This is a toughie, and I think Slickaxe that you should change the last part about "the biggest impact in the airsoft world". Your asking 2 different questions at the same time...It'll make it easier to stick with the innovative part.
I'm gonna give a breif explanation on each company the best I can, and state the innovation that I believe is most important from them:
SYSTEMA- I've come around to know how awesome your PTW's, hop-ups, and parts are; and how effective your gearboxes are for causing less strain. In an airsoft world where many focus on sheer firepower, you've made many great products to make us think how we can gain firepower with LESS strain on the gearbox. Keep it up!
Innovations: PTW gearbox system, but that's the only real thing I can think of lol...
Classic Army- You gotta give these guys props for sticking to airsoft, since they basically had the roughest road to travel down for the longest time (internally and externally for their AEG's). These guys have come such a long ways, and there new guns are amazing (I am in love with my new CA Steyr AUG a1!). I love how they take older Tokyo Marui's and make them beefed up killing machines, and give people reasons why to get back into the gun series they might have left (due to maybe the lack of popularity, extra parts, and accessories). With some of their AEGs, there is 100% absolutely NO REASON to get the decade older Marui ones, since their new guns are truly amazing. Thats honestly how good they are! Their Marketing techniques are also much better, and their upcoming releases look extremely promising!
Innovation: for internal's they didn't really acheive much, but their AEG planning and quality is amazing for the pricetag! large amounts of M249's, HUGE selection in accessories AND replacable parts, and renewing the older Marui AEG gun models is golden, despite the flaming they get for "copying".
Tokyo Marui: Good 'ole Marui has been in the AEG business since, well, day 1 really! They are the most consistent airsoft manufactures ever, and have many different and unique guns for AEGs. They don't really do weapon family's anymore since there Colts and Mp5's series have lost steam (something I love about other manufacturers, whom make the whole family for variety and uniqueness), but they go from one unique gun to the other! Thompson M1a1, P90's, Famas, and other great guns are made ONLY from Marui. Most importantly IMO is their small gearbox technology in their AEP's and Compact SMG series. Just the thought of fitting a tiny gearbox into a small SMG or pistol seemed impossible years ago, and Marui is just one of those companies that I can only see pulling that off really. Best of all, the technology is not only great, it's a success! Many thought that the AEP's would fail, now you see them more and more (and not just in winter games, but as great and cheap alteratives to gas blowbacks). The Compact SMG series have really caught my eye, and the new M14 is excellent and their upcoming Type 89 looks promising too! All in all, an excellent company with a great reputation since the dawn of AEGs...
Innovation: Where to start! Hop-up's, gearbox variety, AEP/CSMG technology, selection, price, heck they are still one of the only companies that actaully make standard magazines still! They hav really been pushing the airsoft technology, and ever since its had new (and great) competition from CA, ICS, and the whole gang; their guns are getting better and better.
I'll continue the rest later, and feel free to correct me or bring up other ideas I might have missed!
Edited by TonyT61, 20 June 2006 - 11:35 PM.
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