Old Skool Interview: Tom Kaye

[AGDlover]

that was awsome TOM IS GOD BOW DOWN BEFORE HIM

[Jack & Coke]

[Sir_Brass]

[AGD]

I missed the whole electro thing because I didn't think electronics would survive the environment. Remember back then we were still playing in the woods and crawling. Everyone thought "speedball" sucked.

The efficiency I was talking about was aimed at CO2 not HPA. You have to remember the times.

AGD

[Jack & Coke]

Tom,

1. Do you think the "spirit and soul of paintball" is overall better "today", or "yesterday".

2. Do you think the emphasis of our sport is now "paintgun" as opposed to "paintball"?

[Brophog]

I'm curious for Tom's opinion too, but I would like to comment as well.

As for spirit, I think its different now. To get a good idea of the spirit of old school paintball, look at the X-Games. Those guys are out there competing with one another, but yet have an appreciation for the other guys efforts and skills. How often do you hear one snowboarder throw compliments around about a buddy that threw down a great trick. It competitive, but really friendly at the same time. To me that describes old school paintball. You were out there having a great time, and while you wanted to win badly, you were still there more for the friendship and unique experience more than anything. We certainly didn't have as much poor sportsmanship as I see on today's local rec scenes.

As for the second question concerning paintgun or paintball. That's a really interesting question in this aspect. For as much as I seem to rant about today's current fascination with technology, paintball has always been about equipment and personalization. We would constantly tinker with this or that, trying to squeeze out what we considered more performance from our marker. We'd go semi to trump a friends pump, or we'd buy a mag to trump our friends cocker, and vice versa. That part of the game remains the same. I think perhaps the difference is that this has just been taken to another level. There are so many things you can do to your marker now that for some, you can literally make the hobby one of customization, without the need to go play the game. So I think that part of it is about the same, just more intense now.

[AGD]

[shades]

So Why dont I see a panther in the AGD museum?
I would love to see an AGD blowback.