robbo what i said cam out wrong. i meant it how manning said after me 
i.e. they couldn't go because it was restricted to 8 teams.
i.e. they couldn't go because it was restricted to 8 teams. 2004 - It's Done- Merged
- Thread starter Robbo
- Start date
I wonder if Davidson's USPL Format being demo'd at the Miami Super 7 (so rumored, anyways) is a possible response the the NXL/PSP linkup? If so, would that be the ace in the hole for the Super 7/Millenium people? The similarities between the USPL and X ball are remarkable, and assuming that the USPL's "bunker slamming" rule remained in effect, it may make for a more visually appealing game, and give us non-smurf sized guys a chance at competing in that type of format...
Any comment to give, Steve?
Any comment to give, Steve?
The USPL is the United States Paintball League, a format designed and implemented by Steve Davidson and a gentleman named Biff Thiele (pardon the spelling if it's incorrect) that is very, very similar to the X-Ball format we all know and love today. The USPL had but one event, "Paintfest" which was held in LaPorte, Indiana in late September, 2000.
VForce Goggles was involved with Paintfest, since they were the only people at the time willing and able to make a mask that had a chin strap, which was necessary because one the rules in the USPL rulebook involved the practice of "Bunker Slamming", which basically involved one player slamming into a bunker (Ultimate Air, that is) at full tilt in an attempt to physically dislodge another player that was behind said bunker. At the time it received alot of attention because of the perceived violence in the practice. The chin strap was the answer to the concerns that many had regarding a possibility of a mask coming off a player's face.
Unfortunately, due to causes unknown, Paintfest was never repeated and while the USPL remains in existence, it hasn't been active, until recently, when I'd started hearing about the Miami Super 7 possibly having the USPL Format being demo'd there, possibly in response to the popularity of the NXL and the X-Ball Format.
Information on the USPL is sparse, but Tyger's old website, www.webdogradio.com, has coverage of the 2000 Paintfest event, with video clips from Adrenalin TV, and some really great audio of some major people within the industry singing.
VForce Goggles was involved with Paintfest, since they were the only people at the time willing and able to make a mask that had a chin strap, which was necessary because one the rules in the USPL rulebook involved the practice of "Bunker Slamming", which basically involved one player slamming into a bunker (Ultimate Air, that is) at full tilt in an attempt to physically dislodge another player that was behind said bunker. At the time it received alot of attention because of the perceived violence in the practice. The chin strap was the answer to the concerns that many had regarding a possibility of a mask coming off a player's face.
Unfortunately, due to causes unknown, Paintfest was never repeated and while the USPL remains in existence, it hasn't been active, until recently, when I'd started hearing about the Miami Super 7 possibly having the USPL Format being demo'd there, possibly in response to the popularity of the NXL and the X-Ball Format.
Information on the USPL is sparse, but Tyger's old website, www.webdogradio.com, has coverage of the 2000 Paintfest event, with video clips from Adrenalin TV, and some really great audio of some major people within the industry singing.
If you go to the old site, you'll find the "Coming back" page. I never got a chance to put paintfest back on the new site.
That being said, it looks like the old site still has the video footage I put up from Adrenaline TV
http://www.webdogradio.com/USPL2K/ADTV.htm
This is what the TV show put out on the airwaves. You need "Real Video" player of some kind to view the segment.
Enjoy. If I can find the old tape I'll re-scan it and put it up as a .wmv on the new site.
EDIT ADD : Well, I did one better. I went back into the archives, found the original MPG rip, and altered it to a .wmv file. The .mpg seems to have a bad synch sound, so if it looks like a bad import movie, I'm working n that. But you can find it at http://www.webdogradio.us/video/oldschool/PaintFest2K.wmv This is the "low" res version, 4.5 meg and about 7 minute run time.
The "high res" version will go up Monday, along with the '94 "World Cup" game of Ironmen Vs. All A's.
-Tyger
That being said, it looks like the old site still has the video footage I put up from Adrenaline TV
http://www.webdogradio.com/USPL2K/ADTV.htm
This is what the TV show put out on the airwaves. You need "Real Video" player of some kind to view the segment.
Enjoy. If I can find the old tape I'll re-scan it and put it up as a .wmv on the new site.
EDIT ADD : Well, I did one better. I went back into the archives, found the original MPG rip, and altered it to a .wmv file. The .mpg seems to have a bad synch sound, so if it looks like a bad import movie, I'm working n that. But you can find it at http://www.webdogradio.us/video/oldschool/PaintFest2K.wmv This is the "low" res version, 4.5 meg and about 7 minute run time.
The "high res" version will go up Monday, along with the '94 "World Cup" game of Ironmen Vs. All A's.
-Tyger
I think you're absolutly right. League Structure has nothing to do with selling the sport. (Actually that might just be the biggest kernal of truth regarding next season).
But;
I believe that Sam's idea for a League Structure is good for the Millennium series, but it has no real bearing on selling the sport. I believe the League structure now promotes complaciency, and the attitude that participation is as important as winning. Basically what i'm saying is that a lot of teams play for the experince of playing, not to be serious competitors.
From reading all the posts regarding the future of EuroBall i have gathered a few things;
1. The EXL will have nothing to do with the NXL. THe NXL is gone from us, and we'll have nothing to do with them in 2004.
2. There are still a lot of highly competitive teams in Europe and the USA, which are all highly marketable to both a EURO audience and an American Audience.
3. The format of X-ball is exciting to watch for the first time, but it is repetitive, and not directly televisable for a mass market audience. Extensive post production is necessary to make it viewable for a main stream audience. In fact, i'd go as far as to say that there are some major flaws with x-ball.
From these conclusions, I'd say the best way forward would to be for the Millennium Series to Merge with the NPPL to create a SUPER WORLD PRO series. The Super pro teams would play one event per month, 6 Millennium Events, and 6 NPPL events. This new organisation would have to be clearly and distinctly independant of the Promoters, as their primary concern will be running their relative NPPL/Millennium Event. This would allow the Promoters to keep thier 'branding', as the Millennium Series and NPPL are both very successfull as corporate identities.
The SUPER WORLD PRO league would be run at normal NPPL events, and Millennium Events, but the SUPER WORLD PRO league would consist of the best teams (and most Marketable) teams from Europe and the USA, who are not currently part of the NXL.
The Millennium Series and the NPPL would have to create a Media division, responsible for selling the SUPER PRO league to TV Production companies.
The SUPER PRO League would have to develop it's own format for playing paintball, that almagamates the best qualities of classic 7 man paintball, and X-ball.
At this point the Millennium Series and the NPPL have created a Product that is better than the NXL for several reasons.
1. It has the best team in paintball, Dynasty, and the best player in the world, Oli Lang. (I doubt that anyone would seriusly question Dynasty's supremacy, even the NXL teams, as Dynasty beat up BOBs team in practice a few weeks ago). These boys are easily the most marketable team in Paintball at the moment, and with JT/ Brass Eagle backing them they could become Legendary.
2. It has a more diverse team list, appealing to audiences from many differnt countries. This automatically opens up the European Television Market which is unavailable to an all american NXL.
3. It will have more diverse locations, Including Millennium events such as Toullouse and Campaign Cup, and would also include super NPPL events like Huntington beach. These events hilight the jetsetting 'life style' of young athletic professional paintball superstars.
I firmly believe that it is possible to make and package a SUPER WORLD PRO LEAGUE, that could compete and even beat the NXL.
However it hinges on someone taking a clear control of the SUPER LEAGUE, and managing it independantly of the NPPL and Millennium Series, and it depends on investors being prepared to back the enterprise.
This is what i gathered from reading over the posts over the last few days, i'm by no means an expert on the subject, and i don't represent anybody's views but my own. I am however really intrerested to see how this all turns out, and i really can't stop thinking about the potential of a SUPER PRO LEAGUE.
I'll pass this on to Naill, i know he's been away for a while, and hasn't been up to speed with what's been discussed on the fourms.
Hey, whaddayaknow? Robbo and I agree on something.
I think these are fantastic ideas. Especially if we can't get something reasonable going on with X Ball.
See I ain't so desparate after all!
I think this thread belongs on the Major League forum because this is more major than major if there is anything really behind this talk.
Steve