Is there REALLY any need for a Super Mech

[PBX Ronin 23]

What I'm about to say may get me stoned to death on this thread. And please, accept my statement that there's no insult intended to anyone associated with any high-end mech projects as a sincere one. But......

Outside of hard-core paintball purists such us those who frequent this forum (myself included), who cares about Mechs nowadays. The market has spoken and they have resoundingly said NAY. Whether you're talking to a high-end tourney baller or some young kid looking to get into the sport, their desires are focused on the electro markers.

Business being business, wouldn't it be easier to negotiate more liveable terms with either SP and WDP than to ramp your production and spend money marketing a product that only a small segment of the playing population can truly appreciate. Does it make sense to produce something that down the road the economies of scale can not be taken advantage of? Does it make good business sense to produce something that has a limited growth potential?

A friend of mine made a pretty interesting qoute regarding this very same matter. Coming out with a high-end Mech, he said, "is tantamount to to the Polish Cavalry charging against the German Panzers in 1939....... gallant but woefully inadequate."

Unless the big boys (NPPL and PSP) decide to come up with an all-mech division in their respective leagues, what's really gonna drive the demand for a super mech. What I comfort myself with is the notion that the industry is still evolving. Much as the pumps have been relagated to an earlier chapter in the history of the game, so at some point the Mechs will find their own chapter.

And this is coming from a guy who has written on his Will that he must be buried with his 1999 Evolution clutched in his right hand. Let the stoning begin......

[Halliday]

Good post. Mechs are good for rentals, occasional players and people just starting out. I doubt there will ever be any "Pro" Mech tournies. The paint moeny and prestige is just not the same. Electros have been hitting rec ball for a while now.

[j.storm]

I like to be able to work on my guns. I'm mechanically stupid, but i'm electronically retarded I think a super-mech would have a place in senario/req play, definately. tourney's? probably not. A smaller market to be sure, but a market non the less. My $.02

[teufelhunden]

Even an all mech series would be ruined with these "super mechs." Last I checked, people wanted all mech tournies to get away from the high ROFs, not just change the methods..

[j.storm]

Even an all mech series would be ruined with these "super mechs." Last I checked, people wanted all mech tournies to get away from the high ROFs, not just change the methods..

Good point. That's why I'm thinkin' more senario

[PBX Ronin 23]

I think a super-mech would have a place in senario/req play, definately. tourney's? probably not. A smaller market to be sure, but a market non the less. My $.02

Ten four that J....... but in business, wouldn't you rather appeal to the majority? Unless of course the minority would shell out money by the cart load.

[Conversekidz]

Electronics are good for spitting an obsean amount of paint. I like my mech, i will always like my mech, I have even shot electronic and I still go back to my mech mag with ult.


Just think of this, who is laughing when the batteries die? the guy with a mech gun or the guy with a high end electronic gun?

Oh, and have you ever taken a $1500 electronic gun and put it under water?

[j.storm]

Ten four that J....... but in business, wouldn't you rather appeal to the majority? Unless of course the minority would shell out money by the cart load.

Depends really. A slightly antiquated company like AGD, WGP, Tippman kinda have to hit those markets. It you don't mind being a small company, and you pay your bills, then the minority is your gig. But I tend to speak from the heart....

[PBX Ronin 23]

Just think of this, who is laughing when the batteries die? the guy with a mech gun or the guy with a high end electronic gun?

Oh, and have you ever taken a $1500 electronic gun and put it under water?

The water submerging test not withstanding, would you really want to snap shoot at 8bps against someone laning into you at 15bps? Let's talk reality here. Not intending to sound condescending but how often do you really dunk you gun totally under water versus having a shoot-out with somebody who has a significant ROF advantage over you?

[Skoad]

I think most people believe the slower you shoot, the more skill is involved.

Its the whole "I shot you and your timmy with my mech gun" thing.

[j.storm]

well heck, if i'm getting laned with 200 rnds at 15bps+, and I snap shoot one round and hit the guy...... Speed never was a factor for me, but I don't play tourniments either. And let's face it, 8 paintballs PER SECOND, is still a lot of paint. I can't even count that fast

[PBX Ronin 23]

I think most people believe the slower you shoot, the more skill is involved.

Its the whole "I shot you and your timmy with my mech gun" thing.

I know what you mean.

What people really don't mention is that as the game has evolved to where it is now, part of the necessary skill set is to shoot fast and have the ability to avoid getting hit by longer and tightly space strings of fire.

Shoot and avoiding getting hit are still the basic premise of the game. The big difference is that you're now doing to the rythm of Rock-n-roll and not Mozart.

[j.storm]

The big difference is that you're now doing to the rythm of Rock-n-roll and not Mozart.

I like it

[RusskiX]

Just think of this, who is laughing when the batteries die? the guy with a mech gun or the guy with a high end electronic gun?

I don't know about you, but neither I, nor any of my friends have "had their battery die" in game. On paper it sounds like a selling point to have mechanical redundancy, but in practice, today's electros don't need it. In fact, its usually the mechanical-pneumatic systems in most electros that cause problems, not the electronics.

Oh, and have you ever taken a $1500 electronic gun and put it under water?

I'll concede that this is a pretty good point. BUT, most airball fields don't include moats.
Again, this sounds good in theory, but most players I know are fair weather ballers that don't play in tropical downpours. And in the few rainy days I've played, both my Eblade and Angel handled the moisture without complaint.

I have to agree with Mel that the market for mechs is shrinking, except for field rentals. I've been playing for 15 years and have watched the evolution. Mechs have their place in history, but today's electros are reliable, easy to use/maintain and more affordable everyday.

[Blennidae]

I hadn't really put much thought into the whole super-mech thing. Sure the hAir video was cool, and the tech aspect behind it is interesting. But I think you are 100% on the money with this. Unless the super-mech could be brought to market for significantly less than an electro, I dont see it really taking off.

Who would the target audience be?

Even if it came out for mags, think about it. Mags aren't the most efficient guns. If you add something that draws more air from the limited supply already, the number of shots drops.

It probably wouldn't sell to cocker guys, as its easier to eblade/race one and eliminate the timing issues.

I don't know much about scenario, but the one game I attended, it looked like there were a lot of the more "realistic" looking guns. I think those guys were more interested in how the gun looked as opposed to how it operated.

I own both E and mech guns. They each have thier place. I don't see the need for something in between.

If some company brings one to market, more power to them. But I don't think I'll be buying one.