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An avid climber, Kajastila first applied Valo Motion to creating games for scaling walls. The company’s ValoClimb product consists of eight games. Most of these feature simple mechanics, displayed on the wall. In Whack-a- Bat, a climber in a projected cartoon forest environment swats away monster mammals with their hands. In Climball, two climbers volley and return a digital ball, competing in a cliff-face version of the classic video game, Pong. Valo Motion’s development team are also enthusiastic climbers, so while the mixed-reality games are family-friendly, a layer of challenge and competition appeals to seasoned participants. Its Augmented Problems application allows them to punch in their own scaling routes (called ‘solutions’), customisable for body type and skill level – some are quite intense. As ValoClimb became a success in venues worldwide, the firm rolled out ValoJump, using the same technology to create games for trampolinists.
start-up community, as well as a finger on the pulse of technology, she is the company’s new operations manager for events and competitions. Part of her mandate is to take Valo Motion from a popular exercise, to a new way of looking at sports. “You can’t expect people to just do sports any more,” she says. “You need to give an incentive. Gamification is something that is needed. You can’t just say to kids: ‘Go run’.” The company’s new smartphone app allows Valo Motion players to compare scores against global rivals. They can also record and share video of their games through the app or on social media. The ValoLeague calls itself the first-ever esports league for trampolining and climbing walls. “The inaugural season will run for three months,” says Salo-Glasemann. “You can join from anywhere that has a ValoLeague device, and each time you play, your score enters the rankings. If your number is beaten, you receive a notification. “The goal is to start running on- site events, so people can compete in person,” she says. “Some of our clients, who have a number of venues in one country or city, could run simultaneous competitions, hosting a final at a select location.” Valo Motion’s international success has allowed it to plan a robust tournament strategy, despite
Players choose from titles such as Trax. This game applies the motion tracking technology to assess poses in the air. Meanwhile, Jumpball is a two-player trampoline game that plays like a one-on-one aerial football match in the world of Tron. For the trampoline games, ValoVision tech separates the player from the background, compositing them into gameplay. Competitors can watch themselves on a facing screen, fully immersed in the action. The set- up requires a simple installation of low-maintenance hardware, including tracker and projector, calibrated for certain standard-sized climbing walls and trampolines. A REAL WORLD LEAGUE Competitive elements are already built into the games – players clash and compare scores. Previously, this was limited to those in the same venue, but in May, the company launched its ValoApp and a concerted ValoLeague. Janina Salo-Glasemann joined the company at the beginning of this year. With a background in the Nordic
Aiming high: There are numerous games to engage climbers, from the young to the more experienced
“YOU CAN’T EXPECT PEOPLE TO JUST DO SPORTS ANY MORE – YOU NEED TO GIVE THEM AN INCENTIVE”
FEED:XTREME MAY/JUNE 2022
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