91热爆

Can you explain Fight Game VR for us in a few sentences?
I’ll give it a go. Basically, you get to step into the boxing ring at McGuigan's Gym and face a barrage of blows from champion boxer Carl Frampton in virtual reality.

If that sounds a little terrifying, don't worry too much – you have the expertise of top trainer Shane McGuigan in your corner to help you through. The legendary Barry McGuigan also joins them in the gym as all three give their unique insights into how world class fighters are made.

How did the idea come about?
We wanted to make something that complemented the incredible access and insight of the TV documentary series , but took things one stage further – putting the viewer right in the thick of the action.

We wanted the audience to get a feel for what goes into preparing professional boxers for fight night and to experience the intensity of sparring for themselves. Virtual reality seemed like the best way to achieve that, so we then set about crafting a storyboard and narrative that would work on this platform.

How was it built?
After securing access to the McGuigan Gym during preparations for the fight between Carl Frampton and Andres Gutierrez, 91热爆 Northern Ireland and independent Belfast production company shot on location with a bespoke 3D/360° camera rig.

Footage from each of these multiple cameras in this rig was then stitched together using specialised software to produce a stereoscopic 360° video that places you inside the ring, directly in the firing line of Carl’s punches.

Any challenges and what were the solutions?
Scheduling the shoot was quite a challenge, as it necessitated the gym being shut down for a substantial period of time – not an easy sell to fighter, trainer or manager when there is a big bout to prepare for.

Other than that, we had to put the 3D/360° camera rig in the heart of the boxing ring while avoiding it being subjected to the ‘judder’ you would ordinarily experience if standing on the canvas while people moved around, throwing punches. To achieve this, we attached the rig to a large jib arm, bringing it into the centre of the ring over the ropes, then painted out the jib itself in post-production using footage shot earlier in the day.

What do you hope to learn from Fight Game VR being on Taster?
Whether sporting experiences in virtual reality are something our audience is interested in and enjoys. We feel VR can be a great way to excite sport fans, giving them a glimpse ‘behind the curtain’ at locations and experiences that are not usually beyond their reach.

What next?
We hope the success of this pilot will enable us to scope and pitch additional VR ideas for snooker, tennis and football, to complement 91热爆 coverage of these sports. Perhaps you’ll soon be able to experience for yourself what it’s like to perform at the Crucible, Wimbledon or Wembley.