Evike can o’ worms

[norseman]

I may have opened a can of worms in the comments. Oh well. And I have nothing against Evike at all. But their booth at shot show was 99 percent AR platforms. And some of those are now different colors just like a paintball marker....what’s next paintball Jerseys? I felt somebody needed to say something. Our hobby has a very real reenacting component built into it. In fact in most countries with draconian gun laws? Airsoft IS reenacting.

Are we headed for speed ball airsoft? I will shoot SASS first.

[hardslack]

I wouldn't get to worried. Maybe we should think of airsoft as a game tool, rather than a game in and of itself, and people are going to use that tool to play they game they want.
Same with videogames, some like racing games, some like arcade shooters like call of duty, some want a super tactical realistic shooter. The big company won't mess around with niche stuff, that's the way the market works.

This kind of airsoft is niche.

The thing you could do, if you really want to push a game type, is host the kind of game you want. There's flintlock airsoft over in England, and hunteering, you are doing Western airsoft, I see a few hardcore Vietnam events every year, even Soviet Afghanistan and Rhodesian events. So it's out there. Yeah, the m4 is boring, but people get excited about them for some reason.

[norseman]

When I started Spokane Airsoft almost 20 years ago I was a disgruntled paintballer. Paintball is not a hobby but a sport. They do individual paint checks, eject players, count points and declare winners. It’s no different than basketball or football. And because there is so much at stake? There is a lot of cheating and corruption.

I left.

But in order to grow Airsoft in my area I approached and broke ground with local Paintball fields to allow Airsoft in. It was extra income for them and it gave us established places to play much closer to Spokane. I now regret that decision very much. I think Airsoft rubbing shoulders with paintball for so long? It’s seriously rubbing off on us. And the realism immersive aspect is being left behind. So why not just play paintball then? A hopper and pod system is faster than mag changes, you’ve got a two finger blade on paintball guns. If your only goal is volume of fire “to win”? Then why deal with a replica at all?

Im promoting Cowboy Airsoft now, and I support fully any historical Airsoft or milsim event because this is what Airsoft IS! And what it’s not is paintball. The more paint that goes out the end of your barrel? The more money the field or suppliers make. And paintball markers are not attempting to replicate a real firearm. The disconnect is a airsofter that wants his M4’s bolt catch release to be fully functional, and yet he wants it to hold 1000’s of bbs and be anodized blue. What the heck!?

[2nd Bat]

There are paintball reenaction events and increasingly authentic (replica type) paintball guns. No points, no winning or losing costuming and props like we do. There are even paintball events with mostly hokey looking tanks and armor. (Some actually look pretty good). There are widely diverse niches in paintball just like there are increasing niches in airsoft. Look at MSWs blend of blankfire and airsoft and 48 hour full emmersion NATO/ Eastern bloc events.

We have everything from backyard skirmishes to LionClaws to MSW and practical pistol type target events. I have no issue with the variety and like being able to choose how to enjoy what airsoft can offer.

[norseman]

I think the two hobbies may be like two ships passing in the night.

But I don’t think neon blue AR B.B. hoses have any place in our hobby.

Nor twin barreled M4’s

youtu.be/LmrPOQ_Dj6Y

Overshooting is quickly becoming a real problem. I use to come home from speed ball paintball games looking like I had wrestled with a Grizzly Bear. Bloodied and bruised. .68 cal 3 gram projectiles leave a mark. And players began looking like motorcross riders complete with armor.

I guess for me it’s not just about realism, although it’s a part of it.