AO OD - Time for something fresh.

[Riotz]

I'm done arguing about this now. Good luck with everything you do.

Best Wishes,

Jeff

[JEDI]

So what has come of all this arguing/conversation? Whats the fresh part?

[Ronin 23]

Originally posted by Riotz
I'm done arguing about this now. Good luck with everything you do.

Best Wishes,

Jeff

Although you have repeatedly not done so...I hope that after Dayspring's revelation earlier today that YOU ARE INDEED OVER THIS ISSUE.

Your "well wishes" should also be extended to all the people who's names you have dragged through the mud and not just me.

NOW this thread is meant to be a creatively productive one whose purpose is to enhance AGD's image and marketing presence outside of AO. Any productive contributions that you may have would certainly be welcomed. But if you have another agenda (PLEASE SEE THE CLOSING OF "PBX BATTLEZONE-TOMS RIVER, NJ"), I think I can speak for the majority of people in this forum that we would rather not see it.

[Dayspring]

To see if we can get back on track- I think the main thought of this thread is to not stop AO days at all. Rather, it should be to make them a bit more thought out than just "Let's get together and play paintball."

While yes, that is fun- especially down in SC or NJ, there are different ways of doing it.

Havoc & Clare's TeXball idea is a perfect example. It's an AO day, but its theme is Xball. Suede had talked about the Midnight Mag-Ness idea. Also a great theme.

It's not a matter of getting rid of what's working, it's a matter of improving on what's working.

[Creative Mayhem]

Originally posted by Thordic
I don't really see what needs to be changed. If you make them too flashy you lose the sense of community that is the whole point in the first place.

The more you add, the more you take away.

The first NJ AO Day, which had the smallest attendance (about 25 guys) was also one of the most fun. We hung out for hours after play was done, cooking up burgers, drinking beer, shootin the breeze, and firing potatos into the stratosphere. I don't see how you can improve on that.

The following AO days were bigger, and more problems just arose. Gripes about not enough games, problems with supplying air, problems with whatever.

I'm not saying the bigger AO Days arent good, it opens it up to more people. But it also increases the problems. I think right now, with a large AO day turning up around 150 people, you are at a point where if you try to take things to the next level you will lose a lot of what AO Days are all about, which is community, and friendship. In its place you pick up commericalism, flashyness, and organizing headaches.

I don't think AO should be about being flashy, being commercialized, and being hyped up. It should be about paintball. It should be about playing paintball with your friends, whether they are from England, Canada, or even Australia. It should be about feeling comfortable among people you can trust. Being able to leave your car open all day because you know the people around you will watch out for your stuff.

The more things you add into the mix, the more you force out the old things that made AO Days truly special.

AO Days shouldn't be loaded with media coverage, cheerleaders, and blimps overhead. All you need is some paint, some burgers, and some good friends.

Thats just my two cents, anyway.

HERE HERE!! I didn't read any further, this post says EXACTLY why I go to AO days. Friends, food, beer and of course a little 'balling.

Tradeshows and the like are nice, but are they truly a nessecity? I do think there could be a place for vendors, but keep it small, vendors dont need to overwhelm the whole day. Vendors should be AOer's offering the same quality products that they do online. Of course this is just my .02

[cphilip]

Originally posted by Creative Mayhem




HERE HERE!! I didn't read any further, this post says EXACTLY why I go to AO days. Friends, food, beer and of course a little 'balling.

Tradeshows and the like are nice, but are they truly a nessecity? I do think there could be a place for vendors, but keep it small, vendors dont need to overwhelm the whole day. Vendors should be AOer's offering the same quality products that they do online. Of course this is just my .02

Exactly what we did and will continue to do... Why would a vendors tent offering you a place to stop by and look or for that matter not stop by and look overwelm you? Are you so easily distracted? Maybe you should read it all?

[Muzikman]

Originally posted by cphilip


Exactly what we did and will continue to do... Why would a vendors tent offering you a place to stop by and look or for that matter not stop by and look overwelm you? Are you so easily distracted? Maybe you should read it all?

Actually Phil, there is a reason why the vendor's tent is more crowded than the stands during a tournament:)

[cphilip]

So you want scantily clad womenz!

Not gonna happen I don't think. Data may be a pimp but he ain't that good a pimp!

I would like to point out what we ARE talking about here is as many AO vendors as we can along with some that would want to help out with costs and cater to AO peeps. Not some over commercialization. Just something to do between games and give you access to the people you use thier products. No reason you cannot multi task a little if you feel like it. Ya are not required to!

[JEDI]

Originally posted by Thordic
I don't really see what needs to be changed. If you make them too flashy you lose the sense of community that is the whole point in the first place.

The more you add, the more you take away.

The first NJ AO Day, which had the smallest attendance (about 25 guys) was also one of the most fun. We hung out for hours after play was done, cooking up burgers, drinking beer, shootin the breeze, and firing potatos into the stratosphere. I don't see how you can improve on that.

The following AO days were bigger, and more problems just arose. Gripes about not enough games, problems with supplying air, problems with whatever.

I'm not saying the bigger AO Days arent good, it opens it up to more people. But it also increases the problems. I think right now, with a large AO day turning up around 150 people, you are at a point where if you try to take things to the next level you will lose a lot of what AO Days are all about, which is community, and friendship. In its place you pick up commericalism, flashyness, and organizing headaches.

I don't think AO should be about being flashy, being commercialized, and being hyped up. It should be about paintball. It should be about playing paintball with your friends, whether they are from England, Canada, or even Australia. It should be about feeling comfortable among people you can trust. Being able to leave your car open all day because you know the people around you will watch out for your stuff.

The more things you add into the mix, the more you force out the old things that made AO Days truly special.

AO Days shouldn't be loaded with media coverage, cheerleaders, and blimps overhead. All you need is some paint, some burgers, and some good friends.

Thats just my two cents, anyway.

I'm gonna reitterate Thordics opinion too. I think its a good one. He's trying to convey a feeling. Saying that improving AO days, while still keeping the same atmosphere, may be infringing on this feeling.

The idea of "same but better" in itself may be the problem.
Some people may have liked the idea of sitting in the parking lot on an empty case of paint, talking with friends. I know none of you with good ideas are disagreeing with this. I know you're intentions are good, but many of us are content with the way they're done now.
No one side has the "right" opinion, but I like the "Thordic" view on how AO days should go.

[cphilip]

And no one ever disagreed with that....

Continualy restating it does not widen the gap of thought on that. Ya just can't make an issue outa nothing.

[JEDI]

WTF? No one is making an issue. I'm just stating that there seems to be two differing ideas of what AO days are. Why is voicing an opinion taken as "making an issue"?:)

[cphilip]

Well it seems to me like its being treated as one when it isn't. The parking lots and friends and empty cases of paint and your freedom to chose your activity is always there. Seems pointless to have to keep pointing that out UNLESS someone is trying to imply that is not the case? Maybe its just me but it seems to me that someone is trying to imply that there is something exclusive being proposed?

[1stdeadeye]

Originally posted by cphilip
So you want scantily clad womenz!

I do, I do!

*1DE raises hand violently!*

[cphilip]

Are you volunteering to bring some?

[1stdeadeye]

No, I just want to stare at them with the rest of the AOers!