Paintball Magazine Premier Issue, May 2015 | Page 56

demonstration mode, is a simple concept that the league
hopes will yield great results. In simple terms the M500
format will limit a player’s paint to 500 rounds per point
and the game will be played in the standard RaceTo
format. Each player can access the field for each point
with one loader (220 round loaders) and two 140 round
paintballs pods. Before starting each point at the start
base, players can switch pods between teammates. The
game is then played using the normal RaceTo format.
At the Med Cup this past March the Millennium Series
first rolled out the new M500 format in demonstration
matches between Edmonton Impact and Houston Heat
and Frankfurt Syndicate and the TonTons. Right off the
bat it was obvious that the limited paint encouraged much
more movement. Back players were less stationary, snake
players crossed the 50 more quickly and point times were
down compared to the unlimited paint format.

towards enjoyment and more skillful play.” He continued,
“We have several trial events going on in Europe using
the M500 format in order to gain as much knowledge as
possible and to gauge team reaction, so far so good. It
is our plan to use the M500 format, (or the final version
of), in 2016 in all Millennium divisions. We are also in
discussion with other Pro Leagues who are talking in
positive terms about converting to this format for 2016.
With consultation amongst all stakeholders, including
leagues, players and sponsors, we would hope that this
format could become the world-wide standard.”
One demo down and many more to come as the
Millennium Series will continue to refine the new format
before the start of the 2016 season. So as the Millennium
prepares to use the M500 exclusively in 2016, how about
the other leagues? I talked to Tom Cole, President of
the NXL recently and he said, “We are not currently

If you’ve not seen the M500 be sure to tune into the
Millennium Series Bitburg, Germany event coming up May
8-10 at www.Paintball.Media and check it out. After all, it
may be the game format everyone will be playing in 2016.
I spoke with Millennium Series owner Stephen Baldwin
and asked him if the league was happy with the first rollout of the M500. “Yes we were happy with this trial. All
four teams also seemed to embrace the format. The
games went as we had hoped they would, with more
action and talented moves than the games played on
the current format. This exhibition is part of an ongoing
process to see what tweaks will be needed and to figure
out where the number of balls should be. It did appear
that the figure of 540 balls per player per point was the
right number for this field layout.”
Speaking about the goal of the M500 Stephen
commented, “Our objective with the M500 is to increase
the enjoyment of playing paintball whilst reducing costs,
or at least allowing teams to control their budgets better.
On the statistics we collected during normal games and
the M500 games, it was clear that at least on this field
layout paint use was reduced by about 35%. We feel it
is important for the future growth and wellbeing of the
sport to re-focus the game away from mass paint use

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planning on any kind of limited paint [format] at this point
but it is something we are looking into. I personally like
limited paint. Tom has also been quoted in an interview
at PbNation.com as saying, “We are working with the
Millennium to create a more uniformed format but it is a
work in progress.”
Keeping the game of tournament paintball exciting,
fresh and watchable is important. Making the game more
affordable for all levels of play is just as important. We all
know as the pro leagues go, so go the feeder leagues,
regional leagues and standalone events. If limiting paint
and encouraging more player movement works at the
highest level it will work at every level.
If you’ve not seen the M500 be sure to tune into the
Millennium Series Bitburg, Germany event coming up
May 8-10 at www.Paintball.Media and check it out. After
all, it may be the game format everyone will be playing
in 2016. • • •