Professional basketball courts are a dime a dozen. Aside from the brand logos from a team's sponsors, they look exactly the same, and for a good reason. According to Sports Illustrated, the lightness of the maple hardcourt wood helps provide contrast against the orange basketball, which provides an easier time for players to see the ball's movement on the court.
However, there is one basketball court that does away with the traditional basketball court design, and it will have its first game soon.
Microsoft, in partnership with the New York Liberty, has recently unveiled a redesigned Barclay's Center for the team's upcoming games against the Los Angeles Sparks.
The redesigned Barclay's Center basketball court also has a metaverse equivalent in Roblox.
The redesigned Barclay Center basketball court as seen from the audience's point of view.
Microsoft - Barclay's Center Redesign Details
Microsoft mentioned in its announcement that it has collaborated with New York Liberty to set up the WNBA's first-ever gaming-inspired basketball court at Barclay's Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Additionally, gaming-inspired Barcaly's basketball court is also the WNBA's first secondary court among current teams.
Thanks to the redesign, Barclay Center's basketball court features colors reminiscent of Microsoft's Xbox platform - the court's border is shaded light-green as a reference to the Xbox's signature green. This border is contrasted by a dark grey hardwood court with ripples that may be a reference to audio waves created by speakers.
A look at the Barclay Center Basketball court from a basketball player's point of view. Notice the "ventilation holes" under the net.
The Verge mentioned in its article that the area under the net was made to somewhat look like the ventilation holes in the Xbox Series X.
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Finally, the logos various logos can be seen stickered onto the hardcourt wood. These logos include Xbox's, New York Liberty's, Camarax's, At&T's, and Deloitte's.
The New York Liberty's signature crest can also be found at the midcourt.
Popular opinion on the redesigned Barclay's Center is mostly positive, with Twitter users finding the redesign as "cool," "epic," and "beautiful." However, Twitter user The Starkman found the shade of green used for the court's border to be the wrong kind of green. The shade Microsoft used for its Xbox logo is much deeper than the one used for the court.
Barclay's Gaming-Inspired Basketball Court Metaverse Equivalent
A birds eye view of the Barclay Center basketball court's half court. The logos of various companies, as well as the New York Liberty's, Roblox's, and Xbox can be prominently seen.
WNBA and basketball fans who want to try out the gaming-inspired basketball court can do so digitally.
Microsoft was able to recreate a metaverse equivalent of the redesigned Barclay Center basketball court in Roblox's Infinite Canvas' Dunking Simulator, allowing gamers to step onto the hardwood court digitally and experience dunking basketballs on the court online.
This recreation in Roblox is probably the reason why the game's logo can be found on the court's borders.
Roblox players who wish to try out the dunking simulator on the Xbox-inspired basketball court will be treated with "special, metaverse-only features" like pyrotechnics, fireworks, fan chants, and more, providing a sense of immersion.
Fans can also unlock special virtual items for their Roblox avatars that can be used across the game's platform. These items include special New York Liberty jerseys, an Xbox belt bag, and Xbox Shutter Shades.
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