Hell Survivors was the original paint ball field in Michigan, established in 1984.
They are the home to the major tournaments.
The company website at (
visit link) gives us this history:
"Hell Survivors® has been in the 'Game' for 25-years. We have developed and implemented many of the safety rules, standards and policies that are used world wide in today's paintball industry.
"1984" *Hell Survivors® was the 1st. Playfield to realize and change the rule that stated that: 'head-shots & gun-shots' DON'T COUNT. Back in the beginning of the sport, this was the very un-safe standard rule of the game. We changed this rule immediately to: "Everything counts as a Hit... Head-Shots, Gun-Shots & Equipment-Shots. If you get hit anywhere, You are Out!" (which is now today's current safety standard).
"1986" *Hell Survivors® was the 1st. Playfield to develop and use the "barrel cover/condom/sock" back in the early "80's" (which is now today's current safety standard). Back then we started off using 50-cal. #3357 Crosman® pistols then we added the 60-cal. Tippmann® SMG-60 full-auto Machine Guns and then finally adding the 68-cal. Sheridan® pump rifle as rental equipment. There was no such thing as a 'barrel plug' or any barrel blocking device. So being that we were using 3-different calibers of paintballs back then, we needed to develop a universal 'barrel safety sock' (as we called it) system to keep the players safe in the dead zone.
"1986" *Hell Survivors® was the 1st. Playfield to introduce and use Full-Auto Tippmann® SMG-60 machine guns as rental equipment. Speaking of Tippmann® guns, did you know that Hell Survivors® started the rumor that Tippmann guns carry a 'lifetime warranty' on them, which is basically today's 'un-official/un-advertised' repair policy. I'm sure Dennis Tippmann Sr. was pleased with us for that at the time :^) With his cutting edge products and customer support team, we would continue to test, buy & use ONLY Tippmann® guns in our rental arsenal.
"1988" *Hell Survivors® was the 1st. Playfield to incorporate a "Chronograph Gun Tagging System" to assure other players that every player's gun had been 'Chronographed (at 289-fps or less) & Tagged' by a Game Official before they could play.
"1989" *Hell Survivors® was the 1st. Playfield to tag players with a "Color Coded & numbered Player ID Tagging System" which coincides with the 'radar tag' color being used for that day's session of play. This 'ID Tag' displays very important safety information about each player. The Player's ID# is on it (in case of a problem), the 'Class/Division' that the player is registered to play in and a 'Penalty Punch' section (for safety rule infractions) at the bottom.
"1995" *Hell Survivors® has developed the "Three-Strikes-and-You're-Out Policy" regarding violations of any 'Safety Rules'. This means if a player commits a 'Safety Rule Infraction', that "Player's ID Tag" is punched at the bottom and a corresponding "Safety Rule Citation' is written up by the game official that observed it. The 'Safety Rule Citation' is turned into HQ and filled under that player's name. Any player who receives three 'Safety Rule Infractions' in a single session, will be "Permanently Banned" from Hell Survivors® Playfield without a refund (No exceptions!). Hell Survivors runs a 'tight-ship' on safety!
"1997 " It was Hell Survivors® that has continued to campaign and defend the player's right to use full-auto and a push to NOT limit bps. We have stood on stage alone during an International Industry Conference at the Masters Tournament in Nashville against an entire group from around the world, of gun & goggle manufactures, insurance agents, magazine publishers, tournament producers and some of the leading legends in the paintball industry. They ALL wanted to see a bps cap (around 10-b.p.s.) and a complete 'BAN on Full-Auto'. One pair of magazine owners that hosted this conference, suggested that you could only fire 3-shots, then yell: "are you hit" I performed an audience participation test of that theory that made a laughing stock of that suggestion. Who was the only industry person that stood on stage in front of everyone and defended the player's right to have NO b.p.s. or r.o.f. restrictions. We suggested that the goggle manufactures, step up and add chin straps and full head armor to offer proper protection under extreme conditions (you are starting to see them now). Stand up for you right to have fun playing paintball, we have! Bring out your favorite marker and Hell Survivors® will keep your game enjoyable & safe. That's what we have been doing for 25-years!
"1998" *Hell Survivors® was the 1st to implement a standard 'field fill color' for all paint grenades and paint mines. This was to insure that only Tippmanns®.'light baby blue' paint would be used in all paint grenades and paint mines on the playfield. This way there was no confusion if a player was hit with a grenade or mine or splatter from a paintball.
"2000" *Hell Survivors® was the 1st to implement a 16-station self-serve CO-2 fill station for customers to 'top-off' their CO-2 tanks between games without a wait in line. Hell Survivors® together with Tippmann® Sports provide the players FREE of charge, the use of a Tippmann® Quick-fill 20-oz. CO-2 tank to use for the day. The system is quick, easy and completely safe to use, plus you can never over-fill the tank. This system is supplied by a 6-Ton bulk CO-2 system.
*"2004" Hell Survivors® was the 1st to design & construct the 'World's Largest Walk-in, Self-serve, Hi-pressure Nitro Filling Station™' With TEN 3000-psi and TEN 4500-psi self-serve fill stations inside, there is never a wait in line for air even with thousands of players. We have spared no expense on this massive, Hi-pressure air filling station and it always puts out a full 4500-psi constantly all weekend long, with absolutely NO down time.
The World's Largest Walk-in, Self-Serve Air Station™ Only @ Hell Survivors®
"2004" *Hell Survivors® was the 1st to develop and incorporate a bar code player ID tracking and score keeping system used at major events. The computer program was designed to track all of the thousand's of players movement on and off the playfield, their point value at the time, as well as all of the bunker objectives and their corresponding point values. This is a state of the art computer tracking system that calculates the score of the game 'live' at CIA. This system also allows a player to get (for $5.00) a souvenir, suitable for framing certificate showing the players; Name, Rank, Player ID#, current point value, and every time they were re-inserted back into the game. This software was designed & developed exclusively for Hell Survivors® and the federally trademarked Monster Game® Format.
"2004" *Hell Survivors® was the 1st to offer it's registered customers FREE! 'Self-Serve CO-2 and Hi-Pressure air/nitro fills.'. This virtually eliminated waiting in lines for air fills, giving the players more time on the playfields to play paintball.
"2005" *Hell Survivors® switches to Exotic Sportz® FIREBALL® brand of 'Inferno grade' premium paintballs as it's exclusive field paint. FIREBALL® Paintballs have been specifically formulated to shoot flawlessly in all marker & barrel systems including the Tippmann® Flatline Barrel System. FIREBALLS® exclusive thick & heavy Red Fill shoots further and straighter than any other paintball made. Pick up a case of any other brand and compare the weight to a case of FIREBALL ®. You can instantly feel the difference! Once you shoot FIREBALL®, you will be amazed at it's performance. In the winter FIREBALLS® formula switches over to a 'Artic Inferno' blend for superior cold weather performance. FIREBALL® Paintballs are simply the best paint money can buy.
"2008" *Hell Survivors® was the 1st to implement a standard for all paint grenades and paint mines..We only allow grenades & mines purchased from Hell Survivors® or Exotic Sportz® to be used on the playfield. This was to insure that only the Tippmann® 'light baby blue' paint would be used in all paint grenades and paint mines on the playfield. Hell Survivors® has Tippmann® custom make (at an additional cost to us) the entire line of Tippmann® grenades and mines with the Tippmann® 'Baby Blue Fill'. Many grenade manufactures out there have had numerous problems with certain grenade fills growing mold inside them. Now we know you do not want to be hit with one of those nasty things. We also have had several complaints from players being hit with stinky, nasty, moldy, glittery or staining grenade fills with colors of paint (not baby blue) that did not even count as an elimination. Needless to say it pisses players off and can ruin their gear, clothing and their day. Plus I'm sure you have all heard about the 'Pee-More Mines'. That's where players urinate into a Master Mine re-usable paint mine and set them up around their base. Again we will not tolerate or want any of our players subject to this kind of sick act.
"2008" *Hell Survivors® was also the 1st to restrict the use of all home made devices of any type..No homemade markers, grenade or rocket launchers, grenades, mines or goggle systems are allowed anywhere on the premises. No Exceptions!
"2009" *Hell Survivors® celibrates it's '25th. Aniversary' in the paintball business! Twentyfive years of giving you the safest & best experience that you can have playing paintball.. We have some major expansions and big suprises planed for the "2009" Season. Look for even more reasons to make Hell Survivors® your home playfield. Dave & Ed thank you for all your years of support.and we hope we have made you happy.
Hell Survivors® is very proud to be a "Grandfather and Innovator of Safety and efficiency" in the sport of paintball. We have stood up for your rights as a player and have helped mold great policies and standards Hell Survivors® has one of the longest running, safest, most organized and punctually run playfields in the world! You can ask anyone in the industry.
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