
The Macdev Cyborg RX made its official debut in late 2008 at the World Cup. The Cyborg RX's main competitor is the Planet Eclipse EGO. These two markers will face each other head on in 2009. The "RX" in the name refers to it being the gun that ends all your marker woes... A "prescription" for your crappy gun if you must. Consumer response has been relatively decent although the Cyborg RX is still very new. Most people either lean towards the EGO in this gun class because of its reputation, but Macdev isn't trailing by far. Given the hard economic times we are all facing, the Cyborg RX can potentially be a "make or break" item for the Australian paintball gun manufacturer - but it's too early to tell.
MSRP: $1299.99

Key Cyborg RX Features
- Pullpin-less, converted bolt
- Pullout drivetrain
- High efficiency ram
- Lightened valve with higher flower
- OLED display board
- Filtered Gladiator (HPR)
- Updated LPR
- Self-cleaning, wiping eye system
- Low pressure operation
- High air efficiency
- User upgradeable software via USB
"The latest incarnation of the most popular tournament marker in the world" - Planet Eclipse
It's hard to believe that Planet Eclipse already released their 5th generation paintball gun, the Ego 9. In 2004, the first Eclipse Ego debuted and captured the attention of most professional players and high-end gun users. Planet Eclipse built a gun around weight, air efficiency, size, ergonomics, and accuracy. Over the last 4 years, Planet Eclipse has been making some very aggressive moves in the high-end paintball gun market. The Ego came in and swept away "old technology" in paintball.
Right now the leading manufacturers in the high-end gun market are Dye/Proto (DM9/PM8), Smart Parts (Shocker), and Planet Eclipse (Ego). Say goodbye to WDP (Angels) and WGP (Autocockers), they will soon become antiques. The Eclipse Ego can be partially blamed for this but good riddance. Planet Eclipse has been building their guns around the same solid foundations of reliability, performance, light-weight'ness and simplicity. You can expect the same features, and more, with the new Ego 9.
MSRP: $1499.99 ($1,250.00)
Read the rest of this entry » Posted in Guns | 6 Comments »
The Eclipse Ego has always been built around the solid foundations of Reliability, Performance, Light-Weight and Simplicity. And the Ego9 is no exception. It is obvious from the outset that the ground-up re-working of the Ego9 was undertaken with the sole purpose of improving on every one of those key aspects. In fact, performance in almost every area has been increased substantially over the previous generation of Ego.
The major difference with the new Ego 9 compared to its predecessors is that it no longer uses QEVs (Quick Exhaust Valve). Instead, PE integrated a brand-new "bespoke solenoid valve" which is mounted and ported directly into the rammer chamber. You still receive the same cyclic speed and performance you would have when using QEVs, but this ground-up solenoid design gives the Ego 9 "absolute maximum performance" in terms of response time and flow rate for your gun. So instead of having to run a hose from the QEV to the solenoid valve, you just have one hose that runs from the LPR down to the new solenoid valve. This new design by PE improves over air efficiency and response time, as well as physically optimizing the gun. Simplicity and efficiency rule the game.
Ego 9 Specifications
# Poppet Valve Design
# Off-Set Lower Bores (Reduces off-axis forces)
# Low Pressure operation (160psi @ 290fps)
# Air Efficient 1700+ Shots (from 68/45)
# Ultra High Performance Solenoid Valve
# Direct Porting System for Solenoid Inlet and Exhaust Pathways
# 2.5 x Larger Air Flow from LPR to Solenoid
# Zick Rammer Assembly
# 30% Increase in Valve Chamber Volume
# Cure2 Bolt
# Integrated LPR Assembly
# Eclipse Family Features
# BBBSS (Break Beam Sensor System)
# Black-On-White Transflective LCD Module
# Def-Tek Offset Feed
# C-Lever Clamping Feedneck
# Dual Selectable Trigger Switching (Opto and Micro Switches)
# Dual Trigger Return Mechanisms (Spring and Magnetic Return)
# Integrated Audible Beeper for Alarms and Actuation
# Capped and Uncapped Ramp Modes
# All Major Tournament Presets
# 9 Preset Debounce Modes
# 5-Point Adjustable Trigger
# T-Rail Mounting System
# OOPS (On/Off/Purge) ASA System
# S3 Self-Purging In-Line Regulator
# 14” Shaft3 2-Piece 0.693” Barrel

Paintball-online is giving away a brand new 2008 Planet Eclipse Ego ($1,250). The giveaway only requires your email address to enter and nothing more. The winner will be drawn on June 30th, 2008 according to their giveaway page. All it costs you is a valid email address that you can opt-out of at any time (wait until after the winner is drawn though, of course).
You would think that giveaways like these are flooded with entries, but people usually glimpse over them when browsing the web in my experience. So why not enter - may as well be one of paintballguns.net's visitors that wins it . If you do enter and win, make sure you contact me so you can brag to all the other visitors that lost or didn't enter. Best of luck to you all. Below you'll find a short informational video on the 2008 Ego.
Believe it or not, WDP is slowly declining in popularity in the paintball world. Dye and Smart Parts are starting to dominate the paintball gun market with their very affordable and very reliable high and low end paintball markers. The battle between these major gun manufacturers revolves around bringing the end consumer (you and me) what we want. Right now Dye, Smart Parts, WDP, Planet Eclipse, and all other major manufacturers are struggling to bring the end consumer the fastest, most reliable, most affordable, and most efficient paintball marker in the world. The 2008 Angel A1 is WDP's stab at it. So far the gun is getting great reviews. But is it any match for the Dye's DM8 or the new PE Ego's?
WDP announced their new 2008 gun line at Huntington Beach in late March. Retailing at around $1,300, the Angel A1 caught the eye of many tournament ballers at the event for a few reasons. Of course just like every other WDP gun, the Angel A1 has one of the sickest designs on the market today. Also, WDP really stresses on its ergonomics (the applied science of equipment design intended to maximize productivity by reducing operator fatigue, safety and discomfort). So for example, ergonomics would involve designing a paintball gun's grip frame to fit the human hand as comfortably as possible. This is key for tourny ballers because weight distribution and comfort for the player can really obstruct the team's performance.
The A1 Fly has been getting mad reviews. WDP is expected to keep up with all the other major gun brands out there - the only real way to find out which one is right for you is to shoot them all! Personally, I have always enjoyed the "feeling" of WDP's gun line. Their guns operate at such low pressure (about 55 psi) you can barely feel any kick.
WDP also put out special Miami Rage and Joy Division Angel A1's since they sponsor them. Designer guns like these will cost you another $100 or $200 - and all you really get is different anodizing that the team agreed upon.
New features for the Angel A1 Fly:
- New Mini-reg with what appears to come with standard regulator threads; therefore, after-market regs such as AKA or CP can be put on without the purchase of an additional adapter.
- New Valve/Valve Stem/Ram dubbed the Magno Valve System
- New Milling which has reduced the weight of the already light-weight A1 (the most noticeable amount has been removed from the solenoid cover)
- 3 piece Eye Covers (these did not previously come stock with A1s)
- New Board Graphics, not necessarily a new board
- New Trigger
- New Milled/Slimmed down ASA
- New Grips with: "Fly Paper"
- New "Fly Paper" grip on the grip frame, grip, and regulator.
- New Milled/Slimmed down feedneck
- New Carbon Fiber Barrel Tip
- 6 Piece Barrel Kit is speculated to also come with the A1 Fly.