Nostalgia or Fact?

[Missy-Q]

I suppose like a lot of things Missy, the answer is not a simple one and is more likely to be a multiplicity of reasons.
I agree the average playing age is most definitely younger now than when we did our thing but that doesn't explain everything in my view.

I think the money coming into our sport is most definitely a factor, especially when it was routed toward the pro scene.
That in itself created a sub class of *******s that unfortunately became a template for the young tourney player to aspire to......hmmmmm.....the more I think about it the more I am convinced it's not nostalgia and maybes it was better then and my reason for suggesting this is because the average player then was more content with his or her lot.
If you take a quick look at any paintball forum anywhere, someone is bitching about something.
Hmmmm.......

No, far from simple, and a decent option might have been "all of the above".\
I agree with you about the leagues 'creating a monster' with the Pro teams, and the trickle-down effect that is tainting the player-base. There can be no argument about that. I would say though, that the 'men' in the game seem to be currently gravitating towards the booming scenario market. Thats where you find the atmostphere these days, and the mature client. It comes to something when the 'weirdo's' represent the industries healthiest facet. Time to re-evaluate. If people throw money at supporting the Scenario teams I wonder if they too would turn into complete knobs? Who knows....

 

[Philip]

And I bet you watch vhs cassettes on it....

No no no, I could never do that, betamax is far superior!

Does any one remember the first time they played, or the first tourny they were in, the adrenaline rush was always stronger and gave you a buzz for hours, last time I played, it was nothin special, barely any buzz at all, even though I love the game!

 

[Russell Smith]

I went for the third option because they are the same but different.
Missy has made a valid point in that the average age of the players is going down and that may have an effect on how the players interact with each other.
The team I played for (Manchester Lions) was very successful up north but and we only had competition from one team so had to travel to the dirty south to get it, every time we went we ended up arguing with one team or another but we loved every minute of it.
I think is is the camaraderie we felt with each other that made those times special and you will find that in a lot of team games including modern paintball

I hate the sup-air game (except at high level) and only enjoy playing woodland but if we want the game to progress and we judge that success on the possibility of getting on TV or getting recognised as a sport by a government/sports council we have to keep developing the modern game, woodland will never help us in that respect.

Edwards made a comment on "when was the last time teams knocked heads on a regular basis" well I don't think he was on about the pro tour (but I thought that was great and I would emulate that in an instant given the same funding) I am sure he was on about the Home Counties League who had the best teams in the country all playing against each other month in and month out. Preds, The Nam, Turks, Shades ect ect and it was that competition with each other that produced world class players we will struggle to ever see again.

That is what we need to take from the old school, the rest is just fond memories of when we had to get our hair cut every month.

Russ

 

[Robbo22]

Does any one remember the first time they played, or the first tourny they were in, the adrenaline rush was always stronger and gave you a buzz for hours,

No i soiled my pants.. was there thinking my Vl lynx was the dog's danglies 3 BPS on basic stuff.. and then testing guns in safe area, all these dye, angles and ego's on ramp and whatever modes you could find that went insanley fast!

i dry fired mine in safe area thought it was good.. then everyone else did it.. i rang my mum told her i loved her and i wouldn't be home for christmas!!

(i was only 14, and a big sissy)

But as missy said, there seems to be alot of atmosphere in the scenario just relating to fun, guys having a fun day with their mates.. i think thats what appeals to most people!!

 

[Sid_Clan]

Well I started playing in 1988/1989.....Oh how old am I!!!!!!

Woodsball was great, great fun, great teams, no real pressure. I find Sup' Air to be brilliant, but I feel over the last few years it has been a bit well poo to be honest, no real atmosphere anymore, as Edwards says, where are all the big names playing? It used to be great watching the top UK teams smash it out at 5 man, even 7 man. But then it's all gone a bit Pete Tong. I feel alot of what is wrong is the introduction of some well, pi$h rules regarding reffing, you know, 1-4-1 on a hit on any part of your body etc, it just makes the game a bit crap. Starts fights, people blaming other players in their team for them getting a 1-4-1 etc. Just my views remember. Also, I think what is ruining the game is ringers, sandbaggers etc, I mean, we are Clan and have Clan players in our roster, we don't stick me and 6 of Dynasty on a field and smash everyone to bits and go "hey, we are the Clan and we smahed you"...cos we were not!!

Anyway.....question, I think players who have come into the current tournament climate think this is all it is, they don't remember watching Pornstars V's Kelly's Heroes at Simply the Best and so on, so they have nothing to compare it to.

Sid
$hit I'm the longest serving player in Scotland....where's my pipe!!

 

[Cook$]

Balls to that Sid, we broke into the bar at Uttoxeter, and you tried to stick your finger up my arse in Malaga. Having fun with people you never would have met but for the game. That's where the best paintball memories come from. Apart from the finger, that was just wrong.

 

[Sid_Clan]

Balls to that Sid, we broke into the bar at Uttoxeter, and you tried to stick your finger up my arse in Malaga. Having fun with people you never would have met but for the game. That's where the best paintball memories come from. Apart from the finger, that was just wrong.

I recall I got knuckle deep mate, but come on, I did ask you nice to get off the balcony when you were naked apart from a cowboy hat

I agree mate I have made some great friends over the years....anyway....back to the topic

Sid

 

[Russell Smith]

I recall I got knuckle deep mate, but come on, I did ask you nice to get off the balcony when you were naked apart from a cowboy hat

I agree mate I have made some great friends over the years....anyway....back to the topic

Sid

Pity Cook$ ain't one of them


Russ

 

[Tom Allen]

i prefer sup air, but hate tournaments, give me a good walk-on day every time. Maybe it's the traveling or cost to play ratio, but then i loved hot shots at greenham common.
Paintball forums have helped to lower the average age of paintball players, and in some ways some would say the game was better without it, but it has increased awareness of paintball.
Have the forums introduced players who are cyber geeks and care nothing for paintball, and are just looking for the latest cool fad.
I got into paintball for the physical buzz, and would only have progressed to tourneys if asked to join a team, unlike today where you have a team then get into paintball.
It's not the format of paintball that has changed for better or worse, it's the players.

 

[snap-shooter]

thread seems a bit wasted on me, what does nostalgia mean?

but can't really comment cos the back woods of yesteryear was my first time with thick gloves an inferno and all the thick clothing i own aaahhh memories