Get A Tiny 3D Version Of Yourself

If you were lucky enough to get an Xbox One over the holidays, then you already know the joy of yelling at your console and telling it what to do. But here’s another cool thing you could do with a Kinect back in 2013: get a custom 3D version of yourself! That’s right, instead of taking another boring selfie, you could turn your entire body into a miniature plastic figurine. Because apparently looking at yourself in the mirror every morning just wasn’t enough.

How Shapify.Me Turned Kinect Scans Into Miniature Figures

The service was called Shapify.Me, and all you needed was a Kinect for Xbox 360 or Kinect for Windows connected to a compatible computer. Once the software was running, you’d stand in front of the camera, strike a pose, and hold still while it captured your body from different angles. The process involved turning roughly 45 degrees between scans until the camera had enough information to create your digital double. Not exactly rocket science, although maintaining the same facial expression for an entire minute might have been a challenge.

After the scan, you could preview your 3D model on your computer and rotate it to see how your tiny future self would look. Happy with the results? Just upload the model, pay $59, and wait for your miniature twin to arrive. The original service even offered free delivery to customers in the United States and Europe. That’s a pretty reasonable price for a little statue of yourself, especially considering you didn’t have to learn anything about 3D modeling.

A Tiny Plastic Version of Yourself for $59

Created by Artec Group, Shapify.Me produced figures at approximately one-twentieth of your actual height. Depending on how tall you were, that meant a miniature measuring roughly three to four inches. Customers could choose between a full-color figure resembling their clothing and appearance or a plain white version. You could even paint the white one yourself, assuming you trusted your artistic abilities more than I trust mine. Personally, I’d probably end up looking like a melted action figure.

The possibilities were pretty entertaining. You could make a tiny version of yourself for your desk, give your parents a miniature family collection, or surprise a friend with the weirdest personalized birthday gift ever. And unlike an ordinary photograph, this little creation could stand on a shelf and stare judgmentally at you whenever you walked past. Creepy? Maybe. Awesome? Absolutely. Just remember that this was a 2013 service, not a promise that the original home-scanning offer is still available today.

I know, I know, after being able to shout “Xbox Watch TV” and “Xbox Fast Forward” without even touching a remote, standing still for a minute sounds like a lot of work. But TRUST ME, you’ll want to get your figure BEFORE your new lazy lifestyle takes its toll on your physique. Otherwise, your miniature twin might end up looking suspiciously like someone who’s spent six straight months eating pizza and playing video games. Not that I’m speaking from experience or anything.