Valo Motion launches new mixed-reality game for its immersive gaming room

April 26, 2024

Karen Sweaney

Valo Motion, the pioneer in combining interactive technology with physical activities, has introduced Photobomb, the sixth mixed-reality game for its immersive ValoArena gaming room. The new title can be played by up to six players at a time and transports players to the glamour of a Hollywood movie premiere.

Founded in 2016, Valo Motion is a Finnish game company that designs, develops, and manufactures cutting-edge interactive MR/AR games and technology that help people find the joy of exercise. Valo Motion’s products ValoArena, ValoClimb (distributed in Australia by The Highgate Group - see below), and ValoJump are known for their high-quality and innovative design and are used in a variety of settings, including theme parks, arcades, and activity parks as well as in hospitality and retail locations.

Valo Motion’s ‘Photobomb’ delivers a fresh dose of laughter and excitement to location-based entertainment venues worldwide.

In Photobomb, the players take on the roles of celebrities arriving at a red-carpet event in a limousine. Each round, a picture frame appears, and players must rush to get into the frame before their snapshot is taken by the paparazzi that surround them. The goal is to be the most visible 'star' in the photographs, scoring points for face, hand, and feet markers captured in the frame. After 12 dynamic rounds, the player with the highest score becomes the star of the show.

Operator benefits
A standout benefit of this new release is its broad appeal across different age groups. Unlike attractions catering to niche audiences, ValoArena provides an accessible and enjoyable experience for all. Its design overcomes barriers found in VR attractions, such as discomfort from wearables like headsets, controllers, etc., and complexity of use. From families with young children to teens seeking group fun, Photobomb ensures the ValoArena draws diverse crowds, cementing the venue as a top indoor entertainment choice.

Photobomb is designed to seamlessly integrate into various business models at location-based entertainment venues, whether they operate on gated admission, single ticket entry, group bookings, or reservation mode. This flexibility ensures Photobomb fits right in, enhancing the venue's appeal and offering guests a fresh experience.

The game aims to provide a lighthearted and entertaining experience that encourages friendly competition. It is designed to encourage social interaction and light strategic thinking among players. With Photobomb Valo Motion wants players to feel the excitement of the spotlight and laugh at the absurdity of the photographs taken in each round.

Dr. Raine Kajastila, Chief Executive and founder of Valo Motion notes “Social, active fun is one of the core principles of ValoArena, and Photobomb is our 6th game for this platform that encourages movement in a new way. Photobomb turns the ValoArena into a crazy Photo Booth and is most fun when played together with friends."

Photobomb is a simple yet memorable social gaming experience that uses Valo Motion's proprietary motion capture technology. The game offers a single level with a total of 12 photographs taken in each session, and each round is randomly chosen from a big pool of more than 50 unique pictures in total, ensuring no two gameplays are identical to each other and keeping players coming back for more.

Valo Motion’s Lead Game Developer Lauri Lehtonen adds "we wanted to add photo booth functionality into ValoArena, but at its heart, the product is a gaming platform. That's why we decided to make a game that is about taking photos. The silly pictures taken by Photobomb are just the icing on the cake on top of the engaging, casually competitive game mechanics of trying to be the most visible person in the frame. The game is a perfect fit for friend groups and families to laugh together for a while and make some shared memories."

With Photobomb, Valo Motion also introduces a fresh new product feature to ValoArena. Players can now get images taken by the game in addition to the game video. These images and videos come with the branding of the respective entertainment venue and can be shared via different social media platforms.

Photobomb debuted on ValoArena, Valo Motion’s pioneering mixed-reality game room, on 22nd April.

More information on ValoArena at valomotion.com or contact sales@valomotion.com

ValoClimb in Australia
Valo Motion’s products also include ValoClimb which is distributed in Australia by The Highgate Group.

ValoClimb is an award-winning fully automatic digital attraction that has been designed to enhance repeatability and to have significant play-value. ValoClimb comes in different models that are full of high quality and exciting games. ValoClimb is a great fit for any indoor location and can already be found in over 230 locations spread across more than 50 countries.

Designed to offer versatility in a small space, ValoClimb helps indoor leisure industry operators to increase their competitive advantage and to maximise the floor-space revenue while allowing flexibility with monetisation. ValoClimb have launched an Active Esport League, ValoLeague, that helps facility operators to add another layer of game experience to create fun experiences for their visitors.

ValoClimb is safe, fully-automated (no personnel needed) and hygienic (no wearables) digital attraction. To fit a variety of different customer types and locations, the ValoClimb product line includes three different models: ValoClimb 6K, ValoClimb 9K and ValoClimb DustProtect.

Each of which can be either ceiling mounted or bolted onto the floor. All models are equally optimal when retrofitted to an existing location with a climbing wall or when our customers are looking to design a completely new centre.

In addition to different models, ValoClimb also has a variety of different games, levels, modes and themes that suite different types of visitors and occasions from kid’s parties to more seasoned climbers training their skills.

With ValoClimb, the climbers can create their own routes and view their climbing videos for instant feedback. After each game, the climbers can watch the playback of the climbing videos. The climbers can also compare their climbing by overlaying two climbing videos.

Click here to contact Valo Motion’s Australian distributor The Highgate Group via their entry in the Australasian Leisure Management Supplier Directory.

Images top and centre. Credit: Valo Motion; image above. Credit: The Highgate Group

About the author

Karen Sweaney

Co-founder and Editor, Australasian Leisure Management

Artist, geoscientist and specialist writer on the leisure industry, Karen Sweaney is Editor and co-founder of Australasian Leisure Management.

Based in Sydney, Australia, her specific areas of interest include the arts, entertainment, the environment, fitness, tourism and wellness.

She has degrees in Fine Arts from the University of Sydney and Geological Oceanography from UNSW.

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