February’s first weekly roundup of all things virtual reality (VR) in the world of sport sees a number of sporty game titles revealed and updates in the world of several other sports. Including some intriguing comments as one discipline enters a new era.
Superbowl VR ‘Near Real-Time’ Highlights Packages Planned Courtesy Of LiveLike VR
One of the biggest sporting events on the planet is not that far away, and whilst the battle between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons is still very much up in the air there is good news. Thanks to Fox Sports and LiveLike VR, highlights of the Superbowl itself are coming to VR.
Revealed by Digital Trends, you’ll be able to see twenty broadcast packages, including the key moments from each quarter of the fifty-first Superbowl and a number of items supporting the event as a whole. Captured in 4K resolution via six cameras dotted around the stadium and all uploaded and available to watch via the Fox Sports VR app. Not only that LiveLike are taking another step towards having full games shown in VR by providing these package almost in real-time.
How close is almost? No one is quite sure. “We’ve never really done real-time highlights, which is a pretty big deal.” Admitted LiveLike’s CBO Miheer Walavalkar.
Formula 1’s New Owners Look To The Future
Formula One is under new ownership – and seemingly nothing is off the table.
After completing purchase of the controlling stake in the Formula One Group, the company that runs the ‘business’ of F1 from previous owner and long-term stalwart of the sport Bernie Ecclestone, new owners Liberty Media have been doing the rounds speaking to press and trying to lay out their vision for what the future of the sport may be. New Chairman of F1 Chase Carey spoke to the BBC in an interview, and the subject of VR came up. Other motor sports, notably up-and-coming classification Formula E, have been experimenting with the tech.
When asked whether or not VR and other new technologies could attract new viewers to the sport Carey was buoyant about the prospects.
“There’s a list of opportunities that this sport is almost built for. And really at it’s core what you want to do is give the fan as experience that’s as close to driving one of these cars as possible. So whether that’s cameras, or virtual reality, or gaming, or the live experience at the track technology provides us- and the various digital platforms out there provide us- more and more the experience that they’re right there with the driver. And those opportunities really are just going to continue to expand; because there really is no sport that is so built for the technologies of today and tomorrow like Formula 1.”
That’s been This Week in VR Sport, come back next week for another of VRFocus’ sport roundups.