What is "Outdoor" Laser Tag?

FUN and SUN! Open Skies and Fresh Air! Excitement and Anticipation! Team and Individual Maneuvers and Tactics! Interactive and Unique Gaming

The field is ready for play. The sunshine warms the air. You and your team maneuver patiently between the obstacles to conduct your mission. Waiting for you, is the other team. You only have a short time have to locate your opponents. You signal your teammates, silently instructing them to move to surround your opponent. You get a rush of adrenaline and your heart races. You need the rest of your team to catch up to you soon to help you clear a path to make it to your opponent's base. You fire your Scorpion Laser and you see and hear your opponent get tagged. A sniper returns Laser fire only to hit the obstacle protecting you. Now you also know where the sniper is located. You signal to your teammates and maneuver to move him out!

These tactics form Laser Tag gaming (you chase someone, just like tag) where a high tech electronic device counts the number of times you have “tagged” the other players with your Laser. Since you may be more familiar with arena or indoor Laser Tag we will start with what makes Outdoor Laser Tag more exciting and Fun!

The most obvious thing is that it is OUTDOORS. There are no fog machines, dark rooms or flashing lights. Like an exciting game or movie thriller, much of the excitement comes from the tension and anticipation of the action on a mission field. The moving and shooting is still there, but it tends to be less active and feels more intense because of the anticipation. For most people, the woods or a barrier/obstacle field are just as unfamiliar to them as an indoor maze. However, the outdoor setting works better because it provides a better view of the action on the field of play and is more interactive as players move around the mission field more actively and immersed into the game, creating a "Wow!" effect.

Outdoor Laser Tag tends to appeal to players of all ages and skill levels. There are many reasons for this, and most of these reasons have shaped the games that are played outdoors.

1. Security - most parents won't let the younger children run around in the forest. The lack of hard arena walls removes the sense of security.
2. Slower action - the kids want to run around and shoot. Arena tag is designed to reward them for running and shooting.
3. More anticipation - because the action is slower in the woods, a more patient player is needed

These reasons shape the type of games played outdoors. Having older players has the following effects:

1. Older players play more complicated games. They bore easily with the arena games and want more and newer challenges.
2. Older players communicate better. They form teams and operate as groups more easily than younger players. They enjoy the team play.
3. Older players have "sore knees". As the players get older it is "less cool" to run and act excited, so they gravitate toward the short bursts of movement versus the constantly moving games. This leads to an expectation of longer ranges and more maneuvering.
4. Older players have more money. Teenagers and young adults are willing to spend more money to have fun. They are willing to buy outfits of camouflage and radios to enhance their game.
5. Older players are more frugal. While they are willing to spend more, they also expect more in return. They want to be challenged, immersed, and generally feel that they have received their money's worth on the game.