Laser skirmish

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Laser Skirmish is a brand name for Laser tag experiences that use the equipment manufactured by Battlefield Sports. It is used in part to differentiate the activity from traditional laser tag. Laser Skirmish is most often played outdoors. It is sometimes considered to be safer than the indoor form.^[1] The term is more popular in Australia and New Zealand due in part to its appearance in an episode of McLeod's Daughters, an Australian TV Drama^[2] and also in part because that is where it was born. Foreign owners of Battlefield Sports' equipment often forego the use of the Laser Skirmish brand name or use the newer brand name for the experience: Battlefield Live.

The equipment used in Laser Skirmish is its largest appeal to most players and is significantly different in appearance than traditional laser tag. There is no vest, there is a choice of six different models of gaming gun and the guns have full metal casings. Some are designed to be full size, full weight replicas of modern military firearms. The equipment also has a much longer range than in traditional laser tag and most paintball or airsoft guns. Games are refereed by humans and players are usually respawned back into the game when they die, similar to many video games.

The use of the name Laser Skirmish is partly deprecated now, and used primarily to describe events focused on kids and families because it avoids potential negative reactions that parents might otherwise have to the Battlefield Live brand name. It was also changed because although a highly applicable term, the definition of the word skirmish is unfamiliar to many people. The two brand names are basically synonymous although many players are unfamiliar with one name or the other because most locations use only one or the other, if at all.

More than 200 owners of Laser Skirmish equipment (under various names) exist in 24 countries. The majority use the equipment in commercial ventures.

Competitions for Laser Skirmish are commonly called Clan Wars. Clan wars are typically a series of missions with multiple competing teams on the battlefield playing against each other for round and championship points. Trophies and other prizes may be awarded to top ranked team/s. It is also played as a recreational activity at some ski resorts.^[3]

[edit] History

The term was first coined in 2002 in a local popular TV Show, Brisbane Extra.^[4] But national coverage in 2003 by the prime time show, Getaway, really boosted its reputation.^[5]