Today I was at a 12 year old’s birthday party. My friend was throwing her daughter a birthday party and allowing each of her children to bring a friend. I was her friend.
Today’s party was at Activate in Langley. This is an indoor electronic playground. In groups of 5, guests are invited to play a series of mini games, Mario Party style. But instead of screens and controllers you are your own avatar, with no need to suit up or gear up.
Each player is equipped with a band that you scan to start the game and track your progress. Games are one minute long, each held in their own individual room, each with a variety of play styles and levels to choose from. You clear one level and can advance to the next, where each progression brings about harder challenges.
This is apparently the world’s first active gaming facility requiring you to jump, climb, problem-solve, as you and your group move between challenges. Each dynamic game room has interactive technology that reacts in real time, ensuring you get your heart pumping. So dress in comfortable clothing and be prepared to sweat.
Activate offers a range of games that test your physical and mental abilities. Whether you are climbing walls, solving puzzles, or dodging lasers, there’s something for everyone’s interest and skill level. Play sessions are either 60 Minutes for $28 or 90 Minutes for $38 Monday through to Sunday. You get unlimited access to all games with their all-you-can-play pass. Play as many games as you want, as many times as you want. The only thing holding you back is the lines for available rooms. However, at 1 minute per game this wait time does go by quickly.
You have the choice of playing cooperatively to advance or to compete against your friends and members of the group for the high score. As with any game the more you play and practice the better you get with the ability to rise through the ranks and land on the leader board.
There are so many games to choose from within each micro-arena. You can repeat each to completion, or did what we did, and bounce around to the first available room. If you come at a slower time, you might even get to repeat your games back to back.
At the entrance of each room you scan in and pick your game. Here, you also have the ability to read the instructions from off of the touch screen. You enter through one door and leave through another. Once the room is clear the door is unlocked and the screen invites you to “Go”.
We tried way too many games to recall them all, but here are a few of my favourites. The free throw basketball was the only one we played for ourselves. There was one game where we had to push buttons from ascending order, while hiding from an all seeing eye, Lord of the Ring -Sauron style. Another had us crawling on the ground and jumping around to avoid laser beams. There were word scrambles, spot the differences, and arcade style shooting games.
At the end of the play time we scanned our bracelets and accumulated our scores. For every game won we earn a coin. For 25 games played we got to spin a wheel in order to earn bonus coins. These coins can then be redeemed for Activate branded prizes. 10 is the minimum for a keychain that holds all your player information. I ended with 30 coins and used them on a Croc Jibitz. I thought I would get a pack of 3, but instead only got to choose 1 of the 3. A disappointing prize, but I guess all the fun had was my prize.
In short this was an amazing way to spend the afternoon, and one I would recommend to anyone looking to have fun and be active.
Activate Langley
Willowbrook Shopping Centre
Unit 630 – 19705 Fraser Hwy, Langley, BC V3A 7E9
778-826-0631
playactivate.com/langley
