1984
Photon - George Carter III, in 1977, while watching the Millinium Falcon battle scene in Star Wars gets the idea to build Photon - The Sport of the Next Century. Research and construction started in 1982. The first location opened in Dallas, TX in March of 1984.
1985 - June
Photon - The first Photon franchise opened in Toronto.
1986 - March
Photon - The Photon concept was licensed to MCA and a live action/cartoon T.V. show and toy phaser sets went on market.
1986 - July
Photon - Worlds of Wonder introduced Laser Tag toys and aired a commercial showing arena play identical to Photon. Laser Tag and Photon toys were the number one category Christmas of 1986.
1987
Photon - Photon was at its peak. A new company owned center in Fountain Valley CA was setting new revenue records. Seventy franchises has been sold and 45 were open or under construction. Over 2 million players had played Photon.
1988
Laser Quest - Established in 1988 when its founding directors (Phil Pickersgill, Simon James and Nick Brunt) learned of the success of laser adventure games in Australia and New Zealand.
1988 - January
Laserforce - Kelly Brother Games opens the first Laserforce centre in Brisbane Australia - the longest running facility in the world which is still in operation to this day.
1988 - December
LaserTron - LaserTron Corporation opens the Buffalo, NY facility - the longest running facility in the USA which is still in operation to this day.
1989
Photon - Photon was unable to secure financing and no longer was receiving franchising income, George Carter decided to sell Photon. The company centers, technical rights and equipment were sold to various entities. The parent Photon company was closed in good standing and no bankruptcy.
1992
Meno Electronics - Limited Q2000 LTG is founded. The product is designed as a upgrade for the Q-Zar (Quasar) Facility.
1993
Actual Reality - Actual Reality is founded.
1993 - October
Veqtor - VEQTOR (tradename of) VEQTORIAN Limited founded by John Solly, Managing Director VEQTORIAN Limited and Jonathan Plache, Managing Director, Quantum (VEQTOR) (UK) Ltd., Technical Development. Debuted European product trial at Daily Mail Ski Show, London, United Kingdom.
1994 - March
Veqtor - USA product trials start in California, USA
1994 - June
Veqtor - First Veqtor site opens in Guildford, Surrey, England (still open to date).
1994 - November
Veqtor - USA product launch of 'VEQTOR Lite' at IAPPA Miami.
1995 - October
Stunner Corporation - Ray Schaffer, Doug McBride, and Brian Fuery develop the Stunner Corporation.
1995 - November
Veqtor - USA product launch of 'LaserQlay Pigeon Shoot' at IAPPA, New Orleans.
1996 - February 13
Q-Zar - Q-Zar, Inc. becomes listed on the NASDAQ as QZARF.
1996 - June 14
Laser Quest -Laser Quest Corporation Purchases 100% Ownership in Starburst Coin Machines Inc.
1996 - July 29
Laser Quest - Laser Quest Corporation Lists on The Toronto Stock Exchange as "LQC".
1996 - August
ILTA - The International Laser Tag Association is founded as an unincorporated association.
1996 - September 7
Stuartizm Design - Stuart Smith focuses on painting laser tag and FEc environments.
1996 - October 22
ILTA - The International Laser Tag Association sets up its website located at http://www.lasertag.org.
1996 - November
Veqtor - USA product launch of 'MegaBeast' (gun only system) and Sens*A*Sound (special effects module) at IAPPA, New Orleans.
1997 - November
Q-Zar - Q-Zar, Inc. becomes Q-Entertainment, Inc.
Veqtor - USA product launch of 'VEQTOR Classic, Elite and Max' at IAPPA, Orlando.
1997 - November 5
Q-Zar - Q-Entertainment Inc. Seeks Protection Under Chapter 11.
1997 - November 15
CWI - Jeff Schilling starts a new arena design and building company called Creative Works, Inc.
1998 - February 19
Laser Quest - Laser Quest Corporation Changes its Name to Versent Corporation.
1998 - March 31
Laser Quest - Versent Corporation - Purchases 100% Ownership in Chromacolour. Also, named 4th Fastest Growing Company in Profit Magazine's Top 100.
1998 - April
LaserTron - introduces Ground Zero - "The Ultimate Laser Shooting Gallery".
1998 - April 1
Veqtor India - Azure Veqtor Lasertag P Ltd is formed to open laser tag locations in India.
1998 - May 8
Q-Zar - Advanced Entertainment Concepts, Inc. (AECI) purchases Q-Entertainment, Inc. assets from bankruptcy.
1998 - November 14
Veqtor India - Azure Veqtor Lasertag P Ltd opens the first laser tag facility in India.
1998 - November 17
Veqtor - FIREBALL (tm) and VEQTOR Express (gun only system replacement for MegaBeast) are introduced at IAAPA '98 in Dallas, TX and VEQTOR UK secure rights to develop Star Trek World tour Holodeck experience.
1999 - February
Ultrazone Franchising, Inc. - Ultrazone Franchising, Inc. discontinues franchising program, focuses only on license sites.
1999 - February 16
Laser Storm - Laser Storm, Inc. Corporate assets sold at Sheriff's sale.
1999 - April 10
DarkLight - DarkLight Systems, Ltd. declares liquidation and insolvency.
1999 - May 5
Laser Quest - Versent Corporation sale of Starburst Coin Machines Inc.
1999 - May 15
Crystal - Crystal Entertainment, Inc. is formed and introduces new equipment.
1999 - June 30
Laser Quest - Versent Corporation announces sale of Color Me Mine.
1999 - July 15
Q-Zar - Advanced Entertainment Concepts, Inc. becomes inactive.
1999 - August 10
Darkzone - Darkzone discontinues the selling of laser game equipment. P&C Micros purchases rights to Canada from Darkzone.
1999 - August 19
ILTA - The ILTA assumes operational control of an Indianapolis-based laser tag facility making X-Site Amusement Center the test location for the industry.
1999 - September 15
Actual Reality & DarkLight - Actual Reality Partners With DarkLight. Actual Reality becomes the distributor in North America for DarkLight. It is an industry first as two former competitors combine to promote their products.
1999 - September 17
Ultrazone - Ultrazone discontinues the selling of laser game equipment. P&C Micros purchases rights to the USA from Ultrazone.
1999 - September
Veqtor - USA product preview of 'FIREBALL' Klash and Sport, 'GEMINI' and 'Fire and Ice', Fun Expo, Las Vegas.
2000 - March 15
Actual Reality & DarkLight - Actual Reality and DarkLight Development mutual agree to terminate their marketing relationship.
The ILTA recognizes that these pages need to be brought current with the History of the laser tag industry and will make an attempt to update these pages. Our webmaster maintains this website and prioritizes page updates based on a number of factors including revenue production; convenience factors for the members; and the general needs of the public.
