Choosing your supplier

You know that choosing the best system is critical but how do you choose the best supplier? Generally, the industry is split between high-end and low-end systems. Low-end systems are churned out from mostly out-of-date design patterns. Their only strength is price. In contrast, Laserforce is a high-end system with many strengths, including quality, features, service and price.

A comparison of mortality figures of Laserforce and the
industry average.

We often hear first-time buyers say 'I don't care about all the bells and whistles. I just want a cheap system where players can go in and zap each other'. However, low-end systems generally turn out to be the most unreliable. Also, the laser tag market has become very competitive and these kinds of low-end systems are getting taken over by more professional operators.

Word of mouth is all-important in this industry. Laser tag is all about repeat play, and players know the difference between a great game and an ordinary game. If your low-end system provides an ordinary experience, players will go elsewhere. So give them the best and your business will reap the rewards.

As repeat play is the key to success in Laserforce, you need to ensure that players enjoy the game as much as possible. Therefore, you should demand the following features for any laser tag system you decide to purchase. Many systems don't provide all these but Laserforce provides them all.

Used by their own manufacturers

Some manufacturers don't actually back their product with their own laser tag site. They cannot possibly know how to best maximise profits and develop equipment if they don't use the system. Ensure your system is used by the manufacturer itself.

Target sensors on the phaser (gun)

Players are clever. They know that if systems don't have phaser sensors, they can cheat by poking their phaser and head around corners. Then they can hit people without being hit themselves. This really isn't fair. And unfairness leads to frustration, which could result in a customer deciding not to return to your site.

Shoulder speakers

Speakers should be located in battlesuit shoulders, just centimetres from the ears, to help players cope with the noisy game. They do cost more but players appreciate it. Laserforce understands this and installs shoulder speakers in all battlesuits.

Infra-red targeting

Some systems use only cheap modulated laser diodes and fibre-optic target vests to record hits. This is the lowest of low-end systems because it is unfair. A laser can hit a player in the centre of their chest, but it may not be recorded as a hit unless it lands directly on a tiny sensor. Ensure your system uses quality infra-red targeting.

No need for 'reload' stations

In the 1980s, systems required players to enter reload stations throughout the game, resulting in lost game time. This was necessary because the memory in the vest was too small to record all the game information, so it had to be downloaded during the game. Unfortunately, some manufacturers still use these systems. Laserforce has long since upgraded.

Automated handicapping

Operators want everyone to be able to play without discrimination. However, if your system doesn't automatically protect new players from experienced players then your income will be limited, as only experienced players will want to play. Ensure that your system has inbuilt handicapping that challenges experienced players and protects new players