Is it irony?

[abarnhar]

I was thinking back today about my first couple of years in paintball. Now, while they might not be as far back as a few of you fellows, it's been a while.

I remember paging through the Smart Parts catalog seven years ago and dreaming about the wicked 'mag setup I could put together out of there. I wanted it all, the camo site rail, camo barrel, wood grips, gas-thru stock (I'm going to build it someday...).

Now looking at the argument ranging across the paintball community about SP and their recent actions, it all seems a bit out of place. What happened to the awesome camoed mags? Why as Americans do we have to over-commercialize and hype everything that comes along?

The direction that paintball is heading scares me. Fewer and fewer people want to go out in the woods and blast each other from trees. It seems that everyone wants an electronic marker with all the trimmings. Flashy jersies have taken the place of worn-out BDU's. Competition has replaced having fun (think about that one).

Isn't it ironic that this turn in the industry has been remarkably illustrated by Smart Parts? Sadly, it seems that they have their finger on the pulse (as Tom put it in a different thread).

I'm not going to quit this obession/hobby/sport anytime soon, but I sure liked the lay of the land a few years ago.

What do you all think?

[Prairie]

The AA's used to shoot mags.


I LOVED the custom mag in those APGs...I think it had a lonestar grip on it at the time. sweet looking thing.

[Prairie]

Here ya go

[abarnhar]

Ahhh, thanks. Needed that.

[ClassicMagger]

I remember those mags. They were so cool at the time. Oh, I wanted one of those soo bad. Mine had the same setup that you are describing but the camo on mine was red. I remember just being a weelad of 17 and waiting ages for those catalogs. Those were the days eih.

It is true though. Smart Parts seems to have most of the sport held up. I try not to think about it though and support AGD with however they do it.

It is Scary. Scarier then I had ever thought my hobby would be except for the tense before the break, lol well the loud scream of GO out in the middle of the woods.

CM

[zen_dawg]

lol what ever happened to their

"smart box" for their "smart mag"

[abarnhar]

The smart box was one funky gadget. I must admit, it was horribly tempting. I should track one down for collection purposes... sheesh, this stuff will break me.

[Prezents]

Fun and where

I know that sp is throwing a wrench into the machine, but paintball will endure.
I still love going and playing pump, frigging sp will want to get a patten on my Illusion next

[SpongeBobSquarePants]

Yes it is scary, but it is the future. The sport has evolved out of the woods. Its no longer just a "war game", in fact I hate the whole "war game" image. The way I play now is the way this game is meant to be. For those 5 minutes of aderline it is worth it all. Think of it that way.

[Matt_mg]

The sport will pull trough, it always pulls trough... It may come out different but with that damn monkey throwing wrenches but hey...

[Athius]

Originally posted by Prairie
Here ya go

Put more pics man(if there are more) those mags are nice.


I know the sport is changin but well i like stuff that always changes.

[BTAutoMag]

i used to have a smart mag and swore by it. then it went tempermental... yea it couldnt shoot more then one ball a second after a while.

[GhillieGuy]

I remembered looking at that minimag in the old APG's and thinking it was the hottest thing alive Heck i even remember when i was like 12 going into my local paintball store and seeing a minimag for the first time, i thought it was the most beutifull thing in the world (still do). Lord knows i would eventually own 3 of them alone. Paintball has changed drastically from when i first started. I still will play woods games tho

[845]

When I just started I wanted the Black Teflon Mag so bad. Then I got an autococker instead. I miss that gun a lot we had some good times. Also Xball is more than a 5 min adrenaline rush.

[shartley]