Christophe De bont 
04/09/2019The first Sport Vlaanderen funding call for game developers was a great success. Out of 10 submissions for VR games that inspire physical exercise, a commission of sports and game experts selected the three most promising projects, awarding them a total of € 375.000 in funding. Let’s have a closer look at the winning projects.
LuGus Studios is teaming up with the Diabolic Heaven Ultimate Frisbee Club Hasselt (link in Dutch) to create Aerodisc VR. The game will focus on the technique of various throws that will be realistically simulated. Players will get feedback on their posture, grip and arm movement to improve their throwing skills, which they can also test out in a variety of fun mini games.
Adding fun to otherwise boring rowing exercises is the main goal of the VR rowing exergame developed by Salty Lemon Entertainment and the Vlaamse Roeiliga (link in Dutch). Next to a virtual coach that ensures your full body workout on a rowing machine doesn’t result in injury, they will also battle boredom with a variation of mini games and a zen mode where players can freely row at their leisure through a relaxing environment.
Perhaps the most ambitious effort to bring the world of sports and video games together in a meaningful way will be worked on by Triangle Factory, The Park Entertainment, and Sportwerk Vlaanderen (link in Dutch). With Hyperball, a combination of basketball, handball and Rocket League, they want to create the first VR esport that’s equally exciting to watch as to play.
The games will be finished by the end of 2021. Developed first and foremost for their respective partner organisations, you’ll also be able to work up a sweat with these VR experiences at the Sports Innovation campus in Bruges.
Congratulations to all selected projects and a big thank you to Sport Vlaanderen for reaching out to our industry in an effort to get players moving and fight the stigma of unhealthy video games. Here’s hoping for a couple of cool VR projects that pave the way for more future collaborations between sports organisations and game developers.
