Animated action has video game figures using real-time data, along with commentary in a push to reach online fans

TL;DR: The Australian Open is streaming games for free on YouTube. The catch is that the players, court, and ball are all 3D generated. They and constructed in near-real time using cameras and video tracking software.

The loophole allows the Australian Open to show a version of live events at the tournament on its own channels, despite having sold lucrative exclusive broadcast rights to partners across the globe.

Demonstration video: https://youtu.be/H-TCgvSeYj4

  • fitgse@sh.itjust.works
    9·
    10 days ago

    I was at the airport and there was an NBA game on tv and on another tv were Disney characters playing basketball. It took me a while to realize it was the same game.

    As a software developer (previously game developer) I was very impressed with how good the tracking was. Not just position, but complicated moves, dribbling the ball between their legs, facial animations, everything with less than a 10 second lag.

    The Disney version was way more fun to watch.

    • JasonDJ
      1·
      2 days ago

      This is what we have before the government invests $500 billion USD into AI surveillance research, imagine what we’ll have after!

      I mean, aside from a shit ton of new H-1B hires.

      (To be clear, I have nothing against the hires themselves, but the fraud and deception used to skip past qualified domestic labor. The money earned by visa holders being spent overseas is also concerning since that money loses any velocity it has within the American economy).

  • infeeeee@lemm.ee
    8·
    10 days ago

    I like the idea, as I’m not a tennis fan, but the 3d models are too poor quality. It looks like some quick indie project, or as a result of a hackathlon, not something from top class sport event. Or was it only an internal demo, and leaked somehow?

  • sin_free_for_00_days@sopuli.xyz
    6·
    10 days ago

    It might not be great, but it’s something. As a life long fan since the Bjorg era, not being able to watch tournaments for years has been kind of deflating.

  • anomnom@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    5·
    10 days ago

    Around 15 years ago my brother and I worked on an RFID based limb and ball tracking prototype. The idea would be to allow instant replays of sporting events from any possible angle.

    We never got funding to complete the project, and transmission interference was always tricky.