What is laser tag at ULTRAZONE?

ULTRAZONE is the ultimate high tech adventure, where cutting edge computer technology combines with action-oriented team play to create an exciting, heart-racing experience. This is a true group activity - you are the game! From children 7 years old and up who expect to be thrilled, to those skeptical adults and business people who need a bit of convincing, everyone is completely captured by the game moments after play begins.

Of course, there is laser tag and then there is laser tag at ULTRAZONE. Our signature features – INFUSION the most sophisticated equipment and laser tag system available, a fully themed facility designed as an underground city of the far future, three-team games, a unique game arena respected worldwide for its design, and our renowned multi-level play – all define us as a premiere laser tag venue.

INFUSION

INFUSION is the culmination of 17 years experience in designing, engineering and delivering the world’s best and most popular Laser Tag systems. This system features unbelievable advancements in all facets of the laser tag experience that you have come to enjoy over the past nine years at ULTRAZONE in San Diego.

We have a highly sophisticated radio controlled system that operates in “real-time,” pushing the full interactive game experience at ULTRAZONE to incredible new heights. “Real time” means that anything that happens to any player at anytime during a game can instantaneously affect every other player in the game.

For example INFUSION can determine when special events in the game will take place for you. Sometimes these special moments are based on your level of play and sometimes it seems like INFUSION just has a mind of its own and just wants to spice up your life. Here’s one example of what we mean. INFUSION has the ability to assign any player it wants with up to four special dynamic “Player Powers” each of which lasts for 30 seconds. You know when you have a power because you pack makes a special sound and your display identifies which power you have. The four “Player Powers” are “Invincibility”- you cannot be tagged; “Hyper-Mode” - everything is twice as fast- your laser fires twice as fast and if you’re tagged you’re only down for 2 ½ seconds instead of 5 seconds; “Stealth” - the lights on your pack are off, so no one knows what team your on; and our favorite “Team Destroyer” - if your tag one person on an opponent’s team then the entire team gets tagged- wow! Our players’ reaction to “Player Powers” has been sensational, as it adds an incredible new dimension to play.

We feature packs and lasers that are the most advanced and reliable available for play in the USA. Base targets are “target domes” with major retaliation capabilities and additional features that make the game much more interactive.

The “real time” capabilities of INFUSION extend into the lobby where player activity in the game is displayed by changing scores on the 3 score monitors. You will actually see scores change during the active game sequence as players and teams work toward victory.

The INFUSION experience has to be played to be believed- indeed!

The Game

The entire ULTRAZONE San Diego experience takes about 25 minutes. You sign in, money changes hands, and you receive a Zone Access Pass. Soon thereafter, your game is called and you enter the Briefing Room, here a staff member offers specific game and equipment instruction, and safety rules. We then divide the group into three teams (designated by either blue, yellow, or red lights) and take you into the Vesting Room where the equipment is kept. We have everything you will need. Just wear comfortable clothes and athletic shoes (Hint: wear black, you'll find out why when you get here.)

Once in the Vesting Room, you put on your pack also called a vest. Then you quickly determine your pack ID number so you can get your score at the end of the game; just push the button on the front of the pack and a display will light up. With INFUSION our packs now have names and we make each team a theme, like Star Wars, Matrix, Heroes & Villains, Feminine Force or our very favorite South Park. So get ready now when you play ULTRAZONE you might be your very favorite movie superhero . Finally you huddle with your teammates for a last minute strategy-building session and/or chaos.

Finally, a staff member initiates the game sequence - every pack in the vesting room comes alive with voice interactive feedback and literally announces to players that game is about to begin. Now the doors open to the game arena . . . You feel an inconceivable surge of adrenaline as you are thrust into 5,000 square feet of multi-level play. You immediately confront a fog-filled, blacklit (UV) environment filled with mazes, passageways, ramps and obstacles - all of which are enhanced by incredible forced perspective graphic art and a massive sound system. Often called the Adrenaline Playground, you are now part of the Ultimate Laser Adventure.

Game length for a traditional game of ULTRAZONE laser tag is 15 minutes and you are in the game the entire time. We play unlimited laser pulses and unlimited tags. You can fire your laser hundreds of times in a game and never run out, and you can be tagged again and again (sometimes far more than you'd like) and you always remain in the game.

Points from Tagging Players

The game is all about accumulating as many points as you can during your game. Each player carries a laser that emits a red beam when fired. Since the arena is dimly lit with blacklight and has trace levels of theatrical fog, you can actually see full laser beams as they slice through the air and use them to aim at your opponents.

Each player wears a pack which is sometimes called a vest (see photo). There are computer driven sensors that serve as targets next to each of the five sets of flashing lights on the equipment: the chest, the back, both shoulders, and the laser itself. The best plan for beginners is just fire at your opponent's pack until it goes dark.

When you are tagged (also known as "deactivated") a lot suddenly happens to your pack simultaneously. Your pack makes a "crashing" noise, it flashes white, and then it actually speaks to you and tells you what just happened. As all of this happens signaling you’ve been tagged your pack goes dark for about 5 seconds. During those 5 seconds you can't fire your laser nor can you be tagged by any other player. New players take this opportunity to discard all rational thought, believing that somehow it would be helpful game tactic to react to being tagged by screaming as loudly as they can.

Game Play Tips: Points From Players

Points from Capturing Bases

This is a team game, so each of the three teams has a base to defend of matching color. All the bases are on the lower level of the arena. The base target is a Dome that is in the wall of the base and can be located by flashing lights on the surface of the Dome. Once you locate the flashing lights of the base target, fire your laser at the lights. In most games it takes three tags to capture a base. After the first tag you'll hear a sound so keep firing - and after the third tag you'll hear a really loud crashing sound and a strobe light will go off indicating that in most games you were awarded 2000 points. Each and every member of your team can capture each of your opponent's bases one time only. Effective base capture is essential to even think about a solid individual and team score. Hint: Remember that after a player captures a base, the base will not become active and start flashing again for 20 to 30 seconds - so don't get all freaked out and fire at a base that is dormant and not flashing. It's virtually impossible to get a good score unless you capture both of your opponents' bases.

Game Play Tips: Base Play

Points from Capturing the Sentinel

Unique to ULTRAZONE, the Sentinel is a robotic feature that is the common enemy of all players in the game. We have two Sentinels, one in an alcove on the upper deck and one located in the center of the arena on the lower level. Both Sentinel areas can be clearly identified by green illuminated shapes in the wall below them. The new Sentinels with INFUSION are something to behold. They have new target “domes” and actual lasers that pivot and fire green laser beams during their active phase. At first the Sentinel is inactive then it enters its active cycle randomly during the game. You'll see the Dome lights flash, the laser glows green, and then it starts to fire green laser beams. You have to be very alert for tag the Sentinel before it tags you. If you are successful it will stop firing and power down. We vary the point value of the Sentinel. In a Basic Mode, it’s worth between 100 to 500 points and if you get tagged your pack will go down for 5 seconds. Now get ready because these green laser beams have a much wider tag arc so your only hope and we do mean only hope, in avoiding massive tags is to realize that you are absolutely overmatched and get out of the way. We just love the new Sentinels, and we know you will love them too!

Game Play Tips: Sentinel Babies

The Alien

Okay it’s time to be impressed. This is without a doubt the most incredible and dynamic arena feature we’ve ever had. The Alien takes the game at ULTRAZONE to an entirely new level. New with INFUSION this is a super powered entity that actually comes to life and moves!- oh my. So here’s the story on the Alien. The home of the Alien is the “Alien Lair,” a fully caged area on the first level of the arena. While fortunately for you, the fact that we have managed to trap and cage this strange life form does prevent it from wandering around, the fact that we captured it has done nothing to lessen its tremendous power. It basically exists to seek out and dominate players. The alien has a somewhat predictable life cycle. It stays in a dormant or sleep mode until the sounds of players nearby awaken it. Then let’s you know it’s awake by make very clear “coming alive” sounds. Suddenly it happens- it’s eyes begin to flash and the Alien begins to move. Your only hope is to tag the Alien in its sensitive eye lenses, which will immediately return the Alien to its sleep state. If no one can accomplish this impressive feat, the Alien begins to fire massive amounts of Green laser fire at a speed that cannot be matched by the lasers used by players. Literally there is no defense against the alien except moving out of range. In most games it will simply deactivate your pack for five seconds. Finally after it grows weary of dominating all players, it will return to its dormant state. Good luck with your alien encounter.