The Verge: In 2017, Adam Mackasek helped summon a dragon in Beijing. During the annual League of Legends World Championships at the 80,000-seat Beijing National Stadium — better known as the Bird’s Nest — Mackasek and the rest of Riot Games’ e-sports events team created an augmented reality spectacle when a virtual dragon modeled after an in-game monster flew around the stadium. Mackasek wasn’t able to enjoy the moment for long: just a few minutes after the event ended, his boss came up to him and asked “‘How are you going to do that bigger next year?”
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3 comments:
These media and augmented reality spectacles are really taking over the events industry! First television award ceremonies and now the League of Legends World Championships. I am not surprised. The great thing about media is that you can harness it for spectacle or for something more meaningful. It’s interesting that we’re only hearing about the spectacle side of things because the scale of these events is often through the roof. What is interesting is that Mackasek, who designed this flying augmented reality dragon across the huge stadium, doesn’t believe that bigger is always the answer. He’s looking to create the best show - big is not always relevant in that conversation. This company really seems to be in tune with augmented and virtual reality trend in these events. During the event with the high-tech metal gauze, it sounds like this company was really focused on doing everything they could with the materials they have. To have real world performers accompanied by their in-game counterparts during a performance is really damn cool.
Video and media technology is advancing at an outrageously fast pace. The technology used in this show is said to be based off of the same technology used for the Tupac hologram, which is basically a more advanced version of Pepper’s ghost. Pepper’s ghost originated in 1862, but with the advent of projectors, as well as more advanced materials such as sharkstooth scrim and mylar, the illusion is vastly improved compared to what it once was. I watched the video of the opening ceremony, and even in a video format, the illusion was so real. The transitions from the live performers to the hologram, vice versa, and even a combination of both—so smooth. I was enticed by the bright, sharp, colorful visuals. I think it is crazy how much time went in to planning this. I understand how much work it takes to make something of this scale for such a big event, but a year- from the last event to this year’s- seems even a bit excessive. However, regardless of how much time they spent on making the effect, it seems to be well worth it. The finished product is absolutely amazing, and would’ve been quite the spectacle to see in person.
WOW! THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY THRILLING! EXCITING! WONDERFUL! PHENOMENAL! AMAZING! All those flew through my head as I watched that performance. It is quite amazing to achieve in actuality. It looks like they were relying primarily on those large led screens up top and a Projection netting in front of the audience. Brilliantly designed and thought out creation for the stage. The screen really made it look like the projected material was on the stage with them while I know it was likely a small distance in front and behind the performers. The stage was also interacting as some points the stage would carry the projection for a just a bit while it was transitioning to something. It would transition to it going in or out of the affect. This really is a quality production and something I wish I could have seen live. Projection is getting close to effects that it is portraying here. These factors really helped to make a holographic look but, it was not a holograph. While we may be some time away from holographs it is still a technology that is likely to come about at some point and this really did a good job of making it believable.
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