Paintball monster a big hit

Photo / Dean Purcell

Several hundred people gathered in Auckland's Aotea Square yesterday to see what happens when nearly 1000 handmade paintballs are fired from a single machine - all at once. And, the results, much to the crowd's delight, were not disappointing.

A lime-green monster - energy drink V's logo - was loudly sprayed on to a tin wall at high speed. V spokeswoman Rebecca Lawson said the giant paintball machine had become popular through television ads so the firm decided to give a live demonstration.

"They loved it, there were phones out all over the show [taking pictures]. It's really amazing to see in real life".

Ms Lawson said a "group of guys" came up with the idea for the giant paintball machine. They took their idea to V, which decided to turn it into reality. The machine's 840 barrels exert one tonne of force in one eighth of a second when fired.