Those bogus baseball fans are scaring people

As part of an attempt to make the Major League Baseball games in this bizarre, coronavirus-shortened season seem as normal as possible, Fox Sports decided to create virtual fans, digital versions of animated people who would react to the broadcast games. on Fox the like true fans do.

Let’s say they didn’t take you out of the park.

As Nick Schwartz pointed out in USA TodayVirtual fans appeared in and out of sight during the broadcasts, appearing when cameras were pointed out into the garden, but then not visible behind the plate, creating a disturbing experience. Ryan Parker from Hollywood reporter agreed:

To be sure, this is something new, and Brad Zager of Fox Sports told him The edge the network was still working it out, with plans to evolve the process from game to game and week to week. And the technology is certainly impressive, as my colleague Chaim Gartenberg described it:

The augmented reality software used to insert crowds is called Pixotope, which has worked on AR graphics for things like the Super Bowl and The Weather Channel terrifying storm warning demonstrations.

It works by taking advantage of graphics (created by Silver Spoon Animation creative agency) created in Epic’s Unreal Engine. Unreal Engine is used here for the same reason that it is popular for creating video games or for creating virtual backgrounds on set for shows like The Mandalorian. Unlike most movie graphics, which must be rendered in post-production after the fact, Unreal can render in real time, making it much more suitable for live television.

But other hockey fans may remember that in the mid-1990s Fox Sports was responsible for one of the most hated pieces of “technology” in the game, the FoxTrax puck: the “light puck.” Used in Fox Sports hockey broadcasts from 1996 to 1998, the puck appeared to have a blue aura as it moved across the ice, which turned into a red streak when a player fired the puck into the net (no, actually) . So forgive us if we are a little cautious.

In any case, the initial reaction to virtual MLB fans is that technology needs a little work. Houston Chronicle Sports editor Matt Young found they weren’t as convincing: “Just a bunch of guys alternating chin rests on hand and then 2-second delayed reactions.”

The NBA is taking a slightly different route: It will invite fans, with special tickets, to attend the games virtually and show their heads on the screens next to the court. Use Microsoft Teams Together mode to create the effect.

However, it is still a bit strange. FanSided’s Emily Adams says the result is “completely ridiculous” and will present an “absurd” experience for viewers. Los Angeles Times The Lakers beat writer Tania Ganguli tweeted an image (and those fans are surely excited by what a warm-up session looks like):

Some MLB teams are giving fans the opportunity to “attend” the games this season by purchasing a cardboard cutout of themselves to place in the stands. Well, although he’s apparently a Mets fan, this dog is pretty cute:

However, even cardboard cutouts can get a bit baffling, especially when one is almost decapitated by a home run ball:

I have been trying to find the appropriate Yogi Berra non-sequitur to give an idea of ​​this very strange situation. “If people don’t want to go out to the ballpark, no one will stop them.” It doesn’t quite work, but it’s close. And if we are to go ahead with sporting events during a pandemic, nothing will make sense because it is an unprecedented situation. It will be interesting to see if having pseudo-fans present makes watching games more enjoyable or if it will become a strange novelty that everyone gets used to over time.