Post
by ncog » Sat Oct 31, 2009 6:26 am
BBT:
My wishes:- Vindicator re-released with a different colour scheme (though I do like the current one), the fan nozzle replaced with a larger nozzle that will empty the PC in one second, extended pump rod to allow for at least 30ml pump volume, PC expanded to at least 600ml (at the expense of reservoir size, but that's okay), slight redesign to lessen weight that the pumping hand carries, traditional pressure gauge (not electronic) and a translucent reservoir.
- Different colour schemes for the Renegade and Equalizer (though I do like the current ones); Equalizer performs perfect as it is but the Renegade could use a slightly bigger PC volume (at least 250ml) and a strap would be really nice.
- Pulse series: I love the pulse series, but they have one feature that lets them down in my opinion which is the trigger valve lag; when the trigger is depressed at full pressure the majority of the firing chamber is emptied in one stream, allowing the user only one or two tap shots after that before pumping is required. This isn't a problem for the Pulse Master on its larger nozzle, since the shot is so short anyway, but the issue is quite significant on the Pulse Blaster, Pulse Strike and Pulse Master's smallest two nozzles. If tap shots were possible at full pressurization (combined with a larger PC volume) this series would be absolutely perfect, but at the moment the guns force you to shoot longer than is usually needed, meaning that the majority of the shot is wasted and leaving you vulnerable aside from two or so tap shots before the range decrease becomes significant (albeit vulnerability here is short due to how little pumps are required but the ability to tap shot would make the soakers significantly better). I understand that the spring technology likely won't allow this improvement but if it was possible BBT could potentially produce the best blasters of the 21st century in due time.
- While I feel that the Pulse Master and Pulse Blaster perform well for their size, I think that the Pulse Strike is a bit of an oddity in that it's stuck somewhere between use as a backup or primary. This issue stems from its stream output, which is only slightly better than that of the Pulse Blaster. If next year's Pulse Strike had two nozzles, able to be changed by a system similar to that of the CPS 1500, one being its current nozzle size and the other which empties its PC in half a second (like the Pulse Master) then it would be perfect. For the record, the Strike is one of the nicest looking soakers ever in my opinion, and I mainly bought it for that reason in spite of it having fairly mediocre performance. With the above changes (+ the tap shot ability and increased PC volume), it would become a good option for a light primary blaster as well as a potent sidearm, solidifying its possible roles rather than not being particularly suited for either as it currently stands.
- If possible, one or two new high end blasters of larger size than the Pulse Master and Vindicator. BBT's 2009 line really impressed me and I have high hope for them in the future; they did a lot of things right in '09 (tracked pumps and a solid pressurized reservoir gun, separate air PC gun and elastic pressure gun with the cannon series, and innovative and promising new technology with the Pulse series, though as mentioned above there are still a few issues that could be ironed out there). A 'next size up' of both the Pulse Master and Vindicator would be great, with the same modern styling as both respective series but a step up in size, range, power, PC/reservoir/pump volume would be excellent. A traditional pressure gauge (not electronic) of some sort would be lovely for the bigger version of the Vindicator, and a nozzle of at least 10x.
- Transparent (or at least translucent) reservoirs please! The Vindicator and Pulse Master would benefit greatly from those, and they're a must for pressurized reservoir soakers to discern how much to fill them up (oddly, the box for the Equalizer doesn't state to only fill the gun up 2/3 or 3/4 full, instead implying that filling it completely is fine). I cannot understand why the XP 215 re-releases now have opaque reservoirs. Madness.
- A big brother for the Steady Stream, which in its current state is a great sidearm/backup. Something with a bigger reservoir, twist cap (rather than the current click on one) and larger pump volume would be great. The Steady Stream has really put piston guns back on the map, as it turns the lack of trigger into an advantage almost (at least, when up against pressurized reservoir soakers of the same size).
Reality: Likely a re-release of the whole 2009 line, with new colours and minor alterations. That's fine by me, I think 2011 will be the year of big things from BBT (2009 has certainly set it up to be so).
Hasbro:
My wishes: Something risky. Not gimmicky risky, but risky in terms of an attempt to return to the previous glory of Larami in the late 90s. Something CPS, but CPS like the original 90s line rather than CPS technology used to half its potential which has been the trend for the past few years.
Reality: Probably a new gimmicky line along the same trend as Soakertag/Arctic Cold Water. I guess at least that means some new soakers (regardless of their quality) which is surely better than a redesigned SS 50 (a good soaker by all means, but it's slightly depressing that that's the only 'new' soaker Hasbro came up with in a year). Quick Blast and Bottle Shot likely continued, along with a slightly different Arctic Blast which will phase out the Flash Flood.
Just my thoughts!
EDIT: forgot to mention that the one thing current large 2009 WW soakers lack is a handle. Especially for the Pulse Master and Vindicator, a handle would have been really helpful for refilling and carrying. Due to their designs I think it'd be quite difficult to add a handle to these soakers but the future inclusion of handles in large WW would definitely be a selling point!
