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Ready, aim, fire

Local laser tag business puts people in live action video games

By MICHAEL BOYLAN
mboylan@TheCitizenNews.com

There’s at least one way to get the kids to turn off the video games this summer.

Laser Strike USA, based out of Tyrone, came from Jason Cramer’s idea to bring the video games he enjoyed playing to life. A fan of the games SOCOM and Halo, Cramer, who played both games with people all over the country, wanted to put the games in the real world and became an owner of a top of the line laser tag operation. If you gave the players weapons with infrared beams instead of joysticks, they could maneuver themselves over different territories and play the same types of games they do with their Playstations or XBoxes, and unlike paintball, nobody leaves with welts and there is no mess to clean up.

Laser Strike USA opened in September of 2004 with 20 acres of battlefields off of Georgia Highway 74 in Tyrone. It started out as a popular attraction for kids or parents throwing birthday parties but churches and corporations have played the games as well, as forms of team building and stress busting. Though his time on the property is almost up, Cramer has been looking for new areas to use and has also taken the games on the road.

“Our mobile parties are really picking up,” said Cramer, a former Fayetteville resident and Fayette County High School graduate. “We recently had a party in Brooks that went really well and set-up only takes 15 minutes if we don’t have to set up inflatable bunkers.”

The set up and games can be either simple or complex, ranging from capture the flag to simulated hostage rescue missions. The cost is $10 a hour with a two hour minimum and Cramer estimates that 75 percent of his business comes from planned bookings.

“Open play may happen on the weekend if there is a big enough block open,” said Cramer, who, like the other five operators, joins in on some games to help players new to the games and makes sure that they run smoothly.

Cramer feels the popularity of paint ball has helped attract people to Laser Strike USA. “Kids think paint ball is cool and want to play and parents see this as a safe compromise.”

Cramer is hoping to expand the mobile party areas to Henry and Coweta counties and also hopes that some day he’ll be able to just set up bookings, though he’ll alwsy be a fan of the game and a player. His advice to others who would like to start a business is to “do something that you are passionate about.” He remains passionate about laser tag and video games and is enjoying himself while making money and introducing others to the game.

For more information about Laser Strike USA, visit www.laserstrikeusa.com or phone 404-314-2129.