Looking for something to do tonight? Check out BigStage.com and kiss your evening goodbye. Recently – as in today – we featured the up-and-coming site at GameInformer.com, supplemented by an interview with one of the men behind the concept. After getting home, I knew I had to share the information with everyone here at GEN.
So what is BigStage? Essentially it is a website created to promote technology that renders your face into real-life environments. After submitting three photos of your face at different angles, BigStage creates a composite, places it on an avatar, and animates it for you in a variety of settings. How does this apply to us nerds? In the day and age of customization, personalized avatars are the newest trend among games and social networking sites. Titles such as Tony Hawk Pro Skater, Rainbow Six: Vegas and Tiger Woods have all attempted to include face-rendering technology into their games, with varying levels of success. Usually the results are less than stellar, primarily because the addition is an afterthought in terms of the game devilment process. Big Stage hopes to change that by developing the technology first, and implementing it into games at a later date once it is perfected.
With this motivation in mind, BigStage launched a site showcasing the technology and merged it with a social networking element, allowing users to create profiles, share videos and comment on each others content. While I don’t plan on making BigStage my new home, it warrants a glance or two its entertainment value.
While the technology is nowhere near perfect currently, it is inspiring to see how much it has advanced since the first webcam-inspired applications spawned. So go check it out and post your results, or links, in the comments. You can check out my videos here and here.
Tips: As I said, the technology is not perfect, so keep these things in mind. The program ignores your hair, and allows you to pick a cut after it finishes your face. This being said, sweep back your bangs and pull your hair back – otherwise you will end up with a random back blob on your forehead. Along the same lines, keep items away from your neck and chin. Also, keep your expression neutral in the photo. The technology allows you to change your expression afterwards, doing a silly face now will just confuse it. Enjoy!
November 10th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
So funny and pretty dead on!
November 11th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Oh no, now I’m scared that I’m going to go to this site and get addicted. It sounds so fun.
November 13th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
I just went on the site and put my “@ctor” into some cool paparazzi photos (me with Julianne Moore and Kate Winslet?! LOL). I even transported myself into Egypt in front of the pyramids. Very cool tech. And its shareable….