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From: rer@vaximile.UUCP (R.RICHARDSON)
Newsgroups: net.games
Subject: Photon - "The Worlds Greatest Game"
Message-ID: <140@vaximile.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 10-Oct-85 17:47:26 EDT
Article-I.D.: vaximile.140
Posted: Thu Oct 10 17:47:26 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 12-Oct-85 17:05:18 EDT
Organization: AT&T Information Systems, Holmdel, N.J.
Lines: 28
Keywords: Hi-Tech, Lasers, Fun

Eat me! Drink me!

Three weeks ago, a 'Photon' franchise opened here in New Jersey.
I understand that several already exist, and more are coming.
Photon, for those who haven't yet heard about it, is a game
played by two teams of 10 players.  The playing field consists
of a large building which has been constructed with hiding places
on two levels.  The entire room is darkened and filled with smoke.
Each player wears a suit consisting of a belt of batteries, a chest
plate filled with electronics, a helmet which has sound and lights,
and a 'laser pistol'.

The object of the game is to 'shoot' the opposing teams players
with the laser pistol (worth 10 points), while avoiding being
shot yourself (-10 points).  Disrupting the opposing teams base
is worth 200 points (and can be done once per player).  Disrupting
a player on your own team costs you 30 points.  Both individual
and team scores are accumulated by a central computer.
 
After playing several games of Photon, it begins to bother me
that I don't understand the technology being used.  It is certain
that both infrared and radio are being employed; the question is:
are the laser pistols infrared sources or just receivers, and likewise
are the helmets/chest electronics sources or receivers of infrared.

I'd like to know.  Anybody out there have the details?

Rick Richardson.  ..!vaximile!rer