The experience is, as its promotional literature proclaims, a "full sensory immersion". A big part of that immersive sensation is created by an army of LED fixtures from Chauvet Professional, deftly deployed by Steve Hansel of XS Entertainment LLC.
Hansel has installed eight Strike 882 high-output blinders, three Amhaze II water-based haze machines, four Atmos voluminous fog machines and eight Vesuvio RGBA water based foggers with LED lights throughout the sprawling urban battle zone that makes up Adventure Combat Ops. When customers call for air strikes against the marauding zombies, the four Chauvet Professional products spring into action.
The intensely bright Strike fixtures simulate the flash of a bomb hitting its target. This is followed in short order by haze from the Amhaze simulating smoke, and copious volumes of fog from the Atmos signaling major explosions. The Vesuvio, which shoots fog high in the air illuminated by the fixture's RGBA LEDs, is used to represent smoke and the red and orange glow of fires. Audio simulation of bomb impacts and shrapnel add to the realistic feeling of being in a war zone.
"This attraction is based on providing people with a unique and very realistic experience," said Hansel. "It's run by ex-combat ops military heroes, and everything about it from the scenery design to the actors playing the zombies makes you feel like you're immersed in a combat zone. Visitors are placed in teams and are led by a combat ops vet. Lighting is obviously a very big part of this experience. The intense flashes of the Strikes coupled with the audio effects really make you feel like bombs are going off, and the LED-coloured fog gives the impression of a smouldering battle scene."
(Jim Evans)
