UPDATED 11:15 EDT / APRIL 03 2013

NEWS

Live Streaming for Gaming Heats Up with YouTube and Twitch.tv

Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2013 has been showing us a lot of interesting things, and the recent one is the live streaming from YouTube and Twitch.tv. A new API developed by YouTube allows game developers to live stream gameplay from directly within their games, with some of the popular titles already offering the service, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops 2.

This new API will create a stream based on live gameplay, transcode the stream in real-time, and handle sending the correct resolution to viewers. The streams will now be available on Android and iOS. Looks like YouTube has expanded its service to compete with Twitch.tv, which has already built a significant, game-focused, streaming empire and currently has partnerships with Electronic Arts, Activision Blizzard, and Sony Online Entertainment.

Recently, Twitch.tv teamed up with RAPTR, where it will integrate one-click streaming directly into the RAPTR client. Followed by this announcement RAPTR’s CEO Dennis Fong said,

What makes Twitch community-friendly is that it is authentic. A livestream doesn’t lie. Gamers may get tired of reviews, trailers, interviews, and staged videos that are filtered views of games. But a livestream delivers what the unfiltered gameplay looks like, albeit when it is played by some of the best gamers in the world. When you watch a livestream, you get an authentic and transparent view of how the game really plays. If you recall the sexy, beautifully illustrated covers of comic books, you probably remember the disappointment you found when you opened them up to see the lower-quality paper and hurried art on the pages in the middle. A livestream is more like showing the gamer what is behind the cover — so you know exactly what you’re paying for.

Making other developments, Twitch.tv also announced its intention integrate Twitch broadcasting directly into the Evolve platform by debuting its product at the Game Developers Conference. In addition, it also announced the availability of Twitch app on Ouya console in a pretty excited way.

We’re proud to announce that Twitch will be among a select group of native apps on the Ouya upon launch. That’s right, Ouya will be the first console on the market to include a native Twitch viewing app. Sit back on your couch, fire up your new Ouya, and bring the full Twitch experience into your living room.

SiliconANGLE assistant editor Kyt Dotson sees a lot of big things when it comes to online collaboration  video, and streaming for video games. “With games like Call of Duty and Firefall automatically integrating live streaming into their clients we may see a proliferation of user interest in sharing sessions with friends,” Dotson says. “Most gamers are probably already familiar with the experience of sitting in the living room and watching someone else play a difficult or fun game–it allows gamers (and viewers) to become participants in the game without the stress of play and potentially even enjoy the story.

“This dynamic changes with multiplayer games and MMOs in that other players tend to participate by playing alongside–but this isn’t always possible, so it intensifies the vicarious nature of watching someone play. Add in cloud-streaming and the capability of delivering video to mobile devices and friends can gather around the digital fireside on the train, bus, or far away and it’s once again like sitting around in a dark living room with someone playing Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.”


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