fancy and I bet it took only a minute so there's no excuse. It's simple really, join the DPA or be a forgotten footnote in the annals of history. No pressure.
UPDATE: Not that I'm about name dropping but there's a new recruit today jumped on board. One of the original wild & crazy kids, T-Hump, Tyler Humphrey. No fancy avatar, no flashy look at me. Go on, check it out. Hey, T, wassup? Thanks and say hey to everybody.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Paintball 101
If you haven't read yesterday's post, Competitive Paintball as Recreation?, check it out before you continue here. (Or don't. Doesn't affect me one way or the other but this one will be better understood in the context of yesterday's post. However, I believe in your freedom to choose. Besides, screwing up here doesn't entail bitter, crushing consequences. Not unlike if you worked for Goldman Sachs apparently. But alas, no six figure bonuses.)
The weak link in yesterday's suggestion is that merely hanging around a paintball field doesn't imbue the average slacker with the skills or knowledge of the game by osmosis. And the principle pleasure in playing a competitive style of paintball is in matching wit and skill against your opponents. Unlike newbie paintball where the big thrills are the unknown, the consequent adrenaline rush and getting to shoot at people (and get shot at) all forms of competitive style play require varying degrees of knowledge and skills.
What? Oh, quit your whining. Yes, sure, woodsball and all the traditional forms of recreational play benefit from player knowledge and skill too but it isn't a perquisite. Don't get me wrong. A group of first timers could play on a speedball field and have a great time but it isn't the field that distinguishes styles of play. The new player plays any kind of field largely on instinct and with the aid perhaps of a few tips from friendly temporary teammates.
(Tangential thought: has anybody considered the possibility paintball loses players to boredom? Here's a separate post topic for you while I'm at it: How Do Newbies Learn To Play Paintball?)
One reason I suggested more optional competitive style play for recreational purposes is because I believe the game has more depth, is more demanding and more satisfying as a player begins to learn more about playing the game. Anybody can play but not everybody can play well. And learning to play well brings with it a whole new level of reward that has nothing to do with winning or losing. It also provides additional reasons and motivations to play. It's okay to feel lost and confused the first time. Not so much the tenth time. Or so it seems to me. But there also needs to be someone (or a number of someones) available and willing to teach new players (or long time rec players who want more from paintball) how to play the game; the fundamental tactics and the basic techniques.
How many fields use their field team as weekend referees? Has anybody ever assigned one or two of them to teach interested regulars more about how to play the game? How many local fields offer free classes? Doesn't need to be an all day dealio or particularly rigorous. How about 2 classes a month? One for beginners and one more advanced. How long would it take before players started showing up because of the classes? And how long would it take before they wanted more?
This isn't a cunning plan to create more tourney players though I think it likely would. But if local fields mixed the idea of educating their customers and offering them a more eclectic variety of play, who knows, it might go a long way towards building a long term, more loyal customer base playing paintball the way they want to play.
The weak link in yesterday's suggestion is that merely hanging around a paintball field doesn't imbue the average slacker with the skills or knowledge of the game by osmosis. And the principle pleasure in playing a competitive style of paintball is in matching wit and skill against your opponents. Unlike newbie paintball where the big thrills are the unknown, the consequent adrenaline rush and getting to shoot at people (and get shot at) all forms of competitive style play require varying degrees of knowledge and skills.
What? Oh, quit your whining. Yes, sure, woodsball and all the traditional forms of recreational play benefit from player knowledge and skill too but it isn't a perquisite. Don't get me wrong. A group of first timers could play on a speedball field and have a great time but it isn't the field that distinguishes styles of play. The new player plays any kind of field largely on instinct and with the aid perhaps of a few tips from friendly temporary teammates.
(Tangential thought: has anybody considered the possibility paintball loses players to boredom? Here's a separate post topic for you while I'm at it: How Do Newbies Learn To Play Paintball?)
One reason I suggested more optional competitive style play for recreational purposes is because I believe the game has more depth, is more demanding and more satisfying as a player begins to learn more about playing the game. Anybody can play but not everybody can play well. And learning to play well brings with it a whole new level of reward that has nothing to do with winning or losing. It also provides additional reasons and motivations to play. It's okay to feel lost and confused the first time. Not so much the tenth time. Or so it seems to me. But there also needs to be someone (or a number of someones) available and willing to teach new players (or long time rec players who want more from paintball) how to play the game; the fundamental tactics and the basic techniques.
How many fields use their field team as weekend referees? Has anybody ever assigned one or two of them to teach interested regulars more about how to play the game? How many local fields offer free classes? Doesn't need to be an all day dealio or particularly rigorous. How about 2 classes a month? One for beginners and one more advanced. How long would it take before players started showing up because of the classes? And how long would it take before they wanted more?
This isn't a cunning plan to create more tourney players though I think it likely would. But if local fields mixed the idea of educating their customers and offering them a more eclectic variety of play, who knows, it might go a long way towards building a long term, more loyal customer base playing paintball the way they want to play.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Competitive Paintball as Recreation?
Another detour before returning to the subject of promotions. (Like you didn't know this was gonna happen. I am nothing if consistently inconsistent.)
Between the recent post, 'No Easy Answers' and the comments engendered here's what I'm thinking. The PSP is swell as is their Big Plan for universalizing player classification and creating a horizontal network of related (by format & rules) regional events that uniformly provide a vertical path (or ladder) of competition that culminates in an exclusive pro division. Terrific.
But it may still be too much. Regardless of division this is serious competitive paintball, top to bottom. (Despite dumbing the format down from xball matches to Race 2-whatever.) It's a fast paced, athletically demanding game aimed at a narrow, youthful demographic. Which again, is awesome when you're talkin' hardcore paintball as sport. But it also excludes a lot of paintball players. It may be it really does cater to the One Percenters.
At the other end of the spectrum is the newb and occasional rec player (plus some percentage of your average walk-on/scenario/Big Game types) who don't have any readily recognizable paintball skills. (Oh please, it's true and everybody knows it.) Could be they don't know any better but whatever--they enjoy playing the game the way they play it. It seems to me that leaves a lot of middle ground and includes a majority of paintball players--even pump players--who understand the rudiments of the game and either want to learn more or find more challenges within paintball without going to the tournament extreme. After all, wasn't that part of the point with the introduction of speedball?
Which is one reason why I'm all in favor of the (attempted) resurgence of woods-based tourney ball along with the crossover type events like the UWL or the SPPL. But even with those additions (alternatives?) there's still a big gap between that sorta paintball and what happens in the PSP (or the NPPL for that matter.) A few months ago I tossed out the idea of a mechanical marker tournament event in order to bring the competitive game closer to the typical paintballer. (And there's no reason it couldn't work and be a lot of fun except perhaps that nobody wants to do it that way anymore--although if they gave it a try I think it would change a lot of minds. Be that as it may--) The CFOA is experimenting with 3-man and pump only events are making a comeback. What all of these have in common is a tournament organization and a presumption of rudimentary paintball skills.
But what about the players who don't want to make the move into organized tourney play but want something more from their paintball experience than the same game they got the first time they played? There is a broad diversity of ways to play competitive paintball and I don't see why it should be the exclusive property of tournament competition. For example, not everybody who enjoys playing basketball plays with the same level of skill, natural ability or desire to be the best. But you don't have to be working for a college scholarship to want to play a more demanding version of the game than the one you play in your neighbor's driveway. And it seems to me that there is a largely untapped opportunity to provide competitive style paintball in a more relaxed, less organized way as an option of play at the local level. Every second Saturday might feature an informal 3-man "event" on the speedball field. (Or alternate months using a woodsball field.) No entry, no prizes, regular field refs, restrict as desired and let the players play. Just for fun. Sure, maybe it's a little extra work but not much beyond taking the time and making the effort to promote it to everyone who comes through the doors. (Yes, I know, there are fields that do stuff like this, just not enough.)
And of course there is one thing missing. I'll be covering that in the next post, Paintballl 101.
Between the recent post, 'No Easy Answers' and the comments engendered here's what I'm thinking. The PSP is swell as is their Big Plan for universalizing player classification and creating a horizontal network of related (by format & rules) regional events that uniformly provide a vertical path (or ladder) of competition that culminates in an exclusive pro division. Terrific.
But it may still be too much. Regardless of division this is serious competitive paintball, top to bottom. (Despite dumbing the format down from xball matches to Race 2-whatever.) It's a fast paced, athletically demanding game aimed at a narrow, youthful demographic. Which again, is awesome when you're talkin' hardcore paintball as sport. But it also excludes a lot of paintball players. It may be it really does cater to the One Percenters.
At the other end of the spectrum is the newb and occasional rec player (plus some percentage of your average walk-on/scenario/Big Game types) who don't have any readily recognizable paintball skills. (Oh please, it's true and everybody knows it.) Could be they don't know any better but whatever--they enjoy playing the game the way they play it. It seems to me that leaves a lot of middle ground and includes a majority of paintball players--even pump players--who understand the rudiments of the game and either want to learn more or find more challenges within paintball without going to the tournament extreme. After all, wasn't that part of the point with the introduction of speedball?
Which is one reason why I'm all in favor of the (attempted) resurgence of woods-based tourney ball along with the crossover type events like the UWL or the SPPL. But even with those additions (alternatives?) there's still a big gap between that sorta paintball and what happens in the PSP (or the NPPL for that matter.) A few months ago I tossed out the idea of a mechanical marker tournament event in order to bring the competitive game closer to the typical paintballer. (And there's no reason it couldn't work and be a lot of fun except perhaps that nobody wants to do it that way anymore--although if they gave it a try I think it would change a lot of minds. Be that as it may--) The CFOA is experimenting with 3-man and pump only events are making a comeback. What all of these have in common is a tournament organization and a presumption of rudimentary paintball skills.
But what about the players who don't want to make the move into organized tourney play but want something more from their paintball experience than the same game they got the first time they played? There is a broad diversity of ways to play competitive paintball and I don't see why it should be the exclusive property of tournament competition. For example, not everybody who enjoys playing basketball plays with the same level of skill, natural ability or desire to be the best. But you don't have to be working for a college scholarship to want to play a more demanding version of the game than the one you play in your neighbor's driveway. And it seems to me that there is a largely untapped opportunity to provide competitive style paintball in a more relaxed, less organized way as an option of play at the local level. Every second Saturday might feature an informal 3-man "event" on the speedball field. (Or alternate months using a woodsball field.) No entry, no prizes, regular field refs, restrict as desired and let the players play. Just for fun. Sure, maybe it's a little extra work but not much beyond taking the time and making the effort to promote it to everyone who comes through the doors. (Yes, I know, there are fields that do stuff like this, just not enough.)
And of course there is one thing missing. I'll be covering that in the next post, Paintballl 101.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Major League Paintball on Suicide Watch
As the time winds down on the next two events in the major league season, Chicago NPPL & MS Bitburg, the sound of the ticking clock is getting louder and louder--at least for those with a stake in the outcome. Both leagues will close registration sometime within the next two weeks and do so with lower team totals than they hoped.
In Millennium land there are 66 locked division teams, For a goodly number this will be their first event of the season. (No word from the MS on what the locked division teams opted to do, accept forfeits and complete their remaining Malaga matches or take an average score, but we should see once a make-up schedule is released.) Last week there were only 15 open division teams registered. That leaped up to 22 today with two of the open divisions in single digits for registrations.
The unknown in this equation is how many open division teams had made prior arrangements to compete at Bitburg and are waiting until the last minute to register and pay. The trend has been toward softness in the open division participation (which doesn't bode well for the future especially as the league cannibalized the lower divisions in order to try and fill up the locked divisions.) Last year Bitburg had 47 open division teams while Malaga '09 had 77 compared to '10 having 60 registered. (And there is a discrepancy between registrations and those receiving ranking points after the event which may be accounted for with no-shows.)
Back in the U.S. of A. the NPPL linked to current registrations within the last few days and the numbers are predictable if not what the league was probably hoping for. Given our recent polls 5-man registrations are about where I would've guessed compared to PSP Chicago 5-man numbers with both being very soft. Leaving the pro teams out of the calculation there are currently 55 teams registered for the CPX Chicago event over Memorial Day weekend. Of that number it appears 10 have yet to pay their entry. More interestingly approximately 23 of the 55 teams are repeats from HB which puts new registrants at 32. As I've suggested in past MLP updates the Chicago numbers are likely a better reflection of the NPPL's drawing power than HB but even there I discovered a discrepancy. In looking for teams playing Chicago that played HB it seems only 103 teams received ranking points in HB--which is odd given the league was supposed to have sold out the event with 120 teams total. I don't profess to be a math whiz but I counted the numbers twice so I'm confident I didn't miss 17 teams.
UPDATE: Seems raehl was correct (even a blind squirrel etc. etc.) and the NPPL simply didn't bother to rank the D4 5-man teams. Or hasn't gotten around to it yet but they were listed on the HB schedule.
Skipping over to the PSP the Race 2-X registrations have been fluctuating up & down a little bit this past week leaving the total today similar to last week's total. There's always some of that as new teams register in the wrong divisions and others change their plans. It is however looking like we're about to see the whole semi-pro division falter as word comes out that Vipers S-P is done for now along with rumors of Raiden's demise--with the prospect of more to follow. 5-man registrations rose 33% which sounds impressive only because the number was low to begin with. Today's total--when I checked--was 40 Race 2-2 teams registered. That number needs to double to put the total number of registered teams in the ballpark of recent Chicago events. The first payment deadline is coming up later in the week so for those who want to keep their entry costs as low as possible it's that time.
The not so Grand Tour has posted results (finally) for Venice along with some links to a few photo galleries. The next event is Lvov in late June and there are 16 teams currently signed up including the 8 pro teams that played Venice. The event got some media coverage (newspaper) in Poland but not in the sports section. Something closer to the Style or Gossip section of the paper. Seems one of Warsaw United's players is a C-list celebrity TV actor who passed out briefly at the event after getting shot in the head. It was attributed to dehydration--though commenters to the online version were inclined to blame previous alcohol consumption--and the player assured everyone he wasn't put off and would continue to play. There were photos attached and the claim that paintball was a growing hobby in Poland. So any press is good press, right?
In Millennium land there are 66 locked division teams, For a goodly number this will be their first event of the season. (No word from the MS on what the locked division teams opted to do, accept forfeits and complete their remaining Malaga matches or take an average score, but we should see once a make-up schedule is released.) Last week there were only 15 open division teams registered. That leaped up to 22 today with two of the open divisions in single digits for registrations.
The unknown in this equation is how many open division teams had made prior arrangements to compete at Bitburg and are waiting until the last minute to register and pay. The trend has been toward softness in the open division participation (which doesn't bode well for the future especially as the league cannibalized the lower divisions in order to try and fill up the locked divisions.) Last year Bitburg had 47 open division teams while Malaga '09 had 77 compared to '10 having 60 registered. (And there is a discrepancy between registrations and those receiving ranking points after the event which may be accounted for with no-shows.)
Back in the U.S. of A. the NPPL linked to current registrations within the last few days and the numbers are predictable if not what the league was probably hoping for. Given our recent polls 5-man registrations are about where I would've guessed compared to PSP Chicago 5-man numbers with both being very soft. Leaving the pro teams out of the calculation there are currently 55 teams registered for the CPX Chicago event over Memorial Day weekend. Of that number it appears 10 have yet to pay their entry. More interestingly approximately 23 of the 55 teams are repeats from HB which puts new registrants at 32. As I've suggested in past MLP updates the Chicago numbers are likely a better reflection of the NPPL's drawing power than HB but even there I discovered a discrepancy. In looking for teams playing Chicago that played HB it seems only 103 teams received ranking points in HB--which is odd given the league was supposed to have sold out the event with 120 teams total. I don't profess to be a math whiz but I counted the numbers twice so I'm confident I didn't miss 17 teams.
UPDATE: Seems raehl was correct (even a blind squirrel etc. etc.) and the NPPL simply didn't bother to rank the D4 5-man teams. Or hasn't gotten around to it yet but they were listed on the HB schedule.
Skipping over to the PSP the Race 2-X registrations have been fluctuating up & down a little bit this past week leaving the total today similar to last week's total. There's always some of that as new teams register in the wrong divisions and others change their plans. It is however looking like we're about to see the whole semi-pro division falter as word comes out that Vipers S-P is done for now along with rumors of Raiden's demise--with the prospect of more to follow. 5-man registrations rose 33% which sounds impressive only because the number was low to begin with. Today's total--when I checked--was 40 Race 2-2 teams registered. That number needs to double to put the total number of registered teams in the ballpark of recent Chicago events. The first payment deadline is coming up later in the week so for those who want to keep their entry costs as low as possible it's that time.
The not so Grand Tour has posted results (finally) for Venice along with some links to a few photo galleries. The next event is Lvov in late June and there are 16 teams currently signed up including the 8 pro teams that played Venice. The event got some media coverage (newspaper) in Poland but not in the sports section. Something closer to the Style or Gossip section of the paper. Seems one of Warsaw United's players is a C-list celebrity TV actor who passed out briefly at the event after getting shot in the head. It was attributed to dehydration--though commenters to the online version were inclined to blame previous alcohol consumption--and the player assured everyone he wasn't put off and would continue to play. There were photos attached and the claim that paintball was a growing hobby in Poland. So any press is good press, right?
Monday, May 10, 2010
The Monday Poll
It's nostalgia time this week for some of you--while others go, huh, what's nostalgia? (Try a dictionary, kids.) The Monday Poll this week wants you to go back, back, back to your earliest recollections of paintball. (Mr. Peabody, his boy, Sherman, and the Wayback Machine are available for the oldest of the Old Skool amongst y'all.) I'm curious as to how you first heard about paintball and/or what prompted your first paintball experience? Did you see a copy of APG at the 7-11? Were you invited to a birthday party? Did you drive-by a local field?
I'ma give you seven (mostly self-explanatory) choices and if you pick 'Other'--I know I'm wasting my breath--please post up in comments what that 'Other' was. Otherwise your choices are: magazine, TV, other media (like a tourney DVD, a paintball website, etc.), Friend, Party Invitation & Outing (church group, corporate event, etc.) (but nothing to do with sexual orientation unless it was an outing outing.)
Last week was another excellent turnout. It seems the VFTD Rock The Vote campaign is working. Remember, only you can prevent forest fires so get out there and vote!
Monday Poll in Review
For those of you with Attention Deficit Disorder a reminder: Last week's poll wanted to know which firing mode you preferred for tournament play given the fact all guns would be set-up the same. I provided only 4 options; uncapped semi-auto (21%), capped semi-auto (22%), MS style capped ramping (14%) and PSP mode capped ramping (41%). My interest was in gauging how much difference it makes when teams and players decide to plunk down their cash and play an event. I was curious mostly because every recent incarnation of the NPPL has made "semi-auto" a point of pride and there are those who believe it helps sell the league. And because in the previous week's Monday Poll the Gun Rules option didn't get a single vote as the most important factor when deciding what event(s) to play.
Even if Gun Rules won't make or break a decision to compete the numbers for the semi-auto crowd are stronger than I expected with 43% preferring some version of semi-auto compared to PSP's 41%. That suggests one of two things; either lots of old diehards skewed the results or even some percentage of regular PSP players would like semi-auto in some form. (Y'all realize in the context of electronic markers "semi-auto" is nearly meaningless, right?) So gun rules continue to polarize opinions but they don't rise to the level of pushing players from one format to another. At least not in enough numbers for the powers that be to reconsider--in either direction.
I'ma give you seven (mostly self-explanatory) choices and if you pick 'Other'--I know I'm wasting my breath--please post up in comments what that 'Other' was. Otherwise your choices are: magazine, TV, other media (like a tourney DVD, a paintball website, etc.), Friend, Party Invitation & Outing (church group, corporate event, etc.) (but nothing to do with sexual orientation unless it was an outing outing.)
Last week was another excellent turnout. It seems the VFTD Rock The Vote campaign is working. Remember, only you can prevent forest fires so get out there and vote!
Monday Poll in Review
For those of you with Attention Deficit Disorder a reminder: Last week's poll wanted to know which firing mode you preferred for tournament play given the fact all guns would be set-up the same. I provided only 4 options; uncapped semi-auto (21%), capped semi-auto (22%), MS style capped ramping (14%) and PSP mode capped ramping (41%). My interest was in gauging how much difference it makes when teams and players decide to plunk down their cash and play an event. I was curious mostly because every recent incarnation of the NPPL has made "semi-auto" a point of pride and there are those who believe it helps sell the league. And because in the previous week's Monday Poll the Gun Rules option didn't get a single vote as the most important factor when deciding what event(s) to play.
Even if Gun Rules won't make or break a decision to compete the numbers for the semi-auto crowd are stronger than I expected with 43% preferring some version of semi-auto compared to PSP's 41%. That suggests one of two things; either lots of old diehards skewed the results or even some percentage of regular PSP players would like semi-auto in some form. (Y'all realize in the context of electronic markers "semi-auto" is nearly meaningless, right?) So gun rules continue to polarize opinions but they don't rise to the level of pushing players from one format to another. At least not in enough numbers for the powers that be to reconsider--in either direction.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Pro*file: Aaron Tholey
Name: Aaron TholeyAge: 27
Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota
Occupation: Paintball some how/some way.
Family: Amber(sister), Deez(dog)
General interests other than paintball: I'm really into music and the culture surrounding it. Tattoo's and art in general. Built cars and bikes, Jiu Jitsu (not MMA). Hockey, Firearms, and of course the most important; family and friends.
1. What was your first paintball experience and who introduced you to the game?
I actually found it with a buddy of mine, we were very young. It started out with us playing nerf. After lots of cheating we decided we needed something that could identify if your hit. We did yard work all summer and bought cheap pump guns. I was hooked ever since. That was over 13 years ago now.
2. What team(s) do you play for now?
Indianapolis Mutiny (NPPL), Sacramento XSV (PSP), Kingsey Falls Kamikaze's (CXBL)
3. What teams have you played for in the past?
Vintage, Them, Division, Impulse, Ignition, Texas Storm, Studio City Ice Men, Miami Rage, Miami Effect, Miami Hatecrew, Philly Americans, New Jersey Jesters, RNT, Chicago Aftershock, Sacramento XSV, Geelong Extreme, Kingsey Falls Kamikaze's and Indianapolis Mutiny.
4. What role do you play on your current team?
Off the field I look out for our squads best interest. On the field I'm just another soldier.
5. Who are your favorite paintball players?
Wow. There are so many. I admire a lot of the old guard: Old Aftershock, Lockout, Bob Long's Ironmen, and Strange. All of Mutiny. Player wise: Ryan Moorhead, Nate Cota, Dan Norcross, Adam FarEY, Z. Long, Markus, Bwing, and Damien Ryan. It should also be noted that Damien is the best player in the world.
6. What’s your best paintball experience or memory?
Starting a Pro team with all my friends, with no money or help and actually making it. No one has any idea what we have been through.
7. What is the most ridiculous thing you've ever done in order to play paintball?
I hate to say this but I make the rounds of the old folks homes dancing with octogenarians for cash under the table. [May not be Aaron's actual answer because he may have missed this question. I'm just saying.]
8. What is the single most important lesson the up and comer needs to learn?
"Play Smart, not Hard." Frank Connell taught me that when I was on Philly through a really cool lesson. I also think that you need to play for the right reasons and check yourself at the door.
9. What keeps you playing paintball?
I fucking love it. Plain and simple.
10. Do you have any superstitions related to playing paintball?
Yes actually. Before I went pro one of the guys who helped me along the way gave me a first generation brand new flying skulls Sandana headband. I brought it home and pinned it high up on my wall in my room where I could see it everyday. I made it my goal that I would wear it one day and it was my reward once I became a pro player. Once I achieved that, I've worn it ever since. After we won Texas NXL I had my mom sew the words, "Never Forget" on the sweat band on the inside. Now every time I play right before I put my head band on I look at those words and take a few seconds to remind myself and "Never Forget" where I came from, why I play this game, and what I have to do on the field. I also think headbands need to be given to you by someone you look up to or admire. In a way they are sacred to a paintball player and I think that kind of thing is overlooked these days.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
No Easy Answers
Is not an excuse for failing to look for answers. It's a recognition of reality. In comments to The Monday Poll post this week raehl suggested uncapped semi-auto hopperball and Don (tongue in cheek, if not firmly) suggested no batteries equals true semi-auto. My purpose here isn't to dissect the merits of either suggestion but rather to point out two or three factors in play when we try to "solve" various of the presumed "problems" with competitive paintball using their suggestions as a springboard.
Arc of Development
James Naismith invented basketball but nobody sets up peach baskets at either end of the floor anymore. In fact the dimensions of the modern competitive game aren't always uniform depending on the level of play. And nobody playing football eschews the forward pass today because it wasn't part of the original game or utilizes the wing T formation much anymore beyond a few high schools--and even they may have moved on. My point is simple; the game is constantly evolving and it's difficult, if not impossible, to resist. MLB has held a line with wooden bats and NASCAR uses restrictor plates on some circuits but even well-established sports aren't immune.
Arc of Technology
Much of the driving force behind changes in competitive paintball has been technology. (And behind the technology is the ever present desire to make a buck. D'oh!) While technology itself is neutral it easily and often outpaces our ability to consider the end result. Producers are looking to profit. Ultimately the players, collectively, decide if it's something they want or not. Sorta. In the long term. In the short term the balance can be tipped to favor the producers. And thru much of competitive paintball's short history that has occurred because producers also controlled the competitive game. Including the rules. And as technology has bumped up against the rules it is the rules that have changed to accommodate technology with, as far as I can tell, virtually no concern for the outcome. However, (for whatever consolation it might be) regardless of how some might choose to apportion blame within this process changing technologies are an unavoidable factor and will eventually find a balance between the producers and the users
The Will of the Players
Despite the fact most of you are sheep y'all eventually get around to only buying and playing the brand of paintball you really want to. Mostly. For purposes of this post that means the 13 year old who kinda sorta wants to play tourney ball doesn't want to play hopperball or some variant of low ROF. And it doesn't matter if he only thinks that's what he wants. And it's not some PBIndustry conspiracy that there are high ROF Spyders & Tippmanns or tons of DMs and Egos out in the woods. Players are buying and shooting the guns (goggles, packs, hoppers, etc.) they want to. Sure the choices have limitations but as long as there are choices players will do what they want--including quitting playing paintball.
Nothing Happens in Isolation
Decisions are like dominoes, one leads to the next--whether it was the intended next or not. So what about raehl's uncapped semi-auto hopperball? If it's an answer what's the question? How many players per side? What size field? Is there an age component? Is it a beginner's format? Have you ever tried shooting a high ROF electro with a real gravity fed hopper? It's like owning a Ferrari and being unable to leave Manhattan. My point isn't to nit-pick the examples, it's to demonstrate there are no simple solutions. Why aren't Young Guns divisions with age restrictions more popular if ROF is the problem? Are there really too few players interested in competitive paintball or too few mentors and captains to lead and organize?
All the pieces of the puzzle must be accounted for. If you do it right there aren't any leftover pieces. Here's another example. Not a great one because I don't know enough of the details but I am intrigued by the CFOA's efforts to promote 3-man. Once upon a time 3-man was a staple local tourney option. It seems like a no-brainer for entry level play but what happened to it? Will the CFOA's efforts be rewarded? Is it being played with any restrictions? On Race 2 field layouts? Is it working or isn't it? Why or why not? The uncertainty surrounding competitive paintball these days can be a frustrating struggle--but it is also an opportunity. Just not one subject to easy answers.
Arc of Development
James Naismith invented basketball but nobody sets up peach baskets at either end of the floor anymore. In fact the dimensions of the modern competitive game aren't always uniform depending on the level of play. And nobody playing football eschews the forward pass today because it wasn't part of the original game or utilizes the wing T formation much anymore beyond a few high schools--and even they may have moved on. My point is simple; the game is constantly evolving and it's difficult, if not impossible, to resist. MLB has held a line with wooden bats and NASCAR uses restrictor plates on some circuits but even well-established sports aren't immune.
Arc of Technology
Much of the driving force behind changes in competitive paintball has been technology. (And behind the technology is the ever present desire to make a buck. D'oh!) While technology itself is neutral it easily and often outpaces our ability to consider the end result. Producers are looking to profit. Ultimately the players, collectively, decide if it's something they want or not. Sorta. In the long term. In the short term the balance can be tipped to favor the producers. And thru much of competitive paintball's short history that has occurred because producers also controlled the competitive game. Including the rules. And as technology has bumped up against the rules it is the rules that have changed to accommodate technology with, as far as I can tell, virtually no concern for the outcome. However, (for whatever consolation it might be) regardless of how some might choose to apportion blame within this process changing technologies are an unavoidable factor and will eventually find a balance between the producers and the users
The Will of the Players
Despite the fact most of you are sheep y'all eventually get around to only buying and playing the brand of paintball you really want to. Mostly. For purposes of this post that means the 13 year old who kinda sorta wants to play tourney ball doesn't want to play hopperball or some variant of low ROF. And it doesn't matter if he only thinks that's what he wants. And it's not some PBIndustry conspiracy that there are high ROF Spyders & Tippmanns or tons of DMs and Egos out in the woods. Players are buying and shooting the guns (goggles, packs, hoppers, etc.) they want to. Sure the choices have limitations but as long as there are choices players will do what they want--including quitting playing paintball.
Nothing Happens in Isolation
Decisions are like dominoes, one leads to the next--whether it was the intended next or not. So what about raehl's uncapped semi-auto hopperball? If it's an answer what's the question? How many players per side? What size field? Is there an age component? Is it a beginner's format? Have you ever tried shooting a high ROF electro with a real gravity fed hopper? It's like owning a Ferrari and being unable to leave Manhattan. My point isn't to nit-pick the examples, it's to demonstrate there are no simple solutions. Why aren't Young Guns divisions with age restrictions more popular if ROF is the problem? Are there really too few players interested in competitive paintball or too few mentors and captains to lead and organize?
All the pieces of the puzzle must be accounted for. If you do it right there aren't any leftover pieces. Here's another example. Not a great one because I don't know enough of the details but I am intrigued by the CFOA's efforts to promote 3-man. Once upon a time 3-man was a staple local tourney option. It seems like a no-brainer for entry level play but what happened to it? Will the CFOA's efforts be rewarded? Is it being played with any restrictions? On Race 2 field layouts? Is it working or isn't it? Why or why not? The uncertainty surrounding competitive paintball these days can be a frustrating struggle--but it is also an opportunity. Just not one subject to easy answers.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Major League Paintball on Suicide Watch
Short and sweet today, kids, 'cus I'm busy filling out permit forms. Need more guns and a zoning waiver so I can put razor wire on top of my security fence. (The paperwork is brutal.) And this is just phase one. Alternatively I wonder if I can emigrate to Bermuda? Hmm.
The not so Grand Tour's Italy event across the lagoon from Venice (probably) went off without issue last weekend. I say probably because there's no scores, no results, no reports or anything else posted at the GT website regarding their first event of the season. (The scores are posted at pblivescores.com for those of you who can't wait to find out what happened.) The Grand Tour--working hard to keep the "not so" alive and kicking. In the pro division Syndicate dropped a match, the Bullets got thumped and inquiring minds want to know who the heck are the Carpathian Bears?
I'd like to hear from anyone who was there what they thought of the venue and event in general.
With less than 3 weeks to go until Bitburg the open divisions (D2, D3, M5) cumulative registration stands at 15 teams. I expect more to jump in as the days draw down and it will be interesting to see how little support Bitburg gets from the German teams. Also no word from the MS or the effected locked division teams on the apparent "plan" for resolving the Malaga mess as noted in last week's MLP update. Either the MS options seemed fair and reasonable to all involved or the teams continue to get what they deserve.
NPPL Chicago is the final weekend of May and while it's been suggested the league would soon--prior to last weekend--release rosters so folks can see who is planning on playing as of this writing that hadn't yet happened. No point in speculating although it seems to me the longer the league waits the greater the likelihood the numbers aren't all that positive.
PSP Chicago 5-man registrations remain soft, very soft. If I recall correctly the typical registration trend was that 5-man teams usually signed up early, excited by the prospect of participation because it was a one off or first of the year with actual entry payments coming much later as teams either realized they weren't going to manage or finally scrapped the needed funds together. I don't if that has been the norm but it seems like it has. (Faction [raehl] may know better.) Anyway of the 123 teams registered 75% are Race 2-X which could put this year's xball turnout slightly ahead of last year but both Chicago and WC have had outsized turnouts largely on the basis of 5-man participation in recent years.
The not so Grand Tour's Italy event across the lagoon from Venice (probably) went off without issue last weekend. I say probably because there's no scores, no results, no reports or anything else posted at the GT website regarding their first event of the season. (The scores are posted at pblivescores.com for those of you who can't wait to find out what happened.) The Grand Tour--working hard to keep the "not so" alive and kicking. In the pro division Syndicate dropped a match, the Bullets got thumped and inquiring minds want to know who the heck are the Carpathian Bears?
I'd like to hear from anyone who was there what they thought of the venue and event in general.
With less than 3 weeks to go until Bitburg the open divisions (D2, D3, M5) cumulative registration stands at 15 teams. I expect more to jump in as the days draw down and it will be interesting to see how little support Bitburg gets from the German teams. Also no word from the MS or the effected locked division teams on the apparent "plan" for resolving the Malaga mess as noted in last week's MLP update. Either the MS options seemed fair and reasonable to all involved or the teams continue to get what they deserve.
NPPL Chicago is the final weekend of May and while it's been suggested the league would soon--prior to last weekend--release rosters so folks can see who is planning on playing as of this writing that hadn't yet happened. No point in speculating although it seems to me the longer the league waits the greater the likelihood the numbers aren't all that positive.
PSP Chicago 5-man registrations remain soft, very soft. If I recall correctly the typical registration trend was that 5-man teams usually signed up early, excited by the prospect of participation because it was a one off or first of the year with actual entry payments coming much later as teams either realized they weren't going to manage or finally scrapped the needed funds together. I don't if that has been the norm but it seems like it has. (Faction [raehl] may know better.) Anyway of the 123 teams registered 75% are Race 2-X which could put this year's xball turnout slightly ahead of last year but both Chicago and WC have had outsized turnouts largely on the basis of 5-man participation in recent years.
Monday, May 3, 2010
The Monday Poll
Good turnout last week, kids. Thanks. The more the merrier. (The rest of you are still a pack of slackers.)
This week I'm gonna keep the trend going and use an element of last week's poll as the basis for this week's poll question. The aspect of last week's poll that surprised me the most was the big fat goose egg on the Gun Rules option. Nobody--not a one--picked gun rules as the most important factor in choosing a 5-man national event to compete in. Which may not be a big deal but hasn't one of the factors touted by the 7-man crowd always been the whole semi-auto thing? Come on. Maybe it doesn't translate and maybe it's the number two choice of 50% of the voters. Who knows? We will. After this week's Monday Poll.
What firing mode would you most like to use in tournament play?
There it is. Keep in mind when answering that whatever mode you choose is, hypothetically, the one everyone would be using. Keep the streak intact. Keep those votes a-coming.
Monday Poll in Review
Don't know about y'all but I'm not sure how to interpret this one--but I'll give it a shot--and you can disagree. Even though I suggested ways to apply each option I am inclined to associate most of them with one league or the other except entry and layout. How entry got 11% of the vote is a complete mystery unless it's in comparison to the alternatives. (Which means you've already decided to attend a national level event and chose 5-man 'cus it's cheaper. Would love to hear somebody who picked entry explain their thinking.) And layout was a throw away really but you never know. While Vibe could go either way (I suppose) it's the NPPL that pushed the total tourney experience. Venue is similar. Sure, you might think World Cup but more likely HB and all the past NPPL hype, stadium parking lots notwithstanding. Officiating seems to me to be a net plus for the PSP. Doesn't mean it's been better all the time (but is has, by and large) only that the PSP has always done a better job of communicating their effort and desire to make reffing a priority. And coaching in this context is really about who objects to it more than who approves of it--so picking coaching was probably a negative choice. Preferring NPPL because it has no (legal) coaching. Finally format could go either way and some lesser percentage no doubt favored NPPL by format but going by last week's results I'm assuming the majority made a positive choice favoring xball style paintball. If I'm ballpark the bulk of format and officiating reflects a favorable perception of the PSP while vibe and coaching votes reflect a NPPL orientation.
As always there isn't an iota of scientific analysis involved but it's still intriguing--and best of all, like all proper statistics, allows me to manipulate the data however I please.
This week I'm gonna keep the trend going and use an element of last week's poll as the basis for this week's poll question. The aspect of last week's poll that surprised me the most was the big fat goose egg on the Gun Rules option. Nobody--not a one--picked gun rules as the most important factor in choosing a 5-man national event to compete in. Which may not be a big deal but hasn't one of the factors touted by the 7-man crowd always been the whole semi-auto thing? Come on. Maybe it doesn't translate and maybe it's the number two choice of 50% of the voters. Who knows? We will. After this week's Monday Poll.
What firing mode would you most like to use in tournament play?
There it is. Keep in mind when answering that whatever mode you choose is, hypothetically, the one everyone would be using. Keep the streak intact. Keep those votes a-coming.
Monday Poll in Review
Don't know about y'all but I'm not sure how to interpret this one--but I'll give it a shot--and you can disagree. Even though I suggested ways to apply each option I am inclined to associate most of them with one league or the other except entry and layout. How entry got 11% of the vote is a complete mystery unless it's in comparison to the alternatives. (Which means you've already decided to attend a national level event and chose 5-man 'cus it's cheaper. Would love to hear somebody who picked entry explain their thinking.) And layout was a throw away really but you never know. While Vibe could go either way (I suppose) it's the NPPL that pushed the total tourney experience. Venue is similar. Sure, you might think World Cup but more likely HB and all the past NPPL hype, stadium parking lots notwithstanding. Officiating seems to me to be a net plus for the PSP. Doesn't mean it's been better all the time (but is has, by and large) only that the PSP has always done a better job of communicating their effort and desire to make reffing a priority. And coaching in this context is really about who objects to it more than who approves of it--so picking coaching was probably a negative choice. Preferring NPPL because it has no (legal) coaching. Finally format could go either way and some lesser percentage no doubt favored NPPL by format but going by last week's results I'm assuming the majority made a positive choice favoring xball style paintball. If I'm ballpark the bulk of format and officiating reflects a favorable perception of the PSP while vibe and coaching votes reflect a NPPL orientation.
As always there isn't an iota of scientific analysis involved but it's still intriguing--and best of all, like all proper statistics, allows me to manipulate the data however I please.
Syndicate Dissected
Since I'm on a promotions kick at the moment and teams are also beginning to discover new ways to promote themselves--largely through video--(and the kids at Syndicate were kind enough to drop their newest in my mailbox) I'ma take this opportunity to comment on the trend. (Part 1 is in the link and from part 1 you can link directly to part 2. Check them out. They are well executed, underplay the commercial [industry] connection and include a player line-up and serve as one of the better examples to date.)
From Josh and the other delinquents on Impact "roamin'" all over the world to every wannabe Patrick Spohrer out there filming at dozens of fields around the world the potential reach of YouTube style video is almost limitless. Traditional media once dictated who was worthy of attention and who wasn't. And while some of the same qualifiers are relevant nobody is limited in the ways they once were. Which is fantastic but the more ubiquitous this sort of promotion becomes the harder it's going to be to stand out from the crowd. One more needle in a haystack of needles is quickly lost--and forgotten. As are--at least in my never to be humble opinion--the endless action snippets available on dozens of DVDs and homemade videos. Sure, once a while something stands out but not all that often. The challenge is--and will remain--to create a unique take on the wide world of paintball and hope it connects. For example, look at Vicious. Vicious has taken the role of blue collar up-by-their-own-bootstraps team rising thru the ranks that has wide appeal with rank & file divisional players perhaps in part because they're perceived as being more like the average player and because they've succeeded and fulfilled the dream. Will the image last? How will other teams choose to promote themselves? What will work and what will fail? It's not a one size fits all world, the possibilities are nearly endless.
From Josh and the other delinquents on Impact "roamin'" all over the world to every wannabe Patrick Spohrer out there filming at dozens of fields around the world the potential reach of YouTube style video is almost limitless. Traditional media once dictated who was worthy of attention and who wasn't. And while some of the same qualifiers are relevant nobody is limited in the ways they once were. Which is fantastic but the more ubiquitous this sort of promotion becomes the harder it's going to be to stand out from the crowd. One more needle in a haystack of needles is quickly lost--and forgotten. As are--at least in my never to be humble opinion--the endless action snippets available on dozens of DVDs and homemade videos. Sure, once a while something stands out but not all that often. The challenge is--and will remain--to create a unique take on the wide world of paintball and hope it connects. For example, look at Vicious. Vicious has taken the role of blue collar up-by-their-own-bootstraps team rising thru the ranks that has wide appeal with rank & file divisional players perhaps in part because they're perceived as being more like the average player and because they've succeeded and fulfilled the dream. Will the image last? How will other teams choose to promote themselves? What will work and what will fail? It's not a one size fits all world, the possibilities are nearly endless.
See America & Play the PSP
No, I'm not shilling for the PSP. (But I do feel a little dirty bringing this up.) I received an interesting (for once) email from the league today--as did everyone else on their mailing list--suggesting an economical alternative to high priced plane tickets. Amtrak. Rail. The network of commuter and passenger cross country train travel. (The link is in the title.) The sample fares are seriously cheap--though I'm assuming they are one way--but I don't know. Regardless the PSP is being proactive and making practical moves to encourage participation. And that's worth mentioning particularly as VFTD is in the middle of a series of posts on promotions.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
The Promotion of Competitive Paintball as Commodity, Part 1
Long title. Sounds kinda boring. Probably is kinda boring. Probably not particularly relevant for the majority of even this blog's readers. Fortunately none of those things dissuade me in the slightest.
I've been reviewing the recent history of major league self-promotion and competitive paintball promotion in general and it falls into three categories; promotion to the pool of potential customers (peeps who already play); promotion within the PBIndustry and promotion to the wider, non-playing public. And within these categories you have sub-groups. For example, when it comes to potential customers there are regional competitive players, recreational players, etc. Industry promotion is about building reciprocal relationships and support for the leagues. Among the non-playing public there are sports fans, adrenaline junkies, spoiled rich kids, video game shut-ins, The Most Dangerous Game wannabes, Real Housewives of Orange County and assorted corporate simulacrum with nothing in common except an unspent pile of marketing cashola. (Some are more likely targets than others.) In all cases I think there's, let's just say, room for improvement.
So what exactly have the Big Leagues done to promote themselves to the pool of likely paintball players? When there was only one league the answer is damn little. (Think Millennium Series.) With the split came competition between the leagues. That competition resulted in actual substantive improvements. Improvements that could be used in the promotion of the leagues--but not promotion per se. But don't get caught up in the conventional wisdom that says the competition between leagues created an unsustainable product and level of expectation. (That part of the competition wasn't about the players it was about the Race 2-TV.)
Once upon a time promotion was mostly assumed--if anybody bothered to spend anytime thinking about it. There are competitive paintball teams out there who will rise to the national/international challenge, right? Cool. With the split to 2 competing leagues and 2 formats promotion began to matter. And that promotion largely focused on philosophies and differences; primarily formats (7-man vs. 10-man & xball) & focus. By focus I mean the NPPL was selling an experience--the perpetual paintball party--while the PSP was selling paintball as legit sport. The methods (and means) were, and remain (mostly) mundane, lacking creativity. Email blasts for past players on a list, announcements on paintball forums, ads in magazines. The latest invention, video clips. (Some of which have been good.) But if survival is at stake shouldn't there be more?
Next time more about where promotions are now--and eventually some thoughts on where they ought to be and maybe even how to make it happen.
I've been reviewing the recent history of major league self-promotion and competitive paintball promotion in general and it falls into three categories; promotion to the pool of potential customers (peeps who already play); promotion within the PBIndustry and promotion to the wider, non-playing public. And within these categories you have sub-groups. For example, when it comes to potential customers there are regional competitive players, recreational players, etc. Industry promotion is about building reciprocal relationships and support for the leagues. Among the non-playing public there are sports fans, adrenaline junkies, spoiled rich kids, video game shut-ins, The Most Dangerous Game wannabes, Real Housewives of Orange County and assorted corporate simulacrum with nothing in common except an unspent pile of marketing cashola. (Some are more likely targets than others.) In all cases I think there's, let's just say, room for improvement.
So what exactly have the Big Leagues done to promote themselves to the pool of likely paintball players? When there was only one league the answer is damn little. (Think Millennium Series.) With the split came competition between the leagues. That competition resulted in actual substantive improvements. Improvements that could be used in the promotion of the leagues--but not promotion per se. But don't get caught up in the conventional wisdom that says the competition between leagues created an unsustainable product and level of expectation. (That part of the competition wasn't about the players it was about the Race 2-TV.)
Once upon a time promotion was mostly assumed--if anybody bothered to spend anytime thinking about it. There are competitive paintball teams out there who will rise to the national/international challenge, right? Cool. With the split to 2 competing leagues and 2 formats promotion began to matter. And that promotion largely focused on philosophies and differences; primarily formats (7-man vs. 10-man & xball) & focus. By focus I mean the NPPL was selling an experience--the perpetual paintball party--while the PSP was selling paintball as legit sport. The methods (and means) were, and remain (mostly) mundane, lacking creativity. Email blasts for past players on a list, announcements on paintball forums, ads in magazines. The latest invention, video clips. (Some of which have been good.) But if survival is at stake shouldn't there be more?
Next time more about where promotions are now--and eventually some thoughts on where they ought to be and maybe even how to make it happen.
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