As I promised, I intend to get better at keeping everyone updated.  I have been researching big games.  We have talked about the big one coming up in October in California, the Operation End War, but there are many more scheduled around the country.  I have found a few that I would like to share with you.

First, in St. Paul, Oregon in August there is a game coming up that seems to have become a tradition.  It is called Supergame 40, and it will be held August 20 – 22.  Over 500 players will take part in this three day event, held at Sniperzden Paintball Park in St. Paul.  There are lots and lots of prizes given away at each event.  There is a promise of a minimum of $25,000 worth of prizes, but it is expected that number will be much higher.  In their Supergame event last spring, that number was closer to $40,000.  Wow!!

I went to the website for SniperZden, but there wasn’t a lot of updated information.  This cool map of the park was out there though!!

For the next game on my list, we travel to the East Coast, North Carolina to be exact.  There is going to be a huge game, over a thousand players, at Fulda Gap Paintball Scenario in Taylorsville, North Carolina, to be held November 5 – 7.   Please go to the link for more information.

This event has apparently been ranked in the top 8 must attend events of the year.  It received a lot of attention in the March issue of Action Pursuit Games.   It is apparently a war games scenario with NATO countries versus Warsaw Pact countries.  Fulda Gap is a historic location in Germany that was heavily protected and drew tremendous attention during the cold war.  This particular game was started in 2006, and based on the history of the game, NATO has lost every year.  Perhaps this year will be the year for NATO!!

Once again I was gonna add some pics, but this site has promised to add them this year.  There are some cool videos though on Youtube.  Check this out!!

This is from last year’s even – but it looks like a huge gathering.  And very realistic!!  I mean there are tanks and smoke.  Wow!!

Next, we travel a little further south, still on the east coast, to Bradenton, Florida.  Once again this one is in November, the 20-21.  It is Special Operations Warfare with various scenarios:  Recon Missions, Destroy Objectives, Special Operations Deliveries, Secure and Protect Vital Locations and Assets vital to the mission objective.  This one will be held at Hi-Tech Paintball Park.  Again, please go to the link for more information.  The site has a lot of cool pictures of the fieds and more information on how to contact them to get registered for the game, etc.

Here are a couple of pics of the fields:

There are a lot more pics on their site – check it out.

I tried to find a midwest game going on, but it seems there are some that have already taken place.  I will keep looking, but for now, you coasters can plan to have a blast.  And you midwesters can do a little traveling and camping and just enjoy!!

Anyone who has started a business knows that it is important to think outside the box from time to time.  The way to “get ahead” of the game is to be aware of what your target market needs, and what they may want.  Well, I have to say that Thunder Valley Paintball has definitely gone above and beyond in both of these categories.

According to an article I found, the owners of Thunder Valley ordered a paintball dome from China.  It is 150 feet long, 50 feet wide and 30 feet tall.  It weighs in at 7,100 pounds, and provides 2000 square feet of astro turf area to have a blast.  Although it doesn’t seem likely, the dome is portable, allowing the paintball game to come to the customer.  They rent it out to churches or colleges, anyone who has a special event and would like to have the unit on site.

It isn’t exactly a “paintball” game though.  They provide a “reeball”, which looks like and has the same dimensions as a regular paintball, without the mess.  Could you imagine what the “dome” would look like after a few games with regular paintballs? Anyway, this reeball can be used in any regular paintball gun, although Thunder Valley will provide all equipment for the game if requested.

I also visited Thunder Valley’s website.  It looks like a great facility, located in Perry, Georgia.  There several types of fields, and it looks like they have some competitive series, one that starts in the Spring, and one that starts in the Fall.  The Spring session starts next week.  Here are a few photos I found on the site that should give a an idea of what to expect once you get there.

According to the article, last year the facility hosted teams from Georgia Tech, University of Georgia, University of Southern Mississippi and Florida State University.  They also host the Carolina Field Owners Association.  It seems their grounds will accommodate as many as 500  players. Here is a pretty cool video of some teams having a good day!!

It is always good to find a great place to play paintball sports.  I must say – our hats are off to Thunder Valley for taking it a step further and providing a portable sports arena.  I would like to see that for myself!!

As promised, we have found another location to enjoy your paintball sports.  It is TAG Paintball, in Hollister, CA.  It is located in northern California and it appears to have some pretty good deals and pretty cool fields.

The rates are reasonable and the equipment offered for rental is top notch.  You are required to buy all your paintballs on location.  It is posted that the youngest age allowed is 12, but a mature 10 year old might be able to play too.  And get this, parents get in on the fun for free – they just need to buy their paintballs.  They even offer a money back guarantee that you are going to have a great time.  What a deal!!

The way we heard about this location was through hearing the news about a huge scenario paintball game coming up in October.  It is called Operation End War 2010, and is sponsored by Real Action Paintball.  It will be held at TAG Paintball on October 2-3.  Campers are welcome.

They have created a scenario where this will be the war to end all wars.  There has been a nuclear exchange, the Middle East and all their oil is gone and Russia now has a commodity everyone wants, Siberian oil, and it is running low.  So the Marines must, as always, save the day.  Sounds like great fun, so get your gear together, hone your battle tactics and get ready for war.

To register, contact Roland at TAG Paintball, 800 TAG 5150.  Registration deadline is September 1.

This game will allow magazine fed paintball guns only. (43 cal or 68 cal) These are some examples:

For many who are new to the sport of paintball, where to play can be a significant question.  More experienced players have their favorite places, even if it is only in the woods behind their home.  But the newbies need a little help.

We have done a little research and found a few places across the country that look very interesting.  To get all the information about times, rental equipment, etc. etc., you will need to contact these placess directly.  Our intent is to give at least some folks a place to get started.

We found a location in the Bay Area, called Sunol Paintball (510 996 7171).  They specialize in beginners, corporate/community events, bachelor parties and other private party events.  They also allow walk on self-equipped play.  They appear to have some scenario areas setup, as shown in these photos:

Next we found an interesting location in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, called Wanna Play Paintball (717 432 7997).  They have various woodsball fields, as well as tournament fields for speedball.  Looks like a great place to have a lot of fun.

In Indianapolis, Indiana, we found a place with very diverse scenarios in which to play.  It is called White River Paintball (317 489 3732), and they have a program where they will work with those new to the sport of paintball.  They will teach the newbies safety, how to use the equipment, tactics, then a referee will take them out for their first game.  They have various fields to choose from – woodsball, bedlam city, jungle, dunes, etc. etc., and there is a party scheduled for New Years Eve.

We also found a location that caters to private parties – and one that metro New Yorkers use quite frequently.  It is called the NJ Paintball Club and is available for private parties by reservation only.  You can reserve for a full day – or half day (morning or afternoon).  Sounds great for bachelor parties, (or bachelorettes), birthday parties, or long weekends with a group of friends.

We have offered West Coast, East Coast and Mid West opportunities.  There are many other opportunities out there.  Stay tuned for more !