The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, July 09, 1998, Summer Edition, Page 5, Image 5

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    SCOTT MCCLURG/DN
LASER QUESTERS Phillip Thompsen, 11 and sister Emily Thompsen, 6 of Grand Island, N.Y., search for their opponents Tuesday evening at LASER QUEST,
6802 “P” St.
Children of all ages wage war at Laser Quest
By Sean McCarthy
Staff Reporter
In a black-lit airlock, the smell of
manufactured fog permeates the senses.
Donning a v-shaped vest with flashing
shoulder pads and a flashing sensors on
both sides of the vest, two dozen com
batants raise their lasers and yell an oath
before going into an 8,000-squarefoot
structure that looks like it was borrowed
from the set of “Aliens” or “Blade
Runner.”
“I will play smart! I will play hard! I
will not use abusive language!” are
some of the sayings the players are
obligated to shout before blasting each
other with lasers for an intense 20 min
utes. Imagine Hanson doing a Ministry
cover and you get the idea of the sound.
Meet the indoor answer to the swim
ming pool or softball this summer. It’s
Laser Quest, located at 6802 P St. Gary
Lamb has been general manager of
Laser Quest since it opened in March of
1997. Since then, Laser Quest has gath
ered some 400 members including 20
25 hard-core members who show up
about every other day to blast their frus
trations out on seasoned regulars and
amateurs alike.
Lamb said the average age of the
patrons was between 14 and 18.
However, he said they catered to every
age group, from age 7 to 77.
“And if they’re older than that, that’s
not a problem," Lamb said.
For college students. > >
lunar landing site at a children’s muse
um. One of the marshals explains the
rules. No running, no swearing, no
ducking, no covering of the targets, no
hitting other players on their domes with
the butt of your laser and so forth. Then,
players are allowed to go in and get their
equipment on. After that, it's anyone’s
regroup.
The regulars tend to get aggressive
and dive into the thick of things.
Swerving, bending and maneuvering,
they have it timed to the exact point
when they can fire again, and they do,
unleashing a barrage of ruby red beams
at the player or players who just hit
them.
Two members, the father and son
duo Rick and Adam Palmer, just got
back from a regional Laser Quest com
petition two weeks ago in Dallas, Texas.
Rick, code name “Skinner,” and Adam,
code name “Nepenthe,” helped form a
team of players in January. The group of
players placed fourth in the contest in
Dallas.
Rick said the game, as well as the
group, was a great stress reliever.
“It helps an old guy feel young
again,” he said.
Adam said his best strategy for the
game was analyzing the situation when
he enters the arena. Both Palmers prefer
the dog-fighting style of laser tag play.
Every Monday, the group of about a
dozen regulars practices. In general,
Please see LASER on 6
Lamb said playing laser ••
tag was a great way to Jf helps ClVl old gUy feel
build camaraderie among 1 y y
friends. The place has yOUYlg again f
been rented out for several ' ° 0
p-eek and scholastic time- RlCK PALMER
tions trom the University T ~
of Nebraska-Lincoln. Laser Quest participant
“It s an exhilarating,
fun and interactive good time,” Lamb
said.
There is a pnce for the fun, however.
And for non-members, that price is $6
for a game that lasts about 20 minutes.
After paying for a game, the patrons are
required to give themselves a code
name. Popular code names include Big
Mama, Maverick, Subzero and any
character from “The X-Files.”
After this, the game’s players are
herded into a room that looks like a
guess what happens.
With three towers, numerous mir
rors to shoot off and a fairly frenzied
group of players, the game offers
numerous strategies. But like going to a
bar on a Sunday night, you can spot the
regulars with ease. The non-regulars
tend to flee the moment they get tagged.
When they get tagged by someone’s
laser, they cannot fire and cannot be
fired upon for five seconds. They scurry
to the towers or one of the many walls to
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