Talk:Photon: The Ultimate Game on Planet Earth

Lasertag wiki
so now theres a lasertag wiki so if any of you feel like adding articles, or adding stuff to the articles that are already there.. go ahead. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 208.58.38.36 (talk) 04:21, 31 March 2008 (UTC)

Updated some information. Photon was a commercial laser tag arena first and home gear second. Some phaser stations (notably Dallas and Dallas starbase) did effect the game. Dallas Photon opened in 1984. Jebock 14:09, 6 May 2006 (UTC)

sup bock. see Commercial Laser Tag Systems. thanks whatever 04:09, 24 August 2006 (UTC)

Recent edits
I had, at one time, placed a POV on the entry, but someone changed it. I stated pure facts, as can be evidenced from exactly what happened to that business as well as the discussions on the phazzar yahoo discussion group. Since I live in the area and have been involved with the whole process for the last few years, I have first-hand knowledge about everything that has happened and what is currently happening. Some of my statements are as follows:

>>A new era?

An attempt at a 'new' Photon center, owned by Jim Strother, was constructed in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. This was the first Photon branded field since the closure of the first iteration at the Laurel location in 1998. This location opened on July 1st, 2008.<<

This is 'exactly' what it was...an attempt.

>>The light fades once again

However, this version of Photon was identical to previous versions dated over 20 years ago, meaning it was unchanged and failing to be updated to today's more modern versions of laser tag, such as the more exciting, Laser Quest. Unfortunately, in this Playstation 3 world of ours, it was not attracting the general public and it was closed as of September 7th, 2008. Photon's rebirth lasted less than 9 weeks. Photon gear and other items used in the business were auctioned off. Since the Photon franchise cannot be updated to modern technology and provide fast paced thrills, then it seems that the light has faded for good.<<

Having been to the Photon several times when there were people playing...people of ALL ages, I heard the talk of boredom from them, I heard the talk of wanting refunds because they were not having fun, i heard some adults actually state that they wish they had gone to Laser Quest, about 20 minutes away in Tulsa, OK! There were a few players saying they were having fun, but these players were *extremely* few and far between. Mr. Strother's version of Photon was unchanged and was very boring. Out of the dozen or so times I played, about half the time there was no one there and when there were people there, it took forever to get into a game! I had one session last almost an hour (meaning we WAITED that long to play), while we waited for the owner to get everyone ready! An unchanged Photon CANNOT survive in 2008 if it is unchanged and antiquated. Therefore, my statements above, which were reposted on the entry, are all true and unbiased facts about Photon, it's short life and it's quick demise. I await your response. —Preceding unsigned comment added by JoeSloMoe (talk • contribs)
 * That's all wonderful. Unfortunately, we cannot accept personal opinion or commentary in our articles.  Simply re-add the material and reference a published reliable source that can be verified.  You can read our policies on this topic here and here.  I'm afraid this is a non-negotiable part of our project.  Thanks.  Kuru  talk  11:17, 15 October 2008 (UTC)

10/15/08
You say that I am putting my personal opinion or commentary on the edit. I say I am stating facts. For example;

>>The light fades once again (FACT: the business closed, therefore the 'light faded once again')

However, this version of Photon was identical to previous versions dated over 20 years ago (FACT: with the exception of some repairs that were unseen by the human eye, ALL of the Photon equipment used at the B.A.(Broken Arrow) location was all original equipment!), meaning it was unchanged and failing to be updated to today's more modern versions of laser tag, such as the more exciting, Laser Quest. (The previous IS fact, but I can understand how it could sound like a personal opinion) Unfortunately, in this Playstation 3 world of ours (I was going for a statement that described our fast paced environment of today as opposed to the environment/technology of 20 years ago), it was not attracting the general public and it was closed as of September 7th, 2008.(FACT: True statements. The business did not attract enough people to sustain it, so it closed. The last day of business was 09/07/08) Photon's rebirth lasted less than 9 weeks.(FACT: From it's opening in July of 2008 to it's closing on 09/07/08, the time frame is indeed less that 9 weeks). Photon gear and other items used in the business were auctioned off.(FACT: they were on eBay for sale to the highest bidder; here is a link to show that were being auctioned: ) Since the Photon franchise cannot be updated to modern technology and provide fast paced thrills, then it seems that the light has faded for good. (I say fact, since the equipment, as it is, cannot be updated to modern technology, but I see where this could be considered opinion)<<

However, the rest of the entry has no 'published reliable sources', yet it remains untouched and unchanged. As a matter of fact, most of the entry has flaws and links that are broken and/or direct you to a site of a business that no longer exists. Is this how Wikipedia works? Giving people out-of-date information and/or directing them to sites which are inaccurate?

Examples: Reference point one works, but reference point 2 and three do not. Therefore, according to your own statement, anything on the entry that references those points cannot be verified, so they must be removed. **In 2007, a new Photon center was constructed in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. It opened on July 1st, 2008. [2]**

No Journal entry exists, so how do we know this is fact? According to you, it must reference a published, reliable source, which it does not. Therefore, it must be removed.


 * On September 9th, 2008, after less than 9 weeks, lack of business revenue and interest forced the center to cease operations and sell off its assets.**

Again, no published, reliable source.


 * Technology and gameplay**

This whole section could be accurate, but where is the reference that proves it? According to you as well as Wikipedia (Editors should provide a reliable source for quotations and for any material that is challenged or likely to be challenged, or the material may be removed.) Therefore, until a reliable, published reference is attached, it should be removed.


 * Last survivor**

This section basically turns into an advertisement for the laser tag business in Laurel, Maryland. Also, the reference link does not direct you to any site, therefore it is inaccurate and must be repaired...BUT, I called the Laurel location (at (410)792-8300) and they did not have any prices for the so called 'retro' nights and even the employee I spoke to knew nothing about it, so there is no reliable reference and therefore this whole part of the entry **While original Photon arena equipment is not used daily at this facility, they do sometimes hold "retro" nights using the old equipment, and it can be booked in advance for group outings.[2]** must be removed. I shall assume that your argument will be that "their website states it, so it is a published, reliable source". However, it is not reliable unless it can be verified, and since it wasn't verified by the employee at the Laurel location, then it is not accurate. I shall, however, attempt to continue to contact someone at the Laurel location.


 * A new era**

Where is the reference? Again, no "published, reliable source", so it should not be in the entry, and this is from YOUR OWN STATEMENT.


 * External Links**

The link to the Broken Arrow location must be removed because it is not only inaccurate, it is no longer in business. Do you regularly keep out-of-date links on Wikipedia? That business is closed, so it should not link or even be on the entry at this time.

I await your response. (NOTE: I had been changing the entry as I wrote this, but took away my edits until after you post your response). The entry, as it stands now, is not specific and does not state only the encyclopedic facts (except for the 'Technology and gameplay' section, which has no references). I await your response. —Preceding unsigned comment added by JoeSloMoe (talk • contribs) 12:58, 15 October 2008 (UTC)
 * Apologies for the short response; I've yet to find the time to research the topic. Short - yes, if no reliable source can be found to support the statements, then they should be removed.  No, forum posts are not a reliable source.  If there are no sources to support anything in the article, then it brings up a question of why we have an article here.  I'll dig around when I get a chance.   Kuru  talk  22:03, 18 October 2008 (UTC)

10/17/08
I have edited the entry with links to references. Please let me know if this is appropriate.

XP LaserSport
Why is the XP Laser Sport link removed? It is clearly referenced in the article and therefore, should have a link for readers to reference. —Preceding unsigned comment added by JoeSloMoe (talk • contribs) 01:45, 30 June 2010 (UTC)

Technology
Does anyone have any data on the technology used?
 * I don't have any paper documentation but I seemed to recall the process was the reverse of what people thought.


 * The gun (zapper) didn't transmit anything but was just an IR receiver
 * There were IR LEDs with every LED bundle (Red, Green, and IR LEDs placed around the body). The IR LEDs flashed a "pod" identifier code (which was picked up by the "zapper").


 * Pulling the trigger initiated the suits computer to read from from the "zapper." A successful read of a pod ID was then transmitted to a computer by a wireless transmitter and the computer transmitted back a "you are hit" code to the victim.


 * Before you could start you placed your zapper into a registration device that assigned it a unique identifier, and associated that identifier with your badge's unique identifier.

--Spandox (talk) 20:38, 9 September 2011 (UTC)

I played in OKC, was in the USAF at the time, very technical/geeky/curious. Had to ask how it worked.
 * The gun is actually an RF receiver that received signals transmitted from the harness. There were 2 overlapping antennas on different frequencies on the ceiling. Ham radio operators would call them fan dipoles. One for each team's gear/data. Lights for effect and a red light where the the rear sight would be that indicated a few diff things, such as seeing a signal, registering a hit, and indicating you got hit and your gun was deactivated. Pulling the trigger when you had a signal, and probably a complete data packet acquired, told the system to score it.
 * The belt was a big battery pack with pc-type power supply ac connections to the harness and gun. Harness was transmitter/transponder. I want to say there was a helmet or headset to get audio feedback, but the music was so pervasive, I can't remember.

Adkjeffarch (talk) 14:42, 15 August 2021 (UTC)

RE: Solo Play
It's mentioned in the article that solo play was not possible. While it is true you couldn't go out on the field and play "alone"; a free-for-all game mode was an option occasionally used at the Chicago/Harvey location. Base towers did not count except to use as a "clear". — Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.227.232.122 (talk) 04:09, 27 July 2013 (UTC)

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