Hacking Laser Tag

by johnk

One of the popular pastimes in this area is to go hang out at the local LaserStorm, play some pool, video games, or even a game of laser tag.  Now the standard LaserStorm franchise allows a little bit of customization to their games of laser tag and, considering the turnover at a place like LaserStorm, most of the employees have no idea how to customize the game, let alone change it back to the default if someone changed the computer on them.  So just in case you're one of those employees and you have legal access to the LaserStorm computer, let's go into a little bit on customizing a game of laser tag.

System Password

The first thing you need is the system password.

You have three options: ask someone who knows, shoulder surf someone who knows, or try the default shipping password of BOB (you would be amazed at how many stores leave this default!).

Player Setup

You don't need the system password for this so if you can't get it, try playing around in here.

Player Unit:  Basically the pack number for the player you want to customize.

Name of Player:  Self-explanatory.

Player's Alias:  Self-explanatory.

Player Team:  Green or Red.

Player Shield Number:  Level 1 is normal, level 2 allows 2 hits before dead, level 3 allows 3 hits.

Get Last Game Names and Aliases:  Self-explanatory.

Clear All Players:  Self-explanatory.

Save This Player's Information:  Do this or else you just wasted your time.

Exit:  Self-explanatory.

Game Setup

Here is where BOB comes into play.  Everything here will modify for all players in game.

Shots in Clip:  (1-255)  Basically how many shots the player has before he has to re-energize.  Change this to 20 and watch the spray and pray players get really annoyed!

Points for Player's Hit:  (1-15)  Good for changing the chances when playing a team who specializes in podding.

Points for Pod Hit:  (1-15)  Once again change to meet your team's needs.  If you don't pod worth a damn, change to 1 point per pod hit.

Pod Shot Duration:  (1-30 seconds)  If you pod, change it to like 15 seconds, if not change to 1 second.

Shield Level:  Same as in player setup but for everyone.  Good for general confusion.

Length of Games:  Tired of paying 10 bucks for a lousy 10 minutes?  Change it to 40 minutes!  (Warning - people with pacemakers and poor health should consult the local quack before playing a 40 minute game.)

Headset/Shoulder Sensors Display:  Turn them off for a good black out game!

Teammate Shooting:  Definitely worth the time for disruption, sit back and tag anyone moving and watch your score grow.

Pod Hits Per Player:  If you pod, set it to unlimited.  Otherwise change it.

Printer:  If you want a score printed say yes.

Now you need to click Save, then click Load, and then click Exit to have your new custom game set.

System Setup

Here is where you setup fun things like store name, address, and phone number.  Be creative - remember, everyone who takes a printed score-sheet with them gets a copy of this information.  But of course this is only for store employees to change.

New Password

Hmm, tired of BOB?  Enter old password, enter new password, then reenter new password.

Clock

Basic time display functions.

Analog:  12-hour clock.

Digital:  24-hour clock.

Set Font:  Change face of digital clock.

Seconds:  Display seconds.

Date:  Display date.

About the Clock:  Help file.

Help Prompt

This only shows you info on the software running and count of games played.

Pod Number Buttons

Lets you reassign pod functions.  Usually most arenas do not have enough pods to really change anything in this area.

Conclusion

Well that is it in a nutshell, hope this gives some of you people something to experiment with.  The good ones to play with are shields, length, and headsets off.  This makes the game much more difficult.  If you pod, definitely up the shields to level 3 at least on your own players so you can move to the pod without worry.

One or two other notes: the pack that is carried on the hip has a small AC charger hole on the bottom.  This is where they plug the packs in to recharge the battery.  This is also where you can reinitialize your pack!  Carry with you something that will fit into that hole and when you get shot, plug yourself before you energize.  The opposing team will not get a point for your kill.  This is why anything resembling plugs are an instant disqualification in tournaments.  Plus, if you play lights off you can safely unplug the headset without most being any wiser.  Of course you can still be shot in the gun.

Remember, this is for educational purposes only.  If you have to use this to win you should probably be sitting in the observation booth.  But for fun and diversity, give it a try.