Big Games/Paintball Sam's

[snoopay700]

Well the field that i've played at most and have loved for a while, a mainly woodsball field, seems to be hurting as they're having their last big game this fall. I'm talking about Paintball Sam's, the field, or at least one of them (don't know if Tom went elsewhere) that the Mag and it's predecessors like the Panther were tested at by Tom Kaye.

Well the first Big Game i'd ever been to was in the fall of 2004, and there were about 700 people present that day, and it was the second day! I don't know about other Big Games, but at Sam's usually the second day was slower. Well sadly on the first day of the Big games recently we've had far less than we did the first time i played, so they're making this Big Game on the 4th and 5th of October their last one.

Well the main reason i made this thread was to alert people that would want to know (thought Tom would probably be interested) as well as to see if this is going on other places, because on the site they said this is due to the rec baller becoming a dying breed and being replaced by tournament driven players or hardcore scenario players, so is the Big Game a dying era in the world of paintball?

EDIT:
Just a note, i mean normal big games, not Scenario big games, as there is a difference because scenarios draw people who are into scenarios, where as big games usually draw everyone and rec ballers.

[Automagsam]

Well the field that i've played at most and have loved for a while, a mainly woodsball field, seems to be hurting as they're having their last big game this fall. I'm talking about Paintball Sam's, the field, or at least one of them (don't know if Tom went elsewhere) that the Mag and it's predecessors like the Panther were tested at by Tom Kaye.

Well the first Big Game i'd ever been to was in the fall of 2004, and there were about 700 people present that day, and it was the second day! I don't know about other Big Games, but at Sam's usually the second day was slower. Well sadly on the first day of the Big games recently we've had far less than we did the first time i played, so they're making this Big Game on the 4th and 5th of October their last one.

Well the main reason i made this thread was to alert people that would want to know (thought Tom would probably be interested) as well as to see if this is going on other places, because on the site they said this is due to the rec baller becoming a dying breed and being replaced by tournament driven players or hardcore scenario players, so is the Big Game a dying era in the world of paintball?

I want EVERYONE to come to this big game!!! Snoopay700 (Paul) and I are planning some great things for Sam's final big game. This is a sad day for the both of us, we grew up as part of our frienship playing Sam's Big Game, that was the very first Game Paul and I played, and I still have the crazy memories (I.e. me getting caught between paul and the enemy...) I am seriously sad that this is ending, but I guess all things come to an end.

All that being said, lets make this a good end, the big game to me is like the Father of paintball. Sure the small games are fun, but the big game is awesome and a special day for all of us to get together and shoot each other. This was the woodstock of paintball as far as I am concerned. That being said, don't be the guy who says he wants to come and doesn't show up, cause this is the last one, and not only does Sam need you there, but all of us paintballers need you there to honor something near to our hearts, and to show our gratitude for the sport of paintball itself.

[snoopay700]

I want EVERYONE to come to this big game!!! Snoopay700 (Paul) and I are planning some great things for Sam's final big game. This is a sad day for the both of us, we grew up as part of our frienship playing Sam's Big Game, that was the very first Game Paul and I played, and I still have the crazy memories (I.e. me getting caught between paul and the enemy...) I am seriously sad that this is ending, but I guess all things come to an end.

All that being said, lets make this a good end, the big game to me is like the Father of paintball. Sure the small games are fun, but the big game is awesome and a special day for all of us to get together and shoot each other. This was the woodstock of paintball as far as I am concerned. That being said, don't be the guy who says he wants to come and doesn't show up, cause this is the last one, and not only does Sam need you there, but all of us paintballers need you there to honor something near to our hearts, and to show our gratitude for the sport of paintball itself.

Yeah, lot's of good memories at those things, i remember that time you're talking about, i shot you right between your pods as you were walking off because i opened fire upon the other team that came into our little ambush. Ah, my first firefight in paintball, and the first person i shot out, and the first group of guys that had us outmatched that i got away from (barely, had some bounce off my mask) and then we waited for and held off from the fort. Good times man, good times.

Ah, but you're making me get this thread off topic you jerk. Anyway, back to the main point of the thread, is this the only place that this has been happening to or have other fields had to do away with big games?

[grEnAlEins]

I really wish I could make it, especially for the last one, but my commute is a royal PITA. I am in Boston for school as of now

[snoopay700]

I really wish I could make it, especially for the last one, but my commute is a royal PITA. I am in Boston for school as of now

Man, that sucks, i remember you let me hold your z-mag as you were walking onto the field. It was weird, but i actually liked the tank over my shoulder, it was different and seemed like it would be fun to play with.

You know, i can see this turning into a huge memory thread mixed in with the original intent of the thread.

[XM15]

The first time I played outdoor paintball was Sam's fall big game way back in 1992. It was always a must play twice a year both days for many years. Saturdays were always the biggest day and sunday a little smaller but still 300 to 400. I played in the 2007 fall game and the 2008 spring game and it is very sad to see it just a shell of what it once was. The labor day BYOP event a couple of weeks at Sam's had way more players than the big games lately. Unfortunately its not unique it seems all fields are haveing problems.

[snoopay700]

The first time I played outdoor paintball was Sam's fall big game way back in 1992. It was always a must play twice a year both days for many years. Saturdays were always the biggest day and sunday a little smaller but still 300 to 400. I played in the 2007 fall game and the 2008 spring game and it is very sad to see it just a shell of what it once was. The labor day BYOP event a couple of weeks at Sam's had way more players than the big games lately. Unfortunately its not unique it seems all fields are haveing problems.

Ah, that's really unfortunate, although i guess it's good that Sam's isn't along in that respect.

[Storminnorman]

"Well the main reason i made this thread was to alert people that would want to know (thought Tom would probably be interested) as well as to see if this is going on other places, because on the site they said this is due to the rec baller becoming a dying breed and being replaced by tournament driven players or hardcore scenario players, so is the Big Game a dying era in the world of paintball?"

I already commented on this subject on another thread here on AO, and the thread mysteriously disappeared after I posted my opinion on this matter. So I'm not going to type it again only for this thread to vanish like the last one did.

[AGD]

Wow I am really sorry to hear that the Big Game is ending. I LOVED those weekends and tried never to miss one (unless it was raining ).

All of paintball is hurting right now. Give my best to Nicky.

AGD

[punkncat]

I am a bit confuddled as it were about the "big game".

What makes it a "big game" rather than a scenario?

Many of the woodsball venues around will have what down here we call a "24 hour game" that really lacks the full planning and setup that a true scenario does. I would assume that would be the same thing?

I can understand their getting away from that type of game. If you don't have a very large number of attendees it would be really hard to make money off such a thing. One entry fee for two days worth of play, all the refs you have to pay for the two days, etc.
One of the bigger players in the tourney circuit around this area is calling it quits for anything aside from rec ball after this year. Our local field will become the "host" field for several of their tourney teams. Apparently open play and private parties are the better money makers around here. Talking with the owner of a field who hosted the last series tourney this past weekend...After everyone was paid and all was said and done, he made less money for the whole ordeal than he would have hosting one modest private party.
Tourney ball and large scenarios may be what the players are going for in certain areas, but it sure does make it hard on the venues.

[wimag]

I am a bit confuddled as it were about the "big game".

What makes it a "big game" rather than a scenario?

.

two big teams. Two forts. two flags. no reinsertion. Shoot everyone, get their flag, bring it back to your fort, game over. Then start all over again. Which has why it has always been ideal for rec ballers.
No missions, no down pilots, none of that... pretty simple. Big giant game of capture the flag.
It has never been toted as a scenario game, or 24 hour game.

[grEnAlEins]

I am a bit confuddled as it were about the "big game".

What makes it a "big game" rather than a scenario?

Many of the woodsball venues around will have what down here we call a "24 hour game" that really lacks the full planning and setup that a true scenario does. I would assume that would be the same thing?

I can understand their getting away from that type of game. If you don't have a very large number of attendees it would be really hard to make money off such a thing. One entry fee for two days worth of play, all the refs you have to pay for the two days, etc.
One of the bigger players in the tourney circuit around this area is calling it quits for anything aside from rec ball after this year. Our local field will become the "host" field for several of their tourney teams. Apparently open play and private parties are the better money makers around here. Talking with the owner of a field who hosted the last series tourney this past weekend...After everyone was paid and all was said and done, he made less money for the whole ordeal than he would have hosting one modest private party.
Tourney ball and large scenarios may be what the players are going for in certain areas, but it sure does make it hard on the venues.

The "Big Game" is just a large game. Where the usual rec-ball game would be 20-20 or 40-40 or whatever, this game is 200-200 or whatever. It is just a huge rec-ball game.

I can tell you how tough it is for fields. I used to work at Paintball Blitz in Gurnee, IL. While it did not "go under" so to speak, business was not what it once was. I was really sad to see it go. I played my first game there way back in the day. Parties did seem to make way more money than did rec play, by leaps and bounds.

[snoopay700]

Wow I am really sorry to hear that the Big Game is ending. I LOVED those weekends and tried never to miss one (unless it was raining ).

All of paintball is hurting right now. Give my best to Nicky.

AGD

Yeah, it's sort of sad to see the state that paintball is sort of in right now. I'm planning on donating something for their raffle so that something that hasn't happened in many a year can happen again (you should know what i mean, you were one of the people handing them out Saw a video of you there when my friend's dad was awarded one) so i'm hoping Nicky (is it spelled that way? I always figured it was Nikki, and i forget how she signed the email she sent me...) gets a kick out of that. I'll be sure to give her your best.

Punkncat, wimag is right, it's just a huge game of capture the flag, lasts an hour a game, and it was mainly the main times that people that barely played went. That's generally the difference, same format just bigger scale.

[rifleman wi]

two big teams. Two forts. two flags. no reinsertion. Shoot everyone, get their flag, bring it back to your fort, game over. Then start all over again. Which has why it has always been ideal for rec ballers.
No missions, no down pilots, none of that... pretty simple. Big giant game of capture the flag.
It has never been toted as a scenario game, or 24 hour game.

yea, i remember the first year i went they had tanks and artillery too. that was a blast. too bad i cant make this last one, ill be deployed by then.

[shives007]

Wow I am really sorry to hear that the Big Game is ending. I LOVED those weekends and tried never to miss one (unless it was raining ).

All of paintball is hurting right now. Give my best to Nicky.

AGD

Lots of great memories of this event. Many include Mr. K.

Pushing the spools. I was shooting Nitro Nellie, Tom and a few others were along in the push. I was trading shots w/ some semi totting guy behind a spool. I yelled at him that his shots weren't coming close and he should move up. Obviously he didn't. So I yelled over that I would move closer. I stepped out and started walking closer. He popped out, and I guess was so stunned he hesitated for a second. Tom tagged him out. A bit later I was walkign off the field after getting hit storming the fort. The guy was siting talking to a couple of other guys. I heard him say, "...and then he just started walking towards me!"

I could go on w/ a very long list of memories. Maybe that should be a different thread.

Shives