What Is PUCKS?
PUCKS is a standalone interactive play system built for Soft Play and Family Entertainment Centres. Each PUCK is a LED-lit device that players interact with using NFC wristbands or cards. Players scan, score, and replay, it's designed to be immediately intuitive for kids without any briefing.
It's not a laser tag system. It's a separate product that operates independently, but it's built by Zone using the same proven target hardware that's been running in laser tag arenas for years. With over 10,000 of that hardware in the field globally, the reliability track record is well established.
How It Works for Players
The player experience is deliberately simple:
• Player receives an NFC wristband
• They scan active PUCKS to score points
• Different PUCK colours are worth different points
• Scores update in real time; the highest score at the end wins
There's no equipment to wear other than a wristband , no briefing required beyond a sentence or two, and the LED lighting makes it immediately obvious which PUCKS are active.
Young children pick it up within one or two interactions.
How It Works for Operators
Setup is designed to be straightforward: mount the PUCKS, plug in power (DC or PoE), connect to Wi-Fi. The system is cloud-connected, handles over-the-air software updates automatically. Staff supervision requirements are minimal. The system runs and auto-syncs itself. One staff member can oversee a PUCKS zone while handling other responsibilities.
Game Formats
The initial game formats are designed to be accessible and replayable:
Jewels; Players scan active PUCKS to collect points. Different colours have different values; the crown jewel PUCKS are worth maximum points. Solo play or informal competition; highest score wins.
Gems; Team-coloured version. Each player can only collect PUCKS that match their assigned colour. Adds a targeting element and works well for competitive group sessions.
More game modes can be added via OTA updates as the product develops, one of the advantages of a cloud-connected system.
Where PUCKS Fits in Your Venue
The key design principle of PUCKS is that it enhances existing space rather than requiring dedicated square footage. It's not an arena attraction that needs its own room.
• Inside Soft Play areas; PUCKS mounted within the play structure give children an additional game objective that extends dwell time. Kids who've exhausted the slides and climbing zones now have a scanning game to engage with.
• In Trampoline or Ninja areas; adds a competitive scoring element to free-bounce sessions.
• In laser tag arenas; PUCKS can function as interactive targets within the arena, feeding into game scores or acting as independent objectives.
• Standalone PUCK zones; for venues with spare floor space, a dedicated PUCK area works as a quick-turn attraction that doesn't require equipment changeover between groups.
The Business Case
PUCKS is a small investment with a recoverable ROI in as little as 12 months based on average throughput and ticket pricing. The repeat-play factor is significant here: unlike a passive attraction that gets boring quickly, PUCKS has inherent replayability because players can always try to beat their own score or compete against a friend's result.
For venues looking to extend dwell time; a key metric for secondary spend on food and beverages; PUCKS is a great way to do so, a child who has "finished" the main Soft Play area but is still engaged with a PUCK game is a child whose parent stays on-site longer.
It's also an easy upsell, do you want to play, or tap and play for an extra $2 , slightly increasing the per person head, without adding to overheads.
The Zone Connection
PUCKS is powered by O-Zone, which means if you're already running Helios3 or Begeara, PUCKS integrates into the same operator ecosystem. You're not adding a completely foreign platform, it's Zone hardware, Zone design philosophy, and Zone support structure.
If you're interested in finding out more or getting a quote, reach out to your local Zone representative or visit puckinteractive.com.
