Thursday, June 24, 2010

Virtualization of futball world cup tournament

I have been watching world cup football. Being there is so much better than watching it on a 29" monitor at home. Minus the vuvuzela's - the crowd, their passion, their chanting makes you a part of the game and you are the game.

One thought lead to another and eventually I found myself thinking about how could I sitting at home be a part of the same excitement. The initial thought was that the game should be aired in 3-D view. But that still does make me a part of the game.

So here is a thought on improving the experience of any game that you are passionate about.

The game will be aired in 3-D but apart from having a physical stadium and seating arrangements you will have a virtual stadium whose seats will be way more than any physical stadium could hold. It will be open for purchase over the internet. So you will will find people from all over the world who cannot travel to the world cup destination sitting next to you.

It is like extending virtualization games and combining with live streaming. There will be different selection parameters which will allow you to choose a stadium - probably the viewing angle, language of choice for commentary etc.

You can also create your own private stadium where all your friends can virtually join and enjoy.

In all these virtual stadiums following will always be present:

1. Live 3-D rendering/streaming of game feeds
2. Live commentary in their own language
3. A device that they can wear which will capture their movements, the noise that they make, the slogans that they shout. So they can make all the noise, mexican waves and what not. You often find english men singing in unity - which can very well happen in the virtual stadium as well.
4. Virtual flags can be given which you can wave.

Eventually you will have one giant stadium (physical and virtual combined) and a true global participation in an event.