What inspired the idea behind ValoPark?

‍ValoPark began with a simple question: how can we help operators who need active attractions but have limited space? When customers started asking for full park concepts instead of individual devices, our team saw an opportunity to build something new. 

Here’s the story behind why ValoPark was created and the real challenges it’s designed to solve.

How did ValoPark get started?

When you walk into a family entertainment center or a shopping mall today, you’ll notice a change: visitors don’t just want to watch or browse they want to move, play, and experience something together. At the same time, operators are under pressure to make every square meter count, especially in locations with compact spaces and low ceilings.

These shifts were the starting point for ValoPark, our latest solution that brings our mixed-reality attractions together into one scalable active park. Instead of purchasing devices one by one, operators can now build an entire play experience that works seamlessly in a unified ecosystem.

And as CEO, Dr. Raine Kajastila puts it, the idea didn’t start in a meeting room; it actually started with customers: “Our customers asked for this. They wanted more active attractions that fit their spaces, even those with low ceilings. Some even directly wanted us to design a full park. We realized our products work perfectly together, and that inspired us to build the ValoPark concept.”

Built for the realities of modern leisure spaces

As indoor entertainment evolves, many operators face the same hurdles:

• limited ceiling heights,
• high insurance and operational costs,
• and the challenge of finding attractions that appeal to both physically active visitors and digital-native young audiences.

ValoPark was created to solve exactly these challenges.

Designed to fit 400–1000 sqm (4500-10500 sqft) spaces with a ceiling height of just 3.5m (12ft) the concept opens new possibilities for shopping malls, mid-size parks, and multi-activity venues that previously couldn’t accommodate larger attractions. Similar of a traditional anchor like a food court in a retail environment, ValoPark acts as a modern “Fun Court”, a place where families naturally gather to play, celebrate events, and share memorable experiences with their loved ones.

For operators, the practical benefits are just as meaningful. Automated attractions with streamlined operations mean the park can run with minimal staffing (2–4 people). Dedicated party rooms add extra revenue opportunities, and the entire experience remains familiar because every Valo Motion product shares the same operating logic.

“Some wanted to create spaces that include more of our products. When you combine them, everything works seamlessly: the same user interface, the same operating logic. For operators, it’s simple and familiar”, Raine explains. 

A perfect match for today’s players

Across the globe, park builders are looking for ways to connect physical activity with digital-style fun. That’s exactly the intersection where ValoPark thrives.

Blending physical activity with gaming means ValoPark appeals to both active individuals and gamers, a rare combination in the attraction industry. The vision also ties directly to Valo Motion’s long-term mission of getting people moving through technology. 

“Today’s young visitors are used to gaming. They expect games in parks, and that’s exactly what we bring: active games that make people move.” – Raine

While the concept is new, the idea has been years in the making. Much of that development has happened at Valo Motion’s own active arcade in Helsinki: ValoHalli.

“Having our own park, ValoHalli, next to our office in Helsinki has helped us understand operators better: what works, what challenges they face, and how we can make their lives easier”, Raine says.

ValoHalli has allowed the team to observe how attractions behave in real settings, how flow works between devices, and what kinds of player journeys feel natural, the type of insights that shaped ValoPark into a cohesive, intuitive experience. 

From idea to reality: ValoPark-inspired openings around the world

The reception for ValoPark has been strong from the start. For Raine and the team, seeing the first ValoPark-inspired venues open has been a meaningful milestone and a clear sign that the solution resonates globally.

“It’s been amazing to see how our customers believe in what we believe in. Seeing ValoPark-inspired parks open in Dubai and South Africa really shows how well the concept works in practice”, Raine says. 

As more parks explore active, game-powered attractions, ValoPark offers a scalable way to build spaces that are healthy, social, and future-proof, all while keeping operations efficient.

A step toward our 2030 mission

ValoPark is also a strategic step toward Valo Motion’s goal of moving one million people every day through mixed-reality gaming.

By making active play accessible even in compact locations, ValoPark brings this mission closer to places where people already spend time, from malls to community hubs to mid-size indoor parks.

And based on early openings, one thing is clear: when you give people a park full of games they can play with their whole body, fun and movement follow naturally.

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