McEnroe vs. McEnroe, launched by Michelob ultra in cooperation with technology and production company unit 9, will premiere on ESPN + channel at 10 p.m. EST on May 7 It is reported that this is the world's first tennis match between real people and virtual players. In the game, the real McEnroe will compete with his ultimate opponent, the young himself. In this case, a virtual player driven by artificial intelligence was born.
This 45 minute video will show how to use the combination of AI and machine learning to create this game, as well as five virtual avatars at key moments in Jon McEnroe's career. Machine learning is a subcategory of AI, which allows machines to learn automatically from past data without manual programming or correction.
Unit 9's team spent a day with John to turn the vision into reality through full-body scanning, motion capture and illusory engine Metahuman technology, a cloud based application that can create realistic digital humans. The avatar game system will be projected onto the holographic particle screen and will simulate the game process through a system composed of a ball launcher and a ball returning robot.
When McEnroe sends the ball over the net, the avatar reacts to the direction of the real ball. When the avatar swings, a new ball will be fired from the ball gun, and then fly over the smoke screen at a precise point in space to make it appear from the position of the avatar's racket. From what is shown in the trailer, the holographic particle screen makes the virtual John McEnroe look blurred and distorted. Therefore, we will have to see how this actually works on the big screen when the film is broadcast.
The unit 9 team analyzed hours of game videos throughout John's career and recorded hundreds of shots, moves and movements. They recorded a total of 308 shots, more than 259 cycles and mixes to truly capture his footsteps and famous hitting and volleyball skills.
The best part of this is that the team recorded many key phrases and statements so that McEnroe can talk nonsense about his virtual self.
Michelob ultra also invited Jon's brother Patrick, who will host the game and provide real-time insights into John over the years. Sports commentator Ashley brewer and former professional tennis player James Blake will cover the game and let fans know the behind the scenes highlights of this unique game.
McEnroe vs. McEnroe is the latest spectacle of joy is the ultimate trophy of Michelob brand. This virtual game is a major change in the company's strategy and another activity after the virtual fan experience called Michelob ultra courtside in 2020. It is reported that Michelob ultra courtside is a cooperation between Michelob and NBA and Microsoft, which has brought 32% sales growth.
Ricardo marques, vice president of U.S. and global marketing at Michelob ultra, told techcrunch how they chose a critical moment in McEnroe's career. "He's going to play him in 1979 - that's when he entered the tennis court. Then we have 81 years, when he reached the peak for the first time in his career. 1982 was not a good year for Jon because he was a little struggling. Then he came back with all his strength in 1984 and retired in 1992."
In 1979, McEnroe won his first Grand Slam men's singles title in his career. Although he was at the peak of the game in 1981, he is still a controversial player. He swears and yells at referees. Nevertheless, he became the first male player to win the US Open Singles Championship three times in a row since the 1920s.
The tennis player lost the 1982 Wimbledon final and was out early in the 1983 us open. The next year, because of his extremely bad behavior, he will be suspended for three weeks and fined more than $7500. He was also disqualified from the Wembley indoor competition for beating the racket and talking hard. Although 1984 had its dark places, McEnroe did have his best season, with a record of 82-3, the highest single season ratio in his open era. His last year on the tour was in 1992.
John McEnroe is now 63 years old and Michelob said he would be the first athlete to participate in this technology-based competition. The company offered John the opportunity because they knew he was a hot and fierce competitor and would accept the challenge.
"Who doesn't want a chance to really review your starting point and celebrate your growth and learning along the way? Like others, I have had highs and lows, and over time, I learned to appreciate the journey. No matter what happens, you must find time to savor the experience and remember that it's worth it only when you enjoy it," McEnroe said.
In addition to the virtual tennis game, the film will also allow John to reflect on his career and share the stories and lessons he has learned over the years.
The idea of such a well-known and hot tempered tennis player playing an AR version of himself will certainly shine in front of some people, and he may become a venture partner of the company.
The extreme contrast between Michelob ultra's happiness slogan "it's only worth it if you enjoy it" and John's aggressive attitude is at least an interesting match. The company said the results would certainly be unique because "one of the most colorful figures in sports learned to find happiness later in his career". This film will let the audience witness how a competitive player evolves over time.