The Museum of Contemporary Art and Design and the Gamers Union for Innovation and Leadership Development welcome video game enthusiasts to a Virtual Reality  Games Day today, 13 February.

The event invites guests to an innovative and immersive experience featuring Laro Tayo! and The Yellow Boat Reimagined. These are original works conceptualized and produced by the budding game designers and developers from the Interactive Entertainment and Multimedia Computing Program of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Management and Information Technology.

The activity requires the use of head gears, which simulate three-dimensional reality through stereoscopic displays. With the help of sensors, the equipment likewise tracks the eye movements and positions of the players, which translates into game actions that affect the artificial environment.

Laro Tayo! reintroduces traditional Filipino children's games with a modern twist. Hailed as the Best VR Game during GameOn! 2021, it allows a mix of VR and computer users of up to five participants per session. The selections include Tamaang Tao with a mix of Langit Lupa, wherein one player throws balls to stun the other competitors, who avoid the attack without falling off the platforms. Bring Me incorporates the basics of Limbo Rock. Guided by a set of descriptions, the challenge is to deliver items from right to left while dodging the lowering bar. Hep Hep Hooray, on the other hand, allows users to input the corresponding button and the slowest one will be deducted a life.

The Yellow Boat Reimagined, which sheds light on the lack of access to education in many remote areas in the Philippines, transports the player to a remote community in the country. It is an introduction to the indigenous Filipino culture, as the character interacts with the locals, climbs slopes, wades and swims through water, and traverses a crumbling bridge on her way to the nearest school. It was named Game of the Year in GameOn! 2018 and Best VR Game and Best Game Narrative and Story in GameOn! 2019.

The VR Games Day is in line with the ongoing exhibition 30 Lives. It is free and open to the public, with slots for 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 4 p.m.  It will be conducted at the MCAD Multimedia Room at the Benilde Design + Arts Campus along Dominga Street in Malate, Manila. Interested participants may register through tinyurl.com/2u3wcz35.