In our previous feature story, we have written about Cybergun's plans to acquire airsoft and or paintball sites in the USA as part of their expansion given that the USA is their biggest market as based on the report from Thumpy's 3-D House of Airsoft. These sites shall be remodelled with video game themes of game titles that are under the company. So how will this concept be rolled out.

An initial preview of this was shown during the IWA 2012 & Outdoor Classics, where the concept of the "Softair Battlezone" was shown where there was a shooting range and Kalashnikov Energy Drink Cocktail for the media. In the latest video, again as reported by Thumpy's 3-D House of Airsoft, the full concept of Softair Battlezone is shown as developed by Brains for Solutions (B4S). As previously reported by Thumpy, he is bang on with regards to having video game themes at the planned Softair Battlezones.

As you will notice in the video the Softair Battlezone is not exactly a novel concept, as it takes its inspiration from game arcades that dot commercial centers around the world. The Softair Battlezone makes itself distinct as it will only showcase the products of Cybergun, ranging from their airsoft guns, accessories, to their video game titles, and complimenting it with arcade areas where airsoft players can either skirmish in a CQB game or do some target shooting where scores and times can be measured.

So the Softair Battlezone is an airsoft store cum arcade center cum airsoft CQB site --- a one stop shop of all things Cybergun. You buy or rent your airsoft gun, then you can immediately enter a CQB game, or do some airsoft practical shooting runs with Eric Grauffel's Tanfoglio Custom CO2 pistols. The skirmish arena will be based on the War Inc. theme, given that Cybergun has sold off the Blackwater video game. The scenarios in War Inc. will be replicated at the Softair Battlezones for video game players to experience it in an actual airsoft game (you can play War Inc. for free). And when tired, they get to hangout at the Kalashnikov Cafe, where you can drink the Kalashnikov Energy drinks (though you would wish they will have more variety in the menu). If you get hooked to airsoft and want to have your own gear, you can just buy Cybergun's products right there and then.

So what the US airsoft community will experience is the "disneyfication" of airsoft. But I will have to admit that it's a good concept in getting a captive market, especially people who will just be introduced to airsoft and the first thing they will encounter will be Cybergun through their Softair Battlezones right in the heart of the cities in the USA.

No details yet on how the Softair Battlezones will be rolled out across the country. Most probably they will start where Spartan Imports and Palco Sports which are owned by Cybergun and thus we will see the first of these in California and Minnesota.