The Sport of Airsoft vs. The Sport of Paintball Part II

In the previous article of The Sport of Airsoft vs. Theshould solely rely on having the best equipment. It
Sport of Paintball, we established one of the majortakes the fun out of the game and sooner or later it
differences between the two sports is the actual guns,takes the strategy out as well.
and not necessarily the cost. I would now like to turn toPersonally, I would much rather be holding a sniper rifle
the conditions of each sport and what they entail.with a long range scope, backing my team up from an
I have recently seen more and more professionalelevated level several hundred feet behind them and
Paintball games being played and broadcasted onmaking sure that their every move is safe. Or posted
Television. I watch the teams compete and theon the flank while skirmishing through a thick set of
strategy they import to the playing fields. With nowoods holding an M16 fully-automatic machine gun,
offense towards these Paintball teams, I have to say Ibacked up with a 9milimeeter strapped to my ankle
don't see much strategy used, especially in "SpeedBall."incase I needed it for some close combat.
It always seems to come down to the same thing andGaming can take place in an open field with no barriers
same strategy for every team. Get your sprinters toor a 100-yard field full of trees, brush, and bushes. This
get in close, making sure the first line is spread outall happens while talking on the radio, knowing every
while the back field players shoot as much and as fastlocation my team is in. This makes for some extreme
as they can. Now, I know that most people think thatplanning and strategy, not to mention some extreme
this is strategy, but in my experience any Joe Blowfun.
who can move their index and middle finger fastSo what sport is emerging and what sport is becoming
enough can get into the sport.the 'equipment war' rather than a sport? When it
When I first started participating in Paintball games Icomes to The Sport of Airsoft versus The Sport of
had a rental gun that wasn't so accurate or effectivePaintball I would have to choose Airsoft, and not just
from a long distance. I remember that a guy on thebecause of the costs or the clean up, but simply
other team had a great gun with a double tap triggerbecause of the realistic features and adventures
and stood in the very back of the field shooting tonsinvolved. From the guns to the gaming it makes more
of paint towards our team. I understand that he wassense to have fun in a realistic game of warfare
using the only strategy that he knew to work, but towithout the death part.
me that contradicts the game.In any case, when it comes to sport, I would have to
In that specific case there is no sport involved, it hassay crawling on the ground under brush or posting
everything to do with equipment. I could only imagine ifyourself 35 feet in the air decked out in camouflage
they had five other people standing back there doingsniping people from an elevated position is more sport
the same thing. How much fun would that be?than standing in the back of a field loading and
So is strategy involved in Airsoft, or a better strategyshooting, loading and shooting as fast as you can. In
that involves more than just equipment? I want toother words I think it is evident which sport is actually
make a note that better equipment will definitelyemerging and unfortunately which equipment race is
optimize your sport experience, but I don't think a sporton its way out.