War game fever
No pain, no game
Photos & text by
Noel Tang, Sha Jiayi & Vien Wong
Bullets stir up the dust as they fly by; masked enemies crawl across the thick grass. War begins.
Though these war gamers were just playing with plastic B.B. pellets, the war game seemed as real as war.
"We regard ourselves as real fighters," said Edmund Tong, who has been playing war games for the past four years.
At some war game sites in Hong Kong, there are game zones that consist of various story backgrounds.
These war game sites are mainly found in the New Territories, because its natural environment lends itself to military tactics.
Originating in the U.S., organized war games thrived after the Japanese invented plastic B.B. pellets.
The game hit Hong Kong around 1991. It has become more popular as its costs go down.
People may rent all the equipment needed at war game sites. A one-day war game costs around $300, including instruction and equipment.
Experienced war game players usually have their own equipment.
Many like using equipment copied from movies. According to Bena Wong, a representative of an equipment company called Armed Forces Ltd., equipment copied from the U.S. army and the Hong Kong police always have been best sellers.
Mr. Wong said that a whole set of equipment for beginners costs about $2,000.
Playing war games is safe. However, it can be dangerous to residents nearby.
Chau Chuen Heung, vice-chairman of the Island District Council, reported recently that residents in Mui Wo have complained about a war game site under development nearby.
They fear that bullets from gamers may accidentally hit residents who live nearby.
Vien Wong War gamer strikes fearsome pose. Vien Wong Plants suffer on the battlefield. Sha Jiayi Making use of natural landscape is part of the strategy in a war game. Vien Wong Guns down, game over. Vien Wong Role playing in war games demands team co-operation. An outdoor war game site provides natural cover.
