FACEFULL

FACEFULL (also styled Facefull and Face-Full) is a paintball magazine originally published in France by Adrenaline Games. Launched in 2001, it became known for its large-format photography, interviews and international coverage of professional tournament paintball.[1][2]

The magazine was founded by individuals including Laurent Hamet and photographer Romain Manière. It covered major competitions in North America, Europe and Asia, alongside equipment, teams, players and paintball culture.[1][3]

The original publication suspended operations in September 2012. The FACEFULL name returned in 2025 with a smaller publication titled Facefull Fanzine.[4][5]

History

Establishment

FACEFULL was launched in 2001 by Laurent Hamet, the French paintball entrepreneur associated with Sup'AirBall and the Millennium Series.[1]

Romain Manière, a professional paintball photographer, was also a co-founder of the magazine.[3]

The first issue was dated July/August 2001, with the publication's own retrospective announcement identifying September 2001 as its launch.[4][6]

The magazine was produced in France for an international audience, with English-language editorial content and distribution in multiple countries.

Contemporary reporting by WARPIG described its initial reception at an American tournament in 2001, noting its extensive photography and distinctive presentation.[1]

The magazine's early issues included tournament reports, interviews, equipment features and fashion photography.

Expansion

During the 2000s, FACEFULL expanded its international coverage of professional paintball.

The magazine documented tournaments organised by the National Professional Paintball League (NPPL), Paintball Sports Promotions (PSP), National Xball League (NXL) and Millennium Series.

Its editorial approach placed particular emphasis on professional photography, player profiles and the presentation of paintball as a spectator sport.

FACEFULL was produced in a large-format, full-colour layout, with substantial photographic features distinguishing it from many earlier paintball publications.[2][7]

The magazine also published annual equipment guides and interviews with individuals involved in professional paintball and related industries.[4]

Jungle magazine

In February 2007, FACEFULL introduced a companion publication, Jungle, devoted to recreational, scenario and military simulation paintball.[8]

The magazine covered large scenario events, tactical equipment, playing fields and recreational paintball activities.

Jungle was published separately from FACEFULL's principal magazine, which concentrated more heavily on tournament paintball.

In 2010, the two publications were combined as part of a restructuring of the publishing business.[4]

International publishing partnerships

On 1 June 2012, FACEFULL announced a partnership with two regional paintball magazines:

Headshot, a publication covering Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Ramped, a Malaysian magazine covering paintball in Asia and the Pacific region.

The agreement provided for the sharing of editorial material, translation of selected articles and coordinated advertising opportunities.[9]

Romain Manière was identified as FACEFULL's editor-in-chief, alongside Amber Wong of Ramped and Stanislav Osipov of Headshot.

The arrangement was intended to improve international coverage and provide advertisers with access to regional paintball markets.[9]

Suspension in 2012

On 25 September 2012, FACEFULL announced that publication was being suspended indefinitely.[4]

The announcement attributed the decision to declining advertising revenue, rising production and distribution costs, industry consolidation and increasing competition from online media.

The magazine had already reduced its publishing schedule to six issues annually in 2010 and combined FACEFULL with Jungle.

Its parent company, Adrenaline Games, stated that the publication could potentially return in print or digital form, but no immediate relaunch was announced.

The magazine's website and email services were also scheduled to be disabled.[4]

Return as Facefull Fanzine

In 2025, the FACEFULL name returned through a smaller-format publication titled Facefull Fanzine.

The new project was developed by paintball photographers and filmmakers Olivia and Ludo Roux, with Ludo Roux writing its editorial material.[5][10]

Unlike the original large-format commercial magazine, the fanzine adopted a smaller print format and used Amazon's print-on-demand publishing service.

Its content continued to emphasise paintball photography, player experiences and international competition.

The second issue was released in August 2025, featuring coverage of the NXL, the Portuguese Classic Cup, the Thailand Xball League and other competitions.[5][10]

The third issue was released in March 2026, featuring international tournament coverage and profiles of players and teams.[11]

The available sources do not establish a continuous corporate or ownership relationship between the original Adrenaline Games publication and the revived fanzine.

Editorial content

FACEFULL was primarily associated with tournament paintball, although its coverage extended to equipment, manufacturers, recreational play and paintball culture.

Its principal subjects included:

Professional tournament reports and photography.
Interviews and profiles of professional players.
Paintball team histories and features.
Equipment reviews and annual gear guides.
International leagues and competitions.
Photography, fashion and other aspects of paintball culture.

The original magazine's photographic approach was particularly prominent during the development of professional speedball in the 2000s.

Historical significance

FACEFULL provided an international photographic record of competitive paintball during the 2000s.

Its surviving issues document teams, players, events, equipment and commercial sponsorships associated with the development of professional tournament paintball.

The publication was also associated with the expansion of specialist paintball media beyond North America, particularly through its French publishing operations and international editorial partnerships.

Original issues are preserved in private collections and historical paintball magazine archives, including the Old Paintball Magazines collection.[6]

References

2001 Zap Amateur Open. WARPIG, 2001. Contemporary report identifying Laurent Hamet as FACEFULL's publisher and describing the magazine's debut.
PSP Las Vegas 2002. WARPIG, 2002. Contemporary reporting on FACEFULL's influence on paintball magazine production.
Paintballer: The Paintball Book. Paintball Story, Romain Manière. Identifies Manière as a co-founder of FACEFULL.
Facefull Magazine on Hiatus. Social Paintball, Israel Lagares, 25 September 2012. Reproduces the publisher's official suspension announcement and publication history.
Weekly Newsletter Featuring The Leftovers. Paintball Dirt, Brandon Olson, 2025. Documents the return of FACEFULL as a fanzine produced by Olivia and Ludo Roux.
FACEFULL September–October 2001. Old Paintball Magazines. Historical issue archive.
Facefull Magazine. Echo Media. Historical publication profile describing the magazine's physical format, design and distribution.
Paintball Jungle Magazine Archive. Paintball Magazines for Sale. Historical issue listings, including the February 2007 premiere edition.
Facefull, Headshot and Ramped Form Alliance. Social Paintball, Lawrence Abernathy, 1 June 2012. Contemporary announcement identifying editorial leadership and publishing partnerships.
Facefull Fanzine, Issue 2. FACEFULL, 2025. Digitised issue featuring Ludo Roux's editorial statement and production information.
FACEFULL. Official website. Fanzine issues published during 2025 and March 2026.

External links