A Historic Night Ends with a Historic Game

When you’re in New Orleans area, Laser Tag and Games of Metairie is unquestionably THE place to play laser tag. And following a busy day at the Amusement Expo a few of the biggest laser tag enthusiasts I know came out for a game…and an interview.

It was pretty historic to get these three men in the same room together for an interview to discuss the history of the International Laser Tag Association (ILTA). Pictured here are Jack Turner (former ILTA original board member), Erik Guthrie (founder and former Executive Director of the ILTA) and Davor Franicevich (former President of the ILTA).

Prior to their arrival a few of us had arrived early to play a few games after dinner and time in the salt room at Strictly Salt.

For me it is such a treat to get to experience playing in this modified Alpha field which pays homage to the origins of the business being based in an original Photon Center that was destroyed during Hurricane Katrina and rebuilt where it currently operates in Metairie, LA.

When everyone else had joined us (including Lathan who designs some very impressive arenas, Steve’s wife Nathallie and a couple of the museum interns) we gathered in one of the party rooms to conduct the interview.

This interview is quite epic and I will be sharing it in the near future as part of the Oral History of Laser Tag video series. Fun fact…according to lasertgmuseum.com the ILTA accomplished many things while it existed including forming the Laser Tag Convention in 2009 and in 2012 creating a website to showcase the Laser Tag Museum’s collection of industry artifacts. How appropriate to note!

Following the interview, we all felt like playing some laser tag so once all the public players had left the building, we got to experience a rather historic private game. I call it historic because what are the chances of getting Davor, Erik, Jack, Lathan and the rest of this group all playing tag in the same arena? I think THAT is about as epic as the interview itself. So, we all suited up…