By Andrey Kharlamov
How could even begin to describe this event? Sure we could show some of the awesome pictures of tanks and mortars, or write about the battles, but really, the most distinguishing features of this event were the atmosphere and the people. But let’s start from the beginning. In May, GRIP decided to go to Moscow, Russia, to cover a very special paintball game. The game, Big Paintball Maneuvers, is one of the - if not the -, biggest Paintball Big Game in Europe, with 3000 players battling out on an abandoned Soviet era hospital, in the outskirts of Moscow. The event is of a scale unlike anything you have ever seen in the old continent. The venue is split into four main areas. The main entrance to the site is where players can register, purchase any last minute equipment and catch a bus to one of the two team camps, the Blue Team HQ or the
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Red Team HQ, which are on opposite sides of the massive 100 hectares of playing field. After meeting with the event organizer, Nick Sobolev, who was appropriately dressed as a pirate (game theme), we got our little gift bags and promptly got on the bus headed for the Blue HQ. On arrival, you would immediately notice dozens of
Big Paintball Maneuvers - 3000 players battling out on an abandoned Soviet era hospital. huge military tents, all filled with players setting up their gear. Opposite to these was the command tent, where the Blue team, General, along with his officers, stared and pointed at a large tactical map of the area, laid out on the table. Off to the side there were two military trailer mounted