PB2X changing for the ...

[gfgjester]

THIS POST HAS BEEN CORRECTED AND NEW INFO SHOWN IN A FURTHER POST - PLEASE GO FURTHER ON TO READ IT!

Yeah, PB2X appears to be changing for the dot-dot-dot. The future appears uncertain. I've been on hiatus from the magazine for a few months. My fiancee has had some medical problems we've been dealing with. When I decided I was ready to come back, there was a distinct absence of replies to any e-mails I sent. I won't speculate as to why. I began to commnicate with Cheryl Amaya, the publisher.

This culminated in our meeting in Atlanta this past weekend. It has become no secret that PB2X is eliminating the "What the Locals Do" columns and replacing them with a different format local report.

It looks to be a total of two pages FOR EACH REGION. One page has the calendar for the area on the left vertical side; the right vertical section is made up of small advertisements running horizontally from to to bottom. The other page is split in two, horizontally, and has a "featured field" and a "featured store" to take up the two sections.

If my memory serves me right, she said that there would be EIGHT (TEN!) different geographical areas. The new format does not allow for general reporting, team news, scenario results, local photos, editorial pieces and anything else that fit into the "Locals" column.

I understand that several other writers have left the magazine. I can't confirm or dispute this. I have agreed to submit periodic features at this time and see how it goes. I do know that my friend, Bea Youngs, has left PB2X and taken the Editor-in-Chief position at Paintball Sports Magazine. Currently, Bea and I are working on something that would bring me to PSM, too. She is a fantastic person and I feel certain that she'll bring a very cool light to PSM. I'm also contributing to RECON. And don't forget right here on Junkie! (I didn't say I was leaving PB2X)

I don't know what's going to happen with PB2X. I've worked with them since 2002. There are questions that can only be answered after time. How are the locals going to get their info in? Currently, that looks like a negatory. That's unfortunate. Is the flip book going to continue (YES IT IS - SEE FURTHER POST!), since the "Locals" and rec ball stuff is going to be trimmed?

I guess we'll see. I hope things turn out well. We don't need to lose a magazine that used to cater to the local/rec-ball player more than others. I've seen the new format and I'm eager to see what the entire package brings.

In any case, I still take my writing seriously. Editorializing is my favorite form. I'll continue to do it here and wherever I can.

Thanks for all your support over time. I repeat myself by saying that Rec Ball and Scenario play is the best kind of paintball. It is the core of the sport and where almost every single player begins. Though it still gets the stiff arm more than anything else. 2007 brought incredible advances in some areas. in some areas it slipped. In an case, I'm still here. And feel free to throw your opinion or idea my way. Thats how we get things done.

Now one last question... IF you had your own paintball magazine and had control over what to name a "Locals" type section, WHAT would it be? Be serious, now. I'd really like to know.

Jester

[Grendel]

Thanks Jes for the update.

I have not been a buyer or subscriber to any paintball magazine for quite awhile [6-7 years]. I had found that essentially nothing that was in print really catered to my needs [pb tinkerer, rec and scenario player] and they all were filled with excessive advertisements while still charging me and arm and a leg. So every once and awhile I would graze the news stand and read what little appealed to me out of the PB magazines before I'd ever get to the cashier.

Then came the PB2X's flip book and I was actually interested in subscribing. Well that idea is now on hold.

[thumper]

Originally Posted by Grendel

.....Then came the PB2X's flip book and I was actually interested in subscribing. Well that idea is now on hold.

My thoughts exactly - and I'm not even a Libertarian! I wish PB2X would do away with the other side of the flip book... then i would almost certainly subscribe. Until then the web will do fine... For me PB2X is moving the wrong way. Im sure someone will step up and fill the niche... anyone run the demographics lately of outlaw vs rec vs scenario vs tourney ball? I heard outlaw ball alone represents 54% of all players - who have never stepped foot on a commercial field.

[gfgjester]

Let me be clear, I don't KNOW if they're getting rid of the Flipbook. My observation is that the REC section has gotten thinner and thinner and thinner... If the Locals goes to the new format, what's left? I don't know. I don't want to say that I'm in the process of working on something else, but let me say I might be in the process of WORKING ON SOMETHING ELSE that I might have asked for some assistance in maybe coming uyp with a name for this thing I might be working on that would feature local rec/scenario.

[thumper]

hey jes - let me add.. the only time I go to the magazine rack to buy one is when I hear of the events we hit is getting coverage. less coverage = less bucks; at least from this baller; but I'm sure I'm not alone in this category.

[drewcif]

Originally Posted by thumper

My thoughts exactly - and I'm not even a Libertarian! I wish PB2X would do away with the other side of the flip book... then i would almost certainly subscribe. Until then the web will do fine... For me PB2X is moving the wrong way. Im sure someone will step up and fill the niche... anyone run the demographics lately of outlaw vs rec vs scenario vs tourney ball? I heard outlaw ball alone represents 54% of all players - who have never stepped foot on a commercial field.

what Im reasonably certain that the percentage that runs in the tourney cliche probably provides a lot more income, which is the reason they are catered to in advertisments. Don't knock me, I see the sheer abundance of tippman and spyder ads, but who pays money to the big boys-- Not your average back yard baller.

[Steers]

I saw PB2X rise really fast in the way they covered alittle bit of everything, but I what I feared has been realised as I have seen the same faces in atleast 3-4 issues. It is slowly moving away from scenario players/events and more towards tourney ball and where the money is at. I also see big team names who carry big sponsors constantly being in the spotlight who play scenario ball.

Drew is certainly correct. Hopefully over time, we might see the magazine come back.

I myself was ready to subscribe, until I saw the dramatic change over the course of 6 months. My subscription, as well, will be on hold.

[scpaintballer01]

pb2x used to not cover hardly any rec or scenario...In MY opinion, FaceFull is the best magazine right now. 1 issue comes with the original tourney only Facefull and another magazine (seperately) called Facefull: Jungle which covers ONLY scenario and rec ball.

Face Full - First world wide paintball magazine

[Junkie]

Originally Posted by gfgjester

(This is a double post and is in my Blog...)

Yeah, PB2X appears to be changing for the dot-dot-dot. The future appears uncertain. I've been on hiatus from the magazine for a few months. My fiancee has had some medical problems we've been dealing with. When I decided I was ready to come back, there was a distinct absence of replies to any e-mails I sent. I won't speculate as to why. I began to commnicate with Cheryl Amaya, the publisher.

This culminated in our meeting in Atlanta this past weekend. It has become no secret that PB2X is eliminating the "What the Locals Do" columns and replacing them with a different format local report.

It looks to be a total of two pages. One page has the calendar for the area on the left vertical side; the right vertical section is made up of small advertisements running horizontally from to to bottom. The other page is split in two, horizontally, and has a "featured field" and a "featured store" to take up the two sections.

If my memory serves me right, she said that there would be EIGHT different geographical areas. The new format does not allow for general reporting, team news, scenario results, local photos, editorial pieces and anything else that fit into the "Locals" column.

I understand that several other writers have left the magazine. I can't confirm or dispute this. I have agreed to submit periodic features at this time and see how it goes. I do know that my friend, Bea Youngs, has left PB2X ad taken the Editor-in-Chief position at Paintball Sports Magazine. Currently, Bea and I are working on something that would bring me to PSM, too. She is a fantastic person and I feel certain that she'll bring a very cool light to PSM. I'm also contributing to RECON. And don't forget right here on Junkie!

I don't know what's going to happen with PB2X. I've with them since 2002. There are questions that can only be answered after time. How are the locals going to get their info in? Currently, that looks like a negatory. That's unfortunate. Is the flip book going to continue, since the "Locals" and rec ball stuff is going to be trimmed?

I guess we'll see. I hope things turn out well. We don't need to lose a magazine that used to cater to the local/rec-ball player more than others. I've seen the new format and I'm eager to see what the entire package brings.

In any case, I still take my writing seriously. Editorializing is my favorite form. I'll continue to do it here and wherever I can.

Thanks for all your support over time. I repeat myself by saying that Rec Ball and Scenario play is the best kind of paintball. It is the core of the sport and where almost every single player begins. Though it still gets the stiff arm more than anything else. 2007 brought incredible advances in some areas. in some areas it slipped. In an case, I'm still here. And feel free to throw your opinion or idea my way. Thats how we get things done.

Now one last question... IF you had your own paintball magazine and had control over what to name a "Locals" type section, WHAT would it be? Be serious, now. I'd really like to know.

Jester

Thanks for the update Jester!

[gfgjester]

I received a call from Cheryl Amaya this afternoon and she filled me in on some good news about PB2X! My apologies for speculating.

Originally Posted by gfgjester

Comments and corrections in yellow...

Yeah, PB2X appears to be changing for the dot-dot-dot. The future appears uncertain. I've been on hiatus from the magazine for a few months. My fiancee has had some medical problems we've been dealing with.

This culminated in our meeting in Atlanta this past weekend. It has become no secret that PB2X is eliminating the "What the Locals Do" columns and replacing them with a different format local report.

It looks to be a total of two pages FOR EACH OF TEN REGIONS FOR A TOTAL OF TWENTY PAGES!. One page has the calendar for the area on the left vertical side; the right vertical section is made up of small advertisements running horizontally from to to bottom. The other page is split in two, horizontally, and has a "featured field" and a "featured store" to take up the two sections.

If my memory serves me right, she said that there would be EIGHT (BUT IT'S TEN) different geographical areas. The new format does not allow for general reporting, team news, scenario results, local photos, editorial pieces and anything else that fit into the "Locals" column.

I don't know what's going to happen with PB2X. I've with them since 2002. There are questions that can only be answered after time. How are the locals going to get their info in? STILL UNSURE! Is the flip book going to continue, since the "Locals" and rec ball stuff is going to be trimmed?

MORE GOOD NEWS! THE FLIP BOOK IS NOT GOING AWAY! IT'S STAYING!

Overall, I guess we'll see. I hope things turn out well. We don't need to lose a magazine that used to cater to the local/rec-ball player more than others. I've seen the new format and I'm eager to see what the entire package brings. I'd love to see John Amodea and Cheryl Amaya both post here and relate new and interesting info for all of us here.

In any case, I still take my writing seriously. Editorializing is my favorite form. I'll continue to do it here and wherever I can.

Regards...

Jester

Jester...