The game of virtual sports is on
Yves-Marie Poirier (Innovation Engineer) from France TV shed light on the world of virtual sports spaces. The project redefines the way we experience sports by bringing it to a digital platform in response to the digitalization of the sport industry. The spaces give the user the chance to virtually immerse and engage with sport in an unique setting. Curious how this works? Let’s have a look at the virtual sport space of France TV.
Front-row seat experience
France TV replicated the iconic venue of Roland-Garros in a virtual world, offering users a front-row seat experience to relive the iconic sport event. The virtual space is an exact copy of the Philippe Chartrier court and with exact we mean down to the last detail. The players are in the exact position and the ball follows the precise trajectory of the real life sport matches. The front-row seat experience goes beyond just reliving the iconic sport event.
France TV designed a virtual Olympic expo, engaging users into iconic sport highlights. But the emphasis isn’t only on providing content. Firstly, France TV established a virtual fan zone, allowing users to interact with avatars. Secondly users can play tennis mini games, adding an interactive layer to the experience. Last but not least, journalists at France TV can conduct interviews using virtual avatars. This gives users the feel they’re part of the action, despite watching from the comfort of their homes.
When tech comes together
How was this virtual space created? It's a vivid example of what happens when different technologies come together. The development of this virtual space relies on Unity, a powerful software that empowers the creation of interactive content and video games. Using Unity, the virtual space incorporates generative AI, augmented reality, mixed reality and metaverse to provide a realistic feeling. Furthermore, the interaction between the avatars is based on the Roblox technology. Yves-Marie touched upon the potential for further developments in high fidelity volumetric video. This technology would allow for more detailed and realistic virtual sports experiences, bringing fans closer to the action than ever before.
Learnings
What are the lessons learned regarding virtual sport experiences? Firstly, virtual sports aren’t just a trend. It's a transformative tendency that is reshaping the sports and entertainment industry. Firstly, technological advancements play a critical role in this tendency. The integration of cutting-edge technology, such as Unity and motion capture, is revolutionizing the way sports content is delivered to fans. Secondly, is the importance of an immersive experience, allowing the audience to make them feel part of the event. Interactive elements are essential to create this game-changing experience. Last but not least, industry partnerships between broadcasters and technology companies are crucial in the realization of virtual sport experiences.