You may have seen the new paintball Xploderz advertised.  The basic concept is that little beads are placed in water and then absorb the water to become paintball-sized pellets that can be shot with a pump-operated paintball gun.  Their supposed advantage is that they won't hurt you and don't require masks to play in addition to not needing an external air source.  I haven't had the privilege of trying these out, yet, but I've read a few reviews of them.  After viewing videos of users actually playing with them, I think I can safely recommend that most paintball players should pass.  The idea is innovative, but put in practice, I'd recommend sticking with paintball guns for paintball and Nerf or water guns for home play.

68 Caliber reports that it's time to blow out the candles for paintball's 30th birthday.  Many people cite June 27, 1981 as the day paintball was born when a group of players first played a group game.  I didn't meet paintball until it was already a teenager, but I can say that it's twenties were really good for me.

Join with me in celebrating the birth of paintball.  It's been a great 30 years and I look forward to at least 30 more.

A bill pending in California is intending to eliminate the sale of realistic-looking fake guns by outlawing the sale of imitation firearms unless they are a bright color such as orange or red.  Initially the bill included paintball guns in the requirements, but after a recent outpouring of effort from the paintball and airsoft players, the current version of the bill doesn't include paintball guns.  Since this is still just a Senate Bill, it has a long way before it is passed, but there is definitely a group of people who would prefer all paintball guns to be bright colors and eliminate mil-sim paintball as we know it.  It will be interesting to see what happens.

This week has been Oklahoma D-Day 2011 and the big game is coming up soon.  If you're nearby Wynadotte, Oklahoma or have some time to get there, you need to be on site by Friday for the big game on Saturday.  Not only will there be the largest paintball game of the year, but many vendors, custom-built tanks and loads of paintball-addicts will be there to keep you entertained.  It's a huge paintball event for everyone and I just wish I was going there, so if you make it, say hi to D-Day from me.