https://pixabay.com/pl/photos/airsoft-repliki-airsoft-asg-3897707/
Each of us has probably heard about paintball, but it is possible that not everyone has heard of Airsoft. These is seemingly similar entertainment but with clearly marked differences thanks to which ASG1 has become an alternative for fans of shooting and reconstructing battles. Airsoft gun replicas began to appear in Asian countries as counterparts of weapons that allowed the military to perform their exercises. Over time, the troops began to give up this type of training and in the 80s ASG replicas were made available to citizens. Since then, airsoft has started to gain more and more fans around the world.
What do you need
to start it?
Contrary to appearances, you do not need a lot of
money or specialized equipment to start playing with ASG. An obvious piece of
equipment for each player is a replica of a rifle. In online stores, you can
buy such equipment for several hundred zlotys, or you can rent it from a rental
where the price per day is up to PLN 40 for a basic weapon. The second
necessary piece of equipment are protective glasses, which are the most
important in the whole game. It should be remembered that during the game we
shoot small plastic balls that reach the
speed of 100 m/s. Hitting such a ball in the eye could lead to irreversible
damage to health. When buying safety glasses, pay attention to appropriate
approvals, and they should be sold by professional stores offering airsoft
equipment. The last thing is to find the right companions for the game and find
the right place. It often happens that in our place of residence there is a
group of Airsoft fans, which you can probably join. Please note that you
shouldn't shoot such replicas in public area because of two things. The first
is the possibility of accidental harm to a person, and moreover probably
someone would call the police that a madman is walking with a gun in his hand.
The rules
The rules of Airsoft games derive from the bushido
culture, which is an unwritten set of ethical rules of Japanese samurai, where
the main postulates are: honor, respect and self-improvement. There are no
universal rules of the game cause the rules often depend on the scenario of the
reconstructed battle or the shooting location.
However some of them are immutable:
1. Always wear eye protection.
2. Don't cheat and always admit to having been
hit. Unlike paintball, airsoft guns do not leave any color marks of a hit.
3. Don't aim at the opponent's head.
4. Don't shoot blindly, you must see your
opponent.
5. Don't go outside the game area
6. The playing area should be fenced so that no
accidental civilians can find themselves there
7. Listen to the judge, follow the battle
scenario.
Gameplays
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MilSim#/media/File:MilSim_Total_War_2012.jpg
The most common gameplay is just an outdoor shooter game. The participants
are divided into two teams and the fight to the "last living person"
begins.
Indoor shooting games are called CQB. It is a very
dynamic game in which the participants shoot each other from short distances.
The next type of game is LARP, which puts a lot of
emphasis on the plot, not on shooting, and MilSims2, where the
participants’ task is to reproduce the conditions of a battlefield as real as
possible. MilSims often last for several days and you have one life in them. After
being hit, your game adventure is over and you can go home. It often happens
that this type of game attracts hundreds of people from all over the country
and even Europe. Believe me, it's not fun to be hit during the first hour of
such a match and return home over 400 kilometers :)
Dictionary
1. ASG – Air soft gun (shotcut ASG can be also translated as airsoft)
2. MilSim - military simulations
Questions:
1. Would you like to try ASG? What do you find most interesting in this type of entertainment, or maybe you don't like it at all?
2. Would you see Airsoft as a sport?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airsoft
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJZyK88_3qE
https://pixabay.com/pl/photos/airsoft-repliki-airsoft-asg-3897707/
Own experience 😊
Comments
I've played a few games, mostly with friends and family so I can not compare it to MilSim. It was low player count games less then 4 per team, but it was fun nontheless. Just being in outdoor and feeling that adrenaline is fun as hell.
2. Would you see Airsoft as a sport?
Yes, why not? Teams of let's say 11 vs 11 like a football or 5 vs 5 in CQB could be entartaining to watch. Especially if you would apply spcial meaning to some teammates like in e-sports where in some games every player has it role to play, like support, medic, sniper and more.
2. I think so. It is also a teamplay game and it can be considered a sport.
I have tried ASG it was fun and kind of like paintball. I enjoyed it for a while.
The bad part of it is when somebody breaks the rules and uses the guns that have to much power to play with others and it can be painful.
Would you see Airsoft as a sport?
Yea, why not. It is an outside activity, teamwork aspect is important and competition between two teams is fundamental.
Well, I actually heard about this hobby, because some of my friends in high school were extremely into it. I didn’t wanted to try it then, and I don’t want to try it now. For me shooting seems a lot more fun in video games rather than in real life even though it is only simulation.
2. Would you see Airsoft as a sport?
Not really. I mean airsoft is like a simulation of a battlefield, so then real soldiers should be considered as sportsmen? I don’t see it this way.
2. In my opinion, it can be considered a sport. Since playing computer games is considered as a (e)sport, why ASG, which requires physical condition and strategic thinking, should not be considered as a sport.
I would definitely call it a sport. I've played paintball once and I was exhausted after the game. It requires a lot of stamina to run around in that gear, crouch near the trees, in buildings with crumbling walls and rubble on the ground. Plus the adrenaline kicks in and it's even more demanding.
I think it is an interesting form of entertainment, but ASG is probably not for me. Sneaking, hiding in the woods or other locations - I honestly don't like it. I am the type of person who likes comfort and convenience. Of course, I'm not lazy - I like to play sports a lot, but in good conditions. I definitely prefer to play football with my friends from ASG, I like such competition, I think it is a fun way to spend time.
2.Would you see Airsoft as a sport?
I think ASG can be treated as entertainment, it is probably not a sport. Rather, such events are a game of war. I think this kind of entertainment is in some way a form of education. It teaches adults how to behave in the event of an armed conflict.
- People who came to this particular ASG event treated the novices as easy targets to eliminate and gave no support. At paintball events it was completely different, everyone was helpful and treated each other with respect regardless of experience and equipment.
- Equipment and protection you had was more important than your skills or communication with the team.
- The place where the game was was not secured in any way, there were several incidents in which a group of tourists had to be safely escorted outside the building in order not to accidentally get hit by a plastic ball.
- The number of cheaters was enormous, people did not report hits
- Conflicts between players happened very often.
I understand that this is just a single case of a badly organized event, but my experience is very hard written in my memory so I don't think I'm going to try any more.
2. Paintball matches have very specific tournament rules and a visible hit mark. Relying on the declaration of geting hit is not enough for me.
2. Certainly :) Chess is technically a sport, albeit specific, I don't see why ASG/paintball couldn't be one. As far as I known, there are even multiple tournaments/events made for both them, some of which house hundreds or even thousands of players (I think the record is around 2000+ players, that was obviously pre-covid though)! It might be challenging due to large playing field and multiple areas of interest, but I think with use of drones and cameras it could be an enjoyable show. Looking forward to it
2. Airsoft can be seen as a sport, because it requires a lot of physical endurance. The equipment is heavy, often worn for several hours, and the hills you have to climb are not always low. In Airsoft, however, you also have to run a lot and know how to move quickly and make a move to other places to escape from your opponent or attack him. Many people, however, see it more as a field game.
I have never tried ASG and to be honest I was not even sure what it is about, I only knew that it is very similar to paintball. I have played paintball a few times and I enjoyed it very much but I did not like that the guns (or paint bullets) are not accurate and it is very hard to hit someone on medium to long distances, when it is windy it is almost impossible (or you have to be lucky). I do not know much about ASG but it seems like small plastic ball can fly longer distances in straight line than paintball bullets so I would definitely try it, I just have doubts if it is more painful to get hit by ASG than paintball gun? What I like the most in this type of games is adrenaline when playing and I also love competitive games.
2. Would you see Airsoft as a sport?
Yes of course, I do not see a reason why it should not be considered a team sport. I would qualify as sport almost everything that involves psychical competition.
I've played ASG a few times. I can certainly say that it is entertaining, but unfortunately, it's not for me. The thing about ASG I like the most is how much you must depent on your team to succeed.
2. Would you see Airsoft as a sport?
Why not? It's fun to play and watch, it would make a great sport.
I tried ASG. Great fun, better than paintball. You know, sometimes someone can break it and it's called a cheater. When you hit him, he doesn't admit it. Unfortunately, this is breaking the game because you would have shot someone else in that time. Airsoft gun is a lot of fun, but I had to stop because if you want to play at a higher level, you need quite a lot of money and free time. I think that everyone who or the atmosphere of war or shooting will love ASG.
2. Would you see Airsoft as a sport?
I don't think it is exactly a sport. Depends on the game mode. But surely if you want to have fun and running, you need to have a good condition. Otherwise it will be difficult.
Yes, i would like to try ASG, I havent any occasion yet. I hope, i will try ASG in the following year. It is great chance to spend time with friends. A lot of motion, emotions and fun. I would like to learn and practise how to use a gun. Moreover, ASG is like a competition, who is the best, i like to compete with my friends, only for fun of course.
Would you see Airsoft as a sport?
Why not! It is very demanding activity, it requires a lot of reflex, aim, focus. You have to have good map awareness. I think Airsoft has more common with sport than chess. I think, it would be also very interesting to watch Airsoft competition in TV. A lot of action, unexpected plays, emotions. It would be nice to see Airsoft as a sport
Yes, I would like to try ASG, it could be really interesting. I like shooting video games, I have watched many ASG videos on youtube - I really like this type of activity.
2. Would you see Airsoft as a sport?
To be honest I don't have 1 opinion about Airsoft. I think that there are a lot of pros and cons of Airsoft as a sport and not.