[Creative direction]
[Experience design]
[art direction]
[Storyboarding]
[motion design + animation]
[video editing]
[Sound design]
For Combat Ops Entertainment's story-driven laser tag experience, I helped turn a traditional pre-game briefing into an immersive introduction to a dystopian, simulated world. I took the project from concepts scribbled on napkins to art direction through storyboarding, animation, editing, sound design, and final delivery.
Transform a mandatory pre-game briefing into an entertaining experience that teaches players the rules while building excitement for the game ahead.
Turn the briefing into an extension of the game itself, using a dystopian simulation concept brought to life through two interconnected, custom-animated videos.
the_Process
For nearly a year, Combat Ops' marketing lead and I kept tossing around ideas for what this experience could become. What started as two friends joking about how cool it would be to turn a laser tag briefing into a dystopian simulation slowly snowballed into something much bigger. Seeing those conversations turn into a real experience that thousands of players get to enjoy is still a little surreal.
Once we had the concept and script in place, I began translating that world into a visual style through storyboarding and styleframes. We landed on an operating-system-inspired aesthetic that felt familiar to gamers while remaining approachable for all ages. I built the visual direction around a bold red, black, and white palette, balancing the gritty, futuristic atmosphere with clarity and readability. These early explorations became the foundation for the entire animated experience.
Deliverable_01
[ Matchmaking loop ]
Rather than leave players staring at a static loading screen while gearing up, I designed a looping matchmaking sequence that made the wait feel like part of the simulation. I used it to introduce the two opposing factions and dystopian world they are entering, tease the announcers, and blend behind-the-scenes moments mixed with AI action footage to build anticipation. Carrying the same fictional operating-system aesthetic into the main briefing helped establish a cohesive world before players even stepped into the arena.
Deliverable_02
[ The Animated Briefing ]
The main event. With over five minutes of custom animation, this was easily one of the most ambitious productions I've taken on independently. I wanted every scene to be as entertaining as it was informative, blending animated infographics, mixed-media cutouts, custom illustrations, typography, and live-action footage to bring the simulation to life.
From storyboarding and designing each sequence to animating, compositing, editing, and sound design, I had my hands in every stage of production. The challenge was keeping the visuals fresh and engaging while making the rules easy to follow. It was a massive creative undertaking, but having the freedom to experiment and build out every detail made it one of the most rewarding projects I've worked on.
Into the Real World
I truly can't thank my friends at Combat Ops enough for trusting me to bring this to life and letting me take my time to cook on this.
Grab some friends and head to a Combat Ops near you to check it out and experience their one-of-a-kind laser tag for yourself.
Similar_projects:
Hallway projection mapping: Combat ops entertainment
Another dope installation I got to bring to life for my friends at Combat Ops. Turning their dead end hallway into a portal peering into a war-torn, dystopia.
Click thumbnail to view project.