Equipping Next Generation of Gamers With New Mocap Studio

Target3D install cutting edge mocap studio at City of Liverpool College

By 2021, it’s projected that 2.7 billion people — about one-third of the global population — will be gamers. Big tech companies are seizing the moment: Apple, Google and Amazon are all developing gaming products. Recognising the demand for training games designers of the future is the City of Liverpool College who offer a Diploma in Digital Games Design and Development and a BA in Games Design and Concept Art.

The issue

With their courses covering 3D animation, game engines, VR, AR and mocap for animation, City of Liverpool College’s existing £2.5 million Digital Academy needed to evolve to accommodate the lightning-fast pace of gaming technology. To attract and to provide the best possible experience to its students, the college needed a system that could offer a wide range of genres, including virtual production and tracked VR capability. The optimal way to do this was with a brand new studio, designed and built from scratch. But how to ensure the industry best, cutting-edge technology was sourced, operational and entirely fit for purpose - and the future?

The solution

Combining the educational knowledge of the City of Liverpool College and the technical knowledge of Target3D from the outset, the idea was brought to life from concept to delivery.

Multiple meetings and site visits with the facilities management, the college procurement team and the architects allowed Target3D to take a consultative approach, providing input about the considerations for motion capture and advising on details including optimum flooring and blinds for the specialised studio.

The 9.5m x 6.5m mocap stage was custom built to host 26 OptiTrack PrimeX 13 cameras and the brand new OptiTrack colour camera, supplemented by Novatech computer workstations, Netgear switches, HP backpack computers and projectors.

The result

Liverpool City College recently unveiled their brand new mocap studio in time for the new term. Chris Butler, Curriculum Lead for Computer Science & Digital tells us,

“The studio finish was far more than we could imagine. The technology used is state of the art, customisable and unique in its capabilities, while the software is easy to understand and operate to capture real-time animation to a professional standard. Target 3D has provided on hand assistance for all our needs and we would fully recommend them in the future. Our students are very excited to get started and news has spread to many more departments such as acting and drama.”

Speak to the Target3D team for motion capture and virtual production consultancy, installation and training. More about how we work with colleges and universities.

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