Speedgate: The first game invented by AI machines
In sports, be it football or something else, the role of AI has largely revolved around upping the performance of players or catching their mistakes. But this time, in a major development, an AI engine has actually invented a completely new sport - Speedgate. It involves two six-player teams handling a ball between three open gates. Let's see how it is played.
So, what is Speedgate?
Unveiled by AKQA design agency, Speedgate is a sport that combines elements of soccer croquet, and rugby into one. It involves two six-player teams that compete for a ball on a field with three open-ended gates. As one team manages to pass the ball through the center gate, it gets the ability to score through either of the two end gates.
You can't hold the ball for over 3 seconds
You can throw/kick the ball through either of the gates to bag two points for your team. If the ball ricochets through the post, you get an extra point but do note that you can't hold the ball still for more than 3 seconds.
How AKQA's AI designed this sport
To bring this game to life, AKQA fed the data from as many as 400 popular games into a neural network. The system then crunched this information to come up with a comprehensive set of rules and concepts for different new sports. However, as every system-generated sport didn't make sense, the team sifted through the results and ultimately settled on Speedgate.
Play-testing proved Speedgate feasible
Though the team had two more AI-generated sports to choose from, play-testing indicated that the characteristics of Speedgate made an ideal package, both in terms of workout and difficulty level. The sport's playtime has been divided into three seven-minute intervals, and it's mandatory for each team to have three defenders and forwards on its side to play a match.
Even the motto of Speedgate comes from AI
To note, the AI that created this sport also designed its logo and a bit weird motto that reads "face the ball to be the ball to be above the ball."
Soon, Speedgate tournament could be a real thing
As of now, Speedgate is a very much playable sport that has been devised by a machine in a first-of-a-kind case. It was developed as an experimental project for Design Week Portland festival, but now, AQKA team is in talks with the Oregon Sports Authority to give it some serious recognition. They may even host of an intramural league of the game this summer.
