Save the date: February 17, 2022.
Did you know, augmented reality dodgeball is a legitimate sport in the Tokyo World Cup? Did you know, every year AR dodgeball teams from around the world compete for a spot in this World Cup?
The augmented reality (AR) esport game is called HADO. Augmented reality brings digital elements into your world, differing from virtual reality (VR), because VR takes you into the digital world.
Founder and CEO of meleap Inc., Hiroshi Fukuda dreamed of throwing Hadoken as they do in Street Fighter. One of the most famous moves, starting at the hip, the surge is created and as the palms thrust out. The surge charges an energy wave with punching force towards the opponent. A passion burned inside Fukuda, until HADO was officially recognized as a sport in 2014.
WHAT IS HADO
Players are all equipped with armbands, headsets, and hearts of champions. Wearing an iPhone headset, players can see both their actual surroundings and the digital game elements. The user interface shows a clock, energy gauge, shield gauge, opponent life cells and player life cells. Each player can customize energy ball and shield performance using the arm sensor. Energy ball speed, ball size, charge speed, and shield stock are the adjustable options on the armband.
HADO is a team sport and extremely inclusive. People with limited physical mobility, including wheelchair users, can experience the thrill and innovation of HADO’s unique game. Teams of 3 are assembled with 6 people on the court at a time. If you’re strategic, your team can devise a play style by assigning roles to each player – the defender, technician and assassin. The rules may seem simple, yet, the depth of offensive and defensive strategy is infinite.
FIRST TIME IN NORTH AMERICA
Recreate your favorite Street Fighter Hadoken moves at the 5th Annual Synapse Summit. Strap on a headset and armband sensors on February 17th in the home of the Stanley Cup Champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Amalie Arena.
For the first time in North America, HADO USA and AMRoC Fab Lab are collaborating with one of Florida’s most influential innovation-based non-profits, Synapse, to host a corporate team play tournament. Synapse creates opportunities to build meaningful connections with Florida’s innovators. HADO USA is collaborating with a unique event, key in bringing innovation leaders together from all across Florida, representing different industries, backgrounds, stages of business and entrepreneurship.
President and Founder of Green Mouse Academy, the exclusive USA distributor of HADO, Shane Vander Vooi, “On behalf of HADO USA, I’m thrilled to join our partners in bringing the world’s first augmented reality esport to this year’s Synapse Summit. Every year, teams from around the world compete for a spot in the Tokyo World Cup in Japan, where HADO was originally launched. Millions of enthusiasts throughout Asia and Europe have already experienced HADO and it’s time for the USA to Get in the Game!”
A total of 5 hours of HADO training, coaching and game play prior to the single-elimination tournament at Synapse Summit will be facilitated by The Tampa Bay Advanced Manufacturing & Robotics Center Fab Lab, (AMRoC Fab Lab). AMRoC is a program of the non-profit Foundation for Community Driven Innovation. The mission of AMRoC is to empower people with resources for creative self-expression and bridge the manufacturing and industry talent gap through robust project-based engineering education and training.
The Synapse HADO Champions will receive a championship trophy custom made at AMRoC. Proceeds from the tournament registration fees also benefit STEM education programming at AMRoC Fab Lab.
Want to play in North America’s first ever AR dodgeball team bonding tournament? Grab your coworkers, friends, and family and head to Synapse Summit on February 17th.
