What is the difference now?

[M98Punk]

Yeah this stuff wont go away untill a large number of people are injured/killed from paintball related injuries in a short period of time or if a famous pro dies (if it's bossible for them to get hurt seeings how most of them are padded like the staypuffed marshmellow man)...then fields and players will be forced to reform. Kinda like what happend to nascar. Either thar or we all move into a planned community and play at the same field

[phantomhitman]

I still think a big part of the problem is kids. Mostly unsupervised, the refs are either too busy or lazy to babysit them (most of the time the refs are younger as well), and teh kids just act stupid without mommy and daddy watching them. Too late to do anything about it now.

[M98Punk]

The funny thing about kids is that once they find out something can actually happen to them, that they can't whine there way out of they reform pretty quick... And if that doesn't work it's alot easier to put the bag over their head so that they can't identify who beat them up and threw them in a dumpster then a full grown guy acting the same way

[duby]

Its definately the people who are ruining the sport, whether it is the cheater at the local field, or the store/company trying to make money. there is no mutual respect anymore. 8-9 years ago when i started playing the sport was so small that it was rare to run across another paintballer in my area outside of the 8 or so people we played with back in the woods every other weekend. even when you went to the field, there was an automatic respect cause you had a common intrest no matter what your skill level. you all liked paintball. no one cheated cause you were all firends, even if you had just met that afternoon. the local shop would cut you deals just to get more people into paintball, work on markers for free even if you didnt buy it there bebcause they love everything about paintball. now, the store that just opened up by me charges 20 bucks minimun for work even if you bought the marker and parts there. the local field is crammed with people that cheat, overshoot, ramp in rec games even when there is a birthday party of 10 year olds...its sad really. maybe if we stop calling it a "sport" people wont be so compelled to do anything to win...

[Army]

I believe it's the lack of Dr Pepper at all the better fields.

[FSU_Paintball]

There's a lot of differences.

Well, some similarities... the prices for paint didn't go down too much... meaning playing now is just about as expensive as playing 8 years ago.

The guns got faster... now you gotta be a track star and/or make short runs. It changes the game, and not always for the better.

The attitudes just got progressively worse.

It's not a backwoods industry any more... creativity can get stifled by lawsuits

More than they used to, people play to win rather than to have fun

Paintball in my area really died out. Now you have a few killer D1/D2 players and some miscellaneous speedball regulars... and the very occasional group of woodsballers that will play now and again... it's not like it used to be in my area.

[camilion705]

So I ask;
What do you NOT like about the sport now and why?

1. Bad Sportsmanship
2. Bad facilities with equally bad employees
3. Gameplay is more about bps than it is skill, which leads to the next point:
4. I can't afford to play all day as that would require at least two cases.
Mind you, I play airball/hyperball and just a bit of everything else.

The players these days are rediculous. Bad mouthing other players and beating up on those who are just begining to play. They are overly obsessive about the hardware they have brought to the field and look down on those who don't bring top of the line gear.

I watch Smoked (the dvd) from time to time and am reminded of a better time for paintball. Yes the technology is so much better today, but hasn't that taken away from the game? I really believe that if there was a bps cap imposed of about 11bps, the quality of paintball games would be greatly improved. Less bps means the need for more skill, which I believe leads to more fun.

As for the quality of facilities and the employees... Paintball parks must become more professional in appearance and in service. The grounds must be clean at all times with playing fields and the surrounding staging areas free of any dangers. The bunkers and netting must be inspected regularly and damages repaired or replaced. Employees must be knowledgeable and courteous while performing their jobs. Safety is crucial in paintball and the fields I play at dont feel particularly safe. Would you say, race a car at a track where there is debris all over the tarmac? I know we all play at fields where there is crap all over the place! A lot of the time the fps of my marker is never checked by a referee and that is a huge liability. The places we all play at have to be safe and that means well kept facilities and employees that perform their jobs properly.

The paintball world is growing, but it is not progressing.

[Cow hunter]

i really think its all in the sportsmanship......... and the horrible field employees and the price gouging!!!!......oh well then theres this.....

I read all the topics like this and I can't understand half of what your guys see. The UK Woodsball and Scenario scene is a very close knitt and friendly enviroment and as far as I know the UK tournament scene is healthy and, although there is more of an emphasis on new flash gear, It doesn't seem to be anywhere near as bad as the scene in the US. I just hope the UK scene doesn't follow the same route the US ones appears to be following.

damn us americans ruining everything!!!!

[Recon by Fire]

Absolutely bad sportsmanship and attitude. I think the total focus on BPS doesn't help.