What is this Thing Called Tag?

A brief explanation of Lazertag and Tagging

So what is Tag?   Remember the days when you or your friends used to play Cowboys and Indians/ Cops and Robbers/etc., or capture the flag, red light/green light, or Hide N Seek? Ever wonder why children get all the fun and grown-up have to be boring and sensible?   We could go into pseudo-psychological spiell here about group-bonding and the need to cast off from time to time the 20th century straight jacketted behavioural norms that we are encumbered with, but that's all clap-trap - but the basic truth of the matter is that through Laser Tag, all ages of people are having FUN and we're not ashamed to admit it - (well not most of us anyway ). (CLICK HERE FOR SOME Laser Tag Pics)   The game of Lazer Tag began in the mid '80s with a boxed children's toy . It gets round the perennial problem of kids' "shoot-em" games ("I hit you!", "No you didn't!!", "YES I DID!!!"...etc.) by using a "gun" which puts out a coded IR signal that is picked up by a sensor to register a "hit". Once the sensor has taken a certain amount of hits,  it sounds a siren and you are "dead" or in today's tag lingo "Tagged Out".   The equipment we use today (mainly Lazer Tag Team Ops gear by Hasbro) has come a long way from then.    The gear not only tracks when you are tagged out, but can tell you who shot who at the end of the game and even rank the players.   The gear even has several games built into them that go beyond the simple "shoot em up" sytle games - getting away from combat simulation and moving the sport into more of a Tag game (such as kick the can, or hide n seek) simulation.   It should be noted that in spite of the name, there are no lasers involved.   In fact the system is very similar in principle to a common TV remote control - so there is no risk of injury from the "guns" used in Laser Tag.   Unlike Paintball and Airsoft,  - which are similar hobbies which are more well known - Laser Tag is a NO CONTACT sport.    This means there is no damage to players or the environment in which the game is played.   If the game is played in the correctly,  there is never any damage to the players feelings, pride, or spirit either. Laser Tag has the main advantages of many other competitive sports.   Playing the game leads to exercise, learning to work as a team, leadership,  physical/mental coordination, tactical thinking, strategic thinking, and social engagement.   Unlike many other sports though, Laser Tag crosses social class and age boundries.    It appeals to both those who are athletically inclined, as well as those who are more inclined to spend all day exercising only their mind and thumbs on a video game.   The game requires energy, hand eye coordination, and strategic thinking - this leads to a game where different age groups can mix and have fun.    The energy of youth is balanced by the experience and skill of age.    This makes the sport great for all age groups.       Beyond the sport of Laser Tag is the Hobby.    The hobby of Laser Tag entails anything from the fun of role playing, to the development of custom gear.   This engagement into the hobby can lead to skills and experience in model design, machining,  electronics, programming, and other interests.   This talk of "guns" may bother some people, but rest assured that we do not seek to glorify war and killing. We play for fun, not for keeps and we know the difference between a game and real life.   Though some games simulate the military style simulation...other games simulate regular tag games that have nothing to do with any kind of military application.   Also too, it should be noted that the gear used by 1SLT and C.O.L.T.S. has the receiving sensor on the gun.    So you are not "shooting at the other player"........you are attempting to "tag-out their gun". To get some better ideas on Laser Tag, check out this edition of The Laser Horizon:  Click on Picture! Note: You have to have Adobe Acrobat Reader to see the above Ezine.  Click Here to Download: This is a 40+page magazine so it may take several minutes to download!   Note: This article was originally written by Sarah Clark, and was adapted by David Roman as an infomation sheet for COLTS.