Have you ever dreamt of throwing hadoukens or channeling your inner Goku and unleashing a Kamehameha blast? Well, with HADO, you can! HADO is an exciting new Machina Sport which is essentially augmented reality’s version of dodgeball. Players were headsets and armband sensors, giving them the power to throw energy balls and put up shields. The goal of the game is to strike the opposing players with an energy ball without being hit yourself.
History of HADO
Meleap, founded by Hiroshi Fukuda in 2011, initially focused on creating innovative technologies that would bridge the gap between the virtual and physical worlds. The company’s early projects explored various applications of augmented reality, laying the groundwork for what would eventually become HADO.
The concept for HADO began to take shape around 2014, as Meleap engineers and developers experimented with different prototypes and ideas. Hiroshi Fukuda, the visionary behind the project, aimed to design a sport that not only leveraged cutting-edge technology but also encouraged physical activity and social interaction.
HADO Rules Explained
HADO is a team sport played with up to three people on each team which is played on a small indoor court with a line down the middle which separates the two teams. A HADO match only lasts 80 seconds, so it’s a high-intensity sport, and the best athletes show impressive explosiveness. Players throw energy balls at each other, and for every hit, players earn points. The team with the most points at the buzzer wins. On the off chance the match ends in a draw, then the two teams battle it in a sudden death overtime, where the first team to score wins.
Players avoid the energy balls by ducking and weaving. They also can throw up a virtual shield which blocks the energy balls. To fire an energy ball, a player needs to lift their arm in the air to charge and then straighten their arm to fire. To pull out your shield, you need to lower your arm to charge it and then swing it upwards.
What Do You Need to Play?
Playing HADO requires an AR headset and wrist sensors. The AR headset provides players with a visual overlay of the digital elements in the physical environment. This head-mounted display is responsible for projecting the virtual arena, energy balls, and other interactive elements.
It typically includes a screen, lenses, and sensors that track the player’s head movements to ensure seamless integration of the virtual and real worlds. You’ll see energy balls flying around the map as well as player shields.
The AR headset has a special user interface. It displays the game clock, the opponent’s life cells, which you need to aim at, your energy and shield gauge, and your own life cells.
Wrist sensors are wearable devices that players attach to their wrists. These sensors play a vital role in tracking the movement of players’ arms and hands during the game. The sensors capture gestures, allowing players to throw virtual energy balls, perform defensive maneuvers, and interact with the augmented reality environment.
Using the wrist sensor players can customize their skills. For example, they increase their bullet speed and shield strength. However, they only have certain points to deploy, so they need to choose wisely. You don’t want to have lightning-quick bullets but a flimsy shield!
HADO Goes Professional
Since debuting in 2014 in Japan, HADO’s popularity has skyrocketed. It didn’t take long for young, tech-savvy Japanese esports enthusiasts to embrace the sport. However, now the sport has gone truly global, with events taking place in Europe, Oceania, North America, and, of course, Asia. HADO centers continue to spring up. The latest one was recently unveiled in Taiwan and features two courts and the latest AR headsets.
The most recent HADO World Cup, which was held in Japan in October 2023, was a smash hit and represents an important step for the sport as it pushes towards full professionalism. The event featured teams from around the world, including Japan, England, China, Turkey, South Korea, Greece, France, and New Zealand.
It was great to see many different countries take part. There were some really competitive and exciting matches, including Japan beating China in the final seconds and England getting the better of the French. You definitely should go back and watch some of them on YouTube. Unsurprisingly, the pre-tournament favorite, Japan, won the title and took home a $10,000 prize!
