360 Augmented Reality in Skystorm Production Studio in Orlando
Shaq 360 video shoot Orlando at Skystorm’s production studio brought AriZona’s SodaShaq AR game to life by capturing Shaquille O’Neal’s full 3D likeness. Skystorm Productions is excited to announce our involvement in the production of AriZona Tea’s SodaShaq Basketball, an interactive, augmented reality, mobile video game experience that puts smartphone-using, cream soda drinkers on the basketball court with Shaquille O’Neal‘s 3D likeness.
How Emulat3D Captured Shaq’s 3D Likeness
Emulat3D brought their 360-degree camera rig into our production studio in Orlando for the shoot. Each of the 30 cameras on the rig took 30 images and specialized 3D imaging software stitched the 900 images together creating a full 3D bust of the subject – in this case Shaq. Those high-resolution, 8K images were then scaled back into a smaller format for mobile technology use. Also heavily involved in the project were NuMedia Innovations, Product Broadcasting, MPire Creative, and of course AriZona Tea.
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Shaq’s bust is a prominent feature in the augmented reality game. Action is triggered by scanning his face imprinted on a can of his new SodaShaq cream soda while running AriZona Tea’s SodaShaq Basketball smartphone application. The app then uses live video from your smartphone’s camera to overlay a basketball court and hoop hanging from your can of SodaShaq, all viewable on the phone’s screen. The objective is to flick basketballs with your finger into the hoop for the win. All the while, Shaq is giving either encouragement or taunts, depending on your performance.
The game brings an exciting level of user involvement into the soda industry and encourages patrons to repurchase the product time and again. With the help of some amazing companies, AriZona Tea and Shaq have created a winning combination of a tasty cream soda and mobile interactive video game. Check out the behind-the-scenes video from our production studio in Orlando.
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30-Camera Rig & 8K Stitching Process
To achieve the level of detail needed, we deployed a custom 30-camera rig to capture 360-degree video of Shaquille O’Neal from every possible angle. This multi-camera setup allowed us to record ultra-high-resolution footage that could be manipulated for AR integration.
Using a complex 8K stitching process, footage from each camera was precisely aligned to create a single, spherical video format. The stitch not only preserved the spatial accuracy of Shaq’s movement but also maintained photorealistic depth, essential for making him feel “present” in any mobile AR environment.
Scaling 8K Images for Mobile Use
One of the biggest technical challenges was optimizing 8K assets for mobile use without compromising visual fidelity. Mobile devices have limitations in terms of processing power, bandwidth, and memory, which requires us to compress and scale the high-res footage strategically.
We applied dynamic rendering techniques and GPU-level optimization to allow real-time responsiveness during gameplay. Our development pipeline ensured that even the rich textures and subtle facial expressions translated smoothly on both iOS and Android platforms.
From Real Shaq to Digital Avatar
Every gesture, expression, and movement of Shaq was mapped using motion capture overlays and depth data, transforming hours of footage into a responsive, lifelike digital avatar.
This avatar became the centerpiece of the AR game, allowing players to interact with Shaq in real-time, whether it’s a virtual slam dunk challenge or gamified workout sessions.
The AR Game Experience
The end result was more than just a 360 video, it was an immersive, interactive AR game experience that let users step into Shaq’s world.
From the realistic motion to lifelike visuals, the 360 shoot in Orlando was pivotal in blending cinematic realism with game design, setting a new standard for celebrity-driven AR content.
