Attendees at the 5th annual Synapse Summit taking place on Thursday, February 17th will have the opportunity to play HADO,
the augmented reality esport. Hosted collaboratively by HADO USA and AMRoC Fab Lab, players will have the opportunity to strap on head-mounted displays and armband sensors to wield energy balls and shields on a real-world court, located on the ice level of the Amalie Arena in downtown Tampa, home to the Stanley Cup winning Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Fox News video below gives a great overview of HADO, with FCDI program partner Scott Ertz, of PLUGHITZ Live.
Tampa Corporate Teams Can Get in the Game with HADO!
For the first time in North America, HADO USA is hosting corporate team play creating a unique team-building activity for 3-6 players of any physical ability. HADO is an augmented reality game similar to dodgeball that allows you to “Get in the Game” in a whole new way. There are no physical game elements and no special physical abilities are required to play the game. Players wear an iPhone headset through which they see both their actual surroundings and the digital game elements. Games are played in teams of up to three, in 80 second matches in an effort to outscore the opposing team through virtual dodgeball hits. No particular physical abilities or attributes are required to enjoy the game.
Play HADO, Support STEM Education at AMRoC Fab Lab
AMRoC Fab Lab will facilitate a total of 5 hours of HADO training, coaching and game play prior to the single-elimination tournament at Synapse Summit. The Synapse HADO Champions will receive a championship trophy custom made at AMRoC.
Proceeds from the Synapse HADO Tournament registration fees benefit STEM education programming at AMRoC Fab Lab.
The Advanced Manufacturing & Robotics Center (AMRoC) Fab Lab is a program of the non-profit Foundation for Community Driven Innovation (FCDI). Based in the rising RITHM at Uptown community and hailed by Mayor Jane Castor as a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Manufacturing) playground, AMRoC is a capacity building community center that provides access to STEM education, workforce skills development programs and early-stage entrepreneurship support and development. AMRoC Fab Lab co-founder and FCDI Executive Director Terri Willingham has been a leader within the Synapse community since its inception, contributing subject matter expertise to every Synapse Summit.
“The very purpose of AMRoC Fab Lab is to inspire people to active and productive engagement in the world around us,” says Willingham. “That’s why we were so delighted to work with GMA to bring HADO to Tampa in 2021, and why we’re so excited now to work with Synapse to introduce this high energy active gaming experience to more people.”
“Synapse Summit is Florida’s premier innovation event. We’re excited to bring this fun hands-on esports experience to the community through this collaboration with two visionary Florida organizations leading the way in STEAM education and experiences, AMRoC and Green Mouse Academy,” said Lauren Prager, Synapse Vice President of Community Engagement.
Green Mouse Academy, based in West Palm Beach, Florida, is the exclusive USA distributor of HADO. GMA President and Founder, Shane Vander Kooi, collaborated with AMRoC Fab Lab to create a game play space available to the public. “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!”.
To secure a spot for the corporate team HADO tournament contact Lauren Prager at [email protected].
Synapse HADO Tournament Experience Partners
About FCDI/AMRoC Fab Lab The Foundation for Community Driven Innovation, the nonprofit that founded and runs AMRoC Fab Lab, has partnered with Green Mouse Academy, of West Palm Beach, to bring HADO to Tampa Bay, and collaborate on program development around this engaging technology. You can read more about the game and our collaborative partnership with GMA here: Get in the Game! HADO Florida Comes to AMRoC Fab Lab | AMRoC (amroctampabay.com) And see a great story on Fox News 13 about HADO at AMRoC, which describes and illustrates the game well: New Tampa esport lets you jump into the video game world (Fox13news.com). Proceeds from the Synapse HADO Tournament registration fees benefit STEM education programming at AMRoC Fab Lab. Learn more about AMRoC at AMROCTampaBay.com.
About Green Mouse Academy and HADO USA:
Green Mouse Academy (GMA), annually works with thousands of students of all ages, developing and delivering technology enrichment discovery programs through schools, camps, after-school programs and other organizational partners. As the exclusive USA distributor and development partner for HADO, Green Mouse Academy (Studios) is developing a scholastic HADO Academy esports experience, starting right here in South Florida. To learn more about Green Mouse Academy and HADO USA visit www.greenmouseacademy.com or www.hado-usa.com. *HADO is a registered trademark of meleap, inc., used by permission under license by Green Mouse Academy.
Contact: Shane Vander Kooi, President & Founder at Green Mouse Academy Studios, at [email protected]
About Synapse
Synapse is a 501c3 non-profit organization that enables you to connect, discover and engage with Florida’s innovation
community. In-person and virtual events, innovation challenges and targeted engagement enable us to make curated connections. Our approach is unique by connecting key stakeholders across industries, technologies and geographies: entrepreneurs, investors, corporate leaders, government leaders, innovation enablers, entrepreneur support organizations, educational leaders, and talent. Through Synapse, you’ll meet the thought leaders, doers, creators, and entrepreneurs driving innovation across the state of Florida and beyond.
For media inquiries contact Ceasar Hernandez of Omni Public Media, [email protected], 813-277-6540