(Fortunately We've Also Included Frequently Offered Responses)

Watch for Continuing Additions to This Page.  Also, Send Us a Solid FAQ and We'll Reward You for Your Effort & Insight.

• Are there age requirements for ULTRAZONE?
  Yes. All guests must be at least 7 years old to play. This restriction is strictly enforced. No we don't ask for birth certificates; although given some adults penchant for shall we say a less than truthful approach to reporting their child's age; we have considered this alternative. Please respect our rules; they are for everyone's benefit. Oh yeah, we don't care about upper age limits.


• Do I need a reservation to play?
  No. Its first come first served. Actually, we only take reservations for groups of 15 or more (you must give a deposit and guarantee 15+ players).
  


• How long will I have to wait to get in a game?
  We love this one. After consulting all known astrology charts, as well as completing extensive statistical analysis; we state with absolute certainty that we have no idea how long the wait will be. Are there better times to come down to play? Sure there are, but they change from week to week. All kidding aside, if you call us, a manager can give you some advice on better arrival times for the day that interests you, but beware, as we have no control over what group might walk in the door five minutes before you get here.
  


• Will it be very busy on____________ (you fill in the day)?
  See question number 3. This has to be a trick question. You tell us, what's the correct answer here?


• No, we won't be busy at all for the entire day, which means ultimately we won't be able to pay our bills, which ultimately will mean we won't even be here the next time you call.


• Yes, we will be completely slammed, so if you love astounding ZONE excitement and consistently large games, this is the day for you.

It is now time for a special ZONE insight moment. First, ask yourself, what is the correct answer to your question? We figure that you want the ideal game. Ah, the elusive search for laser tag nirvana- the "perfect" game. You know the one we mean: just the right amount of newbies to make certain that you get a good score; not too many young kids, because they always play better than you; the perfect number of players on each team so you and your friends can be together and not have to relate to any strangers; and definitely a game with no role players. Certainly a modest set of expectations. Well good luck in your quest; because we can only guess at crowd size and game make-up.
On a more reasonable customer service note, a manager can offer a few suggestions for certain days in case we have large groups booked.


• How many people are in a game?
  While we can play up to 36 in a game, the size of your game may vary depending upon the number of players purchasing passes at the time.



• How often do you run games?
  On typical player flow days, we run games every 15 to 20 minutes.



• How do I get there?
  Uh, that would require that we knew where you are. Amazingly this tasty bit of data, most of the time, is never included in the conversation until we ask. Nevertheless, we've taken care of this dilemma for you with directions from any place in San Diego County as well as a map finder
  (see General Info).



• Can I be on the same team as my friend?
  Better question, does your friend want you on his team? Are you any good? Anyway, we do our absolute best to put friends on the same team. Just tell your game master during the briefing that you have some people that want to be on the same team; but just as in life, there are no guarantees (how poignant) because we have to make even teams- both in size and skill level.



• Are there clothing restrictions?
  Yes. Backless sandals are not allowed due to traction issues on the ramps to the upper decks. We really recommend tie-shoes of the athletic type. Also, the infamous "athletic t-shirt" (you know the muscle type/"_______ beater" shirt) is prohibited. Save them for the gym or the beach or better yet just throw them out.



• Is running permitted in the game?
  Never!!! You are playing in a dark, blacklit arena, filled with mazes, ramps and obstacles. It's simply too dangerous to run. Pathetic imitations of a frenzied steroid juiced track star or, worse yet, some Chargers interior lineman bounding through the arena will get you a points deduction, a time out (because you’ve been a very bad boy or girl)  or thrown out of the game.



• Are the games supervised?
  Yes. ULTRAZONE staff is always in the game insuring a safe and thrilling experience.



• Are the lasers safe?
  Another question we love. A well-known dermatologist really liked our equipment a lot and asked if he could borrow our lasers for dermabrasion, skin peels, and other fun laser stuff; but we need all the equipment on site for regular play. Of course on the other hand, we love the sight of high power industrial-level lasers slicing through the air, bringing players to their knees like a wild attack scene from Star Wars. Duh, of course the lasers are safe. Think about it- 1.4 million players in eleven years equals safe equipment. Our lasers seem powerful because they are used in a darkened, fog filled, and themed environment.



• Do you have other facilities in San Diego?
  Nope, the Sports Arena location is our deal. Come on you know everybody in California loves to drive, so just jump in the car; you'll be here before you know it. No question we're definitely worth the drive. Remember, this is the game that will change your life.



• Tedious player question-    “How Much Time Is Left In The Game? Also When is the Next Game”?
  Question asked to front counter staff typically every 45 to 90 seconds by agitated players in the lobby.  These players have proven themselves, despite our extensive efforts to comfort them, to be either 1) maddeningly unable to tell time or; 2) in desperate need of constant reassurance that in terms of the universe’s space/time continuum, time does continue to move forward at its 60 seconds per minute pace, when one is waiting for the next game.



• Exasperating player question-     “Hey, hey did you call                                ?” (Fill the pack name of your particular pack)
  This question is asked to front counter staff either during or after scorecards have been announced. The reality is this scorecard has either: 1) not been called as yet, proving that the player has a difficult time not have his needs met before everyone else's (we all suffer friends like this don't we?); or 2) the scorecard was called five minutes ago, proving that the player was too spaced out to pay attention to this most critical moment in his life (we all shoulder the burden of those with uncomfortably poor listening skills) Anyway try to avoid this most embarrassing faux pas as it drives us completely crazy.



• Aggravating player question formed into a statement-    “My Laser Wasn't Working for Most of The Game” (Overheard as an angry complaint to front counter staff at the end of a game)
  This is an accusation and/or explanation, typically by adult players and rarely by children, for poor game play and a resulting lousy score. In actuality, this is really indicative of a failure by that player to take personal responsibility for his/her own poor play. Here’s a news flash for you- Your laser wasn't working because 1) you didn’t use two hands on the laser; or 2) you were just getting lit-up for most of the game because you simply suck at laser tag!



• What is Late Night?
  As in "I play Late Night" or " Will you be at Late Night?" This phrase refers to our Late Night at the ZONE program, Friday and Saturday nights from midnight to 2:00 am. A San Diego original, developed when we first opened where games are priced at $5.50 and usually play to a packed house.



• What are Solo, Eliminator, Stratego, Zone Ball, Lightning 3’s, Base Attack etc.
  These are special format games that are typically not played during general public play.  They are used extensively at “Tuesday Night at the ZONE” and in 5-day summer camp programs.



• What is a Role Player OS- denotes “old school” laser tag term”
  This term derives its origin when there were two types of memberships available at ULTRAZONE.- the basic membership or “Advanced Access” and the coveted “Role Player” Membership.  Role Player memberships featured membership buttons that carried special player powers such as “quick ups” where you pressed the button on the front of the pack and your instantly re-activated after being tagged.  Role Players were seen as the elite laser players typically with highly advanced skills.  They have both a place of endearment and loathing in ULTRAZONE lore.  We mostly loved them dearly because they loved ULTRAZONE and adopted us as the coolest place to hang out.  We occasionally loathed them dearly because they loved ULTRAZONE and adopted us as the coolest place to hangout.  Certainly at the core and intimate part of our origin in San Diego these early years featured many memorable Role Player moments that are now a part ULTRAZONE legend.  These memories will be forever cherished.



• What is the infamous cool old school Laser Grip- aka Role Player grip?
  This is the signature mark of the advanced level of laser tag play. This involves the rotation of the hand so that the thumb is toward the rear of the laser, the finger tips are on top, and the palm sensor rests in the "Y" or web between the thumb and first finger (as opposed to the standard palm up grip). In addition to looking extremely cool, this position allows for an incredible increase in laser mobility during the game. Caution: this movement requires lots of practice to avoid making a fool of yourself, so ask one of the staff for help the next time you play



• What does the phrase “Lit Up” mean?   OS- denotes “old school” laser tag term
  (Slang term) As in "I lit him up" or "I got lit up" This is the act of one player very successfully tagging another (usually many, many times) during the course of a game. The origin of the term comes from the first version of our old school game equipment where a white light  flashed on the pack at the instant of a tag.



• What doe the phrase “got worked in the game” mean?  OS- denotes  “old school” laser tag term
  A term not exclusive to ULTRAZONE describing a player's game where he played quite poorly was rather seriously Lit Up; as in "I got worked in that game.”



• What is a Deactivation?   OS- denotes “old school” laser tag term
  Deactivation is otherwise known to the general player as simply a “tag” where the pack goes dark or off for approximately 5-6 seconds. Slang term for this is- "deacs". 



• What is a  Stun    OS- denotes “old school” laser tag term
  In old school ULTRAZONE laser tag, tagging a player on the shoulder or laser resulted in an approximate four second stun, where the player’s laser stops working and he/she cannot fire back. Three stuns equaled a full deactivation.



• What is covering?   OS- denotes “old school” laser tag term
  The most despised form of cheating in the ZONE consists of covering your chest targets with your arms during game play. Covering was also known to lead to uncontrollable fits of whining and complaining from role Players who moaned that newbies are covering, when in actuality the newbie had very little idea how to even find a base let alone cover sensors.



• What is a Newbie   OS- denotes “old school” laser tag term
  This is a term of endearment for the new player, as in "this game is full of newbies".  The term includes totally new players as well as those who have played some games but are still in the very early stage of their ZONE lifespan.



• What is a bunny hunt?    OS- denotes “old school” laser tag term
  Bunnies are newbies.  So in an old school game with lots of newbies and a few Role Players, the advanced players can have a bunny hunt where they seek out and “work” the newbies.  This led to Role Players not being permitted to play in bunny games.



• What is Smurfing?   OS- denotes “old school” laser tag term
  Here we enter the world of grotesque poor taste and unsportsmanlike conduct in a game; where friends who have been placed on different teams continue to work together during the game, at the expense of the rest of each of their teams. Of course this is a guaranteed way to alienate other players as well as have them make extensive plans to exact a measure of revenge. Surprising as this may seem, this maneuver is fairly easy to detect.



• What is a Face Off?   OS- denotes “old school” laser tag term
  This is squaring off one-on-one during the game with another player. The goal is to both dodge your opponent's shot and/or tag your opponent first. This is seen mostly in highly experienced players, and is not at all recommended for newbies unless your are interested in getting lit up



• What is Lord of the Rings?   OS- denotes “old school” laser tag term
  This is the highest level of one-on-one elite player competition, and is typically used as part of a major tournament championship play.  Two or three players face off within a 12 foot square or “ring” for typically 5 minutes.  The player with the least amount of recorded deacs is the winner and moves on to the next round.



• What is a Terminator?-  OS- denotes “old school” laser tag term
  In old school laser tag the Game Master carried an electronic device that could shield a player from being tagged, delete 1000 points for a game infraction, and/or terminate the player’s game by shutting down the pack resulting in a zero score



• What is a “Red”?     OS- denotes “old school” laser tag term
  As in "I got a Red” or “I got redded in that game". A 1000 point penalty deduction administered electronically by a Terminator at the discretion of the Game Master for Rules of the ZONE violation during game play. Two Reds equaled a full termination and removal from the game.