| Today paintball is a popular sport which has | | | | development of the commercial industry and |
| spread all over the world and become a truly | | | | more organized tournament-style games. |
| global leisure activity. Its evolution into the modern | | | | The first outdoor commercial paintball field opened |
| game has taken place very quickly compared to | | | | in 1982 in Rochester N.Y. by Caleb Strong and the |
| most sports. The paintball gun has its origins back | | | | same man opened the indoor version in 1984 in |
| in the early 1970s when James Hale of Daisy | | | | Buffalo N.Y. This allowed big groups of people to |
| manufacturing invented and patented a gun to be | | | | gather in one place and play and encouraged the |
| used for marking trees and livestock. The principle | | | | paintball business owners to develop the game |
| creators of this game were Bob Gurnsey, a | | | | further to keep the players interested and |
| sporting goods retailer, Hayes Noel, a stockbroker | | | | entertained. The "bunker-style" game came about |
| and Charles Gaines, a writer and it's widely | | | | and the smaller fields seem to benefit everyone. |
| accepted that the first ever recreational game | | | | They meant that the players could start the |
| took place on 27th June 1981 in New Hampshire, | | | | action quicker without having to stalk through the |
| USA, when 12 friends used these Nel-spot 007s | | | | woods for ten minutes without seeing anyone, |
| pistols to play a primitive version of 'capture the | | | | and the business owners were happy because |
| flag' in a field measuring over 100 acres. Legend | | | | players were purchasing more paintballs due to |
| has it that the winner captured the flag without | | | | the constant fire fights. |
| firing a single shot. As the game progressed minor | | | | Nowadays commercial paintball fields are |
| modifications were made to the guns to limit the | | | | commonplace but many still prefer to play out in |
| power and the paintballs themselves changed | | | | the woods in non-commercial games. While this is |
| from oil-based to water-based to make it easier | | | | cheaper it can be more problematic and |
| to wash the paint off clothes. | | | | dangerous than paying to play at a commercial |
| The game was first marketed by Charles Gaines | | | | site. Although the majority of enthusiasts only |
| as "National Survival Game" (NSG), a name which | | | | ever play recreational, professional teams are |
| reflects the nature of paintball as it was first | | | | being formed all the time and compete at national |
| played. Occasionally the groups of people playing | | | | and international level. The first cash prize |
| broke off into teams but most games were a | | | | tournament was held in 1983 and even then the |
| case of every man for himself. As recreational | | | | prizes were worth $14,000, today the prizes are |
| paintball became more popular and sophisticated, | | | | worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. In 1992 |
| more people were playing and using teams | | | | the NPPL (National Professional Paintball League) |
| became the standard. Many different types of | | | | was founded and became the major force in |
| offensive/defensive games began to form but | | | | professional tournament games when it started |
| "capture the flag" was still the most popular. With | | | | its Pro-am series around the US. |
| the increasing popularity of the sport came the | | | | |