Paintball Games International

Paintball Games International (PGI, also styled PGi) was a British paintball magazine published from March 1989 until 2008. The magazine covered professional tournament competition, equipment, teams, players and developments within the international paintball industry.[1][2]

Published in full colour, PGI was particularly associated with coverage of European and American tournament paintball. The magazine was distributed internationally, including separate British and American editions. Its final edition was issue 233, dated August 2008 in the United Kingdom and September 2008 in the United States.[1]

History

Establishment

Paintball Games International began publication in March 1989, during the early development of organised tournament paintball in Britain and Europe.[1]

The publication developed an international readership, covering competitions and equipment from both European and American markets.

During the 1990s, PGI documented the growth of British tournament teams and the emergence of European competitions.

The magazine also published technical features, interviews and equipment reviews, providing information about developments in paintball marker design and manufacturing.

International expansion

PGI was distributed in the United Kingdom and internationally, including the United States.

A historical publishing directory maintained by WARPIG identifies Maze Media of Colchester, Essex, as the magazine's publisher.[2]

The magazine was subsequently associated with Aceville Publications, another Colchester-based publishing company.[3]

By May 2000, PGI was being advertised to international subscribers, including readers in North America, Europe and Australasia.[4]

The publication generally appeared monthly, with glossy full-colour issues of approximately 110 pages during the 2000s.[2]

Its principal editorial focus was tournament paintball, although recreational games, equipment and technical subjects were also covered.

Tournament coverage

During the 1990s and 2000s, PGI provided extensive coverage of major paintball tournaments.

The magazine reported on the National Professional Paintball League (NPPL), Paintball Sports Promotions (PSP), Millennium Series and other international competitions.

Its reporting included tournament results, photographs, interviews and commentary concerning professional teams and players.

PGI also documented the introduction of Sup'AirBall and the transition towards inflatable-bunker tournament fields.

The October 1997 issue discussed the development of inflatable tournament fields in France and their implications for competitive paintball.[5]

During the 2000s, the magazine continued covering professional speedball, including developments in X-Ball and seven-man tournament competition.

Editorial contributors

Several established paintball journalists, players and industry figures contributed to PGI.

Peter "Robbo" Robinson was associated with the magazine's tournament coverage and served as its United States editor. Robinson was also an established professional player who competed internationally.[6]

Joshua Silverman worked as an associate editor after previously contributing to American paintball publications including Paintball 2Xtremes. He wrote the Promoter Diaries column, discussing his experiences organising tournaments through the Carolina Field Owners Association (CFOA).[7][8]

Olly Bell contributed technical articles under the name Gun Doctor, documenting paintball marker operation, maintenance and historical equipment.[9]

Other contributors included the writer known as Baca Loco, who published equipment reviews, tournament reports and the opinion column View from the Deadbox.[10]

The magazine combined contributions from experienced tournament players with technical reporting and industry commentary.

WELT digital magazine

During 2007, the publishers associated with PGI developed WELT, a digital paintball magazine.

WELT used an interactive online format incorporating photographs, written features and multimedia content.

Unlike PGI's subscription-based print format, WELT was distributed free online.

The digital publication continued after PGI ceased print publication, with issue eight released in December 2008.[11]

Closure

Paintball Games International ceased publication in 2008.

The final published edition was issue 233, dated August 2008 in Britain and September 2008 in the United States.[1]

Former contributor Joshua Silverman subsequently identified issue 233 as the final edition and preserved an unpublished column originally intended for issue 234.[8]

The magazine's closure was reported within the paintball community in September 2008.[12]

Former editor Peter Robinson later attributed the decline of paintball magazines during this period to the economic recession and the increasing movement of paintball journalism towards internet publishing.[6]

Editorial content

PGI covered several aspects of competitive and recreational paintball, including:

Professional and amateur tournament reports.
Interviews with players and team captains.
Paintball marker and equipment reviews.
Technical articles and maintenance advice.
Tournament strategies and playing techniques.
Industry news and product announcements.
Recreational and scenario paintball.

The magazine's international coverage was particularly relevant to European tournament paintball, which received less attention in many contemporary American publications.[2]

Historical significance

Paintball Games International provided a printed record of international paintball during a period of significant changes in equipment and tournament competition.

Its early issues documented European woodland tournaments, mechanical paintball markers and the growth of national competitions.

Later editions covered the introduction of inflatable bunker fields, electronic markers and professional speedball.

Surviving issues contain contemporary photographs, interviews, tournament reports and equipment advertisements that remain useful for historical research.

Collections of PGI issues are preserved by independent paintball historians and magazine collectors, including the Old Paintball Magazines archive and Paintball Media.[1][13]

References

Complete Revised Guide to Paintball Publications. World Paintball Library, Guy D. Cooper, 8 December 2011. Identifies March 1989 as the first issue and issue 233 as the final edition, including British and American publication dates.
Paintball Print Publications. WARPIG. Historical magazine directory identifying Maze Media, the publication's international coverage and editorial focus.
Magazine Titles by Owner. Media.info. Historical publisher directory identifying Paintball Games International among Aceville Publications titles.
Paintball Games International. Magazine Shop, May 2000. Contemporary subscription listing identifying international distribution and pricing.
History of Paintball. Automags.org. Reproduction of historical paintball reporting, including material from the October 1997 issue of PGI concerning inflatable tournament fields.
Skills School with Pete Robinson: Teamwork, Communication. Social Paintball, Peter Robinson, 12 February 2014. Robinson identifies himself as the former United States editor of PGI and discusses the magazine's closure.
Paintball Media Magazine, August 2025. Paintball Media, page 174. Biographical profile documenting Joshua Silverman's position as associate editor of PGI.
Promoter Diaries. Joshua D. Silverman. Original articles published in PGI, including issue 233 and an unpublished contribution intended for issue 234.
Daystate UK's Pumps (c. 1985–1991?). Paintball History, Daniel Bacci, 8 September 2012. Includes information supplied by Olly Bell, identified as PGI's Gun Doctor.
View from the Deadbox. View from the Deadbox, December 2008. Former PGI contributor's account of his articles, equipment reviews and magazine column.
WELT Issue 8. View from the Deadbox, 22 December 2008. Contemporary account of WELT continuing after PGI's closure.
PGi and WELT Goes Bust. SEBURO, 2 September 2008. Contemporary community reporting on PGI's cessation of publication.
Old Paintball Magazines. Historical archive containing a Paintball Games International collection.

External links