The apocolypse is here. Kids and kids at heart can now opt in to join The Order or The Resistance and be sent on a mission at Coniston’s new Revolution Laser Arena.
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It comes from the creator of Hangdog Climbing Gym and Hangtime Trampoline Park, Brett Baker, whose company’s mission is to “create places for people to have fun”.
The whole experience is based around an upcoming science fiction film his brother produced titled Blue World Order. It stars Billy Zane and Jack Thompson and is to be released early 2016.
“What I think laser tag has lacked in the past, is when kids came in they wanted to feel like they were in another world, they wanted to be immersed,” said Mr Baker.
The arena is the first for the region with the playing field built by a company who creates movie sets, making the alternate world much more believable.
Mr Baker said laser tag was often treated like “an arcade game in the corner” and while anyone could setup a maze it would always be the same. With his design, it’s a continuing story in line with the plot of the movie that will progressively change as time goes on and is relative to high scores.
The arena has been operating for a week with the Grand Opening on Saturday between 11am and 2pm. Mr Baker said so far they had extremely positive feedback and was excited to create another fun place that engaged people in different ways.
“What [our company] likes to bring are activities that are fun but also good for you,” he said. “They get you off the couch, running around and participating with people and active. and you can get better at it.”
He said players could also build skills to use in other walks of life including team-work, communication and strategy.
Players enter a “bunker” where they are briefed on their mission. A nuclear war has unleashed a nasty bacteria across the earth, depleting humans of energy. The “battlesuits” players wear become a much coveted source of energy, with their opponents trying to steal and collect as many energy units as they can.
Mr Baker was determined not to promote violence and ensured wording did not emphasise guns or military, hence players “tagging” to collect energy stores.
League nights are expected in early 2016 which would be similar to an organised team sport. Each night a different mission with different objectives would be played and each player given individual duties.
“Initially it’s just great fun to run around and get the highest score … but as that becomes [too repetitive for some], we can introduce all these new mission types that involve a lot more strategy and gameplay. The technology has advanced so much since the ‘80s.”
Find more info at www.revolutionlaser.com.au
