Editing Alien (section)

== History ==

=== Origins and Revelation ===

Jack Rice began developing the company's first marker, originally known as the A1 or Alien 1, around 2002.

The project subsequently became known as the Revelation. It featured an unconventional boltless design using a mechanically operated breech door to load paintballs into the firing chamber.

Rice worked with machinist Duane Parsons, who contributed computer-aided design and machining work to the project.[1]

The Revelation was publicly exhibited at the [[International Amateur Open]] in July 2003.

Contemporary reporting by [[WARPIG]] documented Rice demonstrating the marker at the event's industry conference, where it was presented as a new electronic design featuring a compact body and unusual feeding system.[3]

Development continued following its public demonstration.

Although approximately 100 Revelation bodies were manufactured, problems with the revised breech mechanism prevented the design from entering normal commercial distribution.

Rice and Parsons subsequently abandoned the boltless configuration in favour of a more conventional stacked-tube electronic marker.[1]

=== Interceptor ===

The resulting [[Alien Interceptor]] was introduced in 2005.

The Interceptor incorporated an electronically controlled pneumatic ram, a conventional moving bolt and Alien's proprietary Sweep Air System.

The system was designed to direct compressed air around and beneath the paintball during firing, with the manufacturer's literature claiming improvements in consistency and trajectory.[1][4]

The Interceptor was used in professional paintball during the 2005 and 2006 seasons.

Players associated with [[Miami Effect]] and [[New England Hurricanes]] were among those documented using or testing Alien equipment during this period.[1][5]

=== Remains and Independence ===

Alien expanded its marker range with the [[Alien Remains]] in 2006.

The Remains retained the company's electronically controlled, open-bolt operating arrangement, including an integrated ram and solenoid assembly.

The design placed the ram assembly outside the main marker body, allowing a compact receiver configuration.[5]

Alien subsequently developed the [[Alien Independence]], which was publicly demonstrated in 2006 and 2007 before the introduction of the 2008 model.

The Independence featured a revised body, integrated feed neck, redesigned ram assembly and other improvements.

VintageRex catalogues both the 2008 and 2009 versions of the Independence.[6]

The company continued developing and marketing the Independence through 2010.

In February 2010, Alien announced a sponsorship agreement with professional team [[Sacramento XSV]], whose players were to use the 2010 Independence during the tournament season.

The announcement also identified [[Kee Action Sports]] as a distributor of Alien markers.[7]

=== Invasion ===

The [[Alien Invasion]] followed in 2011.

It replaced the Independence as the company's principal marker design and incorporated a hoseless air system, eliminating the external air line connecting the regulator and air-source adaptor.

The Invasion retained a pneumatic operating arrangement related to the earlier Independence platform.

VintageRex records the marker with either Virtue or Hater electronic control boards.[6]

Contemporary marketing during 2012 advertised the Invasion at approximately US$599, positioning it below the company's earlier high-end electronic models.[8]

=== Deception ===

Alien subsequently developed the [[Alien Deception]], a redesigned electronic marker introduced during the mid-2010s.

The Deception incorporated the company's new Morph Valve, which combined characteristics of conventional poppet and spool-valve systems.

Unlike a conventional poppet valve requiring the hammer to overcome pressure holding a valve face closed, the Morph Valve used a balanced sliding spool arrangement.

This reduced the force required to open the firing valve and allowed a lighter pneumatic ram.[9]

The Deception was exhibited at Paintball Extravaganza in 2014 and reviewed by ''Paintball Magazine'' in June 2015.[9]

The manufacturer's operating manual documented its electronic firing system, Morph Valve and Sweep Bolt technology.[10]