The Unthinkable That No One Wants To Bring Up

[KillerOnion]

Well, maybe saying no one might be going a bit far, but honestly it seems like not enough people are pointing out this and with loud enough voice to get them the proper attention. I have mentioned this in bits and pieces here and there, but in light of a few friends of mine talking about buying IR3's, seeing clearance prices on LCD's which themselves were already an improvement that seemed a quantum leap that established a ruling dynasty in tournament ball not seen since the Mag, myself purchasing an old LED, then counting up the costs and implications of all of the above it hit me that there are some things here that seem amiss. We already have enough chaos with the whole NPPL/PSP fandangle and various industry clashes, PR tangles, etc....then it seems here that there is the question over accepting or rejecting the advertising and efforts of the bigger companies. What we have before us with the IR3 issue is the question--

When our favorite company puts forth the effort to produce something new at the expense of the great product that we love, promote it as being better and with sufficient reason but at the risk of losing a portion of their following, do we stay in our seats and accept it, learn to love it but at the same time watch other people who either disagree, don't get it, or are indifferent get up and leave, or can we say that the Emperor has no clothes on at the expense of questioning the judgement of those we respect, potentially lose some respect ourselves, and be forced to look with less respect at that for which nothing but the highest respect was deserved?

A difficult dilemma indeed, but one not unique in the paintball community as of late, being posed by a handful of other companies as well that in some of their decisions it almost brings one to tears, not to mention tempts the consumer to put a padlock on their wallet that in this sport seems to fly open like an unzipped tent door in the middle of a hurricane. I'll get into those others a bit later.

There are a few reasons to get an IR3, and as for appearances, just like cars and women that we ogle at there are going to be some that want more or less, thicker or thinner, longer or shorter hair, taller or shorter, etc. Only thing is that it seems that WDP just took what was viewed as the sexiest gun on the planet (MAJOR reason the thing sells so well) and changed it. Change from perfection, well, isn't going to be good usually. Having taken too long to put them out after hyping them for a long time and Adrenalin dropping them pissed a lot of people off (Including me for one.) and giving people no choice in the future but to either love the new look which a lot of people hate, either buy the more expensive of the two or looked at by some as a second rate fan, or not do business with WDP....this really is something I hate to say but I must....

WAS AN IDEA THAT MAY IRREVERSIBLY BACKFIRE!!!!

I hate that for WDP. I truly admire and respect them as a company and a leader in the paintball world, which really makes some aesthetic foibles of the IR3 really REALLY disappointing. For instance, LOSE THE STUPID CUTLASS TRIGGER GUARD EXTENSION. I don't care why it's there. Get rid of it. NOW. Honestly, the genius put into the gun just simply isn't graced by its awkward, ungainly presence, nor does it reflect the dominance in style that WDP put forth as the standard which other companies had little choice but to make effort to meet or be shunned. Also, there is the danger that possibly they may have overimproved the Angel to the point that the outside editions that contributed greatly to the Angel's popularity may have little room to work with in terms of making the ultimate paintballer's sword.

Just my thoughts on the matter, issues that I believe should be addressed by those in position to make change.

 

[Mark]

King Canute springs to mind, well argued but well doubt it will happen.

Bang goes your potential sponsorship.

Cheap jokes over now.

Some time back when the forums were alive with "do you like the IR3" etc I posted a rather long reply but the guist of it kinda agrees with you but only in so far as WDP have taken a brave step forward that isn't necessaraly the step most people expected but as you talked about women in your post...think back Marylin Monroe was regarded as a great beauty but would she get a look in today with all the pencil thin models now (not using this as a fat versus thin arguement) doubtful but then tastes change, cars are the annalgy I used before, everyone hated the Ford Sierra cos it looked like a jelly mold (and was more expensive than the Cortina it replaced) now look at all the current cars made...jelly molds on wheels. Again as I said before in that older post, WDP are just ahead of their time thats all, you will accept and love their new baby...you are just not ready yet.

 

[Baca Loco]

Somebody needs a nap

K.O.
You're hanging onto your sanity by its fingertips.

Just a couple of things in response to your version of War & Peace.
1) either the IR3 proves to be a superior tool or it doesn't. The grip does, btw, work as advertised and the sabre guard assures that switching hands when you're tucked in tight works without a hitch and a "normal" trigger guard would have been awkward given the new grip frame design.
2) if it doesn't work out you will rapidly see a "new and improved" LCD variant back in the marketplace. Remember New Coke?
3) as to Adrenalin switching company ties I'd be willing to bet it's all about mark ups and profit margins. Even for paintball players there has to be a ceiling where price resistance begins affecting volume and as WDP's basic product gets closer to that ceiling it leaves aftermarket guys less room to make a buck. Impulse, on the other hand, is relatively, cheap, good electro with lots of room for mods and cosmetics. A secondary retailer's dream.

Moo

PS--WDP's market niche has been the top end. With all the success they've had in order to continue it they need product that gives the top end consumer a reason to buy again. The same old gun just won't do.

 

[KillerOnion]

Ah, interesting that you mention a nap because I did in fact just wake up from one then read your reply. Weird isn't it? #2 and 3 are right on the mark, no question about it. But #1..."Oops we apologize for the great idea we had and told you about that you all bought because we said to...scrap that notion." Big fat risk. Now, risk IS a big part of successful aggressive business and is a respectable motion made by WDP...but there's the possibility of the same kind of backlash that people at one point in recent times directed towards Microsoft for dragging them along the rather annoyingly twisted path of progress.

 

[Baca Loco]

Gimme some of that backlash

K.O.
When the new Mercedes S-class is introduced does every earlier Benz owner say, "Hey, what the hell is this? You guys said mine was the best Mercedes." Of course not, the expectation is the next generation of any product is an improvement on the last and any claim made was in the context of the time it was made. To think anything else is silly.
As to Microsoft the only backlash Bill Gate et al are concerned with is a dip in corporate profits. Besides, anyone's dissatisfaction with Microsoft is predicated on their practices not their product. Obviously most people prefer their product. As to why I'll leave that to you.

Moo

 

[Micah]

I'm going to stick my nose in where it doesn't really belong (I'm not an angel owner as of now)

1) if you go back and look at the angel every year, the look is slightly different. but in the last few years there have been improvements in milling (and the cost of it) which have allowed companies to more wild things with their markers. Thus when WDP brought out the ir3, they upped it's look, some people like it others don't. I really like the way the ir3 C&C looks.

2) After WDP catches up with their back log of orders for the ir3, they will go back to producing LCDs. They have already released the LCD 2002, and will continue to produce it.

-Micah