When I meet people in Korea and share that I’m from Arizona, I am most often met with the reply, “Oh, Arizona cowboy.” It’s an image many have abroad – Americans with guns shooting things up. That’s true of my youth, as we played Army in the streets, taking our toy guns and engaging in neighborhood wide wars. This gun slinging action is probably why I love those types of games today. On our vacation in Arizona, we made time to stop at Tempe Paintball, one of the few indoor facilities in the Valley.
We found Tempe Paintball via a Google Coupon add. Essentially, it offered 2-for-1 admission, equipment rental, and 100 rounds for $25. Not a bad deal, in my opinion. When we got there, we were pleased to see the set-up. Jesse Campos, one of three partner-owners, said they had owned the facility for two years, and on weekends, it’s easy to find nearly 100 paintballers inside. With the Arizona summers topping out at over 45C (113F), having an indoor facility is welcomed.
Campos went on to mention that one thing that really sets Tempe Paintball apart from others is their commitment to customer service. This is something I was keen to experience, having come from Asia, where service is usually paramount.
Once we signed our wavers, Campos issued us our tickets and we took it to the supply room. There we were issued masks, cammo fatigues (rented for an additional cost – $11 for tops and bottoms), and tubes with 100 rounds. If planning on playing, Jesse Campos recommends wearing loose-fitting jeans and a long sleeve shirt. We also opted to rent a locker to store our belongings and enjoy the day worry free.
When it was time to play, we lined up and walked to the armory. The Quartermaster took our paintball tube, loaded our weapon, and then handed it to us. Ready for battle, we walked through the doors to the arena. Having played numerous times before, I was itching to see some action. Jo, on the other hand, had never experienced this game before and started feeling a bit nervous.
The arena isn’t large, but allows for decent game play. There is a large “house” in the center with numerous drums flanking it. Bases are situated on opposite sides. Rounds featured varied game play: Last man standing, medic, capture the flag, etc. It was a blast, despite being a large target and getting killed repeatedly.
Some will say that Paintball hurts. That is true to some extent. I have a number of bruises on my body from where the paintballs hit tender spots on my skin. But for the most part, it’s not something that one needs to worry about. However, Tempe Paintball offers a new past time for those that don’t want to get dirty or have a fear of bruises: Airsoft Battles.
Like paintball, airsoft battles feature team based games where participants engage in battle. However, unlike their messy cousin, the guns look and feel more realistic, don’t hurt, and don’t cause a mess. This is a new addition to Tempe Paintball and hasn’t been fully publicized yet. They are (as can be seen in the photo above) still building out the field, which looks to be about twice as large as the paintball arena. Furthermore, Campos says they are planning to install multiple sniper towers to further increase the game play dynamics.
While many outdoor paintball facilities offer varied games and diverse topography, they really can’t be utilized in the Arizona Summer, making Tempe Paintball a great alternative for those wanting to rack up a few kills.
Information
Address: 1401 S McClintock Dr., Tempe, AZ, USA
Phone: +1.480.966.1900
Web: www.tempepaintball.com
