How do the Zero Latency sessions work?

Introduction

This article will break down the session structure of each of our experiences and define various terms used by Zero Latency.

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On this page:

  Definitions

  What is the breakdown of a session?

  How do back-to-back sessions work?

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Definitions 

Term	Definition
Sessions	The time slots available for bookings to occur, once they are booked they will appear on the "Sessions" page. For example, 7:00pm, 7:30pm, 8:00pm etc.
Players	The number of players that can play in a session (maximum 8). There can be more players than bookings. For example, 2 bookings can be made of 4 players each in the one session.
Experience	The duration that the customer spends on-site, includes the briefing, donning, gameplay and doffing. Some sites have a much longer experience displayed on the booking system.
Games	The individual content that Zero Latency offers. This includes Engineerium, Zombie Survival, Singularity and multiple others.
Packages	The individual games or groups of games that customers can purchase to play. For example, Zombie Survival x1 or Survival & Singularity can be a package. This will appear on the booking system. More information can be found here: How to request a game package.
Bookings	An individual transaction to purchase a package on the booking system, there can be multiple bookings for one session. For example, 3 different people can book Survival & Singularity at 6:00 pm.

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What is the breakdown of a standard session?

This is a breakdown of a 30-minute game (45-minute experience).

• To help ease this process, we encourage customers to arrive 5-15 minutes before their booking time to get a head start on the sign-in process and save time.

Activity	Minutes	Example
Customer arrival & greeting	1 minute	08:45
Bathroom break	5-15 minutes	08:45 - 09:00
Sign-in (Tablet Load-in)	5-15 minutes	08:45 - 09:00
Safety briefing presentation	3 minutes	09:00 - 09:03
Donning (Suit-up)	1 minute	09:03 - 09:04
Tracking + Waypoints	2 minutes	09:04 - 09:06
Game time (In-game)	30 minutes (approx)	09:06 - 09:36
Doffing (Suit-down)	1 minute	09:36 - 09:37
Debrief and farewell	5 minutes (approx)	09:37 - 09:42
Equipment cleaning	8 minutes (approx 1 minute per Headset)	09:42 - 09:50

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How do back-to-back sessions work?

Scheduling sessions back-to-back is the best way to utilise the game space. This model uses every minute of the game space to generate revenue. Simply put, as one session is walking out of the game space, the next session is walking into the game space for their experience. Please note that this is dependent on how many Headsets you have available. 

As you can see from the booking schedule below, when one session finishes, the next session starts. To successfully execute this model, you have 6 minutes to conduct the sign-in, safety briefing and suit-up process from the customer's booking time. Each venue will have a unique design and floor plan so it is important that you streamline this process.

This example is based on 35-minute sessions back-to-back.

Sessions	Booking Time	Click Play By	Finish
1	09:00	09:06	09:36
2	09:35	09:41	10:11
3	10:10	10:16	10:46
4	10:45	10:51	11:21
5	11:20	11:26	11:56
6	11:55	12:01	12:31

The back-to-back operations model requires two Game Masters (GMs) who will rotate roles with the arrival of the next session. 

• 1 x GM to greet and supervise the first session (Host/Runner).
• 1 x GM to greet and supervise the second session (Host/Runner).

The Runner is a useful role to assist the current Host and ensure that each session receives the best customer service. The GMs can assist each other when there is available time to do so, for example, if the second group has not yet arrived, they can turn on and prepare the equipment and/or select the booking on the Launcher. 

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How do Zero Latency Private Event packages work?

We try to replicate the back-to-back model as described above, however Private Events have a larger number of guests waiting for their session. We have tried to optimise the packages as best possible, however this is a guide and your venue may choose to run your Private Event packages differently.

This model uses every minute of the game space to generate revenue, whilst entertaining the guests. Simply put, as one session is walking out of the game space, the next session is walking into the game space for their experience. Please note that this is dependent on how many Headsets you have available and whether you have an entertaining space for your excess guests to wait.

As you can see from the booking schedule below, when one session finishes, the next session starts. To successfully execute this model, you have 4-13 minutes to conduct the sign-in, safety briefing and suit-up process from the customer's booking time. Each venue will have a unique design and floor plan so it is important that you streamline this process.

This example is based on a 2 session Private Event for a maximum of 16 players where a venue has 2 sets of hardware.

Activity	Timing
Player sign-in	15:00
Safety briefing	03:00
Donning	01:00
Tracking and waypoint	02:00
Session 1	27:00
Doffing	01:00
Donning	01:00
Tracking and waypoint	02:00
Session 2	27:00
Doffing	01:00
Debrief	05:00
Equipment cleaning	08:00

The back-to-back operations model requires one Game Master (GMs) to work as both Runner and Host.

The Runner is a useful role to assist the current Host and ensure that each session receives the best customer service. The GMs can assist each other when there is available time to do so, for example, if the second group has not yet arrived, they can turn on and prepare the equipment and/or select the booking on the Launcher. 

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How to sessions work?
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How do sessions work?
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