He's going to open source large hunks of his next company.
Although I am not sure anything could have a longer lasting effect than the "Simonizer" at EMR, well at least until the next morning...
This is what I am planning.
I feel that it's time to do something differently! Next week I am going to give away the files for something very cool to the paintball community for ever.
This is where things are going to get interesting.
Over my years at NPS/KEE/Empire I have always helped people wanting to make parts and accessories for the products I have brought to market (it's kind of how I started in this business myself). I am going to continue that with my new company Inception Designs, and actually go one step further and put it into my business plan. Making files for certain parts and options open source when they aren't critical to the functionality and reputation of the core product. I am also going to make parts and components available in a "raw" state to encourage people, fields and stores to make custom versions and put their own twist onto their products. Obviously I will have finished goods too for those that just want to just take it and play
Maybe this mindset will be a kick in the industries arse, and a paradigm shift in the industries way of thinking and bringing the industry back to the days when we worked together and everyone was more friendly.
I will have big news to follow in the next few days and as I get the open source forums set up. I'm working my butt off right now, but getting there one step at a time.
There are also many occasions where I have made parts or prototypes just for myself because I wanted them for when I play. Sometimes this ends up in industry paradigm shifting products like forcefeed loaders and sometimes it never makes it to the light of day because the "numbers just didn't make sense".
Also in the future if I have already done the work, but the "numbers" don't make sense (like the First Strike magazine for the Empire Trracer, or the bottom line kit for that gun) as I have limited resources to invest, rather than box it away never to see the light of day, I am going to release it to the community and give it a chance at life. If the community embraces it and the open source project is a success, who knows maybe we will continue with the community and do something like a kickstarter project to bring it all the way to fruition.
I've had too many cool things stuck in a closet and not make it out. It's time for a paradigm shift and for the community to have more options and more control of the products it wants.
This week I will give away the files to something big so anyone can go and make it via rapid prototyping machines. I will also have prototypes with me at the CPX Living Legends game for people to check out in person! (as well as t-shirts and some other smaller products some of you have guessed at already).
Do people see value in this kind of community resource and sharing? Would you want to be able to customize your own gun at home with say files and a hacksaw or a dremel without it compromising the gun for ever? Or maybe even print your own grips or triggers on a makerbot at home or at school?
http://www.mcarterbrown.com/forums/2706296-post54.html
