The brief: Design a sport, which we will play in the park.

Balloon Wars is a tournament game, involving up to 25 competitors fighting against each other in a series of knockout rounds based on the colour of each competitors balloon. The balloons are customised with pins and battles are won by popping your opponent’s balloon.

Combining some easily developed skills, chance and competition we created an energetic an ever-so-slightly risky sport. Core to the enjoyment of a sport are the rules to which it is bound. Balloon Wars did not need many, the concept was simple. With Balloon Wars we wanted to create a sport which took the focus of play into the air.

If you would like to play Balloon Wars then we can recommend balloons purchased here. The developers can not be held responsible for any damage caused by trying to replicate the activities shown within these pages.

Rules

- Each balloon is inflated to the regulation size (250mm Ø) ensuring equal surface pressure and poppability.
- Competitors have 5 stainless steel pins to mount onto their balloon with adhesive tape in positions of their choice.
- Each balloon is equipped with a standard 1.5m plastic party ribbon which must be held at the end throughout matches.
- Suitable eye protection must be worn at all times by competitors. 
- Each round (excluding the final) takes place with 3 competitors and is played until 1 balloon remains.
- Play is confined to a marked circular area (4m Ø). Leaving this area during competition results in disqualification. 
- Balloons can only be popped by another balloon.
- Released balloons are to be treated as popped.