Open Sky. Anticipation. Fresh Air. Team Tactics. Camouflage. Maneuver. 
The sunshine warms the crisp morning air. You stalk patiently between the trees. Out there, waiting for you, is the other team's sniper. You have only a few moments to locate him. You wave you hand at the teammate to your left, silently warning them to move around the stand of trees where you suspect the opponent waits. You heart pounds - the rest of the team will catch up soon, and you need this path clear to make it to the Red team's base. A faint flash as the sniper fires and you hear your teammate call the hit. But now you know where the sniper is located. Time to move him out!
If you have come this far, it's a good bet that you have heard of laser tag. It's a form of pursuit gaming (you chase someone, just like tag) where an electronic device counts the number of times you have tagged the other players with your gear. Since you may be more familiar with arena and consumer gear than commercial outdoor gear, we will start with some of the things that make outdoor laser tag different from the others.
The most obvious thing is that it is OUTDOORS. No fog machines, flashing lights, or high energy music. Like a good thriller, much of the excitement comes from the tension, the anticipation of the action. The moving and shooting is still there, but it tends to be less active and feels more intense because of the anticipation. For most people, the woods or a barrier field are just as unfamiliar to them as the maze and lighting in an arena. The outdoor setting works as well detaching the customer for the outside world and putting them in the game. It's this immersion into the game that enhances the "Wow!" effect.
Outdoor laser tag tends to appeal to older customers than an arena. There are many reasons for this, and most of these reasons have shaped the games that are played outdoors:
- Security - most parents won't let the younger children run around in the forest. The lack of hard arena walls removes the sense of security.
- Slower action - the kids want to run around and shoot. Arena tag is designed to reward them for running and shooting.
- More anticipation - because the action is slower in the woods, a more patience player is needed
These reasons shape the type of games played outdoors. Having older players has the following effects:
- Older players play more complicated games. They bore easily with the arena games and want more and newer challenges
- Older players communicate better. They form teams and operate as groups more easily than younger players. They enjoy the team play.
- Older players have "sore knees". As the players get older it is "less cool" to run and act excited, so they gravitate toward the short bursts of movement versus the constantly moving games. This leads to an expectation of longer ranges and more maneuvering.
- Older players have more money. Teenagers and young adults are willing to spend more money to have fun. They are willing to buy outfits of camouflage and radios to enhance their game.
- Older players are more frugal. While they are willing to spend more, they also expect more in return. They want to be challenged, immersed, and generally feel that they have received their money's worth on the game.
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