In the rapidly evolving world of e-Sports the demand for high-quality engaging content has never been greater. Fans expect to see not only the action, but also the details that make each game unique.
By definition, e-Sports can be classified as a sport because it involves competitive activity. However, the broadcasting of e-Sports competitions is different from traditional sports.
In traditional team sports, the focus is on the ball or puck and the competition around it. In contrast, e-Sports such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Call of Duty, League of Legends and DotA 2 are multiplayer video game competitions where every player's actions matter. This increases the complexity of broadcasting such competitions.
The broadcast director should be a professional who has to understand and feel the game and its specifics, the teams and individual players.
In most cases during an e-Sports competition, there are many rounds in a single game with short breaks. The director and producer have very little time to show the best moments of each round with commentary and explanations. Therefore, the replays play a more important role in e-Sports broadcasts than in traditional sports.
The Evolution of e-Sports Broadcasting
Back in 2020, we published an article discussing the use of broadcast servers in e-Sports. Since then, advances in hardware capabilities and our growing experience have opened up new ways of using this technology to create excitement, improve viewability and attract more viewers, which we would like to explore in this article.
In order to make e-Sports broadcasts more attractive, it's essential to show the action more vividly and to incorporate analysis of the games and the players' actions. This requires a sophisticated approach to data presentation, which SLOMO.TV servers can seamlessly handle. By using the same server to create replays and as a broadcast server, we can effectively use the accumulated material, whether for replays or for live production.
Thanks to our DMR™ technology, SLOMO.TV servers can be used to provide material for editing without the need for export. The use of growing file technology allows live editing and releases during the event itself, which is vital to keep viewers engaged.
Virtual Cameras and Observation Servers
Most e-Sports competitions allow and even require the creation and use of virtual cameras controlled by separate operators (observers or spectators). This allows in-game events to be viewed from multiple angles. It also makes it easier to track individual players, especially the team stars.
Such capabilities are similar to creating replays of a star player in football or basketball. In e-Sports, however, it's possible to provide replays from the player's perspective or from different angles, something that's not possible in traditional sports.
Introducing ES-Slo feature
One of the key features that can significantly enhance the viewing experience in any sport is super motion technology, which allows for slow-motion replays with maximum detail and an increased frame rate.
A new technology developed by SLOMO.TV, ES-Slo (derived from "e-Sports" and "slow motion"), allows video from observation servers to be recorded in super-motion mode. The virtual cameras can operate at 2x, 3x or 4x frame rate, creating visually stunning replays. This technology can be deployed on standard SLOMO.TV servers of any generation, with a software update that increases the number of input channels/cameras to support from 2 to 8 observation cameras in the Super Motion mode.
ES-Slo feature requires a license to be used on a SLOMO.TV replay server, and another license for the observation server.
In addition, ES-Slo can be used as a separate workplace that does not interfere in any way with existing channels and replay operator workstations, e.g. as a dedicated director/editor seat.
The most popular SLOMO.TV replay server used for e-Sports, the Dominator AT/3G, can use the ES-Slo feature to enhance its capabilities by adding up to eight Super Motion observation server cameras to its existing 14-15 cameras.
The Dominator AT server is a powerful 4K/3G/HD system for multi-channel recording and slow-motion replays. It is compact (4U, 20 kg) and supports a large number of 3G channels, making it ideal for e-Sports. The server has a fast and intuitive interface, allowing one operator to handle 12-15 channels.
In summary, the integration of super motion technology and virtual cameras is transforming the way e-Sports are broadcast. These innovations not only enhance the visual appeal, but also deepen the analytical insight, making e-Sports more accessible and enjoyable to a wider audience. The ES-Slo feature significantly enhances the quality of e-Sports broadcasts and gives directors fantastic opportunities to showcase events in a whole new light, making the viewing experience more engaging and exciting for fans. The broadcast is only limited by the director's imagination!
