Yipe
01-24-2002, 04:58 PM
Has paintball stagnated?
Are you bored with playing the same capture-the-flag or elimination games time and time again? Are you tired of center-flag speedball and concept fields? Are you looking for the suspense, fear and wonder of your first day on the field? Then look no further… because it’s time to shake things up by exploring new ways to play the game!
First, let’s get psychoanalytical. Paintball is unique among sports as the equipment, the rules and the playing area are fluid. What does that mean exactly? By fluid, I mean that you can easily change many of the fundamental perimeters of the sport and still claim you are playing paintball. Furthermore, spectators will know you are playing paintball whether you are in the woods or on a hyperball field. Few mainstream sports offer this level of flexibility, and this is one of paintball’s greatest strengths. For example, can you remove the end zone from a game of football, or add extra bases to baseball? Not without making the sport unrecognizable to the general public. In many ways, I find paintball similar to playing poker. You can try your luck at Black Jack, 5-Card Draw or 7-Card Stud, and though each game is radically different you are still gambling with a deck of cards.
So where is the psychological element here? There is a definite trend within paintball, stemming not only from manufacturers, retails and field owners, but from players as well, to create a unified format and rules system for the game. Therefore, paintball would fall in line with other mainstream, competitive sports and have a single, authorized playing style. Of course, we all know what format the sport is leaning toward, but this thread is not a polemic debate about speedball versus woods play. I’m looking at something much deeper – the human need for universal rules and regulations. What do you think? Do people need a sense of uniformity? Are players craving for a set of common rules and playing style so everyone who plays paintball can identify with each other? What will happen to the game if indeed a hard-and-fast set of rules are put in place and largely recognized as the standard for playing paintball? Do you think this would be good for the sport?
When I asked if paintball had stagnated, I didn’t mean technology-wise or if the sport had stopped growing in membership. We all know paintball is still pushing the equipment envelope and attracting more players than the year before. I am wondering if paintball is becoming less flexible in the various ways people play the game – the scenarios – and I’m curious to hear what you think of the ideas I’ve briefly touched upon here.
But that’s not all! I’d like to offer a challenge to the members on AO, and I’m hoping my challenge will prove more fun than dining at an 80’s style all-you-can-eat salad bar. Plus, this thread might be a welcome change to the standard fare we see on AO everyday. So, without further delay, here goes...
Come up with as many paintball game formats as possible, complete with how many players are needed, any special rules of the scenario and the general size and type of the field. I’ve already got a few up my sleeve but I would like to see what the AO think-tank can develop before I write too much! Who knows, this thread might turn into a full-blown resource for reinventing the way you currently play paintball. Don’t forget to mention if you and your group of friends have tried these scenarios out and how well they worked. Have fun!
Sincerely,
Matt
Are you bored with playing the same capture-the-flag or elimination games time and time again? Are you tired of center-flag speedball and concept fields? Are you looking for the suspense, fear and wonder of your first day on the field? Then look no further… because it’s time to shake things up by exploring new ways to play the game!
First, let’s get psychoanalytical. Paintball is unique among sports as the equipment, the rules and the playing area are fluid. What does that mean exactly? By fluid, I mean that you can easily change many of the fundamental perimeters of the sport and still claim you are playing paintball. Furthermore, spectators will know you are playing paintball whether you are in the woods or on a hyperball field. Few mainstream sports offer this level of flexibility, and this is one of paintball’s greatest strengths. For example, can you remove the end zone from a game of football, or add extra bases to baseball? Not without making the sport unrecognizable to the general public. In many ways, I find paintball similar to playing poker. You can try your luck at Black Jack, 5-Card Draw or 7-Card Stud, and though each game is radically different you are still gambling with a deck of cards.
So where is the psychological element here? There is a definite trend within paintball, stemming not only from manufacturers, retails and field owners, but from players as well, to create a unified format and rules system for the game. Therefore, paintball would fall in line with other mainstream, competitive sports and have a single, authorized playing style. Of course, we all know what format the sport is leaning toward, but this thread is not a polemic debate about speedball versus woods play. I’m looking at something much deeper – the human need for universal rules and regulations. What do you think? Do people need a sense of uniformity? Are players craving for a set of common rules and playing style so everyone who plays paintball can identify with each other? What will happen to the game if indeed a hard-and-fast set of rules are put in place and largely recognized as the standard for playing paintball? Do you think this would be good for the sport?
When I asked if paintball had stagnated, I didn’t mean technology-wise or if the sport had stopped growing in membership. We all know paintball is still pushing the equipment envelope and attracting more players than the year before. I am wondering if paintball is becoming less flexible in the various ways people play the game – the scenarios – and I’m curious to hear what you think of the ideas I’ve briefly touched upon here.
But that’s not all! I’d like to offer a challenge to the members on AO, and I’m hoping my challenge will prove more fun than dining at an 80’s style all-you-can-eat salad bar. Plus, this thread might be a welcome change to the standard fare we see on AO everyday. So, without further delay, here goes...
Come up with as many paintball game formats as possible, complete with how many players are needed, any special rules of the scenario and the general size and type of the field. I’ve already got a few up my sleeve but I would like to see what the AO think-tank can develop before I write too much! Who knows, this thread might turn into a full-blown resource for reinventing the way you currently play paintball. Don’t forget to mention if you and your group of friends have tried these scenarios out and how well they worked. Have fun!
Sincerely,
Matt