Laser tag

Laser tag is a sport loosely related to the original game of tag. While seen by some as having more relation to the sport of paintball, laser tag differs mainly in the technology used, rather than just the environment it is played in. Indoor, or Arena style laser tag usually features less realistic environments such as mazes, different modes of gameplay, and is often accompanied by music and theatrical fog. Outdoor laser tag is also a popular way to play, with players using parks or wooded areas, or even going to commercially run outdoor laser tag fields. Similar to paintball, there are styles of play that lean heavily toward full military simulations, and other types that are quick firefights to determine the best player on a small field. This variation means that there's a style of laser tag that can appeal to almost anyone, from MILSIM enthusiasts, to sci-fi LARP players, to kids just having fun.

Laser tag History

In 1977, George Carter III conceived the idea for laser tag while watching Star Wars. After spending years working on the technology, the first Photon center opened in Dallas, Texas in 1984. Players could come to the center and compete against each other, but the equipment was not sold in stores. In 1986, the first Photon toys hit the market, soon followed by Lazer Tag toys from Worlds of Wonder. The Christmas season of 1986 was the real beginning of home laser tag, and soon millions of kids would be playing laser tag with each other anyplace they could. Worlds of Wonder went out of business around 1988, and Photon soon followed in 1989, as the fad of the games wore off. Today almost all laser tag play takes place in facilities specifically designed for the game.

In 1980, the United States Army developed and deployed a system using infrared beams for combat training. The MILES system functions like laser tag in that beams are "fired" into receivers that score hits. Similar systems are now manufactured by several companies and used by various armed forces around the world.

The game of laser tag

Commercial Laser tag systems vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, and centre to centre, but usually consist of a tagging device (which may or may not resemble some sort of handheld gun). The tagging device emits a laser beam, and usually an infrared (IR) beam as well, which carries information about the device doing the emitting. Typically, the laser is merely a special effect, although it is not unheard of that the laser itself is the carrier of the information. This is less common, as the tight beam of the laser requires the user to have extremely accurate aim to hit the sensor which is typically a TV remote control receiver which is only about 3 to 5mm square with a beam only about 2mm across.

The player wears a pack, usually in the form of an open vest, with sensors placed in various locations such as chest, back, shoulders, and in the gun. The signal, when striking a sensor, transmits the pertinent data to the pack. All packs may be connected to a central server which records points, the location and number of tags on other players, the location and number of tags on oneself, and a beam/tag ratio, or this data may be transferred at the end of each game. At the end of the game a player will typically receive a scorecard with this information.

Commercial Laser Tag Systems

Indoor Systems

The typical indoor commercial laser tag system does not function very well in bright lighting such as sunlight; this is more due to lack of a need to retain sensitivity in light than a real limitation, as for effect most laser tag mazes are dark, and lit by black lights. A maze can feature fog machines as well, to help illuminate the laser beams, which would be otherwise invisible when passing through clear air. This fog is often invisible to the participants, but it is noticeable when looking into the maze from a room with normal lighting.

In North America and Europe, the indoor laser tag industry has grown and matured during the past ten years away from the "member" based business, referred to here as the "club player", and moved towards other markets. The more successful laser tag facilities no longer cater to the club player and instead focus on three core markets, which are often birthday parties, groups (church groups, youth organizations, day camps, etc.) and corporate outings.

Outdoor Systems

Outdoor commercial systems are not too different on the surface from their indoor cousins, but are quite a bit different under the surface. Real lasers are not usually used due to the hazards to players and anyone within blinding range, partly because of the increased laser power required when playing outdoors and because there are no walls to block the laser from traveling long distances. Range is required to be much greater so better lensing is used, and full sunlight requires improvements in both sensor and IR emitters. Sensor placement is similar to indoor commercial systems.

The outdoor industry caters strongly to birthday parties as well as enthusiasts.

Consumer Systems

Consumer systems are quite a bit different from commercial systems. Most have a more toy-like appearance to avoid being mistaken for a real firearm, and lack any kind of muzzle flash or realistic sound effects for the same reason. Sensor placement varies amongst systems. Some have a single sensor on the tagging device or worn on the head, chest, or back, while other systems have a combination of several or even all of these. Range varies from ultra-toylike systems that are only good for 10 to 20 feet, to systems that can hit at more than 300 feet in full sunlight. Usually, there are no score cards and no central server. Rather, each tagging device has a stand-alone computer in it and missions are scored by team results. Some Laser tag systems are more complex than others, running the gamut from simple systems that only keep track of how many times the sensor was hit, to systems that keep track of who hit you and even when they hit you.

Private Systems

There are also a number of Homebrew systems, some of which rival and even surpass many commercial systems. Modifications to store-bought Laser tag devices are quite common, from simply adding a telescopic sight to modifications of the electronics and moving the guts to a different body.

Club Players

Club players are usually identified by their unique playing styles, precise timing, knowledge of the mazes, and ability to earn large numbers of points. Furthermore, club members are players that may have formed a tight knit group, play regularly (usually weekly or bimonthly), and generally have opportunities to develop a squad strategy.

The freestyle players typically own their own consumer laser tag equipment, often modified with better sights or other improvements and may carry FRS radios to co-ordinate their team play. They play in parks, woodlands, playgrounds, anywhere the landscape is suitable and the neighbors don't mind. Most clubs are quite strict when it comes to player behavior, etiquette, sportsmanship, and how to handle things if there is a complaint or the authorities arrive.

Types of games

Team and Solo Games The two most common laser tag games are Team Games and Solo Missions. Both usually feature an unlimited number of beams, and an unlimited number of lives. In a team game, teams are distinguished by different coloured LEDs. In solo missions, everyone is fair game for everyone else, though informal teams and packs are sometimes formed.

Elimination Games

Elimination formats allow each player a limited number of lives, which are lost by being tagged, and may be played in team or solo variations. When a player has no more lives remaining, their game is over and they must leave the arena. The objective in a team elimination format is to be the last team with players still surviving. The game ends when only one team remains, or when time runs out. The objective in a solo elimination game is to be the only player left alive, and the game ends when only one player remains, or when time runs out.

Specialty Games

Other less common game types, such as Highlander, have their own special rules which may be unique to the laser tag location or laser tag system being used. A Highlander game, for instance, is a game of stealth, each player receiving a fairly limited number of both beams and tags (or shots and lives as a member would say). The last player standing in the maze is crowned winner, though it is common that the winner will have less points than those who exit early. -->

Specialty games are games with complex rules, such as objective-based games. These games are usually played by more experienced players, as well as for team-building events. The rules for such games are widely varied. Different systems, as well as individual centers have their own specialty formats.

The range of specialty games is limited only by the capabilities of the system and the creativity of the operators.

Ring events are laser tag matches held in an area approximately fifteen by fifteen feet wide where players compete against one another without walls or obstacles to hide behind. Lord of the Ring is a ring event that gained popularity in the mid to late 1990s among players of the Ultrazone laser tag system in the United States, Canada, England, Sweden and Finland.

Laser tag is also used in live action role playing. In these games players take on the role of imaginary characters in an adventure that may last any amount of time from a few hours to several days. Laser tag weapons may be used to represent any sort of real or fictional guns. Sensors occasionally represent 'shields' or 'forcefields', although sometimes players pretend the sensors do not exist. Every LARP game has its own unique storyline. Combat is a feature, rather than the central role of these games - players take part to develop their characters and may even complete an adventure without firing a single shot. Players that do get into combat and lose may find that their character is killed off during the adventure. Homebrew equipment based on the original Worlds of Wonder Lazer Tag system is the most popular system used by science fiction LARP groups in the UK.

Systems

A wide variety of equipment exists for playing laser tag. The sensor locations, electronics, housings, and programming capabilities all vary by system, and each system has its strengths, weaknesses, and particular quirks.

Types of Systems

• Arena-based systems are designed to be played in an arena under computer control.
• Portable systems are designed to be set up and taken down quickly for special events. They may or may not use a scoring computer, and are often set up in a portable arena or played outdoors.
• Outdoor systems are designed to cope with the brighter lighting conditions and longer ranges inherent to outdoor play.
• Home systems are mass-manufactured systems sold to consumers. They are significantly lower in cost than commercial systems, but may not be as durable and rarely offer central scoring. The exception is Lazer Tag Team Ops, with team play, individual hit tracking, and central scoring using one of the tagger units as the host.
• Homebrew systems run the gamut from simple that only register anonymous hits, to full blown systems that rival or surpass commercial systems in performance, features, and scoring. Milestag is an open protocol that supports central scoring, damage points, medics, etc. and there are several similar systems based off of it. Some commercial systems started out as someone's homebrew Laser tag system.
• Military combat training systems are designed to attach to or simulate standard military hardware for realistic combat training. Notable Systems

System	Type	Variants	Manufacturer	Sensor Locations	Teams	Communication	Description & History
MILES	Military Combat Training	Basic MILES MILES 2000	Various military contractors.	Various. Integrated into combat equipment, vests, and helmets.	Configurable	IR Laser GPS RF	MILES and MILES 2000 are systems designed to simulate the real-world performance of actual military hardware closely enough to allow for realistic simulation of actual combat. MILES equipment integrates with or replaces components of weapon systems, and utilizes coded signals to track and evaluate hits based on factors including the type of weapon fired (such that, for instance, a handgun cannot take out a tank, but a simulated RPG would not only disable the tank but also everyone inside or nearby.) While MILES and MILES 2000 are used almost exclusively by the military, several homebrew systems and the occasional commercial system are based off its design.
LASER MANIA	Arena-based	2 Versions System 1 System 2	LASER MANIA	Continuous Fiberoptics Sensors LEFT RIGHT	Up to 4	Modulated Laser Fiberoptic 900MHz or 2.4GHz Radio	Over 10 years of Laser Tag using lasers and fiber optics. Supports Memberships. Software configurable game and pack variations
LASERTRON	Arena-based	11 Versions (LT-1 through LT-11)	LASERTRON	Front Back Shoulders Phaser	Up to 4	IR 900 MHz Radio	LASERTRON in North America and has over 95 locations.
Zone	Arena-based	System 3 System 4 System Z System Q System T Infusion (T2) Phaser Strike Zone Skirmish (outdoor) Hanger 51 Begeara System (portable)	P & C Micros	Shoulders Laser Chest Back	2 or 3	IR line of sight microwave (some versions) 900 MHz radio (optional)	Zone is a programmable arena-based system supporting 2-3 teams. Membership is supported, with custom "alias" names and special features offered to members.
Steradian	Outdoor	Eclipse S-7	Steradian Technologies	Headband (3 locations) Gun	Up to 4	IR	The first commercial outdoor laser tag system to offer digital scoring and full configurability. All Steradian systems are capable of shooting over 550 feet outdoors.
LaserQuest	Arena-based	Many variants as number of lives, shots, teams and bases can be toggled. The most common variants for standard play are Solo and Team. Members often play at special events and these can include many other types of games (too many to list) since, as mentioned above, so many settings can be toggled.		Shoulders Laser Chest Back	2 or 3	IR 900 MHz radio	Laser Quest is somewhat unique as a company, in that all the locations are owned by a single entity, Versent Corperation, and neither the equipment or brand are made available to other operators in the U.S. & Canada.
Actual Reality	Arena-based	Laser Extreme	see VEQTOR below (new owners)
Photon	Arena-based			Helmet [1] Reverse IR[2] - the guns receive a signal constantly transmitted from the pack.	Photon was an early arena-based system that was most active during the mid 1980s, it has the distinction of being the first [3] arena based systems.	* Radio
Lazer Tag Team Ops ("LTTO")	Home	Compatible: IRT-2X aka Drone Deluxe Tag Master Blaster with longer range and IR grenade launcher	Hasbro	Gun	2 or 3 teams of 8 players each Unlimited players in Classic Lazer Tag mode	IR during setup and end of game	One of the most advanced consumer home laser tag systems, with daylight outdoor hits possible over 300 feet. Central scoring is accomplished using one of the tag units, which is then used normally during play, so no extra equipment need be purchased.
Darklight	Arena-based	V3 V5	Darklight Manufacturing	V5: 2x front shoulders 2x rear shoulders laser chest back	Technicaly up to 256 (Due to 256 color LEDs) However, usually limited to 4	IR 2.4 GHz Radio	Darklight is distinctive in that the "arena" becomes an active part of the game through GEMs (Game Enhancement Modules). These GEMs can be bases, power-up locations, land mines or nearly anything you can think of. Also, the Darklight game has a virtual "currency" that is collected by tagging others and then used to purchase powers from the GEMs.
VEQTOR	Consumer Commercial (Arena & Portable) Police & Military	X-Blaster (Indoor) X30 (Outdoor) X70 (Indoor) X70 TFS (Outdoor) Classic Laser Tag Max Radio	VEQTORIAN Limited VEQTOR UK under license	Gun (gun only units) Gun & Chest & Back & Shoulders on newer vest based systems Chest, Back, and shoulders on some older versions prior to purchase of Actual Reality	2 to 8 teams depending on site configuration	IR Laser (older versions) Radio (optional)	Outdoor version has hit range over 300 feet Radio communication with real time scoring (optional). Up to 128 players supported in team configurations, unlimited players in solo configurations.
Laser Runner	Arena-based Portable (?)
Laser Challenge	Home	many systems all compatible in some way with each other	Toymax Jakks Pacific	Normally features a separate sensor to the gun which is sometimes tethered but not always, sensors have been chest, back, gun and waist mounted across the range of gear	Unlimited number of players, some sets feature team a and team b settings, also the Laser Challenge V2 system featured an arena style computer for advanced scoring of teams or individuals	IR	The old equipment made by Toymax was of high quality and used by many clubs with sets starting cheaply and working up to the some of the most expensive gear sold in stores features varied across the range. However most recently the company was acquired by jakks pacific who now make lower quality gear! Some versions of Laser Challenge gear are not compatible with other versions.
Worlds of Wonder Lazer Tag ("WOW")	Home	Compatible: Starlyte Pistol (black) Starlyte Rifle (white)		Cap Vest or Belt sensor	Unlimited players, no teams	N/A	One of the most copied in homebrew systems and best working of the early laser tag systems with excellent full sunlight range. The patent pending for the signal protocol ran out before the company went out of business, so it has been copied in several commercial outdoor laser tag systems.

Laser tag etiquette

Though the types of courtesy shown in a maze may vary, it is generally good to observe a few ground rules. Running, physical contact, covering sensors, crawling, climbing walls or maze elements, crowding, and using offensive language are frowned upon.

Stalking, the act of following a player around the arena in order to continually deactivate them, is also often frowned upon if not outright prohibited at some sites, particularly between experienced players and newcomers. This serves several purposes, the most important being safety - a player being stalked is likely to try to run to get away. Stalking rules also try to promote fairness in games with a mix of experienced and inexperienced players.

Laser tag clubs often have very strict guidelines where it comes to member behavior- sportsmanship, cheating, etc.

Laser tag slang

Although a subculture of sorts can form around member's clubs, only a very limited vocabulary of specifically laser tag-oriented slang has been recorded. However, it does exist:

A godpack (or master gun, game controller or programmer) is a pack whose tagging device is functioning extremely well, or whose sensors (or one particular group of sensors) are functioning particularly poorly. A godpack can also mean a pack that is used by employees to control other packs (to penalize cheaters, for example).

A gundom[4] or laser condom is a rubber cylinder used to protect the gun and other players from accidental impacts.

A lock-in is an all-night laser tag party, usually lasting at least five hours, sometimes up to eight or nine hours, and may be themed. Some tournaments are also run in a lock-in format.

A bunny is a new player with little skill that usually gets slaughtered by the experienced players. Sometimes called a CP or "Clay Pigeon" by players of the Q-zar/Quasar laser tag games, due to the ease at which they can be shot.

A bunny hunter[5][6] or birthday basher is an experienced player that routinely plays with the sole purpose of slaughtering new players.

A marshal's laser[7] is a special laser sometimes used by Laser Quest employees, which can be used for normal gameplay as well as to fire "discipline" shots at players violating the rules.

A terminator[8] is a device used by Zone Empire employees (game masters), used to give shields (a period of time when one cannot be hit), warnings and terminations (deactivation) of the player's pack. The terminator is an IR remote, with three colored buttons that provide the game master easy access to several pack functions - start pack (green), shield player (green), warn player (yellow), penalty termination (red), and early game end (yellow+red). The verbs terminate, warn, button, yellow button, and red button refer to these functions - "I was red-buttoned for running last game."

The vertical worm[9] or dance or sausage-walk is a system of erratic movements that are aimed to make the player more difficult to hit, particularly on systems that either require multiple hits to register a deactivation or limit the fire rate so as to make dodging incoming fire practical.

Shot cancellation is a design flaw present in some systems where two players shooting each other at nearly the same time cancel each other's shots out, preventing either player from scoring.

Retaliation refers to the ability on some systems to fire a shot immediately after being deactivated, when the pack should be down. Usually this is due to a design flaw, but some systems have the option to grant retaliation shots to inexperienced players.

Rainbowing, Blue teaming[10], and Smurfing refer to forming alliances during a game that go against team assignments, disregarding the team assignments to team up with friends or family members, or teaming up during a solo game. The terms Smurfing and Blue teaming originated with early Zone sites, referring to a then nonexistent blue team color at a time when Zone sites had red, yellow, and green as team colors. As modern Zone sites have replaced the green team with blue, the term rainbowing is most common now.

Button can refer to the metal identification buttons issued to Zone, Actual Reality, VEQTOR Max, and Laser Quest players, or to the use of the penalty buttons on a Zone terminator.

A Bunny Button or Defender Button is a special identification button that configures a pack to be used by inexperienced players ("bunnies"). A bunny button usually configures the pack to allow retaliation shots, and may alter other pack settings for easier play.

A Shoulder Pack refers to a pack with sensitive shoulder targets, usually in Laser Quest where there can be a lot of variation between the sensitivity of shoulder targets at different centres.

Dueling refers to a close range engagement between players. This is typically more common in formats which are not life-based.

Covering or shielding refers to the practice of covering a sensor with a part of the body or clothing to keep from being hit. This practice is considered very unsportsmanlike in some systems, but accepted or encouraged in others.

The original Worlds of Wonder Lazer Tag had its own game book that featured a page of slang terms invented for the game.

Tactics and Strategy

The differences between systems and various game formats lead to a variety of tactics being employed.

A dueler will try to engage players in close combat, relying on timing, reflexes and dodging skill to be able to score more hits than opponents, even when outnumbered. Systems with limited fire rates tend to encourage this type of play.

A sniper tends to engage players at range, and use ramps and catwalks heavily. Snipers often "camp" in one location for a length of time.

Sweeping refers to moving the laser quickly as it is fired so as to project the pulse onto a wider area, possibly hitting multiple targets.

Dancing or continuous dodging is common with systems that limit fire rates.

Most experenced players employ a variety of tactics, but will often favor one particular style of play.

See also

• Airsoft
• Paintball

External links (in alphabetical order)

• Battlefield Sports - Outdoor, Indoor and mobile inflatable battlefield live equipment
• DeltaStrike Laser Tag - Modern IR/RF based system from New Zealand.
• Dropzone - A yearly laser tag event in the United Kingdom
• Frag Tag - Commercial system using the Miles Tag protocol.
• Greg Gaub's Lazer Tag Team Ops page - Lots of great links, info, code of conduct, game ideas, reviews, club locater, etc. Home of the Auburn Laser Tag Club, ALTC in WA state USA.
• The International Laser Sport Players Association - News, reviews, teams, tournaments, and forums on the sport of Laser Tag.
• International Laser Tag Association - the non-profit trade group of laser tag operators and developers with members worldwide.
• Laser Arena Database - UK based Database project for all things laser tag.
• Laser Forums - Discussion forum. Strategies, comparisons of fields and equipment, discussions of homebrew designs and protocols.
• LASER MANIA Game Systems - U.S. Commercial laser Tag manufacturer featuring modulated laser/fiberoptic based laser tag systems.
• Laser Web Laser Tag - Laser Tag facility that uses Darklight equipment. Two facilities in Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio
• LASERTRON Laser Tag - U.S. Commercial laser tag manufacturer with over 97 active sites.
• Lazer Tactical Action Game Board - Discussion board, centered mainly on home and homebrew gear, its design, construction, and use. Planning and announcements for Tagfest, big Laser Tag games held around the USA.
• Lazer Tag Team Ops on Yahoogroups - Yahoogroup discussion group for Lazer Tag Team Ops home system. Games, tactics, mods.
• LQ Arena - Forum boards and more for Laser Quest members.
• Miles Tag DIY Laser Tag System - Build it yourself open protocol system.
• One Source Laser Tag - Links, articles, reviews, maps, schedules of home and homebrew laser tag gear and events. Tagfest NW is usually hosted by this gentleman, who also has an outdoor laser tag field and rents out equipment.
• Quasar Elite Spain - Home of the spanish version of Quasar Elite
• Steradian Technologies - U.S. manufacturer of commercial outdoor laser tag equipment
• Taggers.org -
• TRUTNEE LaserTag Portal - Russian site (English translated site, too) with detailed information about all types of laser tag.
• Where to Find Outdoor Laser Tag Clubs/Players - A "frappr" (free mapper) map which shows players and clubs throughout the world, and also includes what type of gear they use
• Where to Play Laser Tag - a directory of all known laser tag facilities in the US and Canada.