Monday, 27 March, 2023 - 12:00
Laser tag is an innovative way to build camaraderie, especially for schools with large cohorts of students.
The first laser tag games were inspired by the original Star Wars movie. Like Star Wars, Laser tag has come far since the 1970s. In fact, both laser tag games and the Star Wars franchise remain popular.
With successful re-boots on streaming services like “Andor” and “The Mandalorian”, Teachers and Educators can engage students by incorporating pop-culture into their next team building activity.
In the latest Disney instalment, the characters of “Andor” stage a robbery on an outpost of the Galactic Empire.
With the technological innovations of Laser Tag in a Box, Teachers and Educators can leverage this storyline on campus. They can immerse a large group of students in a live-action game of “Heist” with a bit of sci-fi inspiration.
What Is Laser Tag?
Laser Tag is “high tech” hide-and-seek. Fun laser tag games can be played indoors or outdoors. Players tag each other by using an infrared beam, just like a TV remote, but bigger! Since there are no projectiles (the laser taggers only emit light) this means the taggers are harmless and eye safe.
The laser taggers are easy to use. For example, Teachers and Educators can set the equipment to run a timed game. This ensures that the event for the students will end on time, allowing staff to keep to a schedule.
There are cool light and sound effects. When a student tags an opponent the laser tag system makes a sound effect, like “Tagged!” or “De-activated” or even “You’re De-activated, Return to Base.” Plus, the equipment has red and blue lights. This helps the students know which players are on which team. It adds to the thrill. And you can build this into the narrative of the story.
The rentals offered by Laser Tag in a Box combine active play with an interactive, collaborative story. Students can immerse themselves in the game-play, learning valuable skills while still having fun.
The narrative can be intertwined with elements of popular sci-fi franchises, like Star Wars, to really engage the players. This way, the students get engaged in the game-play.
"When the kids had a story-line, a background as to why they were trying to take this hill then they got really engaged,” said Mark McKinney, school camp educator.
A Multiverse of Opportunities
Building on the popularity of the movies like “Star Wars” even a large cohort can get engaged.
The students can be challenged to participate, as a team.
The laser tag game “Heist” challenges the players to grab as much virtual cash as they can. Laser Tag encourages the students to collaborate. Working together as a team to achieve their objective. The students win, or lose, as a team.
According to Byers & Crocco, Educators have come to embrace the pedagogical potential of role-playing games... RPGs are simply fun, offering highly-engaging mechanics, settings, and themes, but also a gratifying change to socialize with other people. [They offer] active participation rather than passive consumption of entertainment by spectators.
Note, the larger the group, the less complicated the game’s backstory needs to be.
How the “Heist” Game Plays Out
The student group is divided into roughly two equal teams. A great way to do this is by keeping students in their sporting houses. Because Laser Tag in a Box rents the equipment for an entire day, Teachers and Educators can have each house play each other. At the end of the day, tally up each team's wins and you'll have the winning house!
Once the round-robin teams are set, the next thing to do is to explain the game to the students.
Teachers and Educators can play our briefing video from our YouTube channel, or simply read the script provided.
Next, the staff will want to set up three props, also known as, Utility Boxes. Two of them should be placed to the northern and southern end of the playing area. When you switch on the box, you'll pick a "Vault" on the menu.
With your third and final box, you'll want to place this in the centre of the playing area. This one will be set as a “Money Drop”.
The idea behind this mission is for each team to collect virtual cash and deposit it in their team's vault.
The virtual money can be collected three ways:
- by tagging the "money drop" box, while it has virtual cash. (Every 5 seconds it accumulates $10; it will jackpot to a maximum of $200.)
- tagging out, or de-activating, an opponent who is carrying virtual money (the assailant gets half the virtual money that the play is carrying) or
- stealing the virtual money from the other team's vault by tagging it. Gamers can get up to up to $50 every 10 seconds.
The victorious team is the one with the most money in their “vault” at the end of the mission.
This mission scales well.
The team at Laser Tag in a Box has run events with more than 100 players at once! It is easy to run with a group of 16 students (8 on the red team and 8 on the blue team). Planning a Party for Teens? Rent Royale Taggers in a Set of 16 (lasertag.com.au) Schools can also book a rental for groups for 20 or 30 playing at once.
These Laser Tag rentals include 3 utility box props. These props come pre-set with two utility boxes set as re-activation / team vault bases, and one utility box set as a money drop box.
It is recommended that each team should start out of sight of one another. This offers an element of exploration for the cohort.
The game is designed with unlimited re-activations for the entire game. This guarantees that every student plays the entire time.
Each team victory is important. While the entire team shares each victory, Teachers and Educators can reward the most valuable player with a laser tag trophy. pewter laser tag trophy
How To Win At Laser Tag
If you are looking to level-up your laser tag game, then look no further. Here are 7 tips to ensure your team's victory!
#1: Know the Field: Understanding the layout of the terrain is key to your success. Take some time to study the playing area. Try and figure out the best hiding spots. And who to use the laser tag arena layout to your advantage.
#2. Communicate with your Team. Communication is the key in any team sport. And laser tag is no exception. Make sure you have a plan and stick to it. Let your team mates where you are at all times.
#3. Stay Mobile. Laser Tag is a fast-paced game. So staying on the move is essential. Keep your eyes (and ears) open! always be ready to duck and wave to avoid enemy fire.
#4. Use cover wisely. Cover is your best friend when playing laser tag. Avoid staying in one place for too long. This will make you an easy target.
#5. Keep Your Aim Steady. If the tagger you've hired comes with an integrated red-dot scope then aiming is crucial. So take your time to line up your opponent's sensors. Focus on your aim, and have a steady hand.
#6. Be Award of Your Surroundings. Watch your surroundings, in particular where you place your feet. If you are playing outdoors then be award of uneven ground. Keep your head on a swivel.This will help you avoid surprise attacks and keep you one step ahead of your opponents.
#7. Stay Alert. Laser Tag is thrilling. It is important to stay alert and focused throughout your game. The great thing about renting is that you can always take a break if you want to and then you can jump back into a game when you want.
Summing Up
Pop culture inspiration, like the stories from Disney’s “Andor,” is a great way to engage a large cohort of students.
By renting a do-it-yourself laser tag set from Laser Tag in a Box, Teachers and Educators can immerse a large group of students in a sci-fi story.
Laser Tag is a fun way to build trust and friendship among a student cohort.
It’s a way to really engage the students in a narrative that they can relate to.
Playing laser tag requires a combination of strategy, skill and a bit of luck.
Laser tag games offer a way for the students to really explore the playing area with a clear objective. And a way for the school-houses to feel achievement by winning for their team.
So get out there, have fun, and happy hunting!
References
Source: The Role-Playing Society - Essays on the Cultural Influence of RPGs, Andrew Byers & Francesco Crocco (ED) 2016 - https://www.amazon.com/Role-Playing-Society-Essays-Cultural-Influence/dp/0786498838
Lee Sheldlon "The muliplayer Classroom: Designing Coursework as a Game" 2012