Action Pursuit Games

Action Pursuit Games (APG) was an American paintball magazine first published in autumn 1987 by CFW Enterprises. It was one of the earliest nationally distributed paintball magazines, covering recreational play, tournament competition, equipment, manufacturers, teams and the developing paintball industry.[1][2]

Originally published monthly, the magazine later moved to a quarterly schedule. It was still publishing in 2013, although the date of its final issue has not been conclusively established.[3]

History

Establishment

Action Pursuit Games was launched in autumn 1987 by CFW Enterprises, with Russell Maynard serving as its original editor.[1]

The magazine followed earlier regional paintball publications, including Frontline, which began publication in California in 1985.

Unlike these regional publications, APG was distributed through national newsstands, providing paintball players across the United States with access to industry news, equipment information and tournament coverage.

The premiere issue, dated autumn 1987, featured articles covering paintball equipment, playing techniques and the development of the sport.[1][2]

Early advertisers included Pursuit Marketing Inc. (PMI) and Tippmann, which promoted their paintball markers through the publication.

PMI's advertisement for its Pursuit Pistol appeared inside the front cover of the premiere issue, while a Tippmann advertisement featured an early version of the SMG-60.[2]

Expansion during the 1990s

During the late 1980s and 1990s, Action Pursuit Games became an established publication within the American paintball industry.

The magazine covered recreational paintball, equipment reviews, technical advice, field operations and national tournaments.

Randy Kamiya served as editor during the early 1990s. He conducted interviews with industry figures and documented developments in paintball equipment and competition.[4]

In June 1994, the Los Angeles Times reported that APG had an international circulation of approximately 80,000 copies.[5]

The magazine also published advertising and directories for paintball fields, retailers and equipment manufacturers.

Its coverage included developments in both recreational and competitive paintball, particularly during the expansion of national tournament circuits in the United States.

Ownership changes

In August 2005, Apprise Media acquired CFW Enterprises, including Action Pursuit Games and its associated publishing operations.[6]

The acquisition formed part of Apprise Media's expansion into specialist magazines covering sport, recreation and other enthusiast markets.

An October 2005 publishing industry report recorded 13,470 subscribers for Action Pursuit Games. This represented the subscription list rather than the magazine's total circulation.[7]

The publication subsequently became associated with the Action Pursuit Group and Beckett Media.

By 2006, the publisher was also developing an expanded online presence for Action Pursuit Games.[8]

Later publication

Action Pursuit Games continued publishing during the late 2000s and early 2010s.

Its 2013 advertising media kit described APG as a quarterly publication and identified Doug Jeffrey as editor, working with Karen Wilhelmsen.[3]

The magazine's advertised coverage included recreational paintball, speedball, scenario games, woodsball, military simulation, equipment testing and industry news.

The media kit identified distribution in the United States, Canada, England and Mexico.

Its publication schedule included issues planned for April and July 2013, a 2014 buyer's guide and a January 2014 edition.[3]

The precise date of the magazine's final published issue has not been independently established.

Editorial content

Equipment and technical coverage

Action Pursuit Games published reviews, technical articles and advertisements covering paintball markers, protective equipment, air systems and accessories.

Its articles documented developments from early pump-action markers through the introduction of semi-automatic and electronic equipment.

Technical material published by the magazine included articles on marker mechanisms, barrel technology and unusual or experimental paintball equipment.

Some articles were subsequently republished online, including Steve Patrella's examination of unusual historical markers, Curious Paintguns, preserved by WARPIG.[9]

Tournament coverage

The magazine reported on organised tournament paintball, including national and regional competitions.

Its coverage included events associated with the National Professional Paintball League (NPPL), Paintball Sports Promotions (PSP) and other tournament organisations.

Articles and photographs documented teams, players, equipment and tournament results.

Recreational paintball

Action Pursuit Games also published material aimed at recreational players and commercial paintball field operators.

Topics included playing techniques, scenario games, woodland paintball, safety, equipment maintenance and the operation of paintball facilities.

Field directories and advertisements allowed readers to identify commercial paintball venues and retailers.

Historical interviews

Action Pursuit Games published interviews with individuals involved in the establishment and early development of paintball.

One notable example was Randy Kamiya's 1992 interview with Bob Gurnsey, a founder of the National Survival Game.

The interview appeared across the September and October 1992 issues and documented Gurnsey's recollections of the first organised paintball game in 1981 and the subsequent commercial development of the sport.[4]

The September 1992 interview was later digitised and republished by paintball historian Daniel Bacci through PaintballHistory.com.

These interviews provide firsthand accounts of paintball's development, although historical recollections require comparison with contemporary documentation.

Historical significance

Action Pursuit Games provided a continuing printed record of paintball during a period of rapid changes in equipment, tournament formats and commercial participation.

Its early issues documented the transition from manually operated markers to semi-automatic equipment, while later issues covered electronic markers and professional tournament competition.

The magazine also preserved advertisements, photographs and information about manufacturers, retailers, playing fields and teams that subsequently ceased operating.

Surviving copies have become reference material for paintball historians and equipment collectors.

Digitised issues and cover scans are maintained by independent archival projects, including Old Paintball Magazines and Bacci Paintball.[1][10]

References

Action Pursuit Games Premiere Issues, Fall 1987. Paintball History, Daniel Bacci, 26 June 2013. Documents surviving copies of the original issue.
Pioneering the Sport of Paintball: The History of PMI. Paintball History, Daniel Bacci, 31 January 2023. Documents the launch of Action Pursuit Games, Russell Maynard's editorship and advertisements in the first issue.
Action Pursuit Games 2013 Media Kit. Beckett Media, 2013. Official advertising document recording editorial staff, distribution, publication frequency and planned issues.
Bob Gurnsey and Paintball Creator's Memorabilia. Paintball History, Daniel Bacci, 13 February 2015. Includes scanned pages from Randy Kamiya's September 1992 interview with Bob Gurnsey.
Workers' Romp: Playing War in the Woods Paints Morale a New Shade. Los Angeles Times, 26 June 1994. Identifies Randy Kamiya as editor and reports circulation of approximately 80,000.
Apprise Media Acquires Y-Visionary. Writers Write, 14 October 2005. Industry acquisition announcement documenting Apprise Media's August 2005 purchase of CFW Enterprises.
Listline E-Newsletter, 27 October 2005. Chief Marketer. Records the acquisition and Action Pursuit Games' subscription list of 13,470.
Niche Publisher Starts Web Site to Catch Tokyo Drift. Orange County Business Journal, 18 June 2006. Reports Action Pursuit Group's plans to redesign the magazine's website.
Curious Paintguns. WARPIG, Steve Patrella. Historical equipment article originally published in Action Pursuit Games and republished with the author's permission.
Action Pursuit Games Magazine Archive. Old Paintball Magazines. Historical issue and cover collection organised by publication year.

External links