ARCHERY DODGEBALL

Last year’s adult gaming trend was bars that offered axe-throwing. It looks like the next trend is going to be dodging arrows. Archery Games Denver in Arvada, Colorado, is a new concept that is becoming increasingly popular in Canada but is new to the United States. It’s like dodgeball, only with arrows. The arrows are foam-tipped (* Aw, man!). Two teams made of 10 people each start at opposite ends of the room with empty bows and when the whistle blows – they rush to the middle to grab arrows and then attempt to hit the other team’s players while hiding behind inflatable obstacles. Jesse Warlick opened the business a few weeks ago after discovering the concept in Montreal last fall. He says people from all ages have played – but the most popular groups have been birthday parties and bachelor parties.
* Winners get to eat, like in The Hunger Games.
* If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge an arrow.
* It’s like taking laser tag, and cranking it back a few centuries.
* Allow an extra 40 minutes beforehand for filling out the injury release forms.
* I’m still holding out for jousting.