Monday, February 28, 2022

Laser Tag Day is One Month Away

International Laser Tag Day is exactly one month away! That means now is a great time for laser tag operators to plan how their facility will celebrate the 38th anniversary of laser tag. I chatted with Erik Guthrie, curator of the Laser Tag Museum, about the history of Laser Tag Day and how it is being promoted this year.

https://youtu.be/PbDtwYG4X-U


Want to get the official International Laser Tag Day poster? It’s available as a free download at http://lasertagconvention.com/2022-international-laser-tag-day


And while you’re checking out the Laser Tag Convention site, here is the seminar schedule. I look forward to presenting the 3:00 class, “Exceptional Arenas Make a Lasting Impression”.

http://lasertagconvention.com/general-information/schedule-of-events?fbclid=IwAR1UbmuW8pQURpBTvAocEXxSeXZ-TSjQzwKaNhtsmAaWyD1DJdz_xyBHpVM

So much laser tag activity happening in the month of March!

Comments or Questions?

Contact: Tivia@tiviachickloveslasertag.com

Websites: www.tiviachickloveslasertag.com and www.photonforever.com

Friday, February 25, 2022

Tag 4 A Cause is Headed to St. George, UT

Tiviachick’s Tag 4 A Cause is heading to Laser Mania Family Fun Center in St. George, UT! The next Tag 4 A Cause night will be held on Thursday, March 17th from 6:00-8:00 pm at Laser Mania Family Fun Center. Donate to the cause, accept the challenge and earn the medal!


We’ll have a high score trophy contest taking place and laser tag 5K medals will be available that night for anyone who participates by making a donation to Ronald McDonald House Charities and accepting the laser tag 5K challenge.


More info at:

https://www.tiviachickloveslasertag.com/rmhc


As always, if you can’t join us in St. George you can participate virtually and complete the challenge on your own from any laser tag arena, anywhere and receive the medal by mail.



Comments or Questions?

Contact: Tivia@tiviachickloveslasertag.com

Websites: www.tiviachickloveslasertag.com and www.photonforever.com

Monday, February 21, 2022

What’s the Story on Ultimate Photon?

I can at least be certain that Ultimate Photon existed in theory, although it was apparently never released for the market. That said, I challenge any Photon Warrior to help me figure this one out. I welcome anyone to drop me a note if you can share any further knowledge about a second generation of the LJN/Entertech toy version of Photon. Here’s what I can tell you at this point, even though I am sure there is much more to the story.

I recently acquired two unusual lots from an ebay seller. The first piece is a plastic photography cell that looks like it was the intended for the box art printing for a never-released laser tag toy product. The image printed on it is quite dark in regular light, but when placed up against a lit white background, well let’s just say…the light shines!



But the light must have dimmed on this project somewhere along the way in that the toy depicted in that cell with blue plastic accenting was never approved/never released.

In a separate lot from the same seller the description indicates that these items were “acquired from a former LJN artist/employee. LJN unproduced toy fair kit - Photon electronic infra-red laser warrior battle”. The items included were described as follows: “This is the original sketch drawing from the original artist who was drawing and designing the guns and accessories with blue on them, which was removed and never approved.” It was accompanied by a catalog-style card with a photo of a boy modeling the prototype.

You’re dying to see this, right?

Here is a page that looks like you might find it in the Entertech product book. However, I own the 1987 book and can tell you these products do not appear in it.

There is no reference in the book to Ultimate Photon, and yet on the back of my newly obtained catalog card I do see references to other product names that might have been being developed? I just don’t know.

So, the listing mentioned original artist sketches. Let me go on record as saying that it is my (confident) belief that these are actually copies, although I don’t question that they depict the original sketches. These are what were included.


They arrived with this envelope…

…and were accompanied by this cassette tape.



So, there are some interesting artifacts remaining from this unusual and unreleased piece of Photon history, even if Ultimate Photon never got to the public. The catalog photo is evidence there must be a prototype out there, so now my search for the rest of the story begins! Hello, George?

Seriously though, this is a bit of a mystery, and I am now considering the prototype in the photo to be “the new grail” for my search. So, if anyone can shed any further light on what I’ve got here, well…let the light shine!


Comments or Questions?

Contact: Tivia@tiviachickloveslasertag.com

Websites: www.tiviachickloveslasertag.com and www.photonforever.com

 

 

Sunday, February 20, 2022

Tag and a Tour of a Cause We Support

Tag 4 A Cause returned to Apex Entertainment in Albany last night as part of a full day of showing our support for Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Prior to the event I had a chance to visit two locations that are part of Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region. I was able to meet Debbie Ross, the resident house director, take a tour the Albany house and donate a home laser tag set to be enjoyed by the families that they help.

 


Debbie offered some wonderful insight about RMHC and what they do locally in the Capital Region, where they are celebrating their 40th anniversary of helping families!

 


And prior to my stop in Albany, I had a chance to also tour a very special place, the Ronald McDonald Family Retreat at Krantz Cottage where families going through medical challenges with their children can get some respite and time away at this beautiful cottage in the heart of Lake George, where I presented a second set of home laser laser tag to Family Support Specialist, Ashley Cahill who was kind enough to give me a tour of the cottage.

 



This cottage opened last July and has already been a respite retreat for 17 families, though Ashley says they are on track to help 40 families in the coming year.

 

After getting a first-hand look at the good work Ronald McDonald House Charities is doing right here in the Capital Region it was off to Tag 4 A Cause at Apex Entertainment in Albany.

 



The first participants are friends who shared with me that this event mattered to them because they had family members who had a personal connection with the Ronald McDonald House in Albany.

 


Everyone who donated took home this quarter’s commemorative laser tag 5K medal.

 


 




And they earned their medal while laser tagging in hopes of getting the highest score of the event.

 



I completed my laser tag 5K challenge at the Apex arena as well.

 

 

Congratulations go out to Vincent Vilardi for winning the golden phaser high score trophy with his top score of 17,101.

 



My thanks also to the entire staff at Apex Entertainment in Albany for all their support for Tag 4 A Cause as well as for all they do locally in support of Ronald McDonald House Charities.

 


The Tag 4 A Cause Laser Tag 5K challenge will continue to support Ronald McDonald House charities through the end of March. Want to participate from any arena, anywhere? Find out more at https://www.tiviachickloveslasertag.com/rmhc.

 

 

Comments or Questions?

Contact: Tivia@tiviachickloveslasertag.com

Websites: www.tiviachickloveslasertag.com and www.photonforever.com

Friday, February 18, 2022

PSA: Tag 4 A Cause Will Be at Apex Entertainment in Albany

This PSA is just a friendly reminder that Tag 4 A Cause is happening on Saturday, February 19th from 2:00-5:00 at Apex Entertainment in Albany.



Need that info one more time? Just turn the radio up! :)



Come on out and donate to support Ronald McDonald House Charities. Full info at https://www.tiviachickloveslasertag.com/rmhc.



See you there!


Comments or Questions?

Contact: Tivia@tiviachickloveslasertag.com

Websites: www.tiviachickloveslasertag.com and www.photonforever.com