location-based AR

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Valo Motion Celebrates RPM Raceway’s ValoArena Success and “Stomp Squad” Launch

featured, location-based AR, Mixed Reality, MR games / /

Finnish game company Valo Motion is rousing the immersive reality industry with two exciting updates. With the remarkable success of RPM Raceway’s ValoArena installations and the introduction of Stomp Squad on ValoJump, Valo Motion is solidifying its position in physically active and fun immersive experiences space.

Let’s dive into these developments and explore the impact they have on the world of interactive entertainment.

RPM Raceway: A ValoArena Success Story

RPM Raceway, a New York-based Family Entertainment Center chaink, has taken their immersive attractions to new heights with mixed reality playground ValoArena. After experiencing “tremendous” success with the first installation at their Long Island location, RPM Raceway has decided to invest in a second ValoArena for their Stamford, CT venue.

Valo Motion ValoArena RPM Raceway

According to Valo Motion, ValoArena has quickly become RPM Raceway’s top attraction, surpassing other VR experiences and even top-tier arcade machines. Players are transported into a realm where their actions and movements become an integral part of the exhilarating gameplay, providing an immersive experience that defies conventional boundaries.

This unattended 6-player mixed reality playground has proven to be a revenue-generating powerhouse, combining physical activity with social gameplay and exciting ROI potential. The success of ValoArena further cements Valo Motion’s commitment to providing physically active and engaging experiences in the FEC industry.

“What’s so impressive about ValoArena is that it generates more than enough revenue to substantiate its large footprint,” said Chris Kimlingen, RPM Operations Manager, in a press release shared with ARPost. “The numbers don’t lie, investing in a second ValoArena was really a no-brainer.”

As RPM Raceway forges ahead in their commitment to deliver unparalleled entertainment experiences, their partnership with Valo Motion continues to thrive, driving the industry forward and fueling the imagination of players seeking extraordinary adventures.

“Stomp Squad”: A Cooperative Trampoline Adventure

Last week Valo Motion unveiled Stomp Squad, an innovative game set in the captivating universe of Super Stomp, one of their most popular ValoJump experiences. In this futuristic world, players must join forces to protect Stomp Lake City from the notorious MegaFrog, a villain with nefarious intentions to destroy the city because of its advanced technology. The players are in for an adrenaline rush as they leap into action and stomp on evil robots.

“Valo Motion is incredibly excited to debut Stomp Squad,” noted Raine Kajastila, Founder and CEO of Valo Motion. “We’re committed to delivering unforgettable experiences that combine physical activity and cutting-edge technology; Stomp Squad does that while also encouraging teamwork. We can’t wait for guests to try it.”

Valo Motion ValoJump Stomp Squad game

Like other Valo experiences, Stomp Squad is an immersive cooperative game that combines physical activity, fun socialization, and virtual environments. Seamlessly integrating augmented reality and motion tracking, the Stomp Squad experience transcends traditional gaming, providing an opportunity for players to embrace their inner heroes and embark on an unforgettable trampoline adventure. Aside from having fun, players also cultivate skills such as spatial awareness, precise jumping, and teamwork.

Valo Motion: Committed to Continued Innovation That Redefines Gaming and Entertainment

These latest developments from Valo Motion add to their impressive portfolio of immersive entertainment. From the intergalactic adventure of Astro Blade to the thrilling heist in Operation Money Grab, the company has consistently pushed the boundaries of mixed reality gaming. Since the official launch of the ValoArena in the United States, Valo Motion has been capturing the attention of both operators and players seeking unique and thrilling experiences.

Valo Motion is certainly redefining the future of gaming and entertainment. The recently celebrated sale of their 1000th AR gaming system indicates the growing demand for their immersive products. Through their commitment to advanced technology, Valo Motion is transforming the landscape of interactive experiences, captivating audiences and attracting visitors to FECs worldwide.

Valo Motion Celebrates RPM Raceway’s ValoArena Success and “Stomp Squad” Launch Read More »

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A Geospatial Web Platform to Enhance In-Person Events? Absolutely, Says Fabric

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Fabric aims to change how in-person events are held, through geospatial web. Starting with sports, the geospatial web and augmented reality platform Fabric can transform live events into an immersive, augmented reality-assisted experience to thrill sports fans.

Better Experiences With the Geospatial Web

The geospatial web is simply the use of geolocation technology within the greater realm of the Internet. For Fabric, it means syncing location, time, and content. By utilizing this technology along with immersive AR tools, spectators can elevate their experiences.

Fabric geospatial web

With geospatial technology, Fabric draws attention to an emerging trend in the experience economy in the sports industry. Using geospatial web technology, brands and sports teams can make in-person events more unique, social, and exciting.

While the concept of the geospatial web has already been around for some time, Fabric spent the past five years finding new ways to leverage this technology. The result is their main geospatial product, called “Space.” Space aims to prioritize human connections during in-person events as opposed to purely digital connections. It serves as a new medium of communication among fans, teams, and brands.

Fabric also offers a no-code platform that lets sports stakeholders, such as leagues and venues, display relevant content for any game or sporting experience.

Merging Sports and Augmented Reality for a Unique Experience

The company believes that sports are the top industry for live, in-person events; hence why they chose to start there. Fabric can facilitate peer-to-peer interactions within the same venue, plus help increase monetization and brand activation. They market Space as an “interactive jumbotron in every sports fan’s pocket.”

a 3D jumbotron Fabric

Space encourages sports spectators to disengage from artificial connections and seek real-time, location-based interactions with other people. And because it takes place at a single event, users know they already have a shared interest with other fans.

Within the app, AR assets called “Fabs” are powered by the geospatial web to encourage real-world interaction. These Fabs are designed to get people to interact more with each other in a unique and fun way, made possible by technology.

Enhancing Human Connections Through the Geospatial Web

Fabric is trying to bring back the experience of human connection, which is enhanced instead of hampered by technology. The company holds a different perspective than that of metaverse pioneers.

According to Fabric, the metaverse can offer unique, shared experiences via virtual reality. But ultimately, the user is, in fact, isolated from other people in the real world. The connection comes through VR via a headset. The “shared” experience is, in a way, manufactured artificially through VR technology.

This version of shared experiences provides advantages and disadvantages, as other technologies do. The metaverse can also open opportunities not available for other people and brands otherwise.

geospatial web Fabric

Meanwhile, Fabric offers an alternative way to experience life with digital technology. Fabric Spaces allow people within the same geographical location—in this case, a sports stadium or arena—to have meaningful, offline and online connections. Add to that the shared real-world experience of attending a sports event, and you have a potentially unforgettable encounter.

Growing the Social Fabric

Fabric began as an idea that founder and president Sarah Kass had while noticing societal issues brought about by connectivity. Together with co-founder and CEO Saul Garlick, they developed the geospatial web platform that became Fabric.

In an interview with Forbes magazine, Kass explained her reasoning for coming up with Fabric. She saw that mobile phones offer unprecedented connectivity but also distance people from others, so she sought to develop a product that could address this paradox.

“I began to frame the problem as ‘how do we grow the social fabric?’ What new infrastructure could propel the growth of social capital in the digital age? Or what new infrastructure would allow us to strengthen the social fabric in today’s time when we’re walking around with all these phones?” she stated in the interview.

As of press time, the Fabric team works with five professional sports teams and leagues. The goal is to provide fans with an elevated sports experience during games and other sporting events through the geospatial web and mixed reality.

A Geospatial Web Platform to Enhance In-Person Events? Absolutely, Says Fabric Read More »

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“Operation Money Grab”: Get Your Spy Gear Ready for the Greatest Heist in ValoArena

featured, location-based AR, Mixed Reality, MR games, News / /

Operation Money Grab is all systems go. The heist is officially on. Valo Motion has launched the latest addition to its growing game library of multiplayer mixed reality games for ValoArena. This heist-themed game is set to challenge players physically and mentally as they become immersed in a spy adventure that’s almost straight out of a Hollywood movie. To complete all the missions, you’d need to keep your wits and work well with your team.

Grab Your Squad and Pull Off the Greatest Heist in MR

Recruit a team of up to six players and attempt to pull off the greatest heist in ValoArena. Be spies or thieves and grab as much money and valuables as you can while outmaneuvering high-tech security systems and evading capture.

Operation Money Grab MR game ValoArena Valo Motion

Upon entering the game arena, be transported to the lobby of the Museum of Money. Enter the elevator and brace yourself for a highly interactive and mentally stimulating spy adventure. As the elevator door opens, figure out how to get past the unique security system and snatch valuable items. Work as a team to solve puzzles and go through physical obstacles on every floor of the building. Once all floors are cleared, head to the roof of the building, then board the helicopter on standby for your grand escape.

Throughout the game, references to popular spy and heist movies add humor and make you feel like the lead star in a Hollywood film. Download the Valo Motion app to create shareable play videos and release your “trailer” on social media.

Powered by Valo Motion Technology

Like all other mixed reality games for Valo Arena, Operation Money Grab is powered by the proprietary motion tracking technology of Valo Motion. With full body tracking, players can roam freely around the game arena and play untethered without using any wearables.

Large digital screens, visually stunning graphics, and spatial audio create a hyper-realistic virtual environment that immerses players in the game.

MR game Operation Money Grab ValoArena Valo Motion

According to Lauri Lehtonen, Lead Developer in Valo Motion, the popularity of the game Groundfall, inspired by The Floor is Lava, made their team think of other playground games they could draw inspiration from. Lehtonen recounts,

“We noticed that quite a few of them are played by moving back and forth in a limited space. This gave rise to the idea of designing a game with a series of different challenges players must go through in the ValoArena play area,” Lehtonen said in a press release shared with ARPost.  “That idea eventually developed into the espionage and robbery-themed game Operation Money Grab, where the game challenges vary a lot during one game, and the players are taken on a kind of mini-adventure through a building to be robbed.”

Innovative Games That Keep People Active

Along with Astro Blade, Runway Zero, Toywatch Island, and Groundfall, Operation Money Grab highlights Valo Motion’s aim to encourage people to lead active and healthy lives through interactive experiences. “Valo Motion takes great pride in developing ValoArena experiences that get people on their feet and moving,” said Raine Kajastila, CEO and founder of Valo Motion.

By creating innovative games that are entertaining and highly interactive, Valo Motion hopes to make it easier and much more fun for people to develop and maintain healthy habits. We expect to see its game library grow with more themed games that would pique the different interests of players of all ages.

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Psychic VR Lab’s Metaverse Platform STYLY Aims to Transform Urban Entertainment With XR Experiences

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Imagine strolling through the bustling streets of New York City or the vibrant alleys of Tokyo—while also immersed in breathtaking XR experiences seamlessly integrated with your surroundings.

Psychic VR Lab’s STYLY platform is revolutionizing urban entertainment, blending physical and digital worlds to create unforgettable, interactive experiences. The company believes that “in the post-Covid era, it is important not to ‘replace’ real space, but to open the metaverse to cities and create a new hybrid lifestyle that can increase the experience value of the city itself by ‘fusing’ the real and the virtual.”

With a recent funding boost, Psychic VR Lab, a Tokyo-based company behind the XR metaverse platform STYLY, is set to take its innovative vision to new heights and redefine what it means to explore cities.

Psychic VR Lab - STYLY - urban XR entertainment

The company has recently successfully raised an additional $3.7 million in funding, bringing the total funding amount to $19.7 million. This funding round featured the participation of J. CVC fund (GP) invested by Front Retailing Co., Ltd., Nippon Steel Kowa Real Estate Co., Ltd., TV Asahi Holdings Co., Ltd., JR West Japan Innovations Co., Ltd., Tokyu Fudosan Holdings Co., Ltd., and SBI Investment Co., Ltd.

With this financial support, Psychic VR Lab aims to enhance urban entertainment experiences worldwide by fusing art, music, video, and commercial facilities through its “real metaverse platform” STYLY.

“The successful conclusion of this recent funding round highlights the drive to expand XR into every facet of life, making our cities smarter and more adaptable using immersive technology,” said Ryohei Watanabe, CMO of Psychic VR Lab, in a press release shared with ARPost.

What Is Urban XR Entertainment?

Urban XR entertainment utilizes XR technology to transform an urban environment into an immersive and interactive medium of entertainment. The use of XR technology in urban environments can offer users a diverse range of immersive experiences similar to switching TV channels. By overlaying XR content onto the real world, a highly engaging experience can be created and potentially increase foot traffic in the city.

Through its platform STYLY, Psychic VR Lab aims to promote urban XR entertainment that improves the attractiveness of locations and revitalizes tourism. The idea behind the platform is to create and distribute XR content linked to cities worldwide, such as Tokyo, Kumamoto, Niigata, New York, and Barcelona.

Urban XR entertainment - Psychic VR Lab - metaverse platform STYLY

“Together with Psychic VR Lab, which strongly aspires to the XR entertainment business based on ‘real’, we will create countless XR services linked to all experiences such as entertainment, art, travel, tourism, and business in the real world, including the West Japan area, so that people can connect,” said Makoto Okuno, President of JR West Innovations Co., Ltd., one of the investors.

STYLY Platform: AR and MR Meet Urban Exploration

With the ability to import 3D geomap data of cities into STYLY, Psychic VR Lab aims to revolutionize the way we experience urban spaces.

“Through this investment and business alliance, we hope to create a space full of art and entertainment that provides unprecedented experiences through synergies with the company and its stakeholders and contribute to improving the attractiveness of the city,” said Managing Executive Officer at J. Front Retailing Co., Ltd., Naotaka Hayashi.

Future Impact of Urban XR Entertainment on Industries and Society

Urban XR entertainment has the potential to profoundly impact various industries, including tourism, retail, and real estate.

“Nippon Steel Kowa Real Estate will create new value in real estate together with Psychic for a future in which new lifestyles and work styles that fuse the real and virtual will become commonplace,” said Yasuhiko Imaizumi, President and CEO of Nippon Steel Kowa Real Estate Co., Ltd., one of the investors in the latest funding round.

Overall, investors see the potential in STYLY and Psychic VR Lab’s vision of creating a real metaverse platform. They aim to create new value by combining their expertise and resources with Psychic VR Lab’s technology and driving force, contributing to the growth of the company and the advancement of the industry.

As Psychic VR Lab continues to expand its urban XR entertainment initiatives, we can expect to see more cities embracing this technology and its benefits. Psychic VR Lab is opening the door to a new era of urban experiences, transforming the way we interact with and enjoy our surroundings. With their recent funding and ongoing projects, the future of urban entertainment is all the more promising and exciting.

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Get Ready to Battle in Space With Valo Motion’s Latest MR Game Release Astro Blade

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Last year, Valo Motion launched ValoArena, a mixed reality playground, in the US. Now, the company is back with an exciting MR game release – Astro Blade.

The Finnish game company, known for designing and developing cutting-edge interactive mixed reality games, has recently released a new space-themed game which can now be played in ValoArenas across the country. This interstellar adventure in a galaxy far, far away is sure to give you and your friends a thrilling time. So, get ready to take part in an action-packed battle in space and become a virtual superhero.

Blast Into Space With Valo Motion’s MR Game Astro Blade

Step into the world of the company’s MR game Astro Blade, where players become virtual holograms fighting in the hangar of a futuristic spaceship. Players can arm themselves with laser swords or spears and protect themselves with shields.

The game is inspired by classic fighting games and space-themed classics like Star Wars lightsaber battles. But what sets it apart is the technology behind ValoArena that makes it possible to bring these classics to life in an entirely new way.

ValoArena’s mixed reality system allows players to fully immerse themselves in the game’s interstellar world, where they can battle against friends and foes alike. The technology accurately tracks players’ movements, making the experience incredibly lifelike and realistic. With stunning graphics, exciting sound effects, and interactive gameplay, Astro Blade is a unique experience.

A Social and Safe Game

Valo Motion’s MR game Astro Blade is designed for up to six people. It is suitable for 8 to 14-year-olds, but it can be enjoyed by both young and adults. Those who grew up wielding imaginary lightsabers as pretend Jedis would definitely love this game. The game company has also paid special attention to making the game safe for younger players, which makes the game great for families with diverse age segments.

Valo Motion - ValoArena MR game Astro Blade

The game is very social and interactive. The actions of other players directly affect what you should do next, making it an excellent addition to ValoArena’s game offerings for small groups. They want players to feel like superheroes in a fighting game and be able to come up with their special moves without limitations.

Where and How to Play Astro Blade

Astro Blade can be found in various locations worldwide where Valo Motion products are available. You can check out their interactive map to find the nearest ValoArena to your location.

According to the company, “Astro Blade is also a part of Valo Motion’s mission of empowering people to move more and be physically active but also have a lot of fun while doing it.  n Astro Blade the players use their entire body to play the game and an intense sword duel among friends is guaranteed to make them sweat!”

Astro Blade is designed to be an interactive and social game, so players can work together in teams or compete against each other. It’s a fun and exciting way to experience the latest in mixed reality gaming.

The Future of Gaming 

Astro Blade is a testament to the power of mixed reality and how it can bring classic gaming experiences to life in new and exciting ways. As the popularity of MR releases like Astro Blade continues to grow, we can expect to see them become an increasingly ubiquitous part of the gaming landscape.

Astro Blade MR game by Valo Motion - ValoArena

For players, MR offers a unique and interactive experience that allows them to socialize and have fun in a way that traditional gaming simply cannot match. And for amusement and entertainment centers, investing in MR technology can provide a competitive advantage by offering a cutting-edge gaming experience that attracts customers and keeps them coming back for more.

Looking to the future, it’s clear that MR is set to play an even bigger role in gaming. With advancements in technology, we can expect to see even more immersive and interactive experiences that blur the line between the real and virtual worlds.

So, whether you’re a gaming enthusiast or an amusement center owner looking to stay ahead of the curve, it’s clear that MR has its place in the future of gaming. It’s an exciting time to be a part of the gaming industry.

Get Ready to Battle in Space With Valo Motion’s Latest MR Game Release Astro Blade Read More »