Laserforce Explained: A Guide to the World's Most Successful Laser Tag Chain, Part 1

Laserforce Explained: A Guide to the World's Most Successful Laser Tag Chain, Part 1

During my two-year tenure as a student at the University of Queensland, I discovered a new way to have fun on weekends and holidays, when academic progress was the least of my worries. Having mastered a lot of arcade games in the space of just a few months, I set out to find something even more challenging. Fortunately, I didn't have to look far for the answer - and it turned out to be right under my nose. Laserforce, the world's most successful laser tag chain, was headquartered in Brisbane, so naturally, I decided to take the plunge and play a few games - first at Strike Wintergarden (which was closest to the apartment I had rented), and later at their headquarters in Woolloongabba, as well as in Sky Zone MacGregor (there are even more sites scattered throughout the city, such as the one in the AMF Bowling arena across the street from Sky Zone, but I did not visit them due to lack of awareness). And to be honest, it was like nothing else I had tried before.

So what exactly is Laserforce? Well, at first glance it appears to be just another laser tag chain. However, it's actually much more than that. It was established in 1988, not long after the debut of the very first laser tag chain, which was called Photon. However, thanks to the perseverance of its founders, Alan and Len Kelly, Laserforce has survived and thrived for nearly three decades, and developed seven distinct generations of proprietary equipment, each one incorporating more advanced technologies and features than the last.

Most, if not all, of the hundreds of Laserforce sites around the world are well-appointed, with a full set of amenities for guests (up to 60 or more in some sites and very friendly (not to mention helpful) staff. In fact, they are not really stand-alone facilities. You will find a video game arcade, bowling alley, or trampoline park (or any combination of the three), but that's for another post. As for the Laserforce arena itself, pricing and special offers tend to vary from site to site.

Taking the Woolloongabba site as an example, permanent memberships cost A$7.00 (or A$6.00 for under-16s), while the price of individual entry for sessions ranges from A$12.00 for a single game to A$67.00 for 10 games - although considering the fast-paced nature of Laserforce causes players to burn plenty of calories in each game, it seems like money well spent. However, the best deal I have found so far was actually at Strike Wintergarden, where every Thursday (although it used to be a Wednesday deal), anyone can just walk in and play as many laser tag games as they want (or need) for just A$10. Some sites, such as Sky Zone Macgregor, also allow players to enter for 10 minutes at a time in a continuous session lasting for several hours.

And having briefly described the history, locations and pricing for the world's greatest laser tag company, I shall move on to the various game types offered and how to play them... but that will require a post of its own to explain fully.