Stage and story, two years running.
Watch the opening.
From a cinematic on the big screen to a stage that turns into the map — the 2017 opening in full.
The map, built in the arena.
Two EPICENTER CS:GO championships in a row — stage and show content, designed as one piece.
For EPICENTER’s Counter-Strike events we designed the stage and produced the opening ceremonies: a set that borrows its architecture from the game’s maps, cinematic films for the main screen, team intros, and staged live-action moments with performers on stage.
Each year the work took around three months and a team of 25 — from the first sketches to the show call in the arena.
2016 and 2017, two different shows.
We made the show content for EPICENTER CS:GO twice — a year apart, with a new idea each time.
- Oct 2016EPICENTER: Moscow · VTB Ice PalaceThe second EPICENTER tournament
- 2016Opening film and team contentOpening film, animated team logos, team profiles, map intros
- 2016Stage designThe set and screen layout for the arena
- 2017EPICENTER CS:GO 2017Motion-capture cinematics on real CS:GO maps
- 2017Team walk-outsWalk-out loops, logo loops and map cards
Opening film, teams and stage.
The 2016 edition — from the green screen to the arena.
Real maps, motion-captured.
For 2017 we rebuilt CS:GO maps in 3D and brought the characters to life with motion capture.
A cinematic that becomes the stage.
The film on the screen hands over to the set — light, pyro and team intros take the arena.
25PEOPLE
Motion capture for the opening film.
The 2017 cinematic started in a mocap studio — stunts and gunplay captured on performers, then turned into the characters on screen.
→01Studio
Capture volume and props.
→02Suits on
Live skeleton on screen.
→03Action
Stunts and cover moves.
04To animation
Takes cleaned and put on the characters.
