BBC PIONEERS NEW METHOD OF KEYING FOR 'FIGHTBOX' USING SAFIRE (June 2004)

The BBC’s innovative computer game programme, ‘FightBox’, is being produced with the help of eight Safire digital chroma keyers.

Where countless electronic games based programmes have failed before, ‘FightBox’ succeeds because it breaks down the barriers between the viewer and the action. The Safires create an impressive output that is more realistic than anything else of its kind.

With its use of cutting-edge technology and multi-level keying, ‘FightBox’ makes it appear as though a battle between computer-generated ‘combatants’ takes place in front of a live studio audience in a set-up similar to a Roman coliseum.

The ‘combatants’ were designed by human contestants using a kit downloaded from the ‘FightBox’ website, who then control and guide them from pods suspended from the ceiling.

The images used are taken from a PC game which was produced in conjunction with the television programme. The BBC placed one Safire on each camera which allowed pre-rendered graphics for the camera to be keyed on to the video before being sent to the vision mixer. This meant that the vision operator was able to get a preview.

The BBC also bought eight ViViD124s - which provides a video delay of up to two seconds - to match the delay caused by the graphics.