MonkeyModulator ([info]monkeymodulator) wrote,
@ 2005-10-01 18:17:00
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Current mood: rejuvenated
Entry tags:football, pgn, sportsml, xml

ooh.. there's another one
So I was watching the MSU/Michigan game via ESPN's GameCast (not all games will have GameCast enabled), which is a pretty sexy interface if you don't have TV. Got me thinking about the data driving it. There's a lot of data ESPN must be typing into the backend in real-time. What format are they storing and transferring that data in? Naturally made me think of XML, and the possibility of an open interchange format for describing Football games.



Doing some research, there's SportsML, which is an XML language for describing sports scores and stats. But the granularity is extremely course. It does allow play-by-play descriptions, but there aren't many attributes or elements defined for it. So the descriptions would have to be character data, which isn't really helpful for computers.

Which brings up a point. Is this just geek masturbation? Why define an XML language for Football? Well, first it gives anybody the ability to create innovative new interfaces. Another possibility is formatting info for your phone or any other device. Or, how about importing the game info into your console, and either replaying the game in your video game of choice. And at any point in the game stopping play and trying your hand at it. Chess programs have PGN to exchange games. Why not football too?


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[info]punkrckgirl69
2005-10-02 02:20 am UTC (link)
:/
i never knew you liked football.
granted this is like technology related, i guess i never knew you liked the sport.
*laughs*
hell people get shocked when i decided to stay in or go to a hockey game.
so who won?

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[info]monkeymodulator
2005-10-02 05:22 pm UTC (link)
It was Michigan, but it was a close game, 34-31 in overtime.

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[info]the_tc
2005-10-02 05:15 am UTC (link)
You jock. ;)

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[info]monkeymodulator
2005-10-02 05:23 pm UTC (link)
:). I went to a Tigers game for the first time in nearly a decade the other night. We actually one :)

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[info]the_tc
2005-10-02 08:33 pm UTC (link)
Baseball games are fun to watch live. I can't stand it on TV, though. I went to the A's opening game uhmmm...last year, I think. That was a blast. I need to hit up a Giants game next year.

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[info]monkeymodulator
2005-10-04 02:45 am UTC (link)
one? wtf was I thinking.. we won.

drugs are bad.... mmmmkay?

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[info]drysil
2005-10-03 08:20 pm UTC (link)
I've been following NFL games for about three years now with GameCast and I can tell you that, despite a large improvement, there's still pretty significant lag from a real-time feed (i.e. radio). The same is true for MLB.com's version for baseball. Because of this, I suspect one of two problems (barring bandwith issues):

1. There's only one or two minimum-wage monkeys entering all this data (it's a manpower problem),

or

2. Nobody has bothered to streamline the entry method, and it takes for freaking ever (it's a coding problem).

My personal suspicion is (2), becuase it's just like a major company (ESPN, MLB, etc.) to develop a sexy web interface with no useful content behind it whatsoever.

*sigh* I guess I'll stick to the radio.

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My 2 cents or so...
[info]viciousladybug
2005-10-05 04:52 pm UTC (link)
Howdy! Can't imagine you at a baseball game at all, buddy, but I used to love it bad. Haven't been to a game since 1988. Regarding the gamecast issues: I agree with drysil's comments. There are no brains at ESPN or any other network. Being a TV person, I know two mcr operators over there and have toured their facilities in Bristol, CT. Like every other broadcast facility, there's a lot of shiny pretty stuff but that doesn't mean people know how to use it or well.

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