The World's First Multi-Format Laser Tag Tournament
Founded in 2000 by Ricky Vega (Dark Angel) in Dallas, Texas, Armageddon 20XX is the world's first and longest-running cross-system laser tag tournament. Unlike single-system events, Armageddon tests players across multiple laser tag systems in a single tournament—proving that true skill transcends any one piece of equipment. What started as 6 teams in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex has grown into a multi-day, multi-city championship spanning over two decades.
The first-ever multi-format laser tag tournament. Six teams competed across 8 different laser tag systems over three days during Fourth of July weekend. Organized by Ricky Vega (Dark Angel) with help from OutRyder, this was billed as "the world's first multi-format laser tag tournament" and had no entry fee. Team Austin dominated with DayDream claiming the top individual ranking.
The tournament expanded to 7 teams and 7 players per team, spanning two Texas cities. A caravan of players drove from Dallas to Houston and back, competing at centers across the region. Nightstalker earned the #1 individual rank (81 rank pts), followed by Dark Angel and DayDream. The increased scale meant 42 total matches per team.
Armageddon moved to the Mid-Atlantic region for the first time. Marc Muller of XP LazerSport helped organize center logistics. The winning team, Legends of Lasertag, included many former Austin team members from A2000. The ASP.NET-powered website tracked dynamic team rosters and per-center statistics.
Returning to the Mid-Atlantic, A2003 featured 8 systems including the debut of new V5 DarkLight equipment. The newsletter described it as "the most unique lasertag tournament in existence" and noted the thrill of competing against top players on systems you've never played before: "It is like learning how to play soccer when you just discovered how to walk."
The tournament circuit expanded its geographic reach, venturing into Ohio, New York, and for the first time into Canada, demonstrating the growing international appeal of multi-format laser tag competition.
Team LaserStorm took the championship with 233 tournament points, narrowly edging out Havok's Team (220 pts). Six teams competed across 8 centers. The tournament now featured shot difference rankings alongside traditional rank point standings.
The US tournament returned to the Maryland region. A landmark year: the first UK Armageddon was held, marking the beginning of the tournament's international expansion. The Armageddon format had proven its appeal beyond American borders.
The tournament returned to its Texas roots. Comprehensive statistics were tracked using the Stats2EZ system, with Excel-to-HTML exports preserving detailed per-player, per-system, and per-game data.
Held over the Fourth of July weekend, maintaining the traditional holiday timing that had been a hallmark since the very first tournament in 2000. Bob Holliman's team claimed victory with a final score of 28–14.
The US tournament moved to the tri-state area. The first Swedish Armageddon was also held this year, further expanding the tournament's international footprint. The Armageddon concept had now been adopted on both sides of the Atlantic.
Described as "our 11th year," the tournament continued expanding. Players flew into Cincinnati or Indianapolis and traveled by bus between centers across three states. A team of Swedish players participated, marking the first international competitors at the US event. The newsletter noted the prior year saw "extremely intense" competition and zero center drop-outs.
The tournament continued with full statistical tracking. Per-system and per-player data was recorded and published via the Stats2EZ system, maintaining the tradition of detailed performance analytics across all game formats.
The Armageddon format reached a fourth country as the first Russian Armageddon was held. The tournament concept had now crossed continents—from its Texas origins to the UK, Sweden, and Russia.
The tournament continued its annual tradition, bringing together competitive laser tag players from across the country. The Armageddon community remained active through the online forum at a20xx.com.
Seven teams battled across seven systems over five days in the Detroit metro area. A full Players Handbook was produced, and the Stats2EZ system tracked thousands of individual game records with per-player scores, tags, and accuracy data for every match at every center.
Held in the Rochester, New York area. This year introduced the first draft tournament format—a new wrinkle that changed how teams were assembled and added a strategic layer before the first game was even played.
The tournament went on hiatus due to various factors, including the global pandemic in 2020–2021. But the Armageddon spirit endured within the community, and plans for a return were always in motion.
Armageddon returned after its longest break. Held in Ohio with expanded team rosters (8 players per team), the tournament embraced new systems like Delta Strike and CyberBlast while maintaining the classics. COVID safety protocols were in place, requiring negative tests 72 hours before the event. Organized under Darkware, Inc.
A multi-city tournament stretching from Syracuse, New York to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The cross-city format echoed the original 2001 Houston-to-Dallas road trip, proving that the Armageddon spirit of traveling to compete across systems remains alive.
The tournament continues into its 25th year. Q-Zar Toledo confirmed as one of the participating venues, as the cross-system tradition marches on. A quarter century of proving that the ultimate test of laser tag skill isn't mastery of one system—it's mastery of them all.