8-bit Tokyo Olympics

Objective

Sport New Zealand aimed to inspire kids to engage with Olympic sports through innovative, interactive experiences during the Tokyo Olympics. The campaign sought to make trying new sports accessible and unexpected, encouraging physical activity among players of all ages through playful motion-activated gameplay within a fan zone in central Auckland.

Solution

Method Studios and Saatchi & Saatchi created four motion-activated mini-games featuring Olympic sports: Surfing, Baseball, Karate, and Hurdles, three of which—Surfing, Baseball, and Karate—were making their Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games. Players controlled on-screen characters using their bodies with no controllers needed—characters replicated player movements in real-time on large screens using simple intuitive gestures. Built in Unity, the games featured pixel-art aesthetics with a vibrant neon-Tokyo-inspired color palette and backdrops based on iconic Japanese scenes. The installation was housed in a dedicated neon-themed area within a large fan zone in central Auckland, designed to encourage spontaneous participation and exploration of new sports.

Results

The installation drew lines of kids eager to participate, with players of all ages and abilities engaging with the interactive experiences. No specific attendance figures, engagement metrics, or measurable business outcomes were published.