Building Pizazz into Your Laser Tag Arena Designs
Your laser tag arena experience is one of the biggest ways to quickly impress players and guarantee an excited, repeat customer.
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Laser tag arenas vary considerably in size, construction and decoration. The best operators have learned that their laser tag arena is one of the critical steps to success. Arenas are more significant to most customers than your equipment.
How big should a laser tag arena be?
The size of your arena depends on the number of vest you expect to have in operation. General trends indicate the minimum is 100 square feet per vest. This is probably an absolute minimum. A game with players every ten feet is probably dangerous and not enjoyable to many of your guests.
It's better to work with a 200 square foot number. Using such a figure, a center with thirty vest would be well-served with a 6000 square foot arena. This can be any usable space-- calculate the actual playing area of all surfaces if you have a multi-level arena.
Smaller arenas can work, but you are going to reduce the enjoyment of larger groups, one of a laser tag operator's most profitable segments.
Remember, too, that you can build too big. A giant arena is not fun with a smaller group. If possible, design your arena so that it can be easily reduced in size (cutting off the upper level, for instance) to provide a enjoyable experience for smaller groups.
Consider play with a small group of 8-10 players. This is the typical size of a birthday party. If a group of 8-10 laser tag players gets lost and can't find opponents on your full arena, find a way to scale back.
How many levels?
It's amazing that some people are still considering single level arenas. Almost all of the highest grossing laser tag arenas are two or more levels. Multi-level arenas increase your playing surface without increasing your square footage. Such arenas provide a laser tag experience that is truly three dimensional.
Multiple level arenas make laser tag attractive to older players and kids enjoy them just as much. The safety record of multi-level arenas is on par with single level arenas.
There are drawbacks to the multi-level arena. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the United States and similar legislation in other countries may require a complex planning process. Local fire authorities will typically require sprinklers under ramps and other parts of your arena. Multi-level arenas are more costly and more difficult to maintain.
Still, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. Having a multi-level arena is insurance against any other multi-level arenas. If you have a single level arena, you will lose business, possibly a significant amount, to a multi-level arena.
Theming?
Theming is very important to your arena and your center. But, you can overspend on theming in your arena.
Many arenas spend a great deal of money on theming inside their arena. They might include animatronics or very complex scenery.
Such items are certainly powerful, but they are often wasted inside an arena. Players are often so involved in the game that these complex (and expensive) additions to the arena are not fully realized during the game.
The wow factor of having complex scenery, animatronics and other expensive themed elements is tremendous, but you may get a better effect if you place these elements outside of your arena where they can be viewed and enjoyed by your waiting guests.
The best theming is passive theming. Passive theming is more subtle. It builds a mood. It's a lot like abstract scenery in theater. Paint jobs, using unique building materials (such as steel, which provides an added bonus of fire safety), and basic light effects are all excellent passive theming choices. They add to ambiance without require a laser tag player to stop and admire them.
Interactive Elements
Interactive elements are an exciting trend in arena design. Using inexpensive infrared beams, pressure plates and other devices, your arena can change as your players move through it. Such elements can add extra fun for your players.
Some arena haven't stopped with simple interactivity and have developed simple or complex plans to constantly change their arena. There are advantages to both set arenas and constantly changing arenas. Consider combining the best of both worlds by allowing some arena elements to change while others remain constant.
Balance
Many centers have built complex mazes as arenas. While these random designs can be a fun way to play, you should at least spend a little time considering balance in your arena design.
Consider a symmetrical arena design. The original laser tag centers all used two-team symmetrical designs with great effect.
If you have bases or scoring targets in your arena, put consideration into their placement. Separate bases as much as physically possible. Is one base easily scored while another more difficult to tag? The best arenas will make scoring bases a balanced task.
Is your upstairs area too easily defended or too open? This can effect the flow of your game, too. Players will congregate where they feel they have a physical advantage, rendering large sections of your arena virtually unplayable. Worse, experienced laser tag players may knowingly or unknowingly exploit your arena's flaw.
Don't let one of the most important features of your center (your arena) be an afterthought.
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