For those that care about tournament news...

[Baby Huey]

I have two shockers ('03 vision, Ton Ton), around 1 1/2 playing 3-4 times a month and one problem (I broke). Sp fixed and had back to me really fast. And that was even more impressive since most of the techs were at a Chicago event.

RPG Paradigm from Rogue, about 9 months with one problem (I broke, maybe I should stop messing with my guns ). Rogue fixed fast and had back to me in time for a scenerio that was coming up quick.

I dont think the pro thing sways any adult from buying one gun to another. Just kids. Like when we were kids looking up to our favorite athletes and using the same gear (nike Shark cletes, neumann football gloves, etc).

Love my Shockers and I love my mag. You must have the right tool for the job. Have a great day and God Bless.

[pachytriton]

There are way way too many private label shockers already, lol. But I still wanna see an rl shocker.

[Cow hunter]

jeez, SP is turning into a SUPER COMPANY, but if they buy all the pro teams, whos gonna compete against them?

i predict that like all great empires they will fall, maybe when they dont get enough to pay all their teams, or when china's economy crashes......

[Banshee23]

Wow, in the last three years they've gone from cockers to timmies to freestyles to shockers. Just make up your minds & pick a damn gun already...

[magman007]

the real wonder is if national is suffering so much that they cannot pay the teams as much as they really want to, therefore sp, who is not suffering, is scooping em up.

[SCpoloRicker]

I'm also surprised that National is dropping in status. Maybe they overextended?

Also, what about the idea that having multiple manufacturers participating in a league is an important thing? Will one series be dominated by SP, one by National, one by K2, etc? Will the fans follow is there aren't manu' rivalries?

[ThePixelGuru]

I'm also surprised that National is dropping in status. Maybe they overextended?

Also, what about the idea that having multiple manufacturers participating in a league is an important thing? Will one series be dominated by SP, one by National, one by K2, etc? Will the fans follow is there aren't manu' rivalries?

If companies don't have their teams compete, there isn't much point to sponsoring teams. If SP proves that team X with Shockers can beat team Y with Shockers, it doesn't prove to anyone that the Shocker is a good marker. But if Dye gives team Z DM6s and they kick the crap out of team X, that influences what people buy, and therefore it's a good investment for them.

[warbeak2099]

I personally don't like SP because of a couple reasons.

1. Partly because of their business practices. Now, I don't claim to know everything that went on, but from reading through the court cases (I'm a law junky), the Gardner bros really seem like a couple of idiots. The way they speak and act makes them seem like people you'd like to kill if it weren't illegal. They come off as pompous, arrogant, and downright ignorant.

2. There always seems to be a better deal on the market. Shockers are fine markers, but not for $800. There are several alternatives that are the same price or less and are better. Ex. Proto Matrix or Defiant II. I'm sure with SP's size and power, they aren't paying that much money to crank those things out. It's just common sense business-wise. Yet, they are going past just trying to make a buck and are really just ripping people off. That goes for most of their other products as well. There are just as good barrel kits out there as the Freak and they cost substantially less than ~$200. The Ion is an exception. It is quite a nice marker for what you pay. I've been looking at college paintball as I am doing my college searches and many are SP sponsored. If I played on one, I would absolutely pick the Ion over their other markers just to save money. I would never buy a Shocker though. The Nerve has also come down in price, so that's good too. But the majority of people are paying $800 for a gun that isn't worth it. That's beyond uncool, it's unethical.

3. I have considered buying SP products in the past. Whenever I've called them up, they were always rude, snotty, and nasty. I don't appreciate being treated that way as a customer, nor would I endorse a company who treats me that way.

So, those are my reasons for disliking SP. I'm not just being a mindless SP basher / AGD worshipper. In fact, most of the people that I encounter who support SP come off as ignorant and "groupy-ish". Most, not all. Warped1 is one of the few who doesn't make arguments totally devoid of facts. Most others that I speak to are mental weaklings who are easily swayed by advertisements and shiny things.

[Baby Huey]

I'm not just being a mindless SP basher / AGD worshipper. In fact, most of the people that I encounter who support SP come off as ignorant and "groupy-ish". Most, not all. Warped1 is one of the few who doesn't make arguments totally devoid of facts. Most others that I speak to are mental weaklings who are easily swayed by advertisements and shiny things.

Its too bad that you are surrounded by those types of people. You might want make better decisions about who you spend time with.

That was a very well thought out post until the end.

[Teamslayer76]

hooooorrrrayyyy for Smart Parts! Another winning team under the SP belt!
I'm really looking forward to the upcoming season.

[skife]

Wow.. I guess they do, very nearly, have a monopoly on winning

they've got a patent on winning, it was in one of their past adds.

[SCpoloRicker]

If companies don't have their teams compete, there isn't much point to sponsoring teams. If SP proves that team X with Shockers can beat team Y with Shockers, it doesn't prove to anyone that the Shocker is a good marker. But if Dye gives team Z DM6s and they kick the crap out of team X, that influences what people buy, and therefore it's a good investment for them.

I think we both just said the same thing.

[WARPED1]

hooooorrrrayyyy for Smart Parts! Another winning team under the SP belt!
I'm really looking forward to the upcoming season.

Amen brutha man!

[WenULiVeUdiE]

I wonder if this will come back and bite them next year. Can they sustain such a large stable of such great teams? Then again, they will get so much income from team markers and people buying SP stuff because so many teams use them. We'll see how this one pans out...

Edit- By the way, Smart Parts is sponsorring a team in Scotland I believe. Not a major team, but still one more for the list.

[minimag03]

I wouldn't like if if AGD signed all these teams. It just makes the whole tournament scene alittle more boring thatit has already become.

The only thing I see positive coming out of this is new Shockers. Maybe some of the teams like RL or ND will make both external and internal changes that improve the performence and durability of the Shocker.