A new wave of energy has come to the Philippines with the arrival of a dynamic technosport from Japan.
ABS-CBN recently introduced Hado, a brand of Augmented Reality game developed by Japanese company Meleap Corporation.
Hado, which means “vibration” or “wave motion” in Nihongo, is a team sport that merges the intensity of dodgeball with AR energy spheres and shields.
“This technosport combines physical and digital play in a game that various teams, groups of friends, even families can play and enjoy,” said ABS-CBN Themed Experiences Inc. head Cookie Bartolome.
Unlike the traditional electronic sports or eSports, where players use digital models to represent them in the game, a technosport such as Hado immerses players in the game through advanced technology.
Gameplay requires the use of a lightweight head-mounted display as the AR interface, and arm-worn devices that enable players to “throw” energy balls and “put up” their shields.
Up to six players can play Hado Player versus Player (Hado PvP) per game, with three players per team. The teams have 80 seconds to slug it out inside the PvP arena, using actual throwing and dodging motions. The winning team will be decided by who knocks-out more opponents by the end of regulation.
Meanwhile, spectators get an exhilarating view of the game via screens which show computer-generated imagery (CGI) of the action-packed battle.
To promote Hado in the Philippines, ABS-CBN Themed Experiences Inc. has partnered with the National Collegiate Athletic Association for the ongoing Hado Pilipinas NCAA Collegiate Cup 2019.
The Hado Squad—composed of Jairus Aquino, Jeremy Glinoga, Arabella Del Rosario, Aiyana Perlas, Samm Alvero, and Kimson Tan—joins resident analysts, Roxanne Montealegre, Migs Gomez, and Martin Javier as they go around schools as part of the Hado roadshow.
The winning team will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Tokyo, Japan to represent the country in the Hado World Cup 2019 in December, and have a chance to win ¥2 million.
The Hado Pilipinas, hosted by Vince Velasco and Denice Dinsay, airs on ABS-CBN S+A, S+A HD, LIGA, and LIGA HD every Sunday, 11:30 a.m. and will also be available on-demand on the streaming platform iWant starting August 25.