Every laser tag game, indoors or out, runs on the same few parts: a shot, a sensor, the optics between them and the software that sets the rules. Once you know what each does, choosing equipment gets much easier.
What happens when you pull the trigger?
The tagger sends a short burst of coded infrared light. In our classic equipment, which uses a protocol based on MilesTag II, that burst carries the shooter’s player ID, team colour and a damage code: 16 values from 1 to 100 units. A sensor on the target receives the packet, subtracts the damage from the player’s health and records who scored the hit. The full packet format is in our data protocol; the 11th generation, Alphatag, uses its own ALPHALINK protocol.
Because the protocol is shared, our MilesTag-based game sets also work alongside equipment from other manufacturers that use MilesTag 2.
What do the hit sensors do?
Sensors are what make a hit count. Outdoor players usually wear a headband: the Smart RGB headband has four sensors covering 360 degrees, vibrates on the side that was hit so players feel the direction of fire, and changes to the shooter’s team colour. The Alphatag headband has five hexagonal sensors. Indoor arenas favour vests such as the DEFENDER vest, which pairs wirelessly with the blaster.
Taggers can carry sensors too. A weapon hit sensor in the barrel punishes shooting around corners, and the Alphatag Sport tagger has three hit sensors so it can be hit from every side. Read headband, helmet or vest? for the trade-offs.
What do the optics do?
The optics shape the infrared beam: how far it reaches and how big the hit spot is at a given distance. A wide spot is forgiving; a narrow spot rewards real aim.
| Optics | Shape | What it is for | Key facts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prism | Suppressor style | Rental fleets | Proven classic, certified eye-safe |
| Parallax | Flash hider style | Longer range and precise aiming | 62% more effective range, 3.2× accuracy, tube 2.6× smaller than the old optics; certified eye-safe; fitted at manufacturing on many models |
| FOKUS | Internal module (80 g) | Competition and phygital sport | Two-axis adjustment per shooter, hit spot about 22 cm at 10 m, range up to 300 m; official fit AK-25 Predator and AR-15 Ranger |
On the 9th generation, shot power can also be set from 1 to 100% from the remote, for indoor and night games.
How do game devices fit in?
Game devices speak the same infrared language as the taggers. A first aid kit sends a command that restores health; a Cerberus mine hits every player within 12 m; a Trinity grenade hits everyone within 20 m indoors or 10 m outdoors; a remote can respawn, pause or kill a player or a whole team. Our game modes guide shows what each device adds.
What does the software do?
Before a game, the software writes the rules to every set: health, ammunition, damage, team colours, characters and the scenario. After the game, or live during it, it collects shots, hits and awards. Our configurators are free for every generation:
- the Configurator for the 4th to 9th generations, with offline statistics for up to 128 players;
- the X-Gen configurator for the 10th generation, with live statistics over Wi-Fi for up to 512 players;
- AlphaTag Server and the Alphatag Configurator app for the 11th generation, for up to 65,000 players.
Next steps
Ready to choose? Start with our buyer’s guide and generations compared.
