In 1987, I was a teenager and I thought Photon was about the coolest thing ever.
In 2006, now a mother of two, I think Laser Tag is about the coolest thing ever.
Photon was THE place to go in '86-'88. It was a laser tag arena located right off College Drive in what's now a Wherehouse Music. Players broke into teams, red or green, and wore bulky equipment that shot invisible lasers at each other. You scanned your membership card each time you played, which contained your game alias, so you could see your personal score at the end of the game. And of course you'd want your entire team's score to beat the other guys'. The arena was two levels, dark, with pulsating lights, space-age music, mazes, and a fog machine. There were Photons all over the country, including New Orleans, Houston, and Dallas. One by one they closed, with Dallas being the last one in our area to shut down. (Baton Rouge closed in '88.)
Last year, Photon re-emerged in the form of Laser Tag of Baton Rouge. In a new location, next to the old Albertson's building off Airline Highway, it uses the IDENTICAL floor plan to the old Baton Rouge Photon (well, my husband would disagree, I think there's one little difference, but most people wouldn't notice).
The equipment is much different than at the old Photon -- no more helmets, and the chest/back plate just slips over your head and it's oh-so-light! Lasers are now visible (which has pros and cons), and although members have ID cards, you don't have to be a member to play, and those who are members are given a little device to slip into their gun before the game to identify them as members and attach their game alias to that particular gun.
Members get a price discount ($3.50 a game) and get to use their own game alias. They are able to track their stats over time and see how they stack up against other members. Membership costs $25 a year. Non members pay a little more (around $4.50 a game) and they have to note the game alias on the gun they choose in order to see their own score.
You have to be at least 7 years old AND 48 inches tall to play the game. Laser Tag of Baton Rouge also offers birthday parties and lock-ins. They sell concessions (basic stuff like pizza, candy bars, and cokes). There's an observation deck upstairs so you can watch the game in progress (you can even buy a token to use the practice lasers upstairs, and shoot the players in the current game). There's a game room downstairs with various video games.
You can get more information at their website, http:www.ltofbr.com
This game can be strenuous -- there are ramps that go upstairs, and while they tell you to stay so-many feet away from other players and not run, sometimes things get a little wild. Another tendency I've found is that OCCASIONALLY the guys' testosterone will get out of control and they'll start yelling things at you and getting a little out of hand. There are employees who monitor the games, and I had them throw one guy out who was getting hostile with me. So...with that caveat...
This game is awesome! It gets your blood pumping, it gets you moving, it is like nothing you've ever experienced before or will again! Take a date, take a friend, go alone, but GO!
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