Spotlight On: Livestream

There are moments in a gamers’ life when they throw that perfect punch or survive an insane series of cut scene prompts. In times past, these events went unnoticed by everyone but the player.

Local company, Livestream is here to change that. Described by vice president of game products, Lior Messinger, as the YouTube for HD live video, Livestream can supplement the gameplay of many different electronic entertainment enthusiasts.

“People like to watch other people play,” Messinger said. “They appreciate the skills and aesthetics of good gameplay, and they want to see their side win.”

Messinger said game-casting is similar to watching sports, but the storylines and multiple locations of many video games take viewers on the journey with the player; making them a kind of in-game companion.

When he realized he liked watching gameplay as much as controlling the action, Messinger looked into the possibilites of game-casting Research revealed a largely untouched market, and it wasn’t long before Livestream unleashed their technology onto video games.

“Game-casting has become one of the most popular genres at Livestream,” Messinger said. “We actually just launched a collaboration with XFire, where their users stream games through our site.”

Gamers can broadcast the action by downloading the free Procaster software (an all-in-one tool for live video). After installation, players log into the program, set up their video preferences, and begin sharing their skills with anyone who is watching.

Messinger is excited about teaming up with a competitor. He hopes this kind of collaboration will standardize the emerging market, and open up new windows of opportunity for all game-casting providers.

“Imagine the tool we would give a Call Of Duty team commander if he could have a console connected to live feeds from his team mates,” Messinger said. "Our partnership will open up many new directions."

Because game-casting tends to take up many resources, Messinger said his team tested and re-adjusted the Procaster until it was compatible with most current games.

“There is only one CPU but a lot of tasks to do,” Messinger said. “We had to come up with many neat tricks to do the work.”

Livestream is just one of many local gaming-related companies. Check back soon for more information about the industry in your area.

More Info: Livestream-Game Channel Guide-Procaster Demo