I'll admit, this topic has been beaten to death lately, but I'd like to throw my hat into the arena with this one. It seems like the last while, almost everyone and anyone has done their own version, usually arguing for one side or another. Personally, I think there's room for both camps in Paintball. Both not only have its advantages and disadvantages, but it's necessities as well.
Camouflage
Paintball has it's origins as a bush game, is still played as a bush game, and to a degree
will forever be a bush game. I'll admit that when I first started playing paintball, I
wanted to be the Sniper. Crawling around and laying in wait, or seeking out my next victim
of "Latex Death". Mind you, this was back when all you had to decide between for
paintball apparel was BDU's or Tiger Stripe. While the game itself has evolved out of the
woods and into the open fields of Speedball, Hyperball, and Sup' Air; an integral part of
paintball will always be in the woods, and Camouflage will never leave. Have you ever seen
anyone in a Scenario game foolish enough to play in a Jersey (well ok... there’s a
few, but...)? Camouflage is a necessity for the deception that is needed to play in this
style. No Scenario game is going to look right with some guy there in a (insert favorite
Jersey manufacturer name here) Jersey, especially when the object of that style of game is
stealth and concealment to complete your objectives, not solely the elimination of other
players. In that type of play, your camouflage is necessary for your survival. I think the
appeal of the sport to new players is the appearance of the "Military" feel,
where they do get to play the "Commando"; to set up the awaiting ambush, or the
anticipation of walking into one. I don't know of many people who want to play for the
first time based entirely on the multitude of coloured jerseys available.
However... the other side of the issue is that Camouflage does give the sport a very "Militaristic" feel to it. The fact that were running around in the woods with markers shooting at each other doesn't help either (I'm not even going to go near the "Airsoft" issue!). I've been called the damnedest things as a player. Everything from 'Paramilitary', to 'Army wannabe', to 'terrorist', to the worse thing I've been called yet... 'American' (my apologies to my US counterparts, but some people view this as an insult up here.). ;-)
Jerseys
To try and make Paintball accepted as a sport, we do need a sportier look: Enter the
jersey. Considering image is everything, I can understand the desire to want to step away
from the "Military" image of paintball into something that's little more viewer
friendly. While not yet a contender in the "X-Games" (for now), at least now
we're viewed as an "Extreme" sport (any accepted classification is better than
nothing). Jerseys will give teams a more organized look, much like teams of other sports.
When's the last time you saw your favorite sports team all dressed in something different?
Team members will be easily recognizable, and with names and numbers displayed on jerseys,
it may make the game easier to follow, allowing for ease of viewing to a public that still
needs to be educated about the sport. The jerseys nowadays are available in styles to show
a team's individuality as well as its unity. Lets admit that for the style of play the
jerseys will most likely be viewed in, camouflage is basically useless. The only thing
that's usually green in that arena is the Marballizer on the ground. The
"viewable" game format is what will attract spectators and sponsors from outside
the sport.
The downside to this?
Well... this is personal choice. Jerseys can get a little pricey, depending on whose name is on it and quality. Some days it does seem like paintball is becoming a bit of a fashion show too, of who's got the hottest looking jerseys now (we paintball players are such a fickle lot...). While I see noting wrong with wearing the jersey of your favorite manufacturer, I know the team I play on is having jerseys made for us by a manufacturer of sporting goods jerseys rather than a Paintball manufacturer. The reason is that we'd rather do it this way than spend a small fortune on a Paintball manufacturer's jersey, and become walking advertisements for a company we're not sponsored by. Makes sense.
There are so many forces out there trying to tear apart paintball, it's sad to see this internal strife over something so petty as what we wear when we play. I've seen people claim that Jerseys are 'wimping out' the sport while others argue that the 'military' look will kill the game, but lets all admit that we take what we need from the game. Not all of us will be Tournament players, not all of us will become Scenario players, and the rest will be happy avoiding both and simply staying with Rec play. The game I had started playing is very different than the game I play now, but first and foremost, I play the game! We all play because we love the game. How we dress for our play style is secondary.
Should we give up on Camouflage and adopt the more "sporty" look of Jerseys?
No.
Should we say to hell with the sport image and stick with the origins of the game?
No.
In my opinion, both of these will be necessary for the survival of the sport. It's the toned-down look of the Jerseys that will lead to Paintball being accepted more as a sport rather than just a "War Game", but ultimately it's this very look and feel that will continue to attract the next batch of "Weekend Warriors", from which in turn will spawn the next generation of players.
I may be more of a tourney player, but I'm not ready to hang up the cammies permanently just yet, if ever.
SNIPER BOB, 2000-20010