I’ll Do The Briefing!

While heading back towards the airport I stopped for a quick game of laser tag at the Bowlero in Gilbert, AZ. At first it looked like I might not be able to get into a game because timing was such that I happened to be the only person there for tag. After a conversation with the manager, I greatly appreciate her freeing up a couple of staff members to play against me so I could experience their two-story arena.

I was joined by Javie and Jan, who acknowledged that this was his first ever game of laser tag, so I smiled and said “ok, I’ll do the briefing!” :)

Me (speaking in rapid fire): “Ok guys, this is Zone Helios CE. Two hands on the phaser to fire. No running, jumping, climbing, sitting, kneeling or lying down. Play it fair, play it safe and give it your all!”

Ready? Let’s go!

This was an awesome game. I really love getting to use this style of phaser because it takes me right back to my laser tag beginning.

I enjoyed playing against these guys (and noted this HAD to be the best ten minutes of their work day!) as we traversed both levels of the arena.

The arena is beautifully done, but I will reiterate an observation from my previous post that is in no way a criticism of this arena, but more of a critique for the industry overall…I believe it is of greater benefit to all involved when arenas in close proximity to each other are not designed with too many similarities, regardless of which came first.

I really enjoyed getting to experience this arena and play one of my favorite games. Kudos to my worthy competitors! And again, my thanks to the manager who made it possible for me to enjoy some awesome laser tag during my visit to Bowlero Gilbert.

This turned out to be my last laser tag of the day. However, there was one place I thought had tag (turns out they didn’t), but it was located in a mall that also featured a LegoLand attraction so, I ended my trip checking out some VERY cool Lego displays!

What a cool way to wrap up my time in Arizona!

Comments or Questions? 

Contact: Tivia@tiviachickloveslasertag.com 

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

Jake’s Unlimited is my 550th Laser Tag Arena

I played my 550th laser tag arena while at Jake’s Unlimited in Mesa, AZ. This place has been mentioned to me on multiple occasions and it seems absurd that I had not paid a visit sooner, but this massive FEC seemed like the ideal spot for hitting both a minor milestone number and checking off Arizona once again as my 48th state on my “second time around”. I had heard it was really worth checking out so I was ready to see what this place was all about.

When I walked through the door the vastness of the facility was a bit took me by surprise. The place was packed and featured plenty of activities. The first thing I saw was the sweet shoppe to my left an a buffet right in front of me. As I turned toward the counter I realized this was a “stay all day” kind of place with plenty to keep you busy, but my attention was laser focused on the laser tag arena.

The line for laser tag was long (as it should be, proving to be a very popular attraction here), so I waited and observed the party groups, the couples and the families anticipation as we waited to see what the experience would bring. I was excited to play some Helios Pro.

This arena had plenty of targets, pick-up pad and and all the bells and whistles. The game master told me their 4,300 square foot, two-story “Pandaar” arena is Avatar themed as she showed me the map.

I’ll say that this is a beautiful arena, but I don’t pick up on that particular theme. What I saw was certainly very attractive, but also a bit familiar.

Now, what I am about to say does not diminish how great the arena looks, but is more a constructive criticism for the industry as a whole. I took a pic standing on the upper level where you get the best view of this stunning, impactful structure that rises up from the center.

It looks great and for most people (especially those who have not seen 549 other arenas) they will absolutely get their jaw-drop moment here. My observation (regardless of which arena came first) is that if you look to play at another location ten minutes down the road you might see something all too similar (feel free to check out the cover pic on my next post). So, stunning arena, yes. But my challenge to the industry is to keep neighboring arenas all looking amazing, but also to make recommendations that help to keep them also looking distinctively unique from one another. Ok, if you get it, you get it.

My game experience at Jake’s was awesome. There appeared to be a full group going into every game (based on the constant line of people waiting to go in) and that is fantastic to see. I loved playing Helios Pro again and I could see why this place was so high on people’s radar. I’m truly amazed I hadn’t encountered it sooner.

When I left the arena after the game I was smiling, but just because I had gotten to play an excellent game of laser tag, but also because I had reached both my 550th arena and my 48th state, meaning I am truly in the home stretch for my goal.

I celebrated with a Straw-very-delicious cheesecake sundae in their sweet shoppe. :)

All in all, this was a really impressive site and next time I am in Arizona I will plan to explore more of the facility…and maybe join Jenna for a Unicorn Taco! 

Comments or Questions? 

Contact: Tivia@tiviachickloveslasertag.com 

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

The Coolest Springz are in New Mexico

Four states left! I decided to try to tag two of them in one weekend, so I boarded a flight for Phoenix…conveniently enough with a three hour stopover in Albuquerque! That was just enough time for me to call a taxi for a ride to and from the coolest arena in town, Cool Springz.

There were two signs hanging on the wall outside the arena that intrigued me. One promoted “Escape from Tatewari - an interactive laser tag experience” while the other credited the arena design work to Art-FX Studios. 

Off the top of my head I can only think of one other instance where I have ever seen an arena designer spotlighted like that, so my curiosity was piqued as to what might be behind the vesting room walls. Let me tell you, I was impressed!

I put on a Laserforce Gen 7 pack and entered the game with some young troopers and game master Noah to add some balance. I got as far as the first rock wall affixed with a giant skull before I proclaimed that this was cool. However, you have to go deeper to find the really interesting elements of the arena. Behind the rock wall was a crashed plane, glowing from inside.

Inside the plane I found a skeleton pilot and passenger.

As we tagged around the plane (without missing the blue base target hidden under the wing) I noticed an interesting structure on the back wall.

I went through the tunnel expecting to find another base or target, but instead I tripped a motion activated sound effect and started a thunder and rain sound to add atmosphere throughout the arena. I love that. I deliberately activated that SFX three times after I realized it.

But one feature of this arena was memorable above all else and that was the giant mama spider!

This was a prop used to feature the LF living arena interactive targets. First, I began the sequence of 20 target shots, which simply serve to anger the mama…”oh no, not my babies!” 

After she is sufficiently irked, the spider fires back from a game target located in her belly. Ok, that much I knew to expect. But what really impressed me was that once the “attack” was activated it began with the spider MOVING and descending from above like it’s coming for you! It hovers just overhead, but that motion activation is VERY effective! Who came up with this thing, Jon Peters, lol?

This arena is about 2,000 square feet, but I was really astounded with how “big” the experience was in such a small footprint. The game was fun, but the totality of the experience was enhanced by the effort that was clearly out into making this a quality arena. No “cookie cutter” here!

I also want to acknowledge the staff. They didn’t know I was coming, but they were so helpful and accommodating when I arrived. I literally had one hour and no more if I was going to make my connecting flight to Phoenix. I gave the taxi driver a return time to pick me up and hoped that I would be able to get into a game and finish in time, but sometimes an hour is not enough and I didn’t know what to expect. But as soon as I explained my time limits the girl behind the counter said “as soon as this game ends we’ll start another one for you right away.” That is a small thing that made a HUGE difference to me and I thank them for making the extra effort to help me out.

I am so delighted that I got to experience Cool Springz in Albuquerque and also check off New Mexico from my “second time around” list as I prepare to tag my final three states. 

Comments or Questions? 

Contact: Tivia@tiviachickloveslasertag.com 

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

The Story Behind the World’s Largest Laser Tag Arena

I’m joined this week on the Laser Unfocused Tag Talk podcast by Keith Schell with an appearance at the end by Mary Dahm-Schell, owners of the world’s largest laser tag arena, The EDGE in Belleville, IL.

ON SPOTIFY:

https://open.spotify.com/show/0xzXT3aqGa2edIlXpcaJBS

ON APPLE PODCASTS:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/laser-unfocused-tag-talk-with-tivia/id1632442213

ON YOUTUBE:

https://youtu.be/WzyGQ-cICnc?si=GcXhAPSErHl_8CWP

Comments or Questions? 

Contact: Tivia@tiviachickloveslasertag.com 

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

Podcasters Play Portland

On the last leg of my tag travels I was delighted to be joined for a game of Laserforce by a fellow laser tag podcaster,  Than from The Resupply. I have previously appeared on their podcast and you can expect to see them make a future appearance on mine, so it was great to meet up for some tag at Wunderland in Beaverton, just outside of Portland, Oregon.

Let me address my attire right off the bat. I wore my airport travel clothes to tag because getting over to Oregon was a last minute decision made when one flight option didn’t work out and I found better flexibility in rerouting onto a red-eye out of Portland. So I rented a car and, after completing my side trip to Idaho, I made the drive with barely enough time to spare for some tag before heading directly to the PDX airport. So, I am dressed for travel more than tag, but I still threw on my Photon hat because it goes with me into every arena I play! :)

Since Than is a local he was already familiar with this really attractive, space themed two-level arena. 

I was impressed with the theming and the unique buildout of the upper level.

There were plenty of bells and whistles in this living arena. I enjoyed challenging the “arachnobot” hanging in the center with targets on its legs, although the sound file (“not my babies”) did not quite gel with this particular creature.

And this spaceship is ready to attack any player who lands in its path.

I loved exploring the arena, which is what I did for most of the game once I realized an inherent imbalance. Then and I are both level 9 players and we both signed in, so if the system had allowed both of us to play at that level we could have had an interesting 1v1 match-up. However, it was my first time at this arena and the system sent me in as a level one (even with my member log-in it perceived me as a “new player” for the first game), while Than was able to properly sign in as a level nine. So, we didn’t end up with an apples to apples challenge, but we did get to have some fun. I tagged a few things. :)

And I was really excited to be able to check Oregon off my list for the second time. I am currently only four states away from being the first person to laser tag in all 50 states…and then do it again!

My thanks to Than for joining me for a game.

Having now played laser tag at Wunderland locations in both Gresham and now Beaverton, I can tell you they have really impressive arenas and this was absolutely worth crossing the country to experience. I highly recommend!

From here it was time to head to the airport to catch a red-eye and return home after an intense weekend of tagging my way through five states, edging me even closer to completing my goal! I have had lots of great adventures this week to reflect on, but first…sleep!

Comments or Questions? 

Contact: Tivia@tiviachickloveslasertag.com 

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