If there is something that we can always implement in airsoft is that we can take weapon design concepts immediately for use in airsoft as compared to real firearms. In fact some weapon designs meant for real world use but never took off found use in airsoft such as the Magpul FPG (Folding Pocket Gun). Also some weapons seen in sci-fi movies or anime shows get to have airsoft versions such as the Ghost Shell’s Schrödinger, the Elyisum AK-47 with the aiming device, or the Alien M41A Pulse Rifle.

Now, here is one weapon design that any airsoft gun designer might want to implement: the DX-12 “The Punisher” Double-Barreled Shotgun Concept and it looks doable.

Looking like something out of a Sci-fi movie, the DX-12 design is made by Croatian Ivan Santic, and putting a nice touch as being made by “Hardwar3 Industries.” Initially, it reminded me of a cordless vacuum cleaner because of its handle. But as others say, if Glock made a shotgun, then this is should be it.

Now if you are proficient at 3D design and 3D Printing, it might be possible to turn the DX-12 design as the external housing for an airsoft shotgun that uses the Haw San/KJ Works Mad Max Double Barrel Airsoft Shotgun as the base gun. But of course, you will need to ask permission from Santic and in case he agrees he may just give you the exact dimensions of the DX-12 for you to work on.

Is that all from Santic? If you visit MOTH3R which is his website, you’ll find some cool weapon design concepts such as the IAR-5, IAR-52, PPS Compact, AP-C⁰ Tactical Drop, Micro PDW and more.  If he partners with an airsoft company, these can turn into reality. His designs remind us of those done by SRU, the company in Taiwan that has found success in making 3D designs for futuristic looking airsoft guns and use existing airsoft guns as base guns.

What do you think? Do we need more futuristic looking airsoft guns? We welcome them all as we always like variety in airsoft guns.

It looks like it is definite that in the future U.S. Army soldiers will be firing a larger round. This has been a concern for the officials that the 5.56mm round, which is the standard round for the U.S. Army and NATO allies, is inadequate to penetrate body armour of potential enemies.

The U.S. Army has already been testing the 6.8mm rounds for the possible replacement of M249 and M4 rifles and they have chosen 5 companies to develop prototype weapons for the round.

You might wonder why not go for the 7.62mm round if they want to a larger round to penetrate body armour? While it is indeed the 7.62 is heavier round, the issue with the round is the amount of recoil it generates when fired that it is hard for a rifle to be accurate on full auto as compared to the 5.56 that it is seen that the 6.88mm is a compromise between the two.

As I have written here before, the contracts for developing prototypes for the new round have been awarded to AI/Textron Systems, FN America, General Dynamics, PCP Tactical, and Sig Sauer. Textron Systems has been developing the Cased-Telescoped (CT) Weapons & Ammunition that is seen to be able to help lower the weight of the NGSAR as based on the requirements of the U.S. Army.

There will be two Next Gen weapon prototypes to be expected from the companies according to Popular Mechanics: the Next Generation Squad Weapon will replace the M4A1 carbine, while the Next Generation Squad Automatic Rifle will replace the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon. But FN America may be allowed to present two variants and all companies are expected to submit their prototypes by July 2019.

Army Pvt. Michael Rojas fires an M249 light machine gun during in Djibouti, 2 May 2017
(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nicholas M. Byers/Source: Defense.gov)

As specified in the DRAFT Prototype Opportunity Notice (PON) for Next Generation Squad Weapons (NGSW), both the NGSW and the NGSAR will share the same 6.8mm round just like how the M4 and the M249 shared the 5.56mm round:

The DRAFT NGSW PON details how the Government intends to award up to three prototype Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) under Section 815 OTA authority, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 2371b, with each Offeror developing two weapon variants and a common cartridge for both weapons, utilizing Government provided 6.8 millimeter projectiles. The weapons include the Next Generation Squad Weapon-Rifle (NGSW-R) and the Next Generation Squad Weapon-Automatic Rifle (NGSW-AR). The NGSW-R is the planned replacement for the M4/M4A1 Carbine and the NGSW-AR is the planned replacement for the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) in the Automatic Rifleman Role in Brigade Combat Teams (BCT). The period of performance for each prototype OTA is estimated to be up to 27 months. Following successful completion of this OTA, the Government intends to award a follow-on production contract. The follow-on production contract is anticipated to be a Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) based contract without further competition but the Government reserves the right to award a follow-on production OTA without further competition.

The selection of the 6.8mm round will have implications for the other branches and the U.S. military and close allies especially those belonging to NATO. Most if not all, are invested in the 5.56mm round and some are just transitioning to new weapons platforms such as the M27 IAR for the Marines or the HK416F for the French Army which are both based on the HK416 which uses the 5.56mm. When these new generation weapons get introduced they will cause interoperability issues with allies they not exactly standard equipment unless they all agree to move to 6.8mm and that will entail a lot of money to re-equip their armies.

Top photo:U.S. soldiers in Sabre Junction 18 in Germany (U.S. Army photo by Cpl. Gabrielle Weaver)

Competitive airsoft is now coming of age. It is not because competitive airsoft is a new thing, but because of the efforts of individuals and organisations on refining existing airsoft competitions and giving them global potential. Action Air, SpeedSoft, and 3-Gun Nation Airsoft are now having adherents from around the world with Action Air having just held its first official World Shoot in Hong Kong early this year under the official supervision of the International Practical Shooting Confederation or IPSC.

Now, there is a growing competitive airsoft that should attract the attention of those who prefer force-on-force scenario-based competition. Battle Arena is now onn its 5th Season and it is getting more traction with the participation of different teams from different countries who will then battle for being crowned the world champs each season.

Just think of Battle Arena as a live-action version of Rainbow Six: Siege airsoft-style or CounterStike and it traces its roots in Russia.

To further explain it further, let’s take it from Mark Butman, who handles international sales for Tactical Game Innovations (TAGInn) also popularly known as Airsoft Pyrotechnics, one of the pillars for the growth of Battle Arena as he writes about how this competition came about:

What indicates successful media-projects in comparing to the other ones? It is the willingness to overcome any obstacles met along the way, the ability to feel the audience needs, and to take dramatic changes to the project if something goes wrong.

Seven years ago, Andrey Kushnarev, a successful Russian telecom manager, has been addicted to airsoft. He and his friends have been playing weekend after weekend at abandoned military bases or construction sites around Moscow. When there wasn’t enough time for playing, he watched the videos of the other airsoft games. Andrey was never satisfied with the quality of these videos because of the unprofessional footage. Nothing was clear, and the visual sequence was dull and boring. One day, he got a bright idea that if people like to PLAY airsoft, they will also like to WATCH it if content is well-made. 

After investing in GoPro action cams himself, Andrey gathered his friends who were willing to participate in this airsoft competition format. There were also few guys who took on the role to take video from sidelines, then to edit it later. Then came the day when the idea to make a video sequence of the airsoft fight looks like the first person shooting video games was embraced.

During the next year, Andrey shared the video to his friends, producers, gunsmith companies, Special Forces units, and many others who might fit the project. Many of them liked the format a lot, and suggested some useful improvements. For instance, members of the Special Forces units noticed that players have really poor personal skills, have no idea about the basics of a firefight, making it look awful and unprofessional from their viewpoint. Then Andrey asked them to train teams, but was turned down. The military agreed to show some basics to the teams and improved the project a lot by this action. Some SFX specialists suggested using the glowing “tracer” BBs during the fight, in order to let spectators see the directions of the fire.

One of the visual solutions for game spectators is a mini-map located at a corner of the screen, allowing them to feel the battle, in a way most spectators are used to – video games style. The commentators are enhance the viewing experience by explaining the situation on the field. Some interesting facts about league, basics of the airsoft, and even player’s bios. All of these make watching each match very engrossing, even for people who were never interested in airsoft before.

“During the filming of the first season, we changed the scenario just before the finals, and it resulted into a very special and interesting atmosphere”, Andrey said. “At the end of the day there hail came down, so we said, the guys ‘up there’ were also playing airsoft with BBs”.

In that moment, the pilot episode stoke the TV producers, since it became clear that it should be turned into a TV show, and not just stay as an internet project. The “Battle Arena”, in this case, will cover a much wider audience who have never seen, much less played, airsoft before.

Nowadays, the “Battle Arena” is the only international airsoft competitive event that offers some unique features, like interesting scenarios that are run with clear set of rules and a professional crew of referees, teams from all around the world, professional live broadcasting, and compelling post-production format.

The first person view which has all the necessary info about the game process and player’s status is shown in the HUD.  The tournament runs under the “Double Elimination” rules, which means that even if a team lost a round, there is still a chance to take a revenge and move further the tournament ladder.

There was a combined total of over 1 million views from all around the world watching the “Battle Arena” live broadcasts and the post-processed episodes. The most recent, fourth, season was commentated using Russian and English, and was broadcasted live on several Internet platforms like - Facebook, Twitch, YouTube, Vkontakte, and Odnoklassniki.

The success of the project is not only measured in viewership numbers on social media platforms, but also how it is changing the industry. A chain of events is happening that is causing the industry evolution.  The tournament is starting to be attractive to amateur players who dream of playing in professional teams in the future. The pro teams need the new special gear that manufacturers may offer according to demand, so the new and innovative gear is appearing on the market. Skirmish sites owners are starting to adapt their facilities to fit the new format which is causing fields be much more safe and professional. New positions like coaches, team managers, and promoters are being generated as well. The younger players are trying to be like their idols from the league. This is also a huge base for the global and local resellers along with manufacturers, to promote their products and services. The first signs of these changes might be already seen in Russia, the “Battle Arena” project allowed for the recognition of airsoft as an official sport in Russia. Isn’t it a dramatic change?

It all started as an individual enthusiast’s heart-rush, and turned into an international wide project step-by-step. The first season was watched by players from many countries, then the teams from all over the Europe requested for requirements to participate in the tournament. The fourth season finals took place in Finland and hosted teams from 17 countries - Finland, Germany, France, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, The Netherlands, UK, USA, Israel, Lithuania, and Belarus. Prior to the finals, every country held qualifying games in order to determine the best national team that will represent their country at the “Battle Arena” finals.

This project is moving forward. For this year,  the North American division will finally see the light. During the autumn season, many American and Canadian teams will go through the qualification rounds; then best teams will meet at the finals at one of the American arenas in the very beginning of 2019.

Stay tuned.

Thus, we are seeing growth of Battle Arena across the Atlantic in the Northern Hemisphere. The success and  growth of this tournament is not totally dependent on how the organisers shape it to be, but also on the enthusiasm and professionalism of the airsoft teams competing at all levels or qualifying rounds. After all Battle Arena’s overall objective, gleaming from what Mark wrote, is to become the world’s professional Airsoft league. With the growth of extreme games and eSports, why not airsoft have its own professional league? It is in fact a dream of airsoft players but no organisation has come close to what Battle Arena has achieved.

Interested in participating in Battle Arena? You can contact the Battle Arena via the official website or via the Battle Arena Facebook Page. It is best if you know of an owner of an airsoft CQB game facility, whether it is an indoor or outdoor CQB site who will be willing to refit the facility to fit the requirements of Battle Arena and get accredited. There are benefits for the site owner as it gives mileage to the facility, turning it as the go to place for Battle Arena teams in their local area.

The organisers want the reach of Battle Arena to extend beyond the Northern Hemisphere. With Battle Arena establishing roots in Europe, North America, and Central Asia, we might see East Asia, South East Asia and South America in the future, making Battle Arena a truly global airsoft event with spectators running into millions across different media platforms.

For Battle Arena teams, winning will bring fame, and perhaps fortune will follow in the future as soon as many companies join as sponsors.

If you are an airsofter and in Tokyo this month, you have timed it well. Tokyo Marui will be holding their annual festival and the 5th Tokyo Marui Festival is set on the 17th to the 18th of November 2018. It will be held at the same venue which is started five years ago, the Belle Salle Akihabara. For this year, they have some added attractions and a special guest.

So what have they have in store for visitors this year? Well, here it goes:

1. New Product Section

We expect that there will be a significant product announcement that we can look forward to early next year. Tokyo Marui, since they started their Festival, have decided that the major product announcements are done at the Shizuoka Hobby Show and the Tokyo Marui Festival, giving a good gap in between product announcements. Whilst they still do announce new products at the All Japan Model & Hobby Show, it’s pretty much minor as compared to these two events.

2. Shooting Experience Corner

Already a mainstay at major trade events that Tokyo Marui attends, visitors can try the airsoft guns made available at their shooting range. Most probably, though we cannot confirm, that the new MTR16 Gas Blowback Rifle will be available for the range. Or else it can be one the new generation AEGs with recoil and blowback.

3. Anson Beck Appearance

Anson Beck, also known as “Hollywood” on YouTube and is President of the Falcon Operations Group, will be the special guest of the Festival. He will be talking more about the Tokyo Marui MTR16 Gas Blowbacka and he tested the prototype real steel MTR16 in the U.S. to check the ergonomics of the MTR16 for real steel use. The MTR16 is an in-house design of the company as they are now putting out their own designs.

4. A Specially-Designed Public Relations Vehicle Will be On Exhibit

From a real steel prototype to an off-road machine, Tokyo Marui will be putting on display the Tokyo Marui PRSV-02 which comes in a black matte colour scheme.  This is a Toyota Land Cruiser 200 AX which has a 1 UR-FE V8 Engine and is 4-wheel drive. No information if visitors will be allowed to take a joy ride in it.

The 5th Tokyo Marui Festival is open to visitors 18 years of age and older. There will be an age check so better have an ID card ready to prove your age as minors will not be allowed entrance to the event. There will be a bag inspection as well since there are prohibited items that are now allowed inside the venue.  As for the show hours, on Saturday, the 17th of November, it will be from 1000H to 1800H whilst on Sunday, the 18th, it will be from 1000H to 1630H. Entrance is free.

We'll post news and updates on this event.

As Ubisoft’s Rainbow Six: Siege expands into Asian markets, it has announced that it is making some changes to the visuals of the game that fans are not all happy about. It is believe that the changes are about following Chinese government’s rules on what video games should show, and thus, it will have to remove or tone down blood spatters, and references to sex and gambling. The changes will be have a global effect so that what changes to the visuals will be across the board, so there is no Chinese version with a “wholesome” look and a global version that has all the original visuals in place.

In a blogpost, they explained that, “We want to explain why these changes are coming to the global version of the game, as opposed to branching and maintaining two parallel builds. By maintaining a single build, we are able to reduce the duplication of work on the development side. This will allow us to be more agile as a development team, and address issues more quickly.”

So that means that whatever Ubisoft will implement as based on the demands of the Chinese government, will affect all players around the world due to having a single global build rather than different versions of the game.

Here are samples of the aesthetic changes:

But fans are not happy with the changes and they are demanding that Ubisoft create separate builds so they can play in an environment that they are already familiar with. But what riled the players more is for Ubisoft giving in the demands of Chinese authorities to follow their guidelines.

Altchar.com also reports that even Chinese players are not happy with Ubisoft doing changes just to please the government censors. They prefer that there should be no restrictions placed on Rainbow Six: Siege and with the changes to follow the rules, have made Ubisoft look spineless. Non-Chinese Asian players also are displeased as why they are not meeting standards of other Asian countries and just focusing on the Chinese requirements.

Also confusing that even with a single global build, the game will be “region locked” with servers keeping players within their region, so why not implement different builds based on the region? ‘

Perhaps Ubisoft hopes that issue will blow over once the changes are fully in effect and players will be again playing just like before. We’ll find out soon enough if the it will maintain the over 30 million players or will the game experience a decline in player numbers.

For Vans sneaker fans in the airsoft community, better part with a portion of Christmas shopping budget this weekend. DEFCON, the group for its collaboration in the apparel industries, is set to drop a new pair of Multicam Vans on the 10th of November 2018.

DEFCON group calls itself stealth collective and their origins unknown. But they are known with their custom Vans Sk8-Hi Notchback Pro that comes with the more Multicam patterns such as Arid, Black, and Tropic.  They were quickly snapped up with some of them ending up on eBay being sold at more exorbitant prices, which reminds me of the Nike Special Field Air Force 1 "Faded Olive", which was priced at US$200 when released and owners are asking up to US$1,500 on eBay. The DEFCON Vans Sk8-Hi Notchback Pro is fetching up to US$1,000 at the auction site.

The DEFCON Vans Sk8-Hi Notchback Pro will be back again way before the Christmas shopping rush starts. To be released the DEFCON website on the 11th of November 0600H PST, this will come in Multicam Black and will be complimented with apparel and accessories, the better to crowd out the items in your Christmas shopping list. Here are some photos released to smoothen the way you will turn over your hard-earned money to them.

Here are more details:

FOOTWEAR OVERVIEW:

• STYLE: SK8-HI NOTCHBACK PRO
• MATERIALS: PIG SUEDE / CORDURA
• COLOR: (DEFCON) MULTICAM / BLACK / BLACK
• MTL #: VN0A38CARF0
• SIZES: 5.0 – 15.0

FEATURES:

• Premium Fire-Proof Warrior Suede®
• Water proof treatment on upper
• MULTICAM® CORDURA NYLON textiles
• DRi-LEXTM lining throughout
• Gusseted tongue
• Military detailing from DEFCON identity to BDU specs
• Custom Vans Ultracush HD footbeds w/ custom artwork
• Hesh Goat embossed heel stamp
• Durable reverse lug outsole and Knurled texture foxing tape

So better get ready on Saturday if you want one. The site might just get bogged down with the deluge of fans trying to snap-up a pair. Good luck!

I do love my airsoft SCAR rifles. I got to own the built like a tank Classic Army SCAR-L AEG 11 years ago and still heavily use my Tokyo Marui SCAR-L and was able to play once with the Tokyo Marui SCAR-H and they have been impressive AEGs that I make sure I have a SCAR in my personal armoury.  But the FN SCAR family is not only the SCAR-L and SCAR-H, SCAR MK 20 SSR, SCAR-SC and the Heat Adaptive Modular Rifle (HAMR). I think there are more in this list as there are those variants offered for LE use.

But here comes the latest for commercial and law enforcement use, the FN SCAR 20S Precision Rifle. It uses the 7.62mm round just like the SCAR-H and the SCAR MK 20 SSR. It has the same specifications of of the MK 20 SSR that includes a 20-inch, 1-in-12-inch twist, heavy profile barrel and an adjustable stock. It is kitted with MIL-STD-1913 accessory rails at the 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12 o’clock positions.

The gas-operated piston was designed to recoil efficiently to be able improve follow-up shots and maintain target acquisition. Out of the factory, it comes installed with a double-stage Geissele Super SCAR trigger that provides a 3.5 to 4.5-pound trigger pull.

Mark Cherpes, President and CEO for FN America, LLC.  in a press release said, “The FN SCAR 20S is the latest addition to our battle-proven line-up of FN SCAR products and the first commercial SCAR release since we launched the 17S in 2010. Customers will notice that the FN SCAR 20S shares more commonalities than differences with the MK20 SSR and reaffirms our commitment to producing commercial versions of our iconic military firearms.”

Here are the technical specifications:

• Caliber: 7.62x51mm
• Barrel Length: 20 inches
• Barrel Twist Rate: 1:12
• Weight: 11.2 pounds
• Overall Length: 40.6 – 42.5 inches
• Operation: Short-stroke gas piston
• Finish: Flat Dark Earth (FDE)
• Capacity: (1) ten-round magazine *Compatible with FN SCAR 17S 10- and 20-round magazines

According to the FN America, the MSRP is US$4,499. Tactical Life got a close up story on the rifle which you can read here and below is their video for the same story.

One of the exciting airsoft events in the Philippines is about to start again. The Ratratan (“Firefight”) Series started 11 years ago in 2007 and had a 3-year run with the event stopping when player numbers dwindled in the country caused by election gun bans and airsoft players in those years took up new hobbies such as running and biking.

On Facebook, some of the veterans of Ratratan have been saying to us, “Ratratan na ulit!” has given us thought in recent months if we should revive the series again. With us covering the MOA Exhbition in Taiwan in December, we finally decided to also include the Philippines in our trip to East Asia and that means an activity to be with the airsoft players there.

Ratratan is also Popular Airsoft’s appreciation event for the airsoft community in the Philippines, one of the oldest and most vibrant airsoft communities in the world. Filipino airsoft players are very instrumental in spreading airsoft outside of East Asia and wherever there is airsoft, there is a Filipino playing.

Whilst we have decided the 15th of December 2018 as the date for the event we are yet to decide on the venue and there are two candidates. So either it will be somewhere in Metro Manila or in the Province of Bulacan, just at the northern outskirts of the Metro.

So save the date. We’ll make a full announcement on Ratratan 2018 next week as soon as we finally decide on the game site.

This weekend sees many airsoft practical shooters from Europe, South America, and Asia competing for the various categories and divisions of the NABV IAPS Dutch Open 2018 International Airsoft Practical Shooting,  this year’s biggest airsoft practical shooting event in Europe.

It will be held at the National Airsoft Centre in Geldermalsen in The Netherlands.

From today until tomorrow, 144 shooters will running and gunning through the 24 stages and courses of fire of varying degrees of difficulty. Some will be fun and some will just make the shooter curse to high heavens why the organisers have designed such a difficult course of fire. But that’s how it goes in practical shooting, some are easy and some are just plain hard to shoot the best time.

We’ll be covering the event again this year and for the first time, we shall attempt to livestream the event. For avid fans of airsoft practical shooting, we shall be livestreaming the opening and closing ceremonies.

• Opening Ceremonies: 10 November 2018 at 0830H CET
• Closing Ceremonies: 11 November 2018 at 1800H CET

Where to watch (this will be updated if need be)

• Popular Airsoft Facebook Page
• Popular Airsoft YouTube Page

From time to time we shall be livestreaming the action depending on the how we can set up at the courses of fire as we do not want the video recording equipment to get in the way of the shooters. Just always visit the pages above to see if there is a livestreaming.

Hoping that bandwidth is good and that we can bring a lot of the airsoft practical shooting action to your mobile or computer. See you all online this weekend!

We’re still recuperating from what was a highly successful staging of the NAVB IAPS Dutch Open 2018 International Airsoft Practical Shooting Tournament. The event took place this weekend and boy! What a highly organised event it was.

We did the live webcast of the event, from the Opening Ceremonies to the Closing and Awarding Ceremonies. We event showed in real time the airsoft practical shooting action as various shooters went through the courses of fire at various stages. It was the first of its kind and in cooperation with the NABV IAPS, we made history too.

You can catch up with the practical shooting action as the livecast videos are left on the Popular Airsoft Facebook Page. So  that means you won’t miss a piece of the action as you can play the available videos there. Whilst we recuperate from a long and tiring weekend, you can enjoy watch the videos.

Full report of the event to follow. Better prepare for more videos and photos of the event.

Congratulations to all the winners!

In April 2018, the British Ministry of Defence (MOD) announced that they plan on upgrading the SA80A2 Rifle to the SA80A3. And last 28 October, the MOD announced that they intend to award NSAF limited, which is a UK subsidiary of Heckler & Koch, a contract worth up to GBP75 million (USD95.6 million) to modify and supply 44,000 upgraded 5.56×45 mm SA80 rifles according to a report at Janes.com.

Heckler & Koch’s involvement in the evolution of the 5.56x45mm NATO SA80 rifle started when they were contracted to upgrade the SA80A1 rifle to the SA80A2 when the rifle performed poorly during the First Gulf War. The A2 has a lot redesigns to address the reliability issue achieving better performance although it is still prone to jamming.

In our previous story on this, we mentioned the various components in this upgrade. The A3 upgrade has the following features: a) the upper receiver is modified; b) full length rail system; c) better coating with a “flat dark earth” colour scheme; d) streamlined foregrip; e) 100 grams lighter than  the A2; and f) bracket for low light sight that are smaller, lighter and require fewer batteries.

Also, the SA80A3 will be 100g lighter the also resolves the over rotation issue of the fire selector switch.  The barrel is also free floating for better accuracy. 
This deal is an expansion of the upgrade programme in which there was already 5,000 SA803 units being delivered.

All photos here by the UK MOD.

In what is said to be  the most unique airsoft event in the world, Gunfire’s GFPoint, which is now its 10th year, finally opens itself to participants from around the world. If you are an airsofter, military professional, or a survival athlete, then this event should  interest you as it will test you physically, mentally as well as make you prove your orienteering skills without depending on GPS on your mobile phone.

Set in breathtaking landscapes, the event gathers 300 participants, who are brave enough to face the challenges posed by GFPoint under freezing conditions. There is also a story to be followed as participants will need to get retrieve information and materials at each point as they proceed towards their final objective.

With US$15,000 prize pool, depending on your skill level, there are different categories that you can join as explained by the GFPoint website:

BASIC CATEGORY

Have you never participated in this kind of event before? Do you love mountains or hiking? Have you always wanted to try orienteering? Don’t have airsoft equipment and the professional category seems too demanding?

If your answer is yes to one of these questions, then this category is for you.

Don’t worry, the name BASIC doesn’t mean there are no challenges. There are 25 kilometeres of orienteering under in difficult weather conditions and in the demanding terrain of the Suchy Mountains. This race will put you through a much bigger challenge than those offered by many advanced categories of popular obstacle races.

PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY

If the orienteering is bread and butter for you and you’re hungry for something new and extreme with elements of survival and military. If you are looking for an opportunity to test yourself and your equipment in harsh, winter conditions the Professional category is an excellent choice.
Gear up, take your airsoft replica and fill the backpack. You will need them to fulfill the challenge of majestic Polish mountains. No slacking here, it’s you against the nature and…tasks at checkpoints!

TEAM CATEGORY

Team category is without a doubt the most difficult one from all GFPOINT categories. It will test your spirit, teamwork and give you an opportunity to prove the strength of the whole team and each of you. If you think that you have what it takes to complete the two-stage race including a daily stage with the distance and tasks on the PROFESSIONAL difficulty level and add to it the special night stage, then don’t wait and gather your team. Don’t fight the hardest battles alone.

ADVENTURE CATEGORY

Secrets, riddles and amazing story. The ADVENTURE category is a unique experience for you and your friends. Are you ready for the lifetime experience hidden among snow-capped Suchy Mountains peaks? Don’t hesitate and become main characters in the intrigue that can change history. Immerse yourself and your team in the story full of secret organizations, their plans and actions.

Sounds like fun? Well, then better take the challenge. The event will take place on the 8th to the 9th of February 2019 in Mieroszów, Powiat wałbrzyski which is at the border with the Czech Republic. Participants should be at least 18 years of age with exceptions made of the Basic Category in which those between 16 and 18 years are allowed with parental consent. Participants are expected to be in excellent health to face the orienteering challenges. There will be requirements and starter packages that players will need to meet when registering.

Good luck!

My! My! What wonderful news. For those who spent countless nights of Command & Conquer playing the GDI or the Brotherhood of Nod in the Tiberium Series, or Allies versus the Soviets in the Red Alert Series, then you have something to rejoice. You will get to play those titles again as EA announced they plan to release 4K remastered versions of these game.

Both these series attained high Metacritic aggregate and they are joined by another series, Generals. Before CounteStrike and the start of domination of FPS games by end of the 20th Century, Command & Conquer set the bar in RTS rivaled by Age of Empires and the phenomenal StarCraft with the latter being played these days with an updated trilogy.

Jim Vessella announced in a news post at EA the following titles that will be included in the “remaster plan”:

Today, I’m thrilled to tell you we are going back to the beginning. We have decided to remaster Command & Conquer: Tiberian Dawn. And while this is incredibly exciting on its own, we’re also aware of how passionate the community is about the Red Alert universe.  So, we will also remaster the original Command & Conquer: Red Alert™.  But what about the classic expansion packs you may ask - Covert Ops, Counterstrike, and Aftermath?  Well, C&C and Red Alert wouldn’t be the same without them, so all three expansion packs will be bundled with the base games into one remastered collection - without microtransactions.

What’s even better, they will have some of the original developers from WestWood, the original developers of the Command & Conquer games, now under Petroglyph Games, will be tapped to do the remaster as Vesella continues in his post:

Petroglyph Games includes many of the original developers from Westwood Studios, and some of the most influential members of the original Command & Conquer development team from 1995. Joe Bostic is known as the co-creator of C&C, having also served as the Lead Programmer on Tiberian Dawn and Red Alert. Steve Tall joined Joe as a Lead Programmer on Red Alert, and Mike Legg contributed to all forms of audio systems at Westwood, having been an employee since 1986!  All three members helped start Petroglyph Games in 2003 after the closure of Westwood and are joined by a veteran group of RTS developers from the past 15+ years. And don’t think we haven’t noticed the #1 request from the community in all the comments from the past month...  You want Frank Klepacki. So as a cherry on top for the fans, we are thrilled to announce that Frank will be re-joining Petroglyph Games to be our Composer and Audio Director for the remaster collection!

In addition to the fantastic team at Petroglyph, we will also be partnering with Lemon Sky Studios to help bring these original games to 4k glory. Lemon Sky is one of the premier art studios around the world, with a unique specialty in remastering classic RTS titles.  After meeting their team and hearing their passion for C&C, we are incredibly lucky to have them team up with Petroglyph to develop the highest quality C&C possible.

But before these will get released as there was no mention of release dates, EA will be releasing Command & Conquer : Rivals, which is a new series of the franchise made for mobile devices and will be available for the iOS and Android.

Whilst waiting for the remastered games to arrive, here are the original intros for Command & Conquer, and Red Alert to help you reminisce those years of RTS play:

As announced previously, the Ratratan (“Firefight”) series hosted by Popular Airsoft will be having another game in the Philippines. This is more a restart of the series and for Ratratan 2018, it will be fun-filled day of games, laughter, fellowship, and of course, with prizes to be raffled off.

So for those who are waiting for the details so they can book their slots here it is:

RATRATAN 2018
15 December 2018
0800H – 1700H
LZ DELTA AIRSOFT GAME SITE
Marcos Alvarez Avenue
Las Piñas, Metro Manila

Players can go to the Ratratan 2018 Facebook Event Page to ask questions or reserve their slots.

We’re still finalizing the game fee as we are just waiting for some more information from suppliers for the event and once done, we’ll post it quickly.

Since traffic in Manila is much dreadful than usual in December, we are having the game start early. We advise everyone going to leave early than usual. As for directions, you can use the maps below (click to get bigger images):

The maximum of players allowed is 150 and thus, better reserve your slots early on to assure your slots. Once we reach 150 players registration will be temporarily closed and those intending to join will be on the waiting list to take the chance of getting a slot of a player who cancels his/her reservation.

As for deadline for reservations: 8 December 2018, 2400H.

We will be making more announcements as for the gameplay, setup, and anything that will make your attendance at Ratratan 2018 worthwhile.

We hope to see you there and exchange BBs with you. RATRATAN NA!

Right! The Tokyo Marui 5th Festival is ongoing is a I write this and for this year, there is something to be excited about ---  the revelation of their first airsoft Squad Automatic Weapon using the Next Generation Recoil and Blowback Tech by the company in the form of the MK46, a variant of the M240 that is in use by the USSOCOM as well as more airsoft guns in such as the FNX-45 Tactical, AKS-47 NEG, Hi-Capa D.O.R., HK45 Tactical Black, more pistols, and more revolvers.

We’ll dig in right away as we know that you want information on these reveals. The information here are the company’s own words so you will have to take into consideration the nuances in translation to English. Too bad the MK46 won’t be available this Christmas, but it is something to look forward to next year:

TOKYO MARUI  MK46 MOD.0

Series: Next Generation Automatic Electric Gun
Price: Undetermined
On-Sale: Spring 2019 (planned)
Target Age: Over 18 years old

Features:

• Decided to release Next generation first LMG (Light Machine Gun) model.
• Mk46 is weight saving and compact model of M249. USSOCOM use this model since 2003.
• Reproduced the MK46 features like Picatinny standard handguard, heat shield, light weight bipod. Fixed stock doesn’t have Shoulder Rest.
• Foldable type bipod. It is detachable by the same way as real guns.
• Due to installed shot & recoil engine, it generates strong kick back by shot. In addition, Ammunition Belt which is ranged dummy cartridge is roughly moved as a motion of feeding.
• Pulling cocking handle and set BBs. When magazine is empty, auto stop is on.  Changing magazine and pulling the cocking handle to cancel the auto stop.
• Full automatic shooting mode only.
• Ni-MH AK-type battery. Take the barrel and set the battery just like in  real guns.
• FET is adopted. Reduce the damage of switch. Control not to operate FET when taking off the barrel or opening the feed cover.
• Flash hider is detachable. Muzzle is 14mm counter clockwise, optional suppressor can be attached.
• Rear sight is adjustable relative position as a real gun. Front sight is adjustable top and bottom.
• Electric magazine is equipped. When switch is on, BBs are wound up by spiral spring. The magazine is planned to 1000 rounds.

Production Specifications:

• Length: 928 mm (Undetermined)
• Inner Barrel Length: 412 mm (Undetermined)
• Weight: 6,600 g (battery included /Undetermined)
• Capacity: 1,000 rounds (Undetermined)
• Caliber: 6mm BB (0.2〜0.25g)
• Power Source: 8.4V 1,300mAh Ni-MH AK Battery

今回 #Mk46の見所としては、何よりも金属製のダミーカートリッジで作られたベルトリンク！
発射作動に連動して、まるで給弾しているかのように動きます！
これは実際に観ていただくのが早いかと♪ pic.twitter.com/jjQDapS8eT

— 東京マルイ@AirsoftGun (@TM_Airsoft) 17 November 2018

TOKYO MARUI AKS-47

Series: Next Generation Automatic Electric Gun
Price: JPY49,800
On-Sale: Estimated February to March 2019
Target Age: Over 18 years old

Features:

• Installed auto stop system and bolt release as the same as “NEG AK47 Type-3”.
• When shooting NEG AKS-47, dummy bolt is also operated. When the magazine is empty, the operation of dummy bolt is stopped. After changed magazine, enable to shoot again after the cocking.
• Mechabox is the same as “NEG AK47 Type-3”. Refinement in AK74 mechabox, operation and internal mechanism are entirely improved.
• Reproduced the color of the receiver of real guns, defric coat which is used in the cylinder of cars adopted.
• Attached NEG AK47 magazine is built in follower stopper. Just operate the switch of top of magazine, selectable the mode which works without firing BBs. 90 rounds magazine.
• 2 pieces of adopter is attached for adopting Standard AEG AK magazine. NEG AKS-47 with adopter attached, following magazine can be used.
  • Standard AEG AK spare magazine (70 rounds).
  • Standard AEG AK 250 round magazine.
  • Standard AEG AK 600 round magazine.

*Attached AKS-47 magazine cannot be used while using adopter.
*NEG AK74 magazine cannot be used for NEG AKS-47 with adopter.
*Attached NEG AKS-47 magazine cannot be used for AK series of Standard AEG, HC AEG and NEG AK74 series.

Production Specifications:

• Length: 643/888 mm (expanded stock)
• Inner Barrel Length: 300 mm
• Weight: 3,300 g（including battery）
• Capacity: 90 rounds
• Caliber: 6mm BB (0.2〜0.28g)
• Power Source: 8.4V 1,300mAh Ni-MH Mini S Battery

TOKYO MARUI FNX-45 TACTICAL

Series: Gas Blowback
Price: Undetermined   
On-Sale: Estimated February to March 2019
Target Age: Over 18 years old

Features:

• Developed “FNX-45 Tactical” is as a new gas blowback. Taking measurement of real gun, the appearance is good in detail.
• Taking off the front cover of rear sight, optional “MICRO PRO SIGHT” is attachable without mount.
• Tall front and rear sight which can sight remain attached optional “MICRO PRO SIGHT” is attached.
• Accessories as flash lights are mountable to 20mm-wide (Picatinny) under rail.
• Palms well is attached (2 types, 2 size)
• Muzzle screw is the same as “HK45 Tactical”. Plan to release the suitable suppressor as a optional parts.
• Magazine catch, safety lever, slide stop is ambidextrous type.
• Up the safety lever, safety is ON, Down the safety lever, then de-cocked.

Production Specifications:

• Length: 220 mm
• Inner Barrel Length: 113 mm
• Weight: 830 g
• Capacity: 29 + 1 rounds
• Caliber: 6mm BB (0.2〜0.25g)
• Power Source: HFC134a、HFO1234ze+LPG

TOKYO MARUI Hi-CAPA D.O.R

Series: Gas Blowback
Price: Undetermined
On-Sale: Estimated February to March 2019
Target Age: Over 18 years old

Features:

• Variation model of Hi CAPA 5.1 style base. “Direct Optics Ready” is called “D.O.R” for short.
• Taking off the rear sight cover located on top of slide, Optional “Micro pro sight” is directly attached. With D.O.R. high mount, micro pro sight can be attached a few mm higher place 
• Although cylinder is mostly the same as current Hi-CAPA series, improved piston surrounding, short recoil system of M45A1 type is adopted. Due to efficiently use the gas pressure, the stability of operation is improved.
• The distance of slide stroke is shortened. The slide moved back returns more quickly. Therefore, it enables to reduce the time loss for next shot. When the magazine is empty, slide stop is on.
• Ribs are attached on both side of slide end. Slide is easily operated when Micro prosight is attached.
• White dot front sight. Rear sight doesn’t have dot.
• Metal notch spacer prevent damage of slide stop and notch.

Production Specifications:

• Length: 222 mm
• Inner Barrel Length: 112 mm
• Weight: Undetermined
• Capacity: 31 + 1 rounds
• Caliber: 6mm BB (0.2~0.25g)
• Power Source: HFC134a、HFO1234ze+LPG

TOKYO MARUI V10 ULTRA COMPACT

Series: Gas Blowback
Price: Undetermined
On-Sale:    Planned to be ready in April 2019
Target Age: Over 18 years old

Features:

• Reproduce “V10 UC” which is clone government with 3.5 inch barrel.
• Reproduce cone barrel with 10 V port and 2 port of slide. Also reproduce other original parts to improve the detail.
• NOVAC official license combat sight is attached.
• Grip is tuber coated. HOGUE type design.
• Considering whether to plate in black for not to be stood out the inner barrel.
• 15mm diameter cylinder.
• Plan to sell V10 dedicated mount to attach optional “Micro Pro sight”.

Production Specifications:

• Length: 179 mm (Undetermined)
• Inner Barrel Length: 74 mm (Undetermined)
• Weight: 700 g (Undetermined)
• Capacity: 22 + 1 rounds (Undetermined)
• Caliber: 6mm BB (0.2〜0.25g)
• Power Source: HFC134a、HFO1234ze+LPG

OTHER PRODUCTS

Revolvers:

• Python PPC Custom 6in Black/Silver
• Spring 2019 planned / Price (undetermined)

Handguns:

• USP Slide Silver
• G17 Slide Silver
• KP85 Black
• Double Eagle Black
• Spring 2019 planned / JPY2,500

Option Parts:

• Quick Adjust 2-Point Sling (O.D./Tan)
• Coming soon / JPY3,500

Surely, 2019 looks bright for Tokyo Marui with this nice line-up of airsoft guns that players will definitely look forward to. As to what is happening on the exhibit floor of the Festival, we’ll follow up soon as we get more photos and information of the festivities.

In case many of you have forgotten, we are again putting out a reminder that the first phase of the 9th Airsoft Players’ Choice Awards, the Nomination Period, will start on the 26th of November 2018. If you have not yet made a list of nominees to submit once this period starts, we highly suggest that you better start doing so this week.

The question often asked is: who gets nominated? Well, it is a who and what? An airsoft company, product, magazine, YouTuber, blogger, team, player, community can be nominated depending on the categories. For the 9th awards, there are twentyfive (25) categories:

1. Best Airsoft Retailer for North America
2. Best Airsoft Retailer for Europe
3. Best Airsoft Retailer for Asia
4. Best Gear Retailer for North America
5. Best Gear Retailer for Europe
6. Best Gear Retailer for Asia
7. Best Airsoft Magazine (Print or Digital)
8. Best English Language Airsoft News Website
9. Best Non-English Language Airsoft News Website
10. Best Airsoft Blog (Regardless of Language)
11. Best Airsoft Community/Forum
12. Best Airsoft Video Posted Online in 2018
13. Best Airsoft Event (Over 500 Players)
14. Best Airsoft Podcast or Video Channel
15. Best Airsoft Upgrade/Parts Maker
16. Best Airsoft KABOOM (Grenade/Mine/Mortar/Rocket/Pyro) Maker
17. Best HPA Airsoft Engine
18. Best Airsoft Pistol
19. Best Airsoft Gas Blowback Rifle
20. Best Airsoft Shotgun
21. Best Airsoft Sniper Rifle
22. Best Airsoft Automatic Electric Gun (AEG)
23. Best Airsoft Manufacturer
24. Special Airsoft Player Award (Male)
25. Special Airsoft Player Award (Female)

Also, as much as we here flattered by the submissions by airsoft players worldwide, Popular Airsoft is disqualified from being nominated in the awards by the mere fact that it is the organiser behind the awards. Please do not waste that nomination, especially in the Airsoft news website, and have another get your nomination. Any nomination of Popular Airsoft will not be counted and will be discarded during the nominations get collated after the Nomination Period.

It is going to be a long Nomination Period to give airsoft players more time to make their list. We advise that you better get a pen and paper (or a notepad if using your laptop or mobile) and list down possible nominees for each category. You can then list the reason(s) why for each name and weigh them to make your decision. Whilst you don’t need to submit a nominee for all categories, we highly recommend that you make a complete list to help make the Nominations Period a thorough process.

Even if the Nomination Period hasn’t started yet, you can already make your list of Nominees. Remember if you Nominate and also vote during the Voting/Finals Period, your name gets entered twice in the raffle draw.

So get ready then! See you online at the official website of the Awards next week.

If access to the U.S. Army’s newest sidearm, the M17 (and its compact brother the M18) is a problem for some fire enthusiast due to firearms restrictions in their countries or they are not allowed to own one, they can settle for the third best thing, an air pistol version (the second best is an airsoft version).

In a press release early this month, SIG Sauer unveiled the SIG Air M17 ASP Air Pistol (ASP stands for “Advanced Sport Pellet). This is a .177 air pistol replica of the M17, which is based on the SIG P320, and is field strippable like the service sidearm.

SIG Sauer says that it feels and looks like the M17 and it is also mainly made of Polymer with a metal slide that produces a blowback action. The magazine is a proprietary 20-round rapid pellet drop magazine that also houses the 12g CO2 cartridge which has a patented cam lever loading port that us designed for quick and easy replacement of the cartridge.

At a weight of 2.15lbs it is actually heavier than the Army-spec’d M17 which weighs 1.843lbs. Since it looks like the M17, the M17 ASP also sports the M1913 rail allowing owners to mount weapons accessories to it such as aiming devices or lighting. It can be used for training purposes since it mimics the real deal pistol.

“It handles exceptionally well, is fun and accurate to shoot, and a very effective training tool, especially with the drop magazine for quick reloading,” said said Joseph Huston, Vice President and General Manager of SIG AIR. “Current M17 owners will also appreciate that it field strips like the U.S. Army M17 pistol.”
Muzzle velocity with the .177 pellets is 430fps. The sights are fixed with the front sight having a white dot and available in Coyote Tan. Pricing in the U.S. is

US$119.99, which makes it cheaper than an KJ Works made SIG P229 Gas Blowback Airsoft Pistol which usually retails at around US$139.00 if it is still being sold by airsoft vendors.

Now, when do we get the airsoft version of the M17?

The biggest annual gathering of the Airsoft media, industry, and community, the Airsoft Meetup, will be holding its 8th gathering. A major side event for airsoft at the IWA Outdoor Classics in Nuremberg, Germany, it has been growing year on year, with the airsoft media being able to watch and listen to industry and community representatives on what they are doing for the current the year.

For the Airsoft Meetup 2019, we are announcing it early on as the the Meetup is already bursting at its seams. Held at the Hong Kong Room in Nuremberg Messe, the room was jam-packed in 2018. For those who plan on attending the Meetup, they can go to the Airsoft Meetup website to register so they can reserve their slots given that there are limited seats available.

Now, with a more strict schedule to maximise the number of speakers, interested presenters will need to contact NLAirsoft.com to discuss their presentations. Not  all interested speakers will be accommodated given that we are on very limited time and thus, the earlier speakers can send their intentions the higher possibility of being given speaking slots.

Regarding presentations, we would recommend that the slides be submitted to NLAirsoft.com at least a week before the Airsoft Meetup so they can be checked to avoid technical issues during the Meetup itself. This is so as not to delay other presentations when a technical problem happens with a presenter’s slides. Confidentiality will be assured so that any reveal that is targeted on the day of the Meetup will be kept secret.

The Airsoft Meetup 2019 will be livestreamed in its entirety for the first time via Facebook (or YouTube).

Since the Airsoft Meetup entails resources, we are also seeking sponsors to help us defray the expenses. Hopefully the regular sponsors will step up to the plate again to help us as well as new sponsors to ensure that we get to hold this year after year.

We hope to see you all again next year in Nuremberg:

Airsoft Meetup 2019
IWA Outdoor Classics 2019
10 March 2019
1300 to 1600H
Hong Kong Room (NCC Ost/East)
Nuremberg, Messe
www.airsoftmeetup.com

Are the nights getting longer and days getting colder for you to play airsoft? Spending these nights immersed in online Battle Royale games such as Fortnite, PUBG, or Call of Duty: Black Ops IV? Well, why not make it a productive winter and work on winning for the big prizes playing your favourite Battle Royal game?

In this case, try to grab a big chunk of the US$1 million Fortnite Winter Royale and it is open to anyone brave enough to battle with some of the best Fortnite players.

The Winter Royale was announced following changes Epic Games made to its in-game tournament matchmaking and other improvements meant improve the player experience. This system will then be used next year for the Fortnite World Cup.

Open to anyone, Epic Games explain that these Solo test events will consist of two parts, the Winter Royale Qualifiers and the Winter Royale Finals. For now, the regions for the qualifiers and finals are North America and Europe and they intend to expand to other regions next year based on their evaluation of this tournament.

So if you are in these regions, try your luck and who knows? You might hit it big time as explained by Epic Games:

There will be several chances for anyone to try and get a high score during the Winter Royale Qualifier days. The highest score you achieve during any event session will be the one that counts, so be sure to give it your all! As part of our ongoing competitive tests to prepare for the Fortnite World Cup, Winter Royale will use the same game settings as the currently available Pop-Up Cup.

The qualifiers are fast coming up so better be ready in 2 days’ time to battle it out:

• Winter Royale Qualifier (Open): 11/24/2018 - 11/25/2018
• Europe Winter Royale Finals: 11/30/2018 - 12/1/2018
• North America Winter Royale Finals: 12/11/2018 - 12/12/2018

So if you are an airsofter who will be joining in this event, why not give us a shout out so we can announce to the airsoft world that an airsofter is going for it. It would be nice to see how one of us will fare in this Winter Battle Royale. Good luck!

Probably this is the day when rather worrying about the weekend skirmish, you probably browsing frantically to find the best deals in airsoft as it is Black Friday as well as followed up by Cyber Monday. But if you are looking for the best deal, it’s best to do it today as the stocks of what you want might be low come Monday.

In what probably is the most commercialized day of the year apart from Christmas, Black Friday allows for you to find great deals. From 10% to 80%, you will find crazy deals whether you are in North America, Europe or Asia thanks to the Internet. If you want to do your Christmas shopping, airsoft or not, you might want to do it all this weekend and avoid the Holiday season shopping rush.

So ready with your wallets, credit cards or Paypal accounts? Here is a list of airsoft Black Friday deals that we found online or as based on news submissions by the companies:

Evike.com Black Friday Up To 25% (USA)

Airsoftjunkiez Black Friday Up To 15% Off

Airsoft GI Black Friday Up To 25% Off (USA)

Military 1st 15% Black Friday Sale (Europe and USA)

Gunfire Black Madness Sale Up To 80% Off (Europe)

OpStore Black Friday Sale (Europe)

PTS Syndicate Thanskgiving Sale (Asia)

RedWolf Black Friday & Thanksgiving Deals (Asia)

We're pretty sure that there are more airsoft stores offering Black Friday deals, especially in the USA. Better check their websites and social media pages for their announcements.

Happy hunting for that best deal!