EXTREME GAMES

Players are organized into teams of up to six members, or "families," (names range from "The Spite Girls" to "Boogie Knights") which are then pitted against each other, attempting to kill assigned victims.

Monetary rewards for Assassin victors are culled from the $3 entry fee to play. Winners will be awarded 75 percent of the total cash collected, about $165 to date.

One team purchased Motorola Talk-About Plus walkie-talkies ($150 a pop). A certain player has even been known to strap a Nerf rocket launcher, accurate up to 100 feet, to his belt.

Some competitors can't handle the pressure. At Quincy, one player committed Nerf-suicide after the rest of his team was killed.