Buyers > Products > Lighting Design

Two predominant concerns of a Darklight lighting design are reliability and versatility. To support the "wow" effects there have to be more practical workhorse effects and decorative lighting - this will minimise your costs.. There is a glut of discotheque-style moving effects lanterns available worldwide but they are not designed for, and very few are up to, the 10 -16 hrs a day continuous workload required by an Arena. Darklight only specify products we have tested by lasting installation - and by surviving accidental or deliberate abuse. Effects Manufacturers we recommend have international distribution chains or Darklight can supply the majority of fixtures direct to new territories.

There are no extraordinary power requirements for substantial Arena lighting and effects. We provide elecrical specifications and outlet location drawings for our Designs. On Site, we are accustomed to CE and UL Regulations and well used to adapting to local Health and Safety Regulations.

Intelligent lighting systems have many attractive features for lasertag but, because of the structural intricacies of a Hexarena, a multitude of effects sources are required to provide continuous light levels from many angles which is necessary to play in safety. The priority is to light obstacles or avenues decoratively, and continuously, before multi-directional intelligent effects can come into play. Rampways and bridges are outlined with low voltage chasing rope-light or E. L.; this lessens the amount of Effect Projectors or structural fixtures required to light specific areas individually, thus keeping costs down.

Moving shards and static curtains of light divide the room to reveal or block lines of sight. Hiding the size and shape of the building parameters promotes the mysterious form and challenging layout of a multi level arena; sets it in unseen, imaginary surroundings.

Backlighting the arena structure enhances its uncommon angularity, contrasts and brings out silhouetes; from bold crenellations and coloured lanterns, ephemeral landscapes emerge through the haze. The Hex arena creates space for many different environments within one omnipresent form. Lighting is an immediate tool for describing different zones and illustrating GEM themes. There are many theatrical gobo effects - fire, waterfall, forest scenes etc. - that are apt for the Arena and can remotely appear or disappear according to GEM states.

DarkLight install an original effect for arena lighting; "The Spectral Kat". This is a custom rotating gobo fitted to a reliable effects projector. The effect is a moving pattern of prismatic colours that, when combined in a group, enveloppe the focal area from all sides so that you are surrounded by a moving matrix of fine dot and line patterns that slowly spin in and out of one another; Bursts of sharp white beams are momentarily suspended in the fine smoke haze then interceded by rays of prismatic colours. The moving projected patterns cause the arena walls to undulate toward and away from you.

 

 

Darklight custom "Spectral Kat" moving effect projections

 

Flatspot and Moonflower effects

Boxed-Light Effects

 

A Trimaze in the "Spectral Kat" lighting effect

 

Sound Effects

Sound is an important consideration in the overall design and an vital aspect of the various game scripts.
Darklight can design, install and fine tune a sound system together with GEMs, and other stand-alone sound effects, to optimise the sound dynamic of the arena and the gameplay.
GEMs provide a stand alone sound source with pre-programmed active and passive sound modes. Atmospheric sounds (passive mode), that alternatie across the arena, add new dimensions to instrumental backing tracks. GEM sounds provide an element of surprise, reveal the identity or even the location of the GEM.
A Hexarena provides many opportunities for localised sound effects, for example, giant footsteps following you down a ramp (;your own footsteps echoed via a microphone) or screeching bats flying out of a castle tower. Darklight sofware development provides game specific identities and sound effects for each GEM.

The importance of a soundtrack to laser tag is essentially the same as to a movie. It is an accompiament and an experiance enhancer to an imaginative journey in an alternative role.
Music is either a hinderance or a support to our everyday experiences and if indifferent music is playing you can pretty much rely on a 'made for TV' kind of movie feel. So the soundtrack must be relevant and a positive contribution to the suspension of disbelief else it will distract from the efforts made in design, decoration and lighting to create a backdrop and setting to the gameplaying. An important rule of thumb in all decor and theme making is to avoid the commonplace - partly why it costs so much, but by the same token, some attention to details that cost nothing can save you wasting some of what you can afford in creating a 'new place' . In many Arenas worldwide new players/potential repeat customers are being alienated by musical taste. Marshalls and regulars bring in their favourite CDs to hear on the big syatem and take full advantage of scaring off any challenging novices with the latest Britney Spears stacked up to full whack. Lack of attention to briefing, and sound, are top of the list responsible for spoiling a new player's chance to understand and enjoy the games.

 

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