I recently got a chance to play paintball for the first time in my life.
My friend organized a group of about 20 people, so we didn’t have to play with any random people, which was nice. The place we played was called Liberty Paintball in upstate New York.

It was one of the must fun experiences I’ve ever had. Mostly because it was like a real life video game. In fact, the place had multiple fields that I kept calling “maps.” I also referred to each team’s base as a “spawn.” After all, paintball is basically a multiplayer first person shooter without respawns. Every round was CTF, and taking cover was essential to survival. Those certainly weren't foreign concepts to me.


This actually happened.

All the tactics I’ve used over the years in shooters came in handy that day. I was rushing, providing suppressing fire, and flanking enemies right away. All of those things are a whole lot more thrilling when it’s not just your thumbs doing it. Although, shouting out enemy positions and coordinating attacks was a little more difficult without the familiar Xbox headset.


Paintball was also an amazing workout. My legs were sore for a week afterward from all of the “roadie running” and crouching I was doing.

I highly recommend that anyone who is a fan of action or shooting games play paintball for a day. It’s an experience that’s unmatched by anything except an actual gunfight. Except you don’t have to worry about that whole “dying” thing.





And now that Spring is here, we should all try to take a break from the games and get out in the nice weather. It doesn’t have to be paintball, there’s plenty of “lol sportz” that are fun to do this time of year.


Like say, your company’s softball team.


My first hit of the softball season.

Because after all, our video games will be there any time of day, in any weather. Take advantage of the chance to get out there and engage all of your senses, not just sight and sound. You may even get a little healthier in the process.