Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for managing a game can include: receiving, by at least one electronic computer processor, a request to establish a game; establishing the game, including: authenticating a plurality of authorized users; unlocking a plurality of unit devices to provide each of the unit devices to each of the plurality of authorized users from at least one station; and/or managing the game between the plurality of unit devices. The system can include a service provider system. The system can include a station, which can include one or more skates, configured to receive and/or removably lock and unlock a unit device via an exemplary lock and latch mechanism. The station can wirelessly communicate with the unit devices and can be in communication with the service provider system for authentication and/or electronic payment system transactions. The unit device in one embodiment is a laser tag unit device.

Abstract: A mobile device includes a memory, a wireless communication module, and a programmable processor operatively coupled together. The wireless communication module is configured to communicate within an ad hoc network with other mobile devices by wireless broadcasting. The programmable processor is instructed by computer executable code to: initiate an ad hoc network by self-identifying as a host device; receive requests to join the ad hoc network from participating mobile devices; assign a unique identifier to each of the host device and the participating mobile devices, the unique identifiers identifying the host device and the participating mobile devices as network participants; distribute to the participating mobile devices a list of the network participants, the list including the assigned unique identifiers; confirm receipt of the participant list by each of the participating mobile devices; and designate to the participating mobile devices a data exchange protocol for the ad hoc network.