Paintball Monopoly

[Jonny - SZ#03]

Sorry if you were expecting a well seasoned board game with a paintball theme, but the title seemed fitting based on the following information:

PRESS RELEASE
KEE Action Sports, LLC. acquires the intellectual property portfolio of Smart Parts

Sewell, NJ, March 30, 2011, KEE Action Sports.
March 30, 2011. KEE Action Sports, LLC. announces today that it has acquired the intellectual property portfolio of Smart Parts. KEE believes it was critical to paintball that the portfolio stayed inside the industry. KEE’s President and CEO, John Robinson, said that “KEE is committed to growing paintball participation industry-wide and that KEE intends to use the intellectual property assets in a manner consistent with that goal.” In a letter to be sent out shortly, KEE will inform current license holders how it intends to continue to work with them under their current license arrangements. KEE welcomes contacts from other companies interested in pursuing a partnership relating to its new IP assets.[/i]

PRESS RELEASE
KEE to Produce BT Markers with H&K Emblem

Sewell, NJ, August 9th, 2010 KEE Action Sports LLC. KEE Action Sports and Heckler & Koch announced that they had resolved their dispute regarding KEE's BT Delta, BT Delta Elite and BT TM-7 markers. The settlement provides that KEE and its customers may continue to market the three markers. Newly manufactured Delta, Delta Elite and TM-7s will shortly begin bearing an H&K emblem. The three markers will be sub-licensed through Umarex, the worldwide exclusive H&K licensee for paintball products.

KEE Action Sports LLC is the worldwide leader in the manufacturing and distribution of paintball sporting goods and the exclusive source for RPS®, Empire®, Invert™, Invert™ MINI™, BT Paintball™, HALO®, EVIL®, Pure Energy®, ViewLoader®, Brass Eagle®, and JT Sports® brand products.

Authorized by Umarex, the worldwide exclusive H&K licensee for paintbll products.

PRESS RELEASE
KEE Action Sports Purchases JT Sports.

Sewell, NJ, February 8th, 2010 KEE Action Sports LLC. KEE Action Sports is pleased to announce that it has acquired the assets of JT Sports. Effective immediately, KEE will be manufacturing and selling the entire line of JT Sports, Brass Eagle, and ViewLoader paintball products.

George Eurick, President and CEO of KEE said, "We are proud and excited to add the JT Sports, Brass Eagle, and ViewLoader brands, all of which have a very rich history in paintball. Their product heritage, product innovation, and long history in paintball provide some very meaningful additions to KEE’s product portfolio."

For JT product ordering or questions regarding orders, current and new customers should contact their Sale Representative or call KEE at 1-800-724-6822 for any additional information.

KEE Action Sports LLC is the worldwide leader in the manufacturing and distribution of paintball sporting goods and the exclusive source for RPS®, Empire®, Invert™, Invert™ MINI™, BT Paintball™, HALO®, EVIL®, Pure Energy®, ViewLoader®, Brass Eagle®, and JT Sports® brand products. [/i]

I can only name a handful of companies left :S
It looks like they are shifting the Viewloader brand too (have a wee look down the page): www.empirepaintball.com/jt-paintball-products/

[outkastmike]

Time KEE got JT back up to the top again,was very disappointed they never pushed the JT FX range when it was released a couple of years back.


How about a new updated 2012 shocker,something along the lines of a mid end priced luxe.

[Jamie D - SZ#27]

I wish they would get JT up and running again to its full potential, surely there researchers have seen how popular the 07 team pants still are (our team having the majority of pairs left in the world haha) and the modular flex mask series.
They already have the designs and the tooling set ups in order to produce, so it wouldnt be that much of a hassle.

As for smartparts, id love them to release a mix between the shocker and a luxe, suppose its a matter of watch this space.....

[Jonny - SZ#03]

"Shlux?"

The thing is SP were well on the way to producing a high end gun with the 09 Impulse. All the merits of the Luxe and as sexy a shooter as a Shocker to match. At least it is if you believe grouping tests, videos and the usual marketing hype. The interlectual rights don't include the Freak, I know the brothers Gardner still held the rights to that when SP went under and are trading, selling the barrel system through their GoG brand.

As fot JT, I'll be honest, I can't see them pushing the brand to compete against their champions (i.e. Empire... blah blah blah). Also, I wouldn't expect to see the Smartparts logo on a new piece of kit this time ever, the Ion, Shocker, Impulse etc will most likely be tweaked then rebranded under Empire.

All fun fun fun

[Jamie D - SZ#27]

Either way it could work one of two ways......
With kee owning majority of the market they can either drive prices of kit down or through the roof, im hoping the first option would be reasonable but i wait and see.

[Jonny - SZ#03]

We don't need much anyhow, it's more for the date haters (i.e. anything outside of the current dated equipment) Retro 07's, proflexs, flex 8's, vents and Shockers baby. All is well with the cosmos.

[outkastmike]

If Empire did ever decide to revive the Shocker brand it would with all respect just be another spoolvalve doing the rounds unfortunately considering how many are out there at the moment.

It will be interesting to see how much of an impact the Vanguard Demon has considering the claims being made about it and it's price tag is well below that of the Geo2's by around £200+ and £350 cheaper than a new Luxe 1.5

[Jonny - SZ#03]

you're totally right Mike! I used to really like the Empire brand, I can't help but lose respect knowing how it's nabbing 50% of the industry. The Empire Shocker doesn't sound quite right although it'll make a nice mid range spooly, the shocker has always sat comfortably in this bracket.

The Demon is sounding pretty amazing from what people are saying. I don't think I could shoot anything other than a spool valve and this wee beauty is making some serious claims about performance. The bolt removal while still pressurised made me look up too The only thing I absolutely cannot stand about it is the way it looks cosmetically but to be fair if it works as well as it does that can be ignored. The price is a bit hefty at the moment though. Unfortunately I cannot afford anything over £300 realistically so for now I'm gonna stick to use my mid range shooters for the time being and continue to play the lottery