'NBA 2K15' video game drafts 3D face-mapping technology for latest installment

In this photo taken Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014, 2K Sports Vice President Sports Development, Jeffrey Thomas, poses for a photo with his company's NBA 2K15 video game technology featuring NBA Oklahoma City Thunder Kevin Durant, during a demonstration at the Associated Press's office in Los Angeles. The NBA 2k15 upcoming basketball simulation video game developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K Sports releases Oct. 7, 2014. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) (The Associated Press)

In this photo taken Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014, 2K Sports Vice President Sports Development, Jeffrey Thomas, talks about his company, 2K Sports' 3D face-capturing technology that processes a scanned face in real-time, with the help of a stereoscopic camera attached to a Sony PS4 video console during a demonstration, in Los Angeles. The NBA 2k15 upcoming basketball simulation video game developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K Sports releases Oct. 7, 2014. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) (The Associated Press)

LOS ANGELES – "NBA 2K15" is angling for a slam dunk with an innovative new feature that allows players to put their game faces on.

The developers of the interactive basketball game are adding the option for gamers to digitally graft lifelike 3D renditions of their faces onto virtual players in the series' latest installment, set for release on Oct. 7.

The process uses the cameras for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One game consoles to amass several angles of gamers' faces. It then renders photorealistic 3D models on screen that can be tweaked and placed onto the bodies of virtual players in the game's career and online modes.

The face mapping marks the latest effort by a game creator to add virtual representations of players in a game.