In the rapidly expanding universe of technology, artificial intelligence technologies have emerged as a beacon of innovation, profoundly reshaping our interactions, work, and leisure. The technology that falls under the banner of ‘AI’ includes generative models for images, voices and even videos, as well as large language models (LLMs), yet these terms and jargon is not what interests us. What we can do with these tools is the exciting thing. These technologies allow us more than ever to mirror the complexity of human emotions, enabling experiences that are deeply immersive and emotionally resonant.
Traditional video games have long used AI to inject behaviours into in-game characters. This creates a representation of life that, while frequently impressive, often lacks the depth and nuance of genuine human expression. The smoke and mirrors get more fabulous and complex, yet they remain. These games are sophisticated puppet shows, impressive yet locked into a struggle to bridge the chasm between the player and and authentic emotional engagement. Even the best examples by the finest teams in the area of narrative heavy games are judged not against other mainstream media like movies, but against the much lower bar within games.
Emotion Through Innovation
At Matchday, our vision transcends the conventional boundaries of game design and AI application. We reject the notion of using AI merely as a tool for crafting more elaborate puppets. Our ambition is not to refine what exists but to flip the script on how we experience football. By infusing every match, every player, and every moment with real-world, authentic decisions, actions and emotions.
We think of AI as another set of tools, albeit super-powered ones, allowing our artists and designers to tell stories that resonate on a deeply personal level. Instead of pre-scripted loops and finite designs, we will have truly dynamic crowd and fan reactions, audio environments that can be different for every player. Imagine being 0-1 down in a home match, and hearing your fans begin a chant that is unique to your club, raising the spirits of the players and contributing to that last second equaliser. We want to bring the essence of football to life, creating an experience that's not just seen and played but felt.
Our approach sidesteps the uncanny valley, the eerie realism that can alienate players, jarring them out of their suspension of disbelief rather than keeping them fully engrossed. By focusing on the authentic details around the game, we can capture the highs and lows, the tension and elation, in a way that's always surprising, always authentic.
“When people ask ‘What keeps you coming back to football each week over and over’, show them this match.”
What Players Can Expect: A Future Crafted with Emotion
Hyping up the technology and what is possible right now is fine, but a key concept to take into account is that these scaffolds upon which Matchday Mobile is built, are themselves sitting on technology that is constantly evolving. Today we are able to fashion personalised voices, images and narratives. Tomorrow, the possibilities will be richer and more fantastic, and Matchday aims to be perfectly placed to take advantage of them.
Let’s imagine again for a moment - unique video replays of not just your team, but fans, the stadium, commentary in any language. How about if you’re drawn to the aesthetics of anime, the charm of impressionism, or the grit of hyper-realism? Our game is designed to adapt on an individual level.
You, our future players, are invited to step into a world where technology is not just a buzzword, but makes up a canvas stretching into the realms of the unknown. Our journey into the future of gaming is marked by a transition from static text and images to the next steps of vibrant video and 3D animation. Where the essence of reality is captured not through mere replication but through the lens of emotional truth. Realism is not the goal - authenticity is.
Welcome to a new era of football.
