Last Sunday 30th May, McDonald sponsored the crew member a game of paint balling. I cycled from my home in Fenham to McD in city centre at 8.30am. I wait for the other crew in McD staff room. The one who participate will have to be in McD by 9am and we will be leaving by 10am.
I brought a sandwich and a bottle of soft drink from a shop before we go. There is around 20++ crew who went for paint balling. 5 of the crew member volunteer to drive us to the place. I forgot the name of the place but it is just 16 miles from Newcastle. I and Kamal sat on Vicky car. She drove a small Nissan car which I couldn’t identify the model.
It took us 20 minute travel from Newcastle. When we arrived, we were issued a camouflage suit, a strap for you to hold the paint pellet tank (up to 4 tanks), a protective mask and hood. Then, the marshal briefs us how the game is like, the rules and safety issues. For those who dunno what is paint balling, it is a war game where you are issued a gas powered gun which fires paint pellets. There are rules and safety which player needs to follow. The protective mask has to be worn all time in the war zone. If the pellet hit the face area or worse, eye which will cause serious injury which probably lead to blindness. The mask can only be removed in a designated safe zone. We are only allowed to shoot at any of the body area except the face and private part. We are only allowed to shoot someone who is at a safe distance of 8 meters, if one got shot at less then 8 meter distance, it will cause serious injury. If one is hit, they must raise their hand and said “surrender, I am hit, I am dead or anything which will indicate that you are neutralize from the game”. Neutralize player cannot attack or be attacked, and have to move out from the war zone to the safe zone. Any shot in the body or gun will be count as neutralized. Headshot or the pellet bounce off from the body, where it did not burst on impact (happen sometimes) will NOT be count as legal shot. No guns in safe zone. Mask can only be removed or adjust in safe zone.
The setting was a jungle like environment. When we get into the war zone, we are issued the paint gun. The marshal brief us how to use the gun. Basic stuff like where to aim, safety locks, triggers, pellet hoppers and safety on using the gun. During that time, we are already wearing the mask since we are already in the war zone.
The game will give the player 100 pellets. I brought an extra tank which holds 100 pellets inside, which makes up 200 pellets I am having. The gun can be loaded 200 pellet max but it was not advisable because it might jam the gun. Several of my McD managers brought 3 tanks extra. I was thinking “what are those crazy people thinking…” A tank cost 7 pounds btw.
Before the game starts, we divide our self into 2 groups, blue and red team. I was in blue team. Then we are to choose a commander and lieutenant commander. I wanted to be one because most of my fiction I am a commander =p. But I think I will pass it.
The first game was to eliminate the opposing force. The marshal brings us to the starting point and explains the game. We will need to eliminate all of the opposing force in certain amount of time. The marshal blow the whistle once to indicate the game has begun. I was walking calmly into the opposing force starting point. Until I heard the sound of the paint gun which is quite loud, I ran backward to look for cover. My team mate also does the same. I ran downhill and go into prone position. I fired to anyone I see. My vision is affected by the mask. I couldn’t really see where they are, only heard noise and stuff. I was in the prone position. Then I saw someone, I fired. They fire back and it hit the ground near me. That time I was afraid to be hit and I quickly descend down for cover. Our team lost the first round because we loss more people compared to red team. I didn’t have a kill nor killed.
The second game is where our team is to guard a flag. We can only move in a certain area. I position myself near the tree in prone position. Our base was on uphill. The OF (opposing force) need to walk uphill to reach us. We won the game because they didn’t manage to get into our base. Still, I have no kill. The third game is vice versa. I think it is hard to get into the uphill base. There are 3 routes into the base. I took the middle route. I intend to provide cover fire. I was shot for the first time in the head. Wow, I was shocked but not realty that painful. I continue because headshot is not count, but people can choose to surrender if they couldn’t take the pain ;) .Then I tried to walk up into the base, I asked Kath, a McD crew to cover me while I walk up. She fired, then I ran to the nearest cover, but I was shot at the back before I could reach. Ouch…pain. But the pain wasn’t really horrible. I raise my hand and surrendered. I walked back to the safe zone which is a hut which is protected with safety net. We almost won the game when John, a McD manager almost got the flag. But he was shot =p. Ok, 1 for Blue and 2 for Red.
The fourth game is called hug the tank. The attacking team needs to be in the tank area within 5 meter until the game is end. While the defending team need to defend the tank from the OF. This time I got a kill. I was going from behind. I flank them. One of them didn’t notice I was at his side. I shot him. It was nice to shoot people =p. But I was killed in the fourth game as well. My manager Gary was hiding behind a truck. I was busy shooting someone next to a tree. The pellet misses because it couldn’t really travel very far. I think the maximum effective range was 15-20meter max. Then the pellet will loss it velocity and drop onto the ground. The pellet accuracy is also affected by wind. It went side way abit when I fire someone near the tree. So, I tried to get nearer. I shot the tree a few times so that he will hide behind it. So I took this chance to move nearer. But I didn’t notice Gary was hiding behind a nearby truck and he shot me….darn. But we won on this game because we manage to stay in the tank area.
The fifth game is where we need to capture the flag in the center and bring the flag and touch a tree in the opposing force base. The area of game was small. The game begins with all of us shooting each other. I manage to get another kill =p. The game ended when me eliminate all the OF. Then one of our member ran to get the flag and touch the tree, we won again. Blue 4 and Red 3.
The six games are where we need find 3 special boxes hidden in the jungle. Which team manages to get the most boxes within time will win. This game was bad for us. We decide to split into 3 team to locate the box. Team A will immediately eliminated when the game begin. My team was the second to be eliminated. When we were walking in the trees, we fired from unknown location. We took cover. I saw then and fired back. But it seems my area was not a good cover where I was able be flanked. They shoot me at every position. I was so afraid to be shot, so I decided to ran out from my hiding place and go retreat, even thought most of the shot was hitting else where. Bad decision. I kena shot by the time I was running back. I got hit at the back. When I went back to the safety zone, I saw my team A. They said they were Eed(eliminated) early. Within 5 min, all my team was Eed. There was only 1 red member were Eed. John told me it was a massacre, I laughed. We loss. Red 4, Blue 4.
The seventh game is to blow the tank for attacking force. While defender, as said, defend. We are given 1 smoke grenade as a bomb. When ignite near the tank area is consider win. I got a few kills. And we won. Red 4, Blue 5.
On the eight game it is the same. I got a kill as well ;). I hid under the truck. I didn’t shoot because I don’t want to give my position away. I camp until someone walk into my area of fire. And Ajay, a McD crew just run in and didn’t notice me. I shot him =p. But he cheated and demands me to surrender. I was like, shit this cheater, I have no choice but to surrender…but I was saved when Richard, a McD manager fired him because Ajay also didn’t notice he was in the truck. Haha. Still we loss because they manage to blown the tank. Red 5, Blue 5.
The ninth game is where we need to get 2 flags from the river and back to the base. I asked Scott, a McD crew, to join me. I planned to ambush them when the OF getting the flag back to their base. Since their base is just on the opposite side of the river. I manage to get kills. But it seems my team was Eed, so only left me and Scott. Scott also got kills. But he was Eed when he was flanked. I also got flanked. I decided to run out from my cover and kill Kelvin which is downhill. He shot me in the head, back and my arm. I surrendered. We lose.
Then the marshal asked if anyone is having any pellets left and who is still wanted to play the last game. Actually, during the each game, we will go back to the safe zone to have a 10 – 20 minute rest. That time, we can buy pellet if we are running out. Well, half of us are really exhausted. But I am still on. The last game is Free for All. You can kill anyone u sees. Kelvin was the main target because he cheated a few times by raising his hand to surrender, then still on killing spree, then raise his hand when people wanted to shoot him. He was so arrogant (well jokingly ofcoz =p.) he took of the camouflage suit so that he can be the easy spot target. We all have a pact behind that we will Eed him first =p. Even the marshal join the game just to Eed Kelvin =p for our sake. The game begins. Kelvin ran into the bushes. He was shot but still not surrendering. A marshal, shot his crotch( he claim it was an accident =p). Kelvin lie down and raise his hand to surrender while the other hand holding his crotch. We all still shoot him merciless. Hahaha. I shot him at the butt a few times.Hahaha( I kept laughing when I am typing this part). The marshal shouted us to stop firing him. Still I continue. Then he raise his voice and we stopped.Haha… poor Kelvin.
I spent about 21 pound for 300 pellet. I think the other freak like Gary spent more then that. I think he was having 1000++ pellets. A few of them also did the same. It was a nice day out. I will definitely going for second round, even not sponsored by McD =p.
But my whole body aches. Even I do exercise most of the time, this game is very extreme. I got a tiny lump at my head coz I was shot twice. Tired and injured =p.
