Tom Kaye Retires from Paintball, AGD Under New Management

[bunker17]

i been thinking about stopping playing paintball 2

[frontlinep8tbal]

Demise of AGD?

I have played paintball back in the early 90's when automags were the top competitor, and bob long produced the autococking kit for the tracer pump gun (hangs head low, yes owned one) along with the autococker. Woodsball was the method of play , $130 for a case of paint was reasonable, and camo was a way of life for the sport. But the days have changed drastically.

I bought my first automag off a fellow ref and held onto it for a number of years including a duty station in Japan. My roots with agd dates back a long time.

I have seen a demise of airgun designs when I got back into the sport about 5 years ago. No longer can you find guns, parts, upgrades at the local stores, just boneyard parts left over from people trading in for other guns. The automag (all versions) is virtually unknown to all on any particular field. The e/x mag customers are left in the dark now with outdated software (with comparison to competitors) with no hope of future development nor release of dated programming for others to improve upon / alternate options.

And with smart parts on their patents rampage, I can see why Tom has made his decision to retire. Retire now with fond memory of the good of the sport.

My major concern with Toms decision to retire, is a total collapes of agd in the near future. I spoke with a AGD rep here about their non-existance at San Diego NPPL CC this year and his response shocked me because I didnt want confirmation on what I pretty much already knew. Basically, what was expessed in the conversation is their showing would not profit the company since it is not considered a popular tourney gun and would not get any exposure at the event. This lack of parcipitation has limited AGD to their website for sales and the occasional senerio games.

What image does these issues promote for their products?? I hope the day does not come where I have to trade in my ule mag for a competitor because it is unreasonably expensive and un-timely to get the parts I need. The mag I use is an extension of who I am when I play. Its considered the black sheep that stands out in the crowd. I would hate to give it up.

I was at the event, and the brand "x" guns shown give new prospective players their options of whats there for them to use. I was amazed of the turnout at the event, and the amount of younger new players that were emerging. The mag is has been a solid product that it should recieve much more exposure wheter or not if its a tourney gun. If its not promoted, the younger generation will go elsewhere for their toys. AGD has to come out of its perpetual turtleshell inorder to survive.

Mr. Kaye, I commend you on the many years that you have contribuited to keep the spirit of the mag alive, I wish you the best with all your endeavors, and personally hope to have the opportunity to see you on the field some day. (over in Japan that is)

FRANK RYAN
SAN DIEGO CALI

(ETD USA JAN 24, 2005 , )
Gotta promote the sport in Japan. Hope AGD will follow

[Bushmaster2k4]

Dear Mr. Kaye,

if you ever check this thread again, would it be to much to ask to get your autograph? I know you pioneered this sport, and are a huge part of what it has become *EDIT* MINUS ALL THE CHEATING!! You pioneered everything good that is this sport.. I have nothing but the highest respect for the markers you make, and the quality of everything you've produced. I just think it would be wonderful to have that bit of paintball history, and I would be absolutely honored.

Thanks

-Tom

[einhander619]

I believe Comic Book Store Guy said it best-

"There is no emoticon for what i'm feeling right now."

Best of luck, I'm sure you'll have no trouble revolutionizing whatever greener pasture you find.

[Tracker]

gotta add here.
tom you just need to go to the games where the older more expirenced players are. i hope to see you at d-day again this year, it pleases my X-Mag to see you yearly, and hanging out with you, doobie and everyone else was a blast. good luck in your future.
i hope AGD never dies, you may downsize cause the AGG (shudder for even typing that) movement has made the only cool guns out there the ones that shoot 30 balls per second with qestionable ethics as to how it got that fast, are made by china and sold at a 300% markup from original cost. but i hope you dont ever truly fade away. but this solidifies it, my Xmag will be with me for as long as i play, and it will only be sold to a fellow AOer

and i promise to make it to shatnerball this year if youll be there

Andrew AKA Tracker

that is the first and probably only time ill ever use my real name on any forum

[Exedius]

I Will Miss You Tom Kaye

Tom you have changed the way i see and play the sport for the better and this news brings much sadness for me im almost teary eyed, When i first started this Wonderful Sport 4 years ago i did not see eye to eye with some of the things you said as i was a Stupid kid that wanted to think i was something i was not, But now after some MAJOR Growing up(still alot to do) i agree 100% with the things you brought up and i think the things you did and the myths you disspelled Changed Paintball for the better and paved the way for a new Generation of players who chose not to be trend followers but OUR OWN Individuals, Though a Major Part of Paintball has not seen the light and thus chose to Have their 30+ BPS Overpriced Unreliable Chinese-Made Markers and Their BIG egos calling everyone who does not follow this this new trend Newbies and other names and think they are gods with their Hyped-Up Markers, But I and many other Players and AO Members choose Not to Help Smart-Parts and other Companys like Them make OUR Wonderful be Destroyed with Overpriced Hype and $$$$$$$ Markers and Nazi-Like Mindsets, Tom Kaye without You Paintball would have died Along time ago and without You now who knows what will Happen if we as PLAYERS of Paintball dont Uphold What Tom has Put Forth for us to Follow.

I Justin Aaron Edwards aka Exedius Salute You Tom Kaye you are Truely the Bruce Lee of Paintball

[J Curt]

Tom, Thanks.

undefinedTom sorry to see you go. I had only the pleasure of meeting you once, but bugging you way too many times. I still think the RT was better in black, than that shinny chrome. My teams had a blast playing with your guns, even though in San Diego it wasn`t that popular to play with mags, you knew they were going to fire when you needed them. I wish you well, Curt( From the old ,Team Sick and Twisted)undefined

[Xero]

Omg Wtf!?

Heroes get remembered, but legends never die!

You are a legend Tom and we will always remember you and your groundbreaking innovations. Good luck with everything you ever do and remember that your friends and family (Pronounced The AGD Community) as well as God are with you always.

Good luck,
God Speed,
and CHEERS!

[Rinaldo]

Tom I met you and Bob long In Orlando about 8 -9 years ago.
This is the last thing I wanted to read getting back into the sport.

[MadPSIence]

I'd be proud to donate to keep AO going.

[Camojester]

Tom you will not be forgotten to us. There are so many Mags in our group you cant be...... LOL

Hey if you EVER want to just come out & play a scenario give me a email. There will always be a spot for you on PAIN CELL.

Hey give me a emai or pm & I'll send you a team patch....

[email protected]

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[Danny77]

wow, I feel terrible. I used to come to this forum quite often, but havent much over the past 2 years. And now I come back and just now notice that Tom has retired...3 months too late

THis is a sad day in history.

...Its really awesome after looking over the posts to notice how many familiar faces come together from all sorts of forums. Ive recognized people from: AO, Tippmann, SCP, PPIG, CPPA, Docsmachine, OMHW, and im probably forgetting more.

Tom, your the best thing to ever happen to this sport. God bless you wherever life takes you

[SG Avenger]

So sad

It's been too long since I last hung out here or even visited for that matter. Life got in the way.
Very sad indeed to hear about the changes in the last year and Tom leaving at the end of last year. I'll be using my super awesome custom RT until i'm too old to play.. [or the invent cybernetic augmentations that allow airguns to be fitted easily]

AGD and Tom you've made my 8 years of paintballing a blast.

[AnimalMother]

Oh man, why din't I join the forums earlier, I've had a mag for over 4 years and never joined AO until recently. Oh well, this isn't a surprise b/c I already talked to you before reading this thread, Tom, and you said you were retired. Oh well, I know you're still at AGD once in a while and I'll keep an eye out for your suburban, if you don't mind the company of a paintball fool. Hopefully I'll see you this summer, I'll probably be hanging out at AGD with Roman at least a couple of times a month. BTW, you should come out to Badlandz in July for the CHI-TOWN series, I'll be using my x-mag!

[HarrysSon]

Hey Tom, I'm Harrison, Harry Mattheis's son. Remember when my dad introduced me to you all those years ago? I've never forgotten that happiest moment of my life. So how was the Big Game at Paintball Sam's on April 30th? Lol, me and my dad couldn't make it so we went the next day. I did a biography on you for school. Guess what? I got an A+! It was about one of the most interesting people that you have ever met in your life. Since I've started paintballing, I've never stopped. I'm an AGD loyalist and I love my E-Mag that I've had for years and it still rocks. I hope I meet you again someday, Tom.

Harrison