« back | 10.12.2008: STEVEN JENNINGS (Q-2000): 'NOW WE ARE BUSIER THAN EVER, OPENING 8 NEW SITES IN THE UK WITH OTHERS IN RUSSIA, SWEDEN AND ITALY'

:: AN INTERVIEW WITH STEVEN JENNINGS (Q2000 LASER TAG GAMES) ::

TRUTNEE: - Tell us please a few words about the history of your Company. As far as I know, you used to be a Q-Zar operator and distributor in the UK but after the American company collapsed, you introduced your own, modified version of equipment - Q-2000... Am I right? And what is the meaning of the name Q-2000?

Q-2000: - Alexander, I will try to make my answers as shot and simple as we have been in business for over 16 years now so that is many years of work and changes!

I was a manager of the first Q-Zar in Spain (Lanzarote) and then a manager of a centre in London, between August 1992 and March 1993. I started Meno Electronics Ltd. in October 1993 as an alternative supplier of spare parts and service support for Q-Zar and Quasar centres in the UK and quickly grow worldwide. Working closely with Q-Zar I found their support was poor and spares parts exceptive. The business started well, within one year our turnover had grown tenfold!

We quickly moved into reselling reconditioned used equipment selling to Russia, Sweden, Spain. In the mid 90’s I meet a group of guys developing a system called Chromaburst, this was a plug-in upgrade for the original Q-Zar system. It had Photo membership, touch-screen control, monitors in the bases and a vast array of new technologies. Consequently it was very expensive, the cost of the upgrade was as much as the original Q-Zar system!

After the guys realized that this system could not sell due to the cost, Meno paid for the R&D of a more cost effective systems that would have a large proportion of the Chromaburst functionality, and Q2000 was born!

We started selling Q2000 as an upgrade to the at the time current Q-Zar software in early 1997 and things were going so well that we developing our own Q2000 hardware, just as Q-Zar USA went into bankruptcy in late 1997. It was perfect timing as we were a good alternative to Q-Zar, and the rest is history!

TRUTNEE: - Since the beginning, how many versions of the equipment did you introduce? What version is being marketed at present?

Q-2000: - We are now selling the Version 6, which still uses the original style gun and vest but has many new changes to the software and PCB hardware.

TRUTNEE: - What is your attitude towards radio-controlling function in laser tag equipment?

Q-2000: - In 1997 when we developed the new Q2000 hardware we discussed radio and thought it was a must have, however, due to time delays of developing, some question or reliability and our sale increasing without radio, we took the view that it wasn’t necessary. And now over 10 years later we are busier than ever, opening 8 new site in the UK between August - December 2008 with others in Russia, Sweden and Italy.

TRUTNEE: - As far as I remember, your Company was probably the first one to introduce an on-line web store specialized in selling Q-Zar and Q-2000 spare parts. Is this web-shop success?

Q-2000: - We where the first to have an online spare parts store in 2000 which by today’s standards doesn’t sound special but as far as I am aware there are no other fully automated spare parts website in this industry almost a decade later. We have found it works very well and may Q2000, Q-Zar and Quasar operators buy through the website.

TRUTNEE: - How many parts in Q-2000 and standard Q-Zar systems are interchangeable? I mean, if a Q-Zar operator experiences some problem with his/her equipment, can he/she purchase some spare parts at your web-shop?

Q-2000: - Coming from the Q-Zar background compatibility with the original Q-Zar is always at the forefront of the design stage. For example our Q2000 Display PCB will work with any version of Q-Zar software or hardware dating back to 1990. I would say that 99% of the Q2000 system is compatible with all Q-Zar systems available on the market. If they aren’t compatible we will have a dedicated Q-Zar part.

TRUTNEE: - How durable is your equipment? Have you conducted some crash tests?

Q-2000: - We haven’t done any test but all of the plastics used are very well made and all of our equipment is proven as we have been manufacturing for some time now.

TRUTNEE: - What features of your system can be mentioned as unique ones? By the way, what is the maximum fire rate at Q-2000 system?

Q-2000: - Well in 1997 we had many unique features such as Stealth, Looting, PUPs, however, most of these option have been adopted by other laser tag companies. One of the most popular option is the ability to have up to 8 different weapon modes on the Phaser and 10 additional Power Ups mode. The maximum rate in Q2000 is 9 shot a second.

TRUTNEE: - Mobile version presented in 2008: can you give just a brief technical description of it?

Q-2000: - The mobile version of Q2000 is exactly the same as the static just without the vest.

TRUTNEE: - I think I'm not wrong guessing that your Company was always famous for moderate and reasonable pricing. Can you please quote the current prices?

Q-2000: - I would agree that we are fairly priced for the support and quality of product that we supply.

TRUTNEE: - How many operators are using your system at present?

Q-2000: - We are quite careful not to publish how many site we have and where they are but you can see all of our UK site on our website.

TRUTNEE: - What is the average life time of your system? What are the warranty terms?

Q-2000: - I would say 8-10 years but if you look after it, it will last for longer.

TRUTNEE: - What are your plans for the future? Are you going to introduce something new soon?

Q-2000: - We are working on some cool stuff at the moment but I can’t tell you what they are until they have been released but if they work the way we plan they will be very cool additions to the laser tag system!

TRUTNEE: - Thank you for your answers!

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