Photon: The Ultimate Game on Planet Earth facts for kids

Photon was the name of the very first places where you could play laser tag games. It was a super popular game where players used laser guns to "tag" each other. The company also made a laser tag game you could play at home. There was even a TV show called Photon and a series of books about it!

How Photon Laser Tag Worked

Even though the gear was heavy, Photon was one of the first games that felt like a video game but played in the real world. Players wore vests and carried guns that weighed about 15 pounds.

The Arena and Gameplay

The Photon arenas were really cool! They had many levels, walkways, and mazes to explore. There was even a special area where friends and family could watch the game. From there, they could even shoot at players with special guns, just for fun!

Unlike other laser tag places, Photon arenas were big. Players could run around the whole area freely. You joined either a red or a green team. Solo games were not an option.

To make the game exciting, there was dramatic music, flashing lights, and even smoke! Players earned points by shooting players on the other team or by hitting the enemy team's base. You lost points if you got "zapped" (shot) or if you accidentally shot a teammate. If you shot a teammate, you'd lose a lot of points and get "zapped" yourself!

A cool rule was that you couldn't "zap" the same player more than three times in a row. This made players aim for different opponents. When you got "zapped," your gun would stop working for about five seconds. Then it would turn back on automatically.

Joining and Playing

To play Photon, you first bought a special photo ID badge. After that, you paid a small fee for each game. Each game lasted about six minutes.

While games were happening, monitors in the waiting areas showed the scores. Players were listed by their chosen nicknames, or "handles." Many players used these handles as their identity during the game. League players often added their team names to their handles, just like online gamers do today.

Leagues and Strategy

Many Photon locations had special leagues. These leagues had more complex rules than regular games. They also held tournaments regularly. Strategy was a big part of league play. Players would try to hide their sensors to make it harder for opponents to hit them. For example, they might tilt their head back to cover their helmet sensor.

Images for kids

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  A Photon arena in Texas, 1984

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  Another view of the Texas Photon arena, 1984