High Tech Tag at NRV Superbowl

LazerTag You walk into a dark room and struggle to place your feet in front of you safely. You are wearing an electronic vest with sensors on your chest, back and shoulders. In your hands is a phaser, gripped tightly and ready for action. Your ears are assaulted by a loud speaker and blaring music. Slowly your eyes adjust to the myriad of glow in the dark plants and obstacles; you spot movement disappearing behind a barrier and hear foot steps above you. Adrenaline begins to pump through your veins as you try to remember this is just a game of tag.

The LazerZone opened at the NRV Superbowl in Christiansburg this month. This is not your grandfather’s game of tag. Teams and individuals pay to play in a two level high tech arena filled with lasers, fog, black lights, loud music, and a robot dinosaur. The jungle themed futuristic play ground replaced eight bowling lanes at the NRV Superbowl. 

Bowlers don’t need to worry as plenty of lanes remain for bowlers. But, if they get tired of the pace of knocking down pins they can suit up and tag their opponents in a totally different game of skill and cunning.

LazerTag Tara Keith, Party Manager at the NRV Superbowl, is not shy about her excitement over the new facility. Up to 24 players can compete in the LazerZone. First, everyone must go through a safety orientation and then suit up with vests and phasers. Entering the arena is disorienting as it takes a few minutes for your eyesight to adjust. And even then the flashing lights, lasers, and fog make for an adrenalin filled rush. LazerTag

The object is to tag your opponents with your phaser. Vests register tags and momentarily shut off when tagged. A computer counts tags for players and teams. A game session lasts ten minutes; at the end winners are declared. You can also engage the Warbot, a formidable dinosaur robot that can track players and tag them as he towers over the arena. LazerTag

Keith said “Players are blown away at their first sight of the arena.” Safety is a primary concern and a game marshall is present in the arena with the power to remove or deactivate players who don’t follow the rules.  Two hands must be on the phaser for it to work. Physical contact, running, jumping and offensive language are not permitted. You must be seven years of age or 40 inches tall to participate.

LazerTag Players of all ages have already tried their skill in the LazerZone and Keith said that forming leagues and teams will happen in the future. The NRV Superbowl is located at 375 Arbor Drive in Christiansburg. For information on the LazerZone or bowling, call 540-382-5525.