European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 29, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse Magazine shoot but not to kill by Eric Schmitt new York times Tephen Glicker used of spend Friday nights at the movies with fits Girlfriend Cindy that was before to became a swashbuckling photon Warrior. Fear not. Romance has not taken forsaken cd. Gli Cicer. 17. From great neck ny., is one of hundreds of Young people donning Darin Vader helmets and running around a dimly lighted Arena in East Selau Kot it Zopp no each Olhow with phases in a be adventure game called photon. It s great you shool live people and Don t my anyone said Glicker a real live gun aficionado who has been making he hour Long Drew from Greal neck hires nights a week since photon opened about a month ago. In Eastern Long Island where everyone seems to complain that a night out Means Bowling or the movies or Lille else photon fans say he game offers an intergalactic alternative to he suburban standbys. Combining a sweaty workout with a healthy dose of the make believe All in a High tech counterpart la the War games in which camouflaged soldiers fire paint pellets Al each other in the Woods. Ii s like going Inlo a fantasy world said Roanne Lederman 25. Of Setauket who was playing her second game with her husband Michael. Photon ii a team spor with 10 players to a Side the reds and the greens Conley lands suit up like space age gladiators in stereophonic helmets to hear hits and misses linking breastplates Battery Power packs and phases that shool beams c-1 Light much like Nifte laser guns children aim a their friends in each eve Manule game players dash along carpeted ramps funnels alcoves and bunkers in a misty Strobe filled 10,000-Squaro tool Arena Points Are scored by shoaling enemy warriors rapping insist the image son Sieve owners or the opposing Leam s pulsating Light base players lose Points and Power temporarily in they Zap Linoir teammates. Flo Botic vernole Voces Issue instruct Lions to players and eerie synthesized music Walls from hidden speakers throughout the 52 million Arena which has a beginner s Field. Alpha and a Mote comply playing Ajea or advanced placers. On Obj Fern an of of Avion dec ii ply or in Ujj no of Hijra or lo1., of Portius it combatants at a photon Arena tire tight beams it opponent during e tattle. Participants below scoring their own Points Bunol d/5rt/ping the Garni it s an escape from Iho everyday pressures and. Anxieties said Dennis Bass. M. A general Coni who is co owner of the photon franchise Here photon which originated in Dallas three years Vii. Now has 24 franchises nationwide this photon a converted Rotor scaling rink is the Dusl in new Vork slate As photon spreads across the country a Debaylo rages among parents sociologists and psychology As to whether the game encourages violence in society photon participant suit up with Tel Mats blinking . Power packs Landph flyers. Or is simply Good clean Tun Tor he whole Fanaly there s something sinister Olmut of i of Tim Mcmaho i t7, of curare. Who to i Brj m Iho lounge Lor his 13 year Lorl in Janon to paying " the re going around Kii Brj each other and enjoying it of Loci parents . A cd photon l Rought then family Kif Othor in a corny nine t cent or i incl Var in inti a Ratcil to air 13 in scrap or Rug Burn this is the co c 1 la Verj to pm tag i be -.in. And if people of a c to Hal. It / to i a l real . Said de Balsano. A 33 old Junior a coh school Leacher from Northport who Broc Ghl i jul la he Arena Lor his 13-year-old son s birthday parly there arc no age resin Lwis players must be ii least 4 Loet 6 inches tall to play because of like us the equipment John Arntsen the other co owner of the photon Center he a says that in the Arena s Lisl few weeks in has drawn a clean crowd of children teen agers and men and women in their 20s and 30s Arnesen said that 500 to boo people play photon on a Busy Friday or saturday night Wilh the doors slaying open until 1 a m each game Cost $3 75, Wilh an initial. One time $10 Lee there s even a new photon league Wilh 25 teams joining in Competition some psychologists said that photon and Olhorn electronic games relied people s need Lor fantasy1 what s remarkable about uli1. Is that we to tit tiny in we did Good run a d an i Al tuesday. September 29. 1987 the stars and stripes Page 13
