After making it possible for Average Joe to become a lead guitarist and throw improvised solos like Jimi Hendrix or Jimmy Page, Virtual Air Guitar Company is back in spotlights again. The upcoming title, Kung Fu Live, was recently showcased at the annual E3 video game conference. Following the same concept as in Virtual Air Guitar, Kung Fu Live let’s you personally kick the asses of bad guys instead of putting you in the shoes of a predetermined superhero character. That is to say, you’re watching yourself running down the virtual streets of a town while your actual movements - punches, kicks and dodges – are accurately incorporated in the game. Naturally, your character will be boosted with some supernatural abilities as well! Unfortunately domesticated martial artists have to wait for awhile to fulfill their warrior fantasies; the game is released on PlayStation® Network later this fall.

Teemu Mäki-Patola, CEO of Virtual Air Guitar Company, is confident of their motion detection system: “FreeMotion® technology replaces the traditional game controller for consoles and PC, offering a whole new way to play video games. Kung-Fu LIVE will be one of the top notch PSEye and Move games coming to market this year.” Indeed, after watching the video, I’m especially astonished how the software is able to render the background and capture the gestures without any added equipment. Furthermore, as the whole Finnish gaming industry is gaining major international momentum, the individual companies have been able to find unique niches and hone their skills to introduce industry-changing titles to the playing audience. Our politicians and other decision-makers are frantically thinking global industries, where Finns could excel and bring enough added value, but somehow multi-billion dollar growing gaming and entertainment sector does not seem to interest them enough. Hopefully this is going to change soon. In any case, Finnish gaming sector is definitely something to follow closely at the moment.

The story behind Virtual Air Guitar Company is truly where Finnish innovation system is aiming for – university level research project receives media attention, gets initial public funding and becomes a well-established global business. Besides raising money from Tekes and Finnish Industry Investment, Virtual Air Guitar Company’s financiers include nationally interesting Warner Bros. (with 15% of shares) and notable business mentor Pirjo Kekäläinen-Torvinen. Technopolis Online did a short interview with Pirjo about her involvement in the company.

Why were you initially interested in Virtual Air Guitar Company?

“I had been working for a long time as a mentor for Technopolis Ventures that is how Virtual Air Guitar Company’s founders and their project were introduced to me. As it was a startup in question, I wanted to invest ‘mentor capital’ to the company, which besides the money includes hands-on participation in the development of the company. I became interested in Virtual Air Guitar Company’s project because of the novelty of the idea (technology, industry) and its global market potential. Naturally, the founders’ right attitude and enthusiasm of getting things done affected positively my view of the venture.”

What kept you believing in the idea?

“After committing myself to the project and being responsible for setting the targets for the company, I see myself partly accountable for the executive tasks too. Anyway, I’d say this venture has become more interesting every year after its launch.”

How do you see the future for the company?

“Gaming industry is growing rapidly and the digital distribution is in favor of independent game developers. The threshold to enter the market is really high for companies in the gaming industry and Virtual Air Guitar Company is near the breakthrough with its upcoming launch. Every game published by Virtual Air Guitar Company will push the company towards more successful future. When talking about tomorrow, there are no other plans than to become more triumphant with every step we take.”