Well, everyone (except a select few, like A2) seems to be surprised by the quality of the STE line. Therefore, I think it's safe to say that everyone is looking forward to, or at least curious in, the 2006 line for both Super Soaker, Buzz Bee, etc.
Personally, I don't think Super Soaker quality will improve too much, at least not in the next year or two. Don't call me a pessimist, but I do believe that Hasbro is going to try to keep production costs low and try to use the good Super Soaker name to sell the soakers to people less learned in soakers, as opposed to an actual quality product. Buzz Bee, while making arguably better guns, hopefully to improve soon, will have to fight the uphill battle, since they don't have the huge pool of resources that Hasbro has nor the famous name. Developing that name will be key to Buzz Bee success in the future, and for competing the soaker arms race. At that point, we'll be the winners. I believe that better name could be obtained via better advertising, good soaker designs (if they don't care about performance, they probably do care about looks and size), and keeping innovative technology in the mix, hopefully hooking a few buyers with promises like: Extraordinary performance with the fewest pumps with the Water Warriors: Pre-Charge Line!!!, while keep the blasters looking cool, appealing to kids but not too childish for a 13 year old to feel embaressed holding. Now, if only Big Bee posted here...
So, what new directions do you think are coming for the future?
Copied and pasted here from Water Gun Network. I thought it would be well worth putting here.
