Actual Reality International, Ltd.
Founded By: Tim Dallyn and Martin Shoebridge
Originated: February 1993 Date Closed: 2002-merged with Veqtor UK
Total Locations: 84
Personnel of Note:
Tim Dallyn – President and CEO
Martin Shoebridge – President, Actual Reality UK
Jeff Sundquist – Vice President, Corporate Development
Tim Healy – Sales and Marketing
Allan Levsen – Chief Technical Director
Richard Willimus – Manufacturing and Service
First Facility: Zapatax, 20 Kinswell Street, North Hampton, UK
Equipment Overview: Quoting from an Actual Reality advertisement, “The vest is made of durable nylon that slips over a player’s head and clips together on the sides. Sensors are located on the front, back, on the shoulder and on the [phaser] itself. All the electronics are stored behind high injection plastic molds mounted to steel plates.” The Actual Reality phaser was described in an advertisement as “Complete with touch sensor light, the screen displays all the information a player needs during a game. Injection molded plastic, 1.5 lbs., an infrared diode emitter, infrared detectors, laser diode, front touch sensors, speaker in the back, LCD screen in top of the [phaser], LCD light activator, immediate response trigger, and a clip for attaching the [phaser] to the vest when not in use.”
Historical Synopsis: Tim Dallyn was a former employee of Laser Maze of Canada who joined with Martin Shoebridge from the UK. In February of 1993 they established Actual Reality International, Ltd. together and debuted their product at IAAPA 1996, which was held in New Orleans, LA. Actual Reality later went on to establish “Xtreme Themes and Design on October 23,1997 as a division for building laser tag arenas.
A first-of-its-kind joint marketing partnership was entered into by Actual Reality and DarkLight Systems, Ltd in the UK around 2000, permitting Actual Reality to promote and sell the DarkLight products in the United States and Canada. Although there are no known deals that resulted from this unique relationship, it was the first time competing companies entered into an agreement which would allow one to sell the other’s products. There were approximately 60 Actual Reality locations at the company’s height. Actual Reality stopped trading around March of 2002 when the company asset were sold to Jonathan Plache of Veqtor.