Paintball's "image" (Opinions requested)

[Azz3h]

Sadly I think that the public sees pball as militistic - even when I mention tournaments to my friends they think it's running about in the woods with camo on as a military style force.
On TV is definately the way to go - just ONE advert would be enough to make paintball 'cool'!

Scene of recballers sneaking thru the woods. quietly whispering 'enemy over there'... no music, just quiet rustling of trees. Nature documentary voice over as *screen fades to black*: 'Paintball. A combat game in which participants shoot paint filled balls at each other.'
*loud rock music and tourney SFX as lots of short clips of tourney is shown* (including muggings, breakouts etc.)
Text explodes onto screen (one at a time):
10 players
10 markers
2 flags
One winner

*** Cup, 19/20th August. Only on Five

Just do that and the whole industry would benefit! Everyone would sell more due to watching it all on telly! Then we could show theres a real difference between what people think it's all about and the sport side.

 

[Gyroscope]

Originally posted by Azz3h

Just do that and the whole industry would benefit! Everyone would sell more due to watching it all on telly! Then we could show theres a real difference between what people think it's all about and the sport side.

Everyone would benefit? What about people who want to play rec ball and be "soldiers"? What about the Army surplus stores? Some people unselfconsciously pretend to be soldiers and that is part of their fun. Some pretend to be freakin' animals and Lord of the Rings characters while they run around with paintball guns, fer chrissake!

Tournament players would probably benefit. At least we would have fewer misconceptions to overcome. Also, new players would probably be drawn to tournament play sooner. Most of play in camoflage at first. Then comes the blue jersey. Then the pink jersey. Then the camo bandannas tied to everything. It is the circle of life.

 

[Robbo]

Originally posted by Tyger

1) What is the "image" of paintball? (For sake of argument, I'm talking about what "non-players" think paintball is.)

In the UK and Europe, the general perception would be of a bunch of cammo clad wannabees running around a wood somewhere.
In the US, I think it would be pretty much the same but with a much higher degree of awareness of tournament paintball when compared to Euroland.

2) What SHOULD be the image of paintball?

Depends what 'should' you are referring to, for the sake of promoting the sport to enlighten and encourage growth, then the image should concentrate 100% on the tourney side of things.
This 'should' benefits both player and industry alike.
There are others in paintball however who perhaps may feel the image 'should' be something else, say, to promote the outdoor enjoyment / military aspect side of things and therefore recball should be the image.

3) Would a large corporation (Nike, Reebok, And1) help or hurt paintball's image by getting into it? Related, do you think a large company would try to change paintball's "image" to better suit sales results?

A large corporation like Nike would only get involved if paintball was being promoted as a tournament sport and it would undoubtedly help the sport grow and legitimise it if it did get involved.
I doubt it would feel the need to change the image of paintball if it was already disentangled from woodland perceptions and singularly aligned with tournament type promotion.
Tourney image is where it's at.

4) And finally, what large corporation, if any, would you like to see get into paintball?

Nike and any other respectable companies that would care to, except tobacco companies of course and others of that ilk.

 

[Superflyuk]

i think a company that wud benefit from sponsorsing - a millenium series for example- would be someone like Coke or Stellar or some thing like that. Not directly linked to paintball (obviously being drink companys) but if they are the official sponsors of the event then they are gonna sell alot of drinks but will also bring alot of money into paintball

My 2p

 

[Jake]

1) The general impression is of people in the woods on stag do's, people who take it seriously are just a bit sad.

2) It should be seen as an adrenaline packed, skillfull, emotionally charged game that loads of perfectly normal people enjoy because it's f*cking great! Not because they have any strange fantasies involving dressing up and killing people.

3) It would help the image no end. Any major company with good brand image would reflect some of this on the tournament paintball scene. Maybe I'm bursting some bubbles here but why would any major company bother to change the image of paintball? They are spending money here, they don't want to spend extra money to make it fit their vision of something worth sponsoring! If paintball helps a company sell products and make more money they will invest in it. If it doesn't they won't.

4) Any company that will raise the profile of paintball in a positive manner whilst also bringing money in to the sport is a good thing.

Who cares if its Coca-Cola, Nike or Wal-mart! Unless they give out promotional material at tournaments ... in that instance Stella Artois, Playboy, or Porsche would be great.

 

[-Suicide-]

lol, i agree with that last fact!

 

[paintordie]

Companys like nike wouldnt care about paintball or anything else they promote they just care about thier sales, so as long as there being promoted and making money they dont care and will do what it takes to get people see thier banners which could be good or bad depending on what they do. I think it would be better just for true paintball companys like dye etc to help with promoting the sport because they care about paintball rather then just sales

 

[Azz3h]

Sorry to break the news kiddo but all companies are out there to make cash.
DYE don't care about paintball as long as they sell stuff - just promoting teams and other paintball related stuff means their product is brought to the forefront of the market - I thought this was highlighted with the whole SP issue! They only 'care' about paintball because this is the way to get people to have brand loyalty. Do a good job of it too
Nike etc. would do a good job of supporting paintball if they thought they could make a profit - in much the same way as a paintball only company would try and get out of the market and diversify if paintball started to become unpopular (due to laws banning all guns for example)

 

[stongle]

Originally posted by Superflyuk
i think a company that wud benefit from sponsorsing - a millenium series for example- would be someone like Coke or Stellar or some thing like that.
My 2p

After Toulouse I'd be thinking La Perla or Agent Provocateur, anyway I digress.

I think the majority of Contributors are going to favour tournament and specifically NPPL or X Ball as the "publicly acceptable image of paintball". Whether that is the most commercially viable I'm not so sure.

The majority of money spent in paintball is going into the Rec or Customer sector, and to shun this sector in pursuit of social acceptability or simply Political Correctness maybe a folly. In my mind Paintball is a bit of a progression, and you can choose where you want to stop. To promote one at the expense of the other is likely to do damage to all formats in one way or another. Any image or branding of paintball is going to have to be targeted at a specific audience or demographic.

It would be nice to promote it as a progression or multi-faceted, but don't see how it would work or be understood by the wider audience as they have no way of effectively visualising and seeing that all in one place. Furthermore, your likely to see a difference in views on this side of the pond.

Being a Capitalist Monkey, I can't understand the economic benefits of many major outside companies sponsoring paintball. Usually sponsorship is economic, and the sponsored will expect some return on his investment. It may well be a fiscal return, but other intangible benefits exists (such as appearing to be a good member of the community). What can outside Companies can derive a huge amount of benefit from large scale fiscal support of Paintball??? I mean Motorola Sponsor the PA League in the UK, have ballers rushed out and ordered new phones? Or even if the sponsorship was for altruistic reasons, I still wonder what they gain (unless for Tax Reasons but then there are other better causes). Ok the odd subliminal mention in local newspapers maybe? Maybe if the holy grail of TV appeared, then yes we would attract these companies but then I imagine this is somewhat Chicken & Egg situation.

Maybe I'm wrong to look purely in fiscal terms, but when even the supposed highest evolution of Paintball: "Tournament" lurches year to year in a state of flux, limbo and general disarray; there seems to be little benefit even looking at the "long dollar".

Anyway, ignoring my flights of fancy, I'd like to see Agent Provocateur and Heckler and Koch sponsor Paintball. They'd be something strangely erotic of a semi naked Kylie Minogue toting an Mp5. Plus that should nicely cater to all groups.

 

[fred1]

1) I would say the average remark from neophytes suffices to summarise the situation "You going to play war this week end hahaha".

2) Image of paintball today is that of a dynamic sport populated by many different sub cultures. A sport that resembles snowboarding, skateboarding etc.... in the way people apprehend competition. Quite laid back and not too strict and bureaucratic yet, but with players that take competition very seriously.

3) I think big corporations would help paintball go mainstream and would bring prices down. These are guys who are experts in production techniques, sales and marketing and that have the budget to put in place an infrastructure that would be extremeley competitive. I bet you that if Nike would come into paintball, we would be finding 500$ high end semis on the market pretty soon.... and probably alot of the current companies would die because competition from Nike would be too fierce.

4) I would like to see a company like Burton Snowboards get into paintball. Burton today, is so ont the ball, so far ahead from competition. Their equipment is extremely technical as well as at the fore front of trends (ex: Anon, Analog etc.... that are sub brands from Burton). Burton cater to pretty much everybody, and do it all very well without selling out.