Among other things, a veteran player stands out from a rookie by the great deal of anecdotes he is able to share on a bar after a game. He has gone through all kinds of situations, has battled in a wide array of fields, has been told so many different versions of what MilSim is that he has stopped trying to define it.
But memory can be treacherous and the fighting life won’t last forever. So an interesting option is to be able to download all those great matches of the most legendary games; to record all your airsoft theories; or to share with the entire airsoft community (present and future) your impressions on any airsoft gear.
This, indeed, has been already invented, and although depending on how you look at it, it may seem an interactive airsoft museum, people insist on calling it: YouTube. And here are some of the most popular youtubers in our field:
If you like watching something like action films with airsoft replicas, Bodgeups’ channel could be on your top list), probably the best airsoft videos on YouTube. At least this is what he tells us. Are they really the best? Subscribe Bodgeups and give your opinions.
Being such a famous sniper must generate very curious situations. When you are about playing airsoft, what happens? People want to escape from your sight to avoid elimination or they prefer to be in your line of sight for having a chance to appear in your video ?
I actually find that most people enjoy being in the videos! Although quite often I will hear people say in the safe zone “I’m glad that I’m on Bodgeups’ team!”. That always makes me chuckle. When I’m in the field, I occasionally get people waving at me. I return the favour with a heavyweight BB :-)
But this may bring a problem, and the cheater can neither escape from your balls, nor escape from your videos. How do they take it while seeing themselves on YouTube? (With two millions of views, this is one of the most watched video on your channel).
Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t approach the individuals afterwards to get their opinion on the matter. If a player chooses to cheat, that’s their decision. But something important to understand is that cheating (although undesirable) is part of the game, and it cannot be avoided. That’s why I include cheating in my videos, because I want people to know what the experience of playing Airsoft is like, both good and bad.
The videos of “sniper cam” are the most popular ones of your channel, although they are not the only one. How do you think that snipers should be, little advise to those airsofters who want to be one of snipers. Especially being a sniper is not easy, lots of airsofters give up after two months time?
You definitely need to have patience, be calm and collected, observe your surroundings and be comfortable with the limited ammunition you have. Of course, the only way to know if you’ll like it is to try!
I’m sure that lots of people ask how much cameras you have during a game, and allow you to be able to record your play from different angles. Possible tell us which material you use when you get to play?
I have a Panasonic HDC-SD800 camcorder on top of my rifle, a GoPro Hero 4 on my head and a GoPro Hero on the barrel of my rifle. It takes a long time to edit the videos together!
And last, it’s a hypothetical question, take it easy ;)If you play against another famous sniper such as youtuber Novritsch, what do you think that would happen? You would eliminate him or he would do it before you? So much time waiting for this dual of legends…!
Well, if you asked my fans I think they would pick me. In the same way that Novritsch’s fans would pick him. Personally, I think we should meet up and see what happens :-)
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Youtube channels for entire teams are quite common, while there are times when individual members have their own channels that rival those of the team itself. So is the case of Hamza, another airsoft veteran and member of TRAC (Airsoft Recon Tactic Corp).
One of the things we like most about your channel is "Le Zap de l'airsoft" in which you put together short clips called "Zappings" from the videos sent by other airsofters. What is the coolest, weirdest and most entertaining thing that has ever been sent to you?
One of the most entertaining was the first clip from Le Zap # 2. Skyuta, my teammate, jumps out a window falling face first. He pretends he is fine but you can tell how he tries to conceal the pain. Just thinking about it now makes me laugh. It's definitely one of the best and funniest moments for me.
In another clip, let's just not call it weird but unusual, is where an AX3 team member gets a killstreak with a foam axe! You can also find this video in Le Zap #2.
Your video reviews are highly regarded on your channel if you look at the positive feedback you get, what do you think is the most important thing when reviewing gear?
As for the reviews, the most important thing is to get to the point and present those things that are really important. For example, I will never waste any time with the packaging. Also, choosing quality products for the reviews is key, I just won’t review poor quality products.
As a team you move through a wide variety of fields, so that your videos always look different, but most of the times show some strong CQB presence. Is playing in close quarters more impressive to show in the videos than, let’s say, playing in a forest?
All team members have a strong preference for CQB scenarios, and this clearly plays to my advantage in my videos. The videos in CQB scenarios generate more action, more suspense and more progress as a team, which makes them more interesting to watch, in my opinion.
What can we find in your channel that we won't find in your team's channel? As they "battle" fraternally against each other for popularity on Youtube.
I'm not really that good at editing, so all my videos focus on the action in the game.
I have always had the same game style on my channel: plenty of action and laughter.
You have already recorded several short films with your team (TRAC), do you think airsoft can possibly transition from Youtube to a TV series as has happened in other cases?
No, I don't think an airsoft-based TV series would really appeal to the general public.
VF Airsoft is a project that with several youtubers’ cooperation, and today, it has become one of the biggest Youtube airsoft channels in Germany. With more than five years experiences, the quality of its video is the key.
The reviews are commons on your channel, but we found a lot of materials which were not on the market when you published the videos at the moment. We can see that you are very connected!! How do you find those novelties?
Well I think some manufactures notice what we are about. Quality and honesty. And some manufactures get that this is what's important. Tell me, if you see a cheap commercial in TV where a buffed up guy tells you about some super expensive chemical solution which is supposed to give u a six pack for your next beach party, without even getting your lazy ass of the couch and stop munching Doritos, would you believe him and buy the product? If you’re sane I supposed you wouldn't and would immediately identify the manufacturer as dubious.
There are so many reviewers outside who just tell you for every product they review, that it is the best thing they’ve ever had, making themselves unbelievable just to get some free stuff from other brands. It's better for a manufacturer to have someone present their product in a neutral and honest way. That's how your viewers trust you and if your products are good, they will believe it. This, in addition to stunning visuals, is what makes some manufactures, who are actually able to deal with us potentially talking negatively about their product, contact us and giving us early looks at stuff. We then get invited to manufactures and are able to get an in-depth look at prototypes, long before those things hit the marked.
In your videos we could see incredible views recorded from a drone, and indeed it gives cinematographic and impressive aspects. How much importance do you give to incorporate technical improvement like this, in order to record airsoft videos for your YouTube channel?
Like mentioned in the beginning, it’s nearly all about the visuals. You sometimes have to spend hours going through camera gear reviews, researching new techniques. Spending time in bed where you are supposed to sleep, when your brain suddenly gets the idea to get creative. Screaming internally when you take your iPhone, getting your eyes burned out by the bright screen when you write a note on it at 03:00 am (remember brain? You are supposed to sleep at this time), just to note that great idea which you had for the next video. Then going to work, coming back home falling into your bed immediately as the tiredness hits you suddenly and waking up 5 hours later, totally jet lagged. Repeat this infidelity. That's how you get good videos. You gotta put your heart and soul into it.
The comments on Youtube videos turn sometimes into wild wars between people who appreciated and the detractors, with trolls interventions (yes, they are everywhere). How do you manage these “battles”?
Those battles were what made the original founder of VFA quit YouTube. He had enough of people trying to sabotage us, just using us, coping our style and so on and on. I talked about it briefly in the beginning and don't plan to stretch this out. I hate this part of YouTube. Stupid mindless fanboys battling each other. Creators battling each other. I say fuck this. I don't care I'm just trying to ignore this as much as possible even if it's hard. I just want to make good videos. That's all. Most people at VFA stopped reading comments under videos because you can’t smile in the camera any more if you would spend hours reading how stupid/ugly/whatever you are. It doesn’t matter to us if some people write shitty comments, we do these videos for the people who don’t.
You have participated in many airsoft events outside Germany, huge events indeed. What do you think that distinguishes between German players with the others?
I wouldn't say there are too much differences. If at all, there would be cultural ones. Germany is a lot less friendly towards guns and events which has to do with it. This makes Airsoft a big marginal-group sport. That evolves in some people feeling somewhat "special" and thus tolerance, treating people equal and so one, somewhat lacks here. I feel like Airsoft in Germany has a lot of hostility in it. This translated into YouTube where you can actually see it in the comments. But I could also be totally wrong. I haven't attended any events in the USA. But what I can say is that events in other foreign countries where almost every time a lot more friendly and somewhat with a warmer atmosphere. At least for me personally. And oh, of course there are a lot more gun regulations here in Germany because of said reasons before. Like no full auto guns above 0.5 J, no lasers or lights on guns and so on.
