Sony bets on the metaverse with Mocopi, a system that improves the movement of your avatars
The company announced a motion capture system compatible with VRChat and other metaverse apps.
Sony has jumped on the metaverse bandwagon with a new device that will bring your avatars to life in virtual environments. The Japanese company announced Mocopi, a motion capture system made up of six sensors that are placed on various parts of the body. The sensors can be easily adjusted on the ankles, wrists, or hips using straps.
Sony’s idea is to simplify a process as complex as character animation so that ordinary users can customize an avatar from the metaverse with their movements. Mocopi uses six proprietary color sensors that work with a smartphone app. The capture is done in real-time in VR and is supported by apps like VRChat and multiple virtual reality headsets.
In terms of specifications, the sensors are 3.2 cm in diameter and weigh just 8 grams. It is placed on the head, wrists, hips, and ankles, adjusting using clips or a velcro strap. Later, we must synchronize them with the mobile via Bluetooth and calibrate them in a dedicated application.
The app allows you to create a sequence of movements and apply it to a customizable avatar. The user can change the values of the character or the background before recording a video that can be exported in MP4. One feature that stands out is recording your voice with the microphone and synchronizing it with the avatar’s mouth.
Sony wants to democratize content creation in the metaverse.
Mocopi is designed for the end user, so we should not expect results similar to those of a professional motion capture system. The advantage of this gadget is that it simplifies the process so that any user can do it without investing a fortune. Sony’s proposal is similar to what Unreal Engine does with its facial animation and 3D scanning apps using the iPhone .
While the focus is the metaverse and Vtubers, Mocopi can work in other fields, such as film or fitness. The sensors could be integrated into industries such as animation or game development. Sony confirmed it would release a development kit (SDK) in mid-December to link capture data with software like Unity and MotionBuilder.
Typically, video production using motion capture requires dedicated crews and operators. Using our proprietary algorithm, Mocopi performs high-precision motion measurement with a small number of sensors, freeing VTubers (virtual YouTubers) and creators involved in film and animation production from the constraints of time and place.
Mocopi will be priced at 49,500 yen (345 euros) and will be available in January 2023 in Japan. The app will be compatible with devices running iOS 15.7.1 and Android 11. As is customary with this class of devices, Sony has not given information about a possible launch in other markets.
