[ Lazer Tactical Action Game Message Board | Message Archive ]

This site has been set up by a fan, for fans of the activity known as home style "lazertag" (non-commericial arena). It's purpose is to highlight players, games, add-ons, modifications, etc., regardless of the system that they use, for the benefit of other fans.
Please try to keep all messages ON TOPIC, and understand that not only will messages that are offensive be deleted, but posters may be banned from the board as well.

    Re: New push for a commercial protocol standard - Upgrades

    Posted by Builty Email on November 12, 2005, 4:23 pm, in reply to "Re: New push for a commercial protocol standard - Upgrades"
    138.217.65.228

    In the commercial tag world at the moment, many systems use Wow mode. There is a big desire for something more though, with things like scoring, healing, player IDs, variable damage etc.
    So far a number of companies have made their own closed protocols (Steradian, TFS) and some have gone for an open protocol (FragTag using MilesTag protocol.)
    Ewow is intending to go in this direction, but due to them being the same company that produces the Zone 3/Dark Zone indoor gear for many years, they recognized that the indoor business never really grew into a proper sport as the gear was not interoperable. They don't want to make the same mistake twice, so have suggested a standard be created.
    People like me and some others at LaserForums have been pushing this way for a while, but the added momentum from Ewow will make a big difference.

    As far as compatiblity, for FragTag we would add this as a third switchable mode, so that we still support Wow and MilesTag. It would be a software upgarde for existing customers. Ewow is planning the same approach of supporting all previous plus the new standard.
    The overall goal is to have interoperable equipment to allow commercial tag to grow into a real sport and have tournaments etc like Paintballers do.
    It will be a long journey, but the prototocol is the most fundamental core thing that IMHO is far more important than anything else.

    Please note, I consider toy equipment and clubs a completely different issue, and the push for club rules is perfectly valid for this market and equipment. The commercial world is different though.

    Message Thread: