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Spartan Imports
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Welcome Jean-Marcel Nicolai to the Cyber-Watch!
Here’s the FRENCH press release, to Bloomberg Business: http://media.bloomberg.com/bb/avfile/rzfnfAOnbFfY
And, GOOGLE TRANSLATE version of the key part of the announcement is HERE:
“Arrival of Jean-Marcel Nicolai
At the same time, Cybergun announces the arrival of Jean-Marcel Nicolai as Director of Operations and Product Development (“COO”) of the video games division of the Group. After more than 10 years in the world of electronics and consulting, Jean-Marcel Nicolai discovers the exciting world of video games by joining the Atari Group. Between 2000 and 2007, he held various senior positions in Europe and then to United States, before joining Disney Interactive Studios where he will pursue the office for more than 3 years of Senior Vice President in charge of product development worldwide. The appointment of Jean-Marcel Nicolai illustrates the strategic intent of Cybergun to give birth to a true “community of experts” in the video game development. It will perfectly complement the expertise of Frederic Chesnais, founder of Microprose-I2G.
In addition to these announcements, Jerome Marsac, President and Founder Cybergun, said: “Cybergun aims to become a leading player in the world of video games and to strengthen the role of actors French sector. The integration of I2G-Microprose in Cybergun enhances the attractiveness of the new set and opens up new
perspectives.”
Jean-Marcel’s last big job announcement was HERE: http://games.ign.com/articles/845/845767p1.html
Here’s an OLD POST that somehow did NOT GET its day in the Sun, our appologies to ARCLIGHT, as he scoped out the ”even-bigger-than-SHOT Show 2011″ Cyber-Cubicles at the IWA 2011 Show in Germany, and guess what? They actually didn’t do any interviews with him, either.
OK, well, Cybergun’s “hired gun” and IPSC World Champion Eric Grauffel did…so, sue me. He talked to me, along with “Mr. Inokatsu” and a bunch of Cybergun and Softair USA (Hi John!) higher-ups in Vegas back in January… they were just really, really camera shy around Thumpy. Wonder why?
Mr. Inokatsu and a "close friend" at CyberGun/Softair USA's Massive Booth
I proved I’m a lovable little fuzzy bunch of BB Slingin’ warmth and personality. Even “they” admitted it. I just hate that I’m so far behind schedule that I don’t have Cyber-G’s SHOT Show video cut yet…and I have, like, 15 more to send you from the NAA Airsoft Expo…and they WILL GET DONE!
OK, just get crackin’, T-Man! Thanks again to Arc and the gang…check out all THEIR videos over HERE at the REDWOLF YouTube Channel, and at the REDWOLF CYBER-STORE!
THUMPY…OVER
Reuters Business and Boursarama/CercleFinance.com announce another major acquisition for Cybergun.
LINK TO STORY, VIA GOOGLE TRANSLATE, IS RIGHT HERE
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Short take is that CyberG is buying into a stake in a factory inside China…with a tie-in to trademarks rights they already hold and may have exercised with that plant….all subject to approval by Chinese authorities.
THUMPY…OVER
Getting to the bottom of the bottom-of-the-pile, we recently wondered is there was a CLEAR way to compile and discuss the various rumors, complaintsm forum postings and bridge the “silliness” vs. “reality” gap surrounding Cyber-G.
SO, this part of ‘The Watch” is going to compress and push various links to discussions ’round-about the web…and so far, we’re finding everything from the obtuse to the obscure and the downright obsequious!
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FACEPUNCH.COM : -THREAD LINK HERE- Quote from the thread: “”I hereby nominate this for airsoft forum thread of the year 2011″
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AIRSFOTFORUM.COM: ’Explain CyberGun” : -THREAD LINK HERE-
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AIRSOFT IOWA FORUMS: ”CYBERGUN BRAND ?” -THREAD LINK HERE-
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GASGUNS.INFO: “SO..Cybergun takes it” : -THREAD LINK HERE-
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AIRSOFTSOCIETY.COM: “Thank you Cybergun,,,this is what we have been waiting for.” -THREAD LINK HERE-
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AIRSOFTNEWS.FR: PETITION TO BOYCOTT CYBERGUN SA: -THREAD LINK HERE- (use Google Chrome to see Google Translate in your native language)
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and, the related discussion thread at FRANCE AIRSOFT Forum: -THREAD LINK HERE- (Google Chrome/Translate link)
THUMPY…OVER
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Super nice find by our buds Vic, Optimus and Gungho Cowboy over at POPULAR AIRSOFT, as we have been waiting since our first reports earlier this year (LINKS HERE) , and especially since the E3 games show this week, to hear about the first Cyber-G entry into Airsoft-meets-Video games…and the first sightings of their tie-in to Blackwater Worldwide:
Screen Shot courtesy Popular Airsoft and Kotaku.com...click photo for their review
POPULAR AIRSOFT STORY LINK : CLICK HERE
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CLICK THE PIC BELOW for Another gallery of screen shots from KOTAKU.COM
Courtesy Kotaku.com...hey, notice how FRANCE is the center of the World on the map in the background? Hmmm, wonder if that came with the contract and the Euros!
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Another story about the game from WIRED.COM‘s E3 Coverage: LINK HERE
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Cinema Blend has short coverage: LINK HERE
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AND, Kotaku’s REVIEW and take on the game, after they got HANDS ON at E3: LINK HERE
Check the NEW WEBSITE: http://www.airsoftsafetyfoundation.org/
We are the Airsoft Safety Foundation (ASF).
From the ASF Website: ”The Airsoft Safety Foundation (ASF) is currently composed of 11 California companies which collectively book over $150 million in revenues through 250 employees. Our collective mission has been to enhance and promote the safe sport of airsoft through training, education and outreach here in California as well as through industry wide initiatives, such as through the development of safe ASTM standards for airsoft products. (ASTM is the American Society for Testing and Materials, a globally recognized leader in the development and delivery of international voluntary consensus standards).”
Member of the ASF are a veritable “who’s who” of USA and International airsoft companies, including:
101 TECH USA INC., AEX LLC (AKA, Airsoft Extreme), AIRSOFT WHOLESALE, AIRSPLAT.COM, DIVERGENCE CORP dba SPECIAL DISTRIBUT, EVIKE.COM INC., GAMEPOD COMBAT AIRSOFT, JAG PRECISION, INC., KENWAY EXPRESS dba PRIMA USA, KWA PERFORMANCE INDUSTRIES, SPARTAN IMPORTS, GI TOYS, INC. (AKA, Airsoft G.I.), AIRSOFT EXTREME, CYBERGUN S.A., PALCO SPORTS, SOFT AIR USA, and TAC CITY AIRSOFT
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YEA, Check that list again…kinda hard to call anyone a bad-guy with that kind of company, and all focused on getting ONE THING DONE…Defeating Cali’s S.B. 798! But they can NOT do it without the due-dilligence and hard work of EVERY AIRSOFTER in California, supported by everyone else across the USA and around the world.
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FOR INFORMATION ON THE ASF’S ‘ Talking Points” agains Senate Bill 798, check THIS LINK, which lays out in detail the major objections to this misguided proposal: Namely
–Undermines “all of our efforts at airsoft safety.”
–It is going to criminalize and limit the property rights of current California merchants and owners
–and it will inevitably lead to an unsafe and unregulated black market in both airsoft and BB guns.
–For safety sake, neither a BB device nor an airsoft device should be colored as toys. The predominant black colors are purposeful expressions of the fact that these devices are only for individuals over 18 years of age. This law would color them in candy pink and green. Young children may believe to believe these are harmless toys for their plan and enjoyment. Airsoft and BB guns are colored black for good reason, they are devices that must be handed with care and respect.
–The military-style marketing which surrounds airsoft may alienate and frighten members of the public who do not understand that airsoft is a legitimate sport that requires strategy, training, fitness and endurance, perseverance, and etc. Please take the time to educate those whom you know what airsoft is, and that its practitioners include those whom are responsible for upholding our laws (police, FBI, military, and etc. who train using airsoft).
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THIS IS AN OUTSTANDING INDUSTRY-WIDE APPROACH AT “SHAPING THE FIGHT”…BUT WILL ONLY BE EFFECTIVE IF EVERYONE DOES THEIR PART…CONTACT CALIFORNIA’S SENATE AND HOUSE DELEGATIONS TODAY! DO IT AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE DONE SO ALREADY…UNTIL EVERYONE GETS THE MESSAGE!
APPARENTLY (SARCASM ALERT!) The cats’ at Cybergun are paying attention…as we got the following e-mail this morning….from Gael Ferec, who heads Cyber-G’s App effort, put together by an outside vendor:
Gael FEREC:…
Thumpy3D@gmail.com
date
Mon, May 23, 2011 at 3:42 AM
subject
Cybergun on Appstore
Hi Thumpy
I’m Gael, I’m in charge of this app.
I’ve check your review of our new app and you’re right, it’s a bad mistake from our developer, we asked him to put the app in +17. It’s will be changed soon.
English version will be realised soon also.
Have a nice day!
Bye
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Gaël FEREC
Purchase Department
Event Manager
THUMPY…Over
You knew it was on the way…and now, iPhone and iPad lovers, you have a chance to remote-control the “Death Star.” Released MAY 21st, 2011…the date is important, follow along….
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LINK HERE: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cybergun/id437810672?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D2
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In out first-blush look at the Apps Store sales page, we gotta say that this is one nicely put-together app.
Graphics follow the CYBER-G/WWLILS branding, with product info for a FAMAS (how apropos!)…and, on the far right screenshot, looks to be some kind of FPS Calculator that swaps the gun’s bb loading into a Meters-per-second energy equivalent. Although frequent readers will spy that this will likely be incorrect, as Cyber-G’s energy ratings are often vastly overstated for the actual performance of the gun OOTB.
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The description of the App also opens some new windows into Cyber-G marketing “strategery”…
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OH GOODY…. “the news updated every DAYS”…Now Old Thumpy will HAVE to get an iPad or iPhone to keep you posted on their DAILY happenings and announcements.
But, what seems most troubling about their marketing approach is that the App Store age rating for the Cyber-G App is ”9+.” According to Apple’s own APPLICATION RATINGS, seen below…
Yea, click DONE, as in...stick a fork in it...CLICK ON "DONE" FOR HOT LINK HERE
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But, wait. Isn’t this is a SALES TOOL for a product that, by Cybergun’s own package labeling and website information, is only for sale to persons 18 years of age or older? So, why is this not rated as an app for the “17+” category?
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AND THE TIMING OF THIS APPS RELEASE IS MOST TROUBLING OF ALL!!! (We told you the date was important!) With the improper use of an airsoft gun creating a firestorm in California with the Senate Bill 798 debacle…WHY WOULD CYBERGUN DECIDE NOW, of all times, to release an app to someone aged 9-18 ? This is at best, in our opinion, a FAIL’ed attempt at pushing airsoft to a younger-and-younger market for which it is not intended…and could be ruinous as fodder for anti-gun activists who will latch on to this as an attempt to do just that. More reason to be wary. Very. Wary.
THUMPY…OVER
We have a BIG UPDATE on an earlier post involving an attempt to seek Tarriff Duty Suspensions for Airsoft imports.
RECAP: Thumpy’s original post: HERE IS THE LINK : Politics make Strange Bedfellows
WELL, with a little more on-line digging, and some additional t-crossing and i-dotting, we are able to point readers DIRECTLY to a U.S. International Trade Commission .gov electronic document that lay bare the companies both FOR and AGAINST Senator John Cornyn’s proposed bill….
VERSUS
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HERE IS THE LINK, to our original post, involving U.S. Senator (R-Texas) John Cornyn’s proposed 2009 Bill, seeking a break for Cybergun USA, based in the Senator’s “home state” of Texas, for imports of AEG’s:
INFORMATION WAS FOUND HERE, on http://www.govtrack.us :
Full Text of the Bill:
S 2462 IS
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2462
To suspend temporarily the duty on electric pneumatic airsoft rifles.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
October 29, 2009
Mr. CORNYN introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance
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A BILL
To suspend temporarily the duty on electric pneumatic airsoft rifles.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. ELECTRIC PNEUMATIC AIRSOFT RIFLES.
(a) In General- Subchapter II of chapter 99 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States is amended by inserting in numerical sequence the following new heading:
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‘ 9902.01.00 Low energy air guns (ASTM F 2654) operated by pneumatic pressure created by an electrical air pump (provided for in subheading 9304.00.20) Free No change No change On or before 12/31/2011 ’.
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(b) Effective Date- The amendment made by subsection (a) applies to goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after the 15th day after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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Some CORNYN Factoids
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Republican Senator (Junior Senator) from the great AIRSOFT STATE of TEXAS
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He is rated “A” by the National Rifle Association…
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SENATOR CORNYN’s Background Information, via Wiki: LINK HERE
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NEW INFORMATION: From information below which we gathered after the original post, both the lobbyist working on behalf of Cyber-G and the Senator and his staff were “above board” in their filings of the proposed bill…and it was NOT the ONLY industry in the Senator’s home state that his office introduced similar tariff-suspension measures for in the same time frame.
However, the interesting information…and push back to the proposal came from a staff report by the US International Trade Commission, which contacted CROSMAN USA about their input on the proposal…and got one STRONG OPPOSITION VIEW from Crosman CEO Ken D’Arcy, in THE DOCUMENT LINK BELOW, which we’ll paraphrase here:
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Crosman Corporation is the largest importer of low energy air guns and is opposed to a temporary suspension of import duties applicable to low-energy air guns of the type proposed in S. 2462 because the duty suspension would discourage the establishment of manufacturing of such air guns in the United States.”
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THIS IS THE LINK to the PDF version of the USITC Staff Report on the bill, with Crosman’s opposition filing:
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About the USITC…What they do…is covered in their Info Link RIGHT HERE:
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And, to prove the “transparency” that’s now REQUIRED of all lobbyists in the USA…Here’s the required report from Cybergun/Softair USA’s lobbyist: LINK HERE
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And more on their lobbying efforts in 2009 LINK HERE AND in 2010 LINK HERE From OpenSecrets.org, a major on-line watchdog organization:
On top of the news that Cybergun netted major supplier SMK Sportsmarketing in the UK, now comes another alliance that will see CYBER G hooking into their web of Magpul connections….from major supplier Edgar Brothers.
OFFICAL EDGARBROTHERS.COM Announcement : LINK HERE
And, a note to our U.S.readers…does anyone else find it eerie that Edgar Brother’s logo looks a lot like another “EIB” logo? Does Limbaugh work for Cyber-G?
