PlayStation 4 woos social sharers with built-in streaming | Bangkok Post: tech

The PlayStation 4 will allow owners to record, edit, and livestream their gaming sessions, explained streaming expert David Perry at the February 20 PlayStation Meeting.

Video screenshot: David Perry at the PlayStation Meeting 2013

Perry is well known as a game designer, and in 2008 begain exploring the potential for cloud gaming with GaiKai, a company that was then purchased by Sony for a sum of $380m midway through 2012.

Part of the upshot is that courtesy of the PS4 controller's new Share Button "you can broadcast from your game live, 100% real-time, to your friends," said Perry.

Why do this? Two main reasons.

Firstly, "spectating has become very popular in our industry, because it lets gamers learn tips and tricks from the best players in the world," explained the GaiKai founder.

It can also become potentially lucrative, when online personalities establish a following and benefit from associated advertising revenues.

Secondly, there's a strong social aspect. "We're making it so your friends can look over your shoulder virtually and interact with you while you're playing."

In addition, players should be able to drop into their friends' games, even take over when the going gets too tough and, where developers allow, leave surprise gifts at key points.

The talk was part of a two hour presentation emphasizing the PlayStation 4's capabilities as a games machine with social at its core.

Just like an Xbox console, a Wii U, Mac, PC or Apple TV box, it will be set up for TV, music, and movie consumption, but for now Sony is focusing on the games.

Skip straight to David Perry's segment of the PlayStation Meeting 2013: youtu.be&t=29m59s

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