It's been 10 years since Karl Ross opened the doors of Laserdome, and it's still as revolutionary in the technological entertainment industry as it was then.
Laserdome, the only laser-tag venue in the county, offers high-tech entertainment options, including g
...(more)
Laserdome, the only laser-tag venue in the county, offers high-tech entertainment options, including g
...(more)
Laserdome, the only laser-tag venue in the county, offers high-tech entertainment options, including g
...(more)
Laserdome, the only laser-tag venue in the county, offers high-tech entertainment options, including g
...(more)
Laserdome is located at 2050 Auction Road, Manheim, just off Route 283
In fact, the high-tech Manheim facility may be even more unique today than it was when it introduced the concept of laser tag to Lancaster County.
Laserdome has grown into one of the top three laser-tag venues in the country, Ross says. The success of the business comes from an original layout of the arena, he says.
"It's an open playfield, rather than at other laser-tag locations, which are winding and maze-y," Ross says.
"Other places say the best laser-tag experience is an every-man-for-himself. Our design is geared especially toward team play, so players of all experience levels can enjoy it."
Laserdome has stayed up-to-date with every component of its facility. The laser-tag equipment was upgraded in September, while the laser shows incorporate the latest music, from Kanye West to Foo Fighters.
"All of our laser concerts are made from scratch," Ross says. "We're the only planetarium that's taking the experience to the level of youth entertainment."
The innovation continues into the facility's expansive arcade, which includes a virtual arena, where up to 14 players can duke it out in "Halo 3." While the game carries a Mature rating, Ross says it's not an issue for kids under the age of 17 to play, because the multiplayer mode the Laserdome uses doesn't have the language and gore of online play or the story mode.
Plus, he says, it's just "laser tag on the screen."
Every measure is taken to ensure the best high-tech experience possible. After the phenomenon of the "Guitar Hero" video-game franchise, Ross had to find a way to get the music-simulator franchise into the arcade.
"(Microsoft) probably didn't realize it, but the USB controllers are the perfect setup to make (the Xbox 360) coin-operated," Ross says. "We installed a timer that lets people play for a number of minutes, and then the system unplugs the controller after a certain time.
"The game pauses when the controller comes out, which gives the player some time to insert more coins and continue right where they left off. As far as I know, we're the only company that allows for something like that."
It's all part of Laserdome's goal to provide the best possible experience for the groups that flood the facility daily.
"Families are our bread and butter," Ross said. "Eighty percent of our customers are groups or parties. ... It's not our games so much as our cleanness and ability to keep everything going at 100 percent."
The details
Laserdome is located at 2050 Auction Road, Manheim, just off Route 283; phone: 492-0002.
ON THE WEB: laserdome.com
The complex includes laser tag, an arcade and a concert center for laser shows.
COST: The most popular daily package is $30, which includes a 40-minute session of laser tag, 44 game tokens, a 30-minute laser concert and 40 minutes in the virtual arena. You can, however, easily spend a lot less by just purchasing the components that interest you, and a variety of deals are available. Call or go online for more details.
HOURS: Laserdome is open noon to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursdays and Sundays; noon to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Mondays are reserved for private parties, but Laserdome is open noon to 10 p.m. on holidays.
What's good about it
With draws like "Guitar Hero 3," "Halo 3" and "Dance Dance Revolution," Laserdome's arcade has just about every party game you'd see at a college dorm room, without experiencing the "togetherness" (read: cramped mess) of a college dorm room.
Plus, if you're really good, you can bring in a lot of spectators to watch you burn your way through a 400-note streak in "Knights of Cydonia," and who doesn't love a little attention?
Oh, and did I mention the only laser-tag venue in the county? The monopoly on the industry hasn't made the experience stagnant, as the equipment was just recently updated.
It's loud, it can get a little raucous and there's nothing quite like looking over the scorecard after a match and seeing you tagged people code-named "Yoda" and "Vader46." The Force is strong with this one.
What's not so good
Get your wallet ready, because to fully experience all Laserdome has to offer, it's gonna cost you more than a pretty penny. The simplest package (one round of laser tag and 44 game tokens) costs $20 per person. The "Guitar Hero" booths ask for a dollar for five minutes of play (often not enough to get through one song).
While the laser concerts have some pretty cool effects at points, the repetition of the same patterns throughout individual songs gets a little blasé. And if you thought Japanese cartoons could trigger epilepsy, you might want to stay on your guard during the shows. Flashing lights and hypnotizing visuals could put you in a trance.
Bottom line
Nothing in Lancaster County can offer the same high-tech experience as Laserdome. Tailored to appease little kids and teens alike, as well as their parents, it's just the place for birthday parties, lock-ins or general hangouts.
COMMENTS: drorabaugh@LNPnews.com
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