« back | 25.08.2006: BATTLEFIELDSPORTS: INTERVIEW WITH PETER LANDER

:: AN INTERVIEW WITH PETER LANDER, FOUNDER OF BATTLEFIELDSPORTS ::

BattleFieldSports: - My recommendation for readers is to first check out the range of videos that can be found at www.battlefieldlive.com to see the breath of the action before going into my answers below.

TRUTNEE: - Peter, as I can see, your sales figuratively rocketed within the last several years - I think, I won't be mistaken saying you're the Number One seller of the commercial outdoor combat simulating systems in the world. I guess you do have some specific trade secret that causes such success, don't you?

BattleFieldSports: - We believe we can safely say that we are number 1 supplier of combat simulation systems worldwide for commercial use excluding paintball/airsoft supply. I do believe for commercial simulation purposes, Battlefield Live will overtake airsoft fairly soon. A new battlefield is starting somewhere in the world roughly one per week.

TRUTNEE: - Concerning the trade marks: some time I can see people calling your system "BattleFieldSports", some time - "LaserSkirmish". Besides, I've heard about some kind of co-operation between your Company and Zone Systems (USA), but it seems like Zone guys manufacture their own equipment under the trade mark "Zone Skirmish". Can you please provide us with a brief explanation of this situation?

BattleFieldSports: - These days the game is called Battlefield Live. Battlefieldsports is the brand name of the equipment used to play Battlefieldsports. Laser Skirmish is the old name for the game.

We did have an arrangement for Zone System to distribute our produce in the EU on the basis that they only represented our product and did not develop their own. A fairly normal arrangement. Zone Systems however are known around the industry for their devious behaviour and true to form, they developed their own product while still under agreement with our company. I strongly recommend to any supplier or potential customer to steer well clear of Zone Systems.

TRUTNEE: - Marketing: As I can see, one of the things you are doing is moving away from the term "lasertag", introducing the term "outdoor combat simulation system" instead. I presume this is caused by the opinion that "lasertag" is an amusement primarily used by kids (to tell the truth, such attitude to lasertag is merely dominating in the States only, less in Europe and for sure is not in the ex-USSR)...

BattleFieldSports: - Your analysis is correct. However its more than that, Battlefield Live is a wholely new concept developed from the ground up to be an accurate yet simple combat simulation systems. Lasertag is associated with very complex inaccurate simulations. It was important to people everyone to understand that real infantry tactics work with Battlefield Live and do not with lasertag as it has been run commercially around the world in arenas.

TRUTNEE: - So, what is the age of BattleFieldSports' average player and what is the average player's (or is it better to say "user's"?) age your equipment is designated for?

BattleFieldSports: - It varies significantly from Battlefield to Battlefield, a lot depends on what the operator focuses on. Like most combat games, the vast majority of players are bound to be young males ranging from ages 11 to 21. However the lack of pain, does broaden the market over paintball or airsoft.

TRUTNEE: - Can your equipment be used for, say, law enforcement units' training - in the manner the military men use their MILES-based systems, or alike? Is it actually being used this way?

BattleFieldSports: - It is, especiallly now we have the super sensors of very even performance in direct sunshine versus shade. Police training is certainly using this in Australia and there is a current military contract in negotiation. I do want to say, this is not our focus, but the quality of the technology has got to a point where this is a viable option for those that don't want the hassle and danger of a system like MILES that require a blank firing weapon.

TRUTNEE: - As I know, two models of your phasors - namely, M16 A2/M203 Combat Rifle and M4 M203 Carbine - require licensing for use in Australia. Why such restrictions?

BattleFieldSports: - The law in Australia is quite unclear on this subject. But generally anything that closely resembles a known machine gun is restricted in Australia.

TRUTNEE: - Some of your phasors do look like a kind of real weapon. Do you provide them with some special visual marking - for they couldn't be taken for actual guns by the outsiders?

BattleFieldSports: - Only do this on the M16 and M4 models with an orange tip.

TRUTNEE: - By the way, are you planning to introduce some new models in the nearest future? Probably, pistols, heavy machine guns, or something like that - ?

BattleFieldSports: - Yes, but the details are confidential.

TRUTNEE: - The following question I've been dreaming to ask you for ages: is it possible to operate outdoor lasertag equipment in the rain?

BattleFieldSports: - Yes, the equipment now days has a special coating on all the electronics that provides amazing protection. The coating is a trade secret. We play in the rain regularly.

TRUTNEE: - Boat Wars: it seems that everybody here is much impressed with these guys doing laser combat simulation on water - with the help of motor boats - at Emu Gully site. As I can see, the laser equipment they use is non-standard one. Is it unique, or is it possible to buy such system (excluding the boats, of course) for everyone - under some special request? What is the approximate price for such system - is it very expensive?

BattleFieldSports: - We simply provided them with standard opto-electronics out of our guns and they then installed it on their boats. Our parts are about USD 400 each.

TRUTNEE: - By the way, some of your models can shoot at range up to 170 meters, yet the "guns" used for Boat Wars have effective shooting range up to 100 meters only. Whether it's my mistake when converting feet to meters, or do these guns have somewhat limited range for some special purpose?

BattleFieldSports: - This is a complex issue, there are a lot of factors that impact real range of an infra-red system. Factors include type of lens, type of sensor, lighting conditions and type of scope.

There are two relevant product fact sheets to help with this question.
- http://www.battlefieldsports.com/factsheet11_winningthearmsrace.pdf
- http://www.battlefieldsports.com/factsheet12_sensorsecrets.pdf

TRUTNEE: - What technical features of your equipment are unique? What features you are proud of most of all?

BattleFieldSports: - Its our total package for the business operator. We have an unique combination of urban inflatable barricades, robust weapons suitable for indoor and outdoor operations and comprehensive business guide based on 7 years of commercial experience running this style of business.

Scalability is another factor, we have run games with 200 players at once, no problem. To me, seeing such a large battlefield run well and people having the time of there lives, has been fantastic.

TRUTNEE: - When playing outdoor, sometimes it occurs that the phasor gets splashed with mud. Is your equipment mud-proof? And nevertheless, if some mud gets inside the phasor, does it cause any serious technical problems?

BattleFieldSports: - Never had problem with mud, the units have to be well sealed against moisture, so mud is not an issue. You do have to keep the lens clean and the sensors clean.

TRUTNEE: - How durable your equipment is? For how long do they use one and the same phasor at the sites? What is the average life-span of your system?

BattleFieldSports: - Equipment has steadily improved with every batch to a point now they are amazingly reliable in quite ardous conditions. We do advise the equipment should have a major overhaul every 3 years. With 3 yearly overhauls, the equipment has no finite life span.

TRUTNEE: - When your equipment is purchased by a European customer - how long does it usually take you to deliver it?

BattleFieldSports: - They ship DHL from Australia, typically 6-8 weeks from payment, they arrive at the customers door.

TRUTNEE: - Do you have some warehouses in Europe?

BattleFieldSports: - Only for spare parts. Guns are made to order.

TRUTNEE: - What are your plans for European and Ex-Soviet market? Are you planning to intensify your presence in this region within the nearest time?

BattleFieldSports: - We have no specific plans for the region. We operate globally with no special attention to any particular market.

TRUTNEE: - Thank you for your answers!

(C) 2006 TRUTNEE.COM