Whats up with Empire/NPS?

[WARPED1]

Why do you think they're loosing all thier teams? ND, switched, RL switched. Was XSV an Empire team? If so, they went to Eclpse(Ego's). Is National losing lots of cash? If they're making buget cuts, where sponsorships seem to be cut first, whats next? Quality control?

[NukeGoose]

From everything that I hear, NPS does not take care of its sponsored teams nearly as well as SP does. Also ND is still using Empire clothing and shooting Empire paint. My guess would be that the incredibly success of the Ion has taken sales away from other manufacturers and shifted them towards SP (because for under $300, you can now get an electro with low kick and all the shooting modes you need). Other manufacturers have had to lower prices because its much harder to sell a high end gun at close to $2k - new 06 timmies are $1250 , when the 04 style timmies came out they were 1500-1800. People are realizing that you do not need to spend $2000 on a setup to be competitive - which means lower prices, lower profits.

XSV was not an Empire team; most were originally the Ironmen in the NXL (a Dye team) though I don't believe that Dye and XSV ever had any ties.

[WARPED1]

I guess I should ask Rocky, he posts over on shockerowners.com, but I bet I wouldn't get a straight answer.
I wasn't sure about XSV, thanks for clearing that up. Now, I know NPS/Empire basically "owns" Bob Long and the Intimidator, is it the same with ICD now? It seems that when a team like Naughty Dogs got thier PL Intimidator, they also got a PL Freestyle.

[NukeGoose]

More or less... NPS distributes ICD and BL products. ICD and BL are both in the NPS 'umbrella' and share some resources (like Manike's engineering skills, I believe that he did the CAD work for the Russian Legion Freestyle before they decided not to make it) while still operating somewhat independently.

[WARPED1]

That's what I thought. On a differen't Bob Long note, can you believe he and Oakland Assassins left the NXL?

[NukeGoose]

They're not really leaving the NXL... just merging with Infamous to play Xball since PSP got rid of the open division. I believe that Bob is still coaching.

[WARPED1]

Bobs interview in Faceful, he said the Assassins will no longer compete in the NXL. He's tired of all the promises of money and a tv deal in the NXL not coming to fruition.

[GT]

Quality control?

I don't think so. Simon still works there , I hope.

[WARPED1]

I don't think so. Simon still works there , I hope.

I don't think Maike is in QC, I believe he's R+D, but let's hope!

[NukeGoose]

Bobs interview in Faceful, he said the Assassins will no longer compete in the NXL. He's tired of all the promises of money and a tv deal in the NXL not coming to fruition.

I believe that he said that he wouldnt stay in the NXL if it didnt change. The format has changed to include finals with a cash payout at each event, and Dick Clark released the media strangle. Terry (Oakland Assassins tech) has said that Bob will be back.

[Pump Scout]

Just read the Bob Long interview in PGi. He said that many of the NPS/Empire teams were demanding a fortune, and just weren't worth what they were asking for what came in return. Also, he'd mentioned that NPS is distributor, not owner, for BLAST products.

[GT]

I don't think Maike is in QC, I believe he's R+D, but let's hope!

I think he keeps an eye on the back end.

[WARPED1]

I believe that he said that he wouldnt stay in the NXL if it didnt change. The format has changed to include finals with a cash payout at each event, and Dick Clark released the media strangle. Terry (Oakland Assassins tech) has said that Bob will be back.

I hope so! Bob rules!

[CodeMA]

Ummm just a thought, but isnt NPS indebt to everyone (mostly due to stores/series/etc being rather in debt to them?)

That with teams needing/demanding more... stuffs gotta happend and its not always good...

[SCpoloRicker]

I was wondering whats going on at National. Posted in the new SP teams thread.