National Survival Game

National Survival Game (NSG), formally National Survival Game, Inc., was an American paintball company established in 1981 by Bob Gurnsey, Charles Gaines and Hayes Noel. It was responsible for the early commercial development of paintball, originally marketed as the Survival Game.[1]

Based in New Hampshire, NSG sold equipment packages, established a network of licensed playing fields and organised early national paintball tournaments. The company also developed the Splatmaster and Rapide paintball markers.[1][2]

History

Establishment

National Survival Game developed following the first recorded organised paintball game, held near Henniker, New Hampshire, on 27 June 1981.

The game was organised by Gaines, Noel and Gurnsey and involved twelve participants using Nelspot 007 marking pistols to collect coloured flags while avoiding elimination.

The event was subsequently covered by national publications, including Sports Illustrated, generating interest from people wishing to participate in similar games.[1][3]

The three organisers established National Survival Game, Inc. to commercialise the activity.

According to Gaines, the founders initially held equal ownership interests. Noel provided $20,000 in funding, Gurnsey managed daily operations and Gaines handled publicity.[1]

The company's first products were mail-order packages containing a Nelspot pistol, paintballs, protective goggles, a compass and printed rules.

Commercial playing fields

In spring 1982, NSG leased woodland near New London, New Hampshire, and began organising regular commercial games.

The company developed team-based variations of the original individual survival game, incorporating flag-capture objectives.[1]

NSG subsequently offered franchises and licences to other field operators.

These arrangements provided operators with the National Survival Game name, rules, equipment and business support. Licensees were required to purchase specified equipment and supplies through NSG.[2]

The company distributed Nelspot markers and paintballs associated with the Nelson Paint Company.

According to Gaines, NSG had established more than 200 franchises across the United States and four other countries by 1984.[1]

National championships

In autumn 1983, NSG organised the first National Survival Game Championship in New Hampshire.

The competition attracted teams from the United States and Canada and was won by the Unknown Rebels, a team from Ontario, Canada.[4][5]

Debra Dion Krischke served as NSG's public relations and tournament director and was involved in organising the company's early championships.

The NSG championship series continued through the 1980s, with events held in several American cities.[4]

Krischke subsequently established the National Amateur Open in 1990, which became the International Amateur Open in 1991.[4]

Equipment development

During its early years, NSG primarily distributed equipment originally designed for agricultural and forestry applications.

In the mid-1980s, the company introduced the Splatmaster, a purpose-designed paintball marker using a lightweight polymer body and 12-gram CO2 cartridges.

The Splatmaster design was covered by United States Patent 4,531,503, issued to inventor Robert G. Shepherd on 30 July 1985.[6]

NSG subsequently introduced the Rapide, a repeating marker designed to offer faster operation than the original Splatmaster.

The company registered trademarks covering the Survival Game, Splatmaster, Rapide and associated equipment.

Trademark records also document the company's ICON brand, which covered marking pistols intended for police, security and military training applications.[7]

Competition and closure

During the 1980s, NSG faced growing competition from independent equipment manufacturers and playing-field operators.

Pursuit Marketing Inc. (PMI), established by Jeff Perlmutter and David Freeman in 1982, developed competing equipment supply arrangements.

Perlmutter later described difficulties with NSG's licensing model, including equipment reliability, contractual restrictions and the obligations imposed on participating field operators.[2]

NSG also became involved in disputes with competing businesses. A 1985 federal court case, National Survival Game, Inc. v. Skirmish, U.S.A., Inc., documented litigation concerning the marketing and operation of competing recreational games.[8]

Gaines sold his interest in NSG in 1984. Noel subsequently transferred his ownership to Gurnsey.

According to Gaines, the company employed nearly 100 people and generated more than $8 million in annual sales by 1988.[1]

The company later experienced financial and legal difficulties. Gaines stated in his 2024 retrospective that NSG closed in 1995.[1]

Historical significance

National Survival Game was instrumental in establishing paintball as a commercial recreational activity.

Its equipment packages and licensed playing fields provided an early business model for commercial paintball operators.

The company's national championships also contributed to the development of organised team competition before the emergence of later professional tournament organisations.

Its Splatmaster and Rapide products remain associated with the earliest generation of purpose-built paintball markers.

References

External links