Paintball History

Paintballs first came into being in the 1950s as a means to mark cattle and trees for logging. These paint capsules were oil based for permanence, not removable like today’s paintballs. A man named George Butler got the idea for paintball when he saw a marking gun (Nelspot 07, made by Nelson Paint Company) for cattle marking in a magazine. He and his friends got together and played the first paintball game using cattle marking guns and oil paint capsules for ammunition. This was the first paintball game, played on June 27, 1981. George and his friends called their game survival and after an article about the new game appeared in Sports Illustrated Magazine, the game began its rise to popularity. From these beginnings came modern day paintball with its specialized equipment and competitive games. Other companies began to produce paintballs and markers to meet growing demands, so the Nelson Company no longer had the paintball market cornered. Today the manufacturers of paintballs and paintball markers are almost too numerous to count.

Game Versatility

Once paintball caught on, all sorts of games and scenarios were created, their numbers and styles were only limited by the imagination of the players. Today there are two main types of paintball games. They are; walk-on recgames (recreational) and scenario games. Anyone can play in a walk-on game but scenario games are more organized, involve planned strategies and even role-playing by two or more teams. Some of the most popular games are; elimination, king of the hill, and capture the flag.

Common Paintball Words and Meanings

Marker-(paintball marker) a device in the form of a firearm used to propel paintball capsules.

Paintball-Sometimes referred to as ammunition, a capsule containing brightly colored dye that is round or spherical shaped intended to be fired from a marker.

Bunker-Any form of cover, manmade or natural, used as a rallying point and cover for paintball players

Bunkering-To bunker, charging a team’s bunker, staying beside their own bunker during play.

Barrel Plug-A device inserted in the marker barrel to prevent unintentional firing.

Carbon Dioxide-Co2 first in liquid form which then turns into a gas used to propel a paintball from a marker.

Flag Station-Where a team keeps their flag or where a team returns with a captured flag

Flank-The right or left side of a combat group, or to approach a group from the left or the right side.

Hopper-A container used to carry co2 or to hold paintballs.

Paint Check-Halting the game to check a player for paint splatter to see if he or she was hit by a marker.