Smart Parts introduces a new firing mode for the rental version of the Vibe

Smart Parts announces Billy-Ball for the Rental Vibe

Smart Parts introduces a new firing mode for the rental version of the Vibe electropneumatic paintball marker aimed at reducing rate of fire.

Loyalhanna, PA – February 8, 2009 – The new Billy-Ball firing mode available in Vibe rental markers from Smart Parts, Inc., restricts a players’ rate of fire, opening up more opportunities for paintball field operators.

“It’s pretty ironic,” says Smart Parts President Bill Gardner Jr., for whom the mode is named, “we’ve pushed the limits of marker rate of fire to meet player demand, but at the beginning levels of the sport that’s scaring off newer players.”

Gardner’s own sons were anxious about jumping in to walk-on games at Smart Parts’ home field, the All-American Paintball Park in Greensburg, PA.

“Most of us around the factory started out in the days of pump paintball, so we never faced that kind of intimidation, it was a different game with those lower rates of fire. We’ve had a lot of field owners tell us they needed a way to address it, and they couldn’t afford to keep a second set of pump markers on hand, while their more experienced customers want higher performance. The solution was easy, and it all boiled down to software.”

The microprocessor “brain” of the Vibe can be configured with custom firing modes tailored to a particular paintball field’s needs. The Billy-Ball firing mode allows the Vibe to fire at a rate of 0.5 bps, or one ball every two seconds, simulating the rate of fire typical in pump-action paintball games. The new mode was first tested at the All-American Paintball Park and met with an immediately positive response from the Smart Parts staff members playing, as well as visiting field owners who had an opportunity to try it out after technical training classes. More importantly, the mode was quickly embraced by groups playing paintball for the first time.

In its first month of use, Billy-Ball’s advantages in a rental marker became quickly apparent:
- Group sales, especially with younger players, are increasing as less paint in the air means less welts and less intimidation.
- Package pricing for Billy-Ball moves away from being paint-centered, to being facilities and time centered.
- The reduced cost of consumables allows for higher per-group profits.
- Increased rate of returning, occasional play customers.
- Fewer referees are needed to monitor a game with less firepower.
- Cleanup – especially for indoor fields - is easier with less paint on the field.

“Because of the lower paint consumption, we’re able to put together birthday party package prices that are more affordable,” says All-American Field Manager Tim Montressor. “When paint was a variable, parents were concerned about going over budget before the day is out. Billy-Ball has taken care of that sales obstacle. We can offer a per-child price for their party that is all-inclusive – it’s already making a difference in sales.”

Surprisingly, some of the more experienced regular walk-on customers have been spending time playing Billy-Ball games as well, using it as a tool to improve their communication, movement and snap-shooting skills without relying on high rates of fire to hold their game together. Even though they are renting a marker, these players are still saving money on a day’s play because Billy-Ball requires so much less paint. Not only does the customer save money, but the income the field generates is a return on its investment in rental markers, instead of money it must spend on buying more paint.

SP-1 markers purchased in field-rental quantities are also available with similar features and Billy-Ball programming. Smart Parts plans to make Billy-Ball available in future updates to most of its product line. This went out as a press release to all the dealers today and dealers at the paintball extravaganza learned about it as well. One thing that the press release does not mention… is that it is so much fun to play.