Get in The Zone! You Know You Want To!

September 29th, 2011 |

Zone 3… how did we end up there? In a nutshell: during an internet search of ways to promote Tasmanian businesses, manager Joel found Think Tasmania, and an article called “Things to Do in Launceston“. He thought we should add Zone 3 to that list. Confident we would enjoy the experience and want to write about it, he invited us to come along and have a go. And he was right. Our group had such a fun evening, we wouldn’t hesitate recommending a visit to you!

Zone 3: brand new Laser Games arena in Launceston, Tasmania

Zone 3 Laser Games

Owner Brett Johnstone has just opened this flash new laser games arena in the Launceston region. In fact, when we arrived, they had only been open three days! Brett also owns Zone 3 in Hobart, which has been operating successfully since 1993. Not to be confused with outdoor skirmish or paint ball, Zone 3 is all about laser tag… so no paint stains or bruises!

Tasmania to Host International Zone Competition

The new Tasmanian Zone 3 arena is so impressive in fact, they have won the rights to host an international competition. Teams from the United States, New Zealand and Australia will do battle in March 2012, with a big trophy and bragging rights at stake. And while this can be considered an elite sport involving a serious training regime, it is equally suitable for casual, first-time players. Our collection of volunteers were quick to adapt to the energetic, adrenaline-fueled game.

Zone - Darkened Arena, Electronic Vests & Phasors

Participants wear electronic vests & carry phasors in the darkened Zone 3 arena

Laser Games: A Phasor for All

Age and gender are not remotely relevant to the level of fun expected at Zone. I rounded up a group of six young teenage boys to use as crash test dummies, thinking that would be appropriate. And it definitely ticked all the boxes for a fun time for them, with the excitement levels reaching fever pitch. But I must mention that two dads also accepted the challenge to run around in the dark with a flashing, electronic vest & phasor!

Games of laser tag... action stations at Zone 3

Very young children are equally able to join in the fun. And don’t go thinking this is an all-male show. We met Jay and her friends, who chose Zone 3 as the place to celebrate her 19th birthday. The party girls were each decked out in a very fetching, brightly-colorued tutu and looked quite at home with a phasor!

Jay celebrates her 19th birthday with friends at Zone 3 in Launceston

Birthday Party Zone

There is a mezzanine party room at Zone 3 in Launceston for group bookings to congregate between laser games. Brett and Joel can organise drinks, chips and lollies (all the party essentials!) and encourage pizza deliveries and BYO birthday cake. They do have ice-cream cakes available as a back-up plan.

Elaborate graphic designs decorate the mezzanine party room at Zone 3

24 players can participate at any one time in the laser games arena, allocated between teams or competing as individuals. If you arrive solo, you can be integrated into another group. Each player is given a report card at the completion of the game, showing their success rate.

Read all about your laser games hit ratio in the Zone 3 report card

Arcade and Laser Games

And talking about success, one of the mums from our volunteer contingent showed how she misspent her youth by dominating the pinball machine. Actually, there was a lot of action in the games arcade zone outside the laser tag arena. With racing simulators, dance machines, air hockey and the like, the blood was pumping and the competitive spirit was definitely on display!

Arcade games at Zone 3 in Launceston Tasmania

Prices start at $7-00 per laser game, and the centre has package deals for birthdays and groups, and discounts for super sessions. The Launceston Zone 3 centre is located at 9 Swantson Park Drive off Waverley Road in the light industrial park. A little out of the way, but the kids (and adults!) will thank you for taking the effort. For more information about Zone 3, call (03) 6339 2585 or visit their website.

The writer and her team of enthusiastic volunteer combatants were guests of Zone. Thanks for making contact with Think Tasmania, and we wish you all the very best with the new venture in Launceston and continued success in Hobart. And of course: good luck to all contestants competing in the international meet next March.

This was the message we received from Joel
in the first instance asking Think Tasmania to visit…

I came across your article of things to do in Launceston (even when it’s raining) and figured I would let you guys know about Zone 3 Laser Games. Zone 3 is an interactive laser game where players put on an electronic pack, and attempt to obtain the highest score by tagging other players, base stations and other area devices. This all takes place in a darkened arena, with lighting and haze effects.

Zone 3 has been operating in Hobart since March 1993 and has now opened at a second location in Launceston. We would love for you to come and have a look at either of our sites (or both if you got really keen). I am the site manager at Launceston, however if you were interested in checking out the Hobart site, I could arrange a time for you to meet with the site manager there.

Pretty straight forward, and this article is the result of that single email.

think-tasmania.com