Bringing a new dimension to Middletown’s entertainment scene, A New World Laser Tag opened on Main Street Feb. 10.

“We’re finding that laser tag attracts all audiences because it’s fun,” said co-owner Kristie Grasis. “Laser tag attracts university students because there are built in rivalries, like dorm vs. dorm, or the wrestling team vs. the rowing team. People should come down and challenge each other.”

The laser tag arena is 7,000 square feet containing many glowing structures, tunnels, and rooms. There are twenty targets that go on and off sporadically, and strobe lights and fog to act as distractions. Sound effects and music are also used.

“The four owners signed the lease in December and worked for the past two months building everything here,” said employee Chris King. “It’s amazing. They probably spent their New Year’s Eve here working on all of this.”

Up to 38 people can play at once, and there can be three different color teams. There are different formats to each game including team play, individual sessions, capture the flag, stealth mode and domination. In stealth mode, the player’s vest does not light up until being hit, and in domination, the object is to turn your opponents the color of your own vest. Other variations include a limit on lives and ammunition.

“We tried to do more than the standard everybody tags everybody,” Grasis said.

According to Grasis, their laser tag vests are the lightest weight vests on the market. There are sensors on the chest, the back, and one on each shoulder. Attached to the vest is a phaser, or gun, used to target opponents. Each vest lights up, vibrates, and has voices.

Games are $8 per person for a 20-minute session, $15 for 2 sessions, $20 for 3 sessions, and $25 for 4 sessions. On Sunday nights, from 6 to 10pm, students with a college I.D. can play for $6 a game.

Soon memberships will be offered for $35 a year. There will be special nights that members can play and there will get a general discount off each game.

A New World also has an arcade, boasting such games as Skeeball, Spider Stomper, and Pacman and Frogger.

“Right now, we only have half of the games, but we are getting the rest soon,” King said. New additions will include two air hockey tables and Dance Dance Revolution machines.

Tickets are earned based on a player’s performance in the arcade. With these tickets comes the opportunity to buy prizes. Tattoos and straws cost 10 tickets, and light-up pens cost 150. Shrek action figures and glow-in-the-dark basketballs are higher-end prizes, costing 300 and 1,000 tickets, respectfully.

The facility accommodates birthday celebrations and other group parties. There are three birthday rooms, each one with a different theme: Alien Jungle, Desert and Outer Space. On the walls, colorful murals have been painted by Pelliam Designs. Food is catered by Illiano’s.

“We have fifteen birthday parties booked for this weekend,” King said. Birthday parties are $15 per child, and the package consists of 2 games, a goodie bag, and use of a party room.

Downstairs is a party space that has already been used by a local church group for teambuilding activities followed by a rousing round of laser tag.

“Laser tag was a pivotal part of my childhood,” said Josh Scannell ’08. “I’m so glad they’ve opened a new place in Middletown because I’m totally going to take advantage of this. I really cannot wait. Laser tag is a great way to get out your aggression.”

“I think that A New World will really be good for the community,” said Thaddeus Ruzicka ’08. “It will provide us with something else to do on Main Street, aside from going to the restaurants. I like laser tag better than roller skating.”

A New World is owned by Grasis, Denise Duffy, Amy Pear, and June Lockert.

“Our future plans include becoming one of the vesting companies that designed and sells the vests,” Grasis said. “It will require knowledge of fiber optics, and some computer technology, but nothing is difficult if you research it and put it together,” Grasis said.

A New World is located at 423 Main Street, close to Washington Street. Hours of operation are Thursday 4 to 10 p.m., Friday 4 to midnight, Saturday noon to 1 a.m., and Sunday noon to 10 p.m. Customers can call in advance or just come down to play.