I have something really special to share for Museum Collection Monday, as this pod is officially both the newest AND the oldest pack in the collection! :)
This is one of the very first original “Gen 1” Photon pods used in the first Photon center in Dallas, TX back in 1984. This item was generously provided directly from George Carter III who told me that it features inexpensive fiberglass parts and tooling (rather than using molds) because they were on a budget when they were first starting out. Notice that the original helmet was painted.
George said that while the gear is “prototypish” that it was “good enough” to be used to open up their first center before it evolved, especially considering the sound, light and music were there. It is missing an authentic first phaser, which would have had a grey fiberglass handle with an aluminum barrel. An original phaser is hanging on George’s office wall. This pod really is an extraordinary piece of Photon and laser tag history! To see more laser tag history visit LaserTagMuseum.com.
I’m just back from an amazing few days attending IAAPA 2025 in Orlando, Florida!
This is my IAAPA highlight reel.
With so many cool things that took place, it’s obviously going to take a little bit of time to put it all together and properly showcase all the interviews, demos, stories and new product debuts to share with you (but all of that is coming VERY soon to TiviachickLovesLaserTag.com) so in the meantime, here’s just a peek at what a cool week it was during IAAPA in Orlando, Florida!
Just in time for a big pop culture movie premiere, we talk with Carrie Rokosz about ways to bring some excitement from pop culture touchstones into your laser tag arena on this week’s episode of Laser Unfocused Tag Talk.
To kick off IAAPA week, this year my IAAPAcure is homage to each of the 12 laser tag manufacturers with booths at this year’s show. Each finger nail represents a different phaser…and thumbs are tactical! ;)
A few years ago Carrie, Jenna, Beth and I all started bringing our best creativity to our trade show manicures and since then it has been a tradition with a few other ladies in the industry joining the fun. Can’t wait to see what cool nail styles will be showcased at this year’s event!
This weekend I didn’t have to travel all that far to find a new laser tag experience. I became aware of Funtastic Adventure Park in Victor, NY (just outside of Rochester), which just opened last week with the newest Gen 2 Gel Blaster Nexus gear, so I immediately rallied the Plausible Deniability team to join me for a couple of games!
This was an ideal opportunity for us to get together. While I drove in two and a half hours from the east, this place was local for the AxFam (Axman, Mama Bear and Nobody) and not too far from Slayer and Woz either. Plus I already knew my friends would be open to trying something new.
I arrived early and met the Funtastic manager, Charmin, who was delightful and helped us coordinate a night where we got to play both the GBN Laser Tag format and Nexus with gellets so we could compare both experiences.
With IAAPA only a couple of days away, I’ve been keeping eyes and ears open for what is new in laser tag and I had seen a photo already of the new GBN Gen 2 tagger, but was really excited to get to check it out for myself in advance of the show.
Aesthetically, the hardware looks essentially quite similar to the previous generation, except it now bears very brightly colored graphics and a slightly more streamlined change in shape to the phaser, as well as a different look to the battery pack on the back of the vest. I’m sure there are more significant changes I didn’t immediately pick up on, so I look forward to visiting with Blake, Steve and the team during the show to ask questions and learn more about what else may have been upgraded in this latest version.
I swapped my phaser for one with purple and blue graphics simply because I preferred the look. ;)
When the rest of my team arrived we watched the briefing video in the vesting area.
The Funtastic staff helped us all vest up and by this time several of us had the GBN app, so we were able to sign in with our code names before pairing the phasers and vests together.
When we entered the arena we all became aware of something I can’t recall ever experiencing before…turf! Like with a grass-like floorcovering. This feels interesting!
The green team was directed to our base at the far end of the lengthwise arena, while the blue team gathered on the other side.
Then the game began. You must tag a player four times to deactivate their vest, with the vest turning red briefly upon each tag and then staying red a few seconds longer when the energy depletion sequence is completed.
We had a great time tagging each other (and the targets) throughout the space.
Here’s what the game really looks and sounds like!
I smile as I think back to a similar video Scuba and I recorded last year during a GBN demo night in Orlando (we didn’t know what we were doing at the time!) and now I have played this system in five different states. I am still learning the ropes, but according to the app I have made it into the top ten on the GBN Team Laser Tag Hall of Fame…I do LOVE a leaderboard!
These were the results from our first game.
We all had a really good time and I know this group loves experiencing all different types of laser tag, so it was great to be able to get together and do this!
We came out of the arena feeling like we got a very nice first round of GBN laser tag!
But we weren’t done yet! For our next game the Funtastic team topped off our phasers so they were full of gellets (the little gel-like projectile used in Gel Blaster games) and we donned safety masks before going in to pelt each other with more than just IR tags.
Woz and I are looking fierce!
As were the other Plausibles. :)
We were ready for the game!
Now, the gellets make this a whole different animal and you have to be ready for a slight sting (kind of like the snap of a rubber band), so this game plays very differently. Axman dominated this format by going for bonus targets and power-ups the whole time. I personally prefer the Laser Tag version (no surprise, I know), but for the guys who are into paintball (like Slayer) this was leaning a bit more into their wheelhouse, though clearly a completely different kind of entertainment.
To answer the two questions I have been asked most about this system…
Is Gel Blaster Nexus laser tag or like gelly ball? Yes. Both. This system has the capability of doing game formats either with gellet pellets or without (ie laser tag).
How? As it was explained to me early on by reps from the manufacturer, the vest does hit detection and hit attribution as the IR signal simultaneously tracks with a gel projectile they call a “gellet” in real time and that is what allows it to function as both. The use of IR is what had me classifying this system as laser tag and reporting on it two years ago, even before the company made that distinction with the alternate game mode.
This was such a nice time and I really appreciated being able to experience a new laser tag arena so early on. Although I wish I had been able to make it out for their grand opening last week, to get to tag again with my tag fam really was the best way to have our first experience as a group at the new Funtastic Adventure Park (which, BTW, also has trampoline and Kidzone activities available). I wish this new FEC lots of luck as they become part of the greater Rochester entertainment community!
IAAPA is now only a week away and I am excited to see what all the laser tag manufacturers are bringing to the table this year! As you can see, I have got my game plan ready to go!
So it seems like a good time to share my personal top five tips for maneuvering through the week in Orlando.
1. I cannot stress strongly enough that printing the map in advance and working out a plan of priority is such a help! Yes, I know there is a map on the app, but I find enlarging it on a photocopier and having a hard copy on hand is a tremendous asset, both for advanced planning and once you are actually on the grounds.
2. Comfortable shoes! This may not be a “practice what you preach” tip for me (as I will be wearing pantsuits all week), but I DO wear flats and if you are able to wear a sneaker with your travel clothes then more power to you. The hall is very large and you will be doing A LOT of walking!
3. Take photos of anything that interests you. Obviously as a blogger I will be reporting back with photos and videos to share the latest laser tag innovations I see, but whatever catches your own interest, it’s a good idea to take photos of the booth name and the feature so you can refer back to it easily later on.
4. Business cards…trade them liberally! Pick up lots of new business cards, pass out your own cards and network. It amazes me how many people I have met through IAAPA who have become wonderful industry friends! This is such a great place to grow your circle of contacts.
5. Play! Meaning try out lots of different attractions (even the ones you don’t think you are shopping for). Experience new things, try all the samples and leave with a wider perspective of what is new and cool.
IAAPA is such a wonderful opportunity to meet people from all ends of the amusement industry. On my map, any booth that is marked in blue is on my “must see” list, but I look forward to everything IAAPA has to offer and can’t wait to see all the friends I know will be there working hard to continue to grow the laser tag industry and keep the game advancing and thriving!
