streaming your strat

KiddParK · 2012-06-24, 07:24 PM

so a question has come up amonst some of my outfit. Some of them would like to stream their PS2 games because apparently that's what people do nowadays. I'm old (aka mid 40s) so I don't see the purpose in it exactly, but i also didn't see FURBIES or Parachute pants becoming that big either so I've often missed 'the big picture' as i age.

my question for the PSU community is this...

is having members of your team streaming your strategy (on the occasions that we use it) with possibly part of their Teamspeak ramblings pretty much just beaming your game to the enemy if they were so inclined to tune in? Do i think it would make a huge difference in how they stomp on us? Unknown, however if they see us heading to a specific place with the zerg on the stream then they could quickly figure out a course to defend.

though i suppose all sides will be streaming?

I take no sides in this, I'm just unsure of the positives and potential negatives of it and would like advice from those who do it, and watch it.

thanks

kp

GreatMazinkaise · 2012-06-24, 07:30 PM

This is a big argument for why it's stupid to stream like that in an open world PvP game.

Razicator · 2012-06-24, 07:37 PM

Honestly it won't be a big deal in this game. In LoL and Starcraft 2 for example, pros all the time stream their games. Popular ones make tens of thousands of dollars, some even hundreds of thousands of dollars, per year streaming by putting up ads inbetween rounds. The money surely outweights showing your strategy that pretty much everyone already knows anyways, for their opponents can just see after the game what everyone did and when in a replay. Serious strategy is only made in private games between teammates.

In Planetside 2, there wont be a serious pro scene at all (or at least in the beginning). Streaming your "strategy" of positioning and covering fire doesn't really give away anything. Great, you cover all doors with overlapping cones of fire; everyone knows that already. The only strategy that you should be worried about hiding would be secret hacks and raids behind enemy lines, and you can just mute ventrillo from stream while still communicating yourself, only allowing game sounds to go through. No one will know where you go until you're already there. If you're worried about chat, then put a black box over it in the stream overlay.

Spiritbeast · 2012-06-24, 07:49 PM

streaming is AWESOMEEEEE!!!! i like watching streams and chatting with people, it's like a movie experience for a game, plus u get to laugh and joke around, and the people in the game interact back with u, if somone does something funny or awesome u get to witness it and laugh or cheer with them, vent, and everyone in chat that just got to see it. streaming is basically alot of people sharing the experience.

As far as stream sniping concerns, u can set it to be a delayed stream, so any would be party poopers watching your stream, would be watching what u did 5 minutes ago (however long u set it for). U can also not feed the vent chat. Both of these eliminate most stream sniping, but they also effect the viewers interaction with the outfit streaming. Ups and Downs u gotta think about.

Electrofreak · 2012-06-24, 07:55 PM

I'm sure there will be a small number of other people who will find the opposing side streaming in the same base and try to use it for strategical advantage.

And despite what people say, there will be some advantage. "They're loading up a Gal for a drop!" "They're prepping a MAX crash!" But for the most part it won't be hugely important. Splitting your attention between the game and someone else's stream has its downsides as well.

All in all, it is an interesting argument.

AzK · 2012-06-24, 07:58 PM

KiddPark: There is an option you can set while streaming, to have it delayed. Outfits currently streaming on ps1 set it to 15minutes so when you see on their stream that they're hacking a base, the hack has already gone through or failed.

I'm getting a new pc for ps2, depending on how streaming will affect my frames/latency i'll decide to do it or not.

Bazilx · 2012-06-24, 07:59 PM

The video and stuff shouldn't be much of a problem, I think streaming your teamspeak would be a bigger issue, not much effort involved in simply turning the stream on and telling your friends over YOUR teamspeak what you guys are saying you will do next.

"They are about to do a gal-drop" etc etc.

A delay would be the obvious choice.

Electrofreak · 2012-06-24, 08:00 PM

Originally Posted by AzK

KiddPark: There is an option you can set while streaming, to have it delayed. Outfits currently streaming on ps1 set it to 15minutes so when you see on their stream that they're hacking a base, the hack has already gone through or failed.

Heh, I didn't know that either.

Top Sgt · 2012-06-24, 08:08 PM

streaming is great have been doing so for a few years. You just have to be smart about it.

i know for TRG we will stream with a heavy delay on our streams 15+ mins delay. When operational orders are given out That part won't be broadcast out to the stream voice wise.

There are alot of outfits who have guys who do nothing but look for streams in PS1 still to this day and specialize and brag about stream watching & passing on intel I AM LOOKIN AT YOU NC they will do the same in PS2.

So just be smart about it and let your audience enjoy the show.

DarkChiron · 2012-06-24, 08:10 PM

I was one of the ones discussing it, so I suppose I can chime in since I'm SLIGHTLY younger than you, kiddpark.

For people who like socializing online, a stream is a great way to gather people together and get them talking about the game. Generating a little fan base and being able to talk to them and discuss the game with them is an amazing experience. Of course, there is also the fact that, should you get popular, you can get a fair amount of revenue out of streaming (and for some that's the REAL reason for doing it, which is good for them if they can).

The more I think about it, the less I think stream sniping will be TOO bad. They may find out you're coming to attack a base, but I think in terms of the actual fight if a guy's playing the game and trying to watch/listen to your stream, he's going to be playing like shit. Honestly, I'm going to do it and if it turns out to be a problem I'll stop it. Regardless, having a delay on the stream will probably help quite alot, even if you lose out on the fan interaction that way (but I dunno how much you can do it anyway in a non-stop FPS).

BigBossMonkey · 2012-06-24, 08:12 PM

Isn't it possible to stream with a delay? Make it 5-10 minutes.

BuzzCutPsycho · 2012-06-24, 08:31 PM

Mine will be delayed.

Hamma · 2012-06-25, 10:18 AM

I've honestly never found much amusement in watching other people play via the typical streams we see in PlanetSide. I would be all for watching some live streams of base attacks from a birds eye "Observers" view (that is delayed)

Dart · 2012-06-25, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by AzK

KiddPark: There is an option you can set while streaming, to have it delayed. Outfits currently streaming on ps1 set it to 15minutes so when you see on their stream that they're hacking a base, the hack has already gone through or failed.

This is actually more difficult that you'd think... Sites such as Twitch.tv require users to be 'partnered' (ad sponsored) to allow them to have the delay. Obviously you need a large number of viewers to become sponsored so that takes time. The streaming software (xsplit) says they can provide a delay for the 'premium' version however their server is currently down to my knowledge, having had serious problems implementing it. Other sites such as own3d.tv have also failed in their attempts to provide delayed streams. So no, this is not necessarily as simple as click, click, click - delay.

And stream-sniping would be a MASSIVE advantage in PS2. Having someone watching where you're heading and listening to your mumble would effectively wreck any element of surprise you might be counting on.

Needless to say there is some debate in DT at the moment whether streaming in PS2 is workable...

Ale · 2012-06-25, 11:28 AM

Frankly, situationally aware enemy players could keep a stream of any large groups movements going live should they be so inclined. "Tune in to my stream to watch what The Enclave is doing LIVE". "I am in GOTRs tech plant, watchin thur dudes load LIVESTEAM". "Join me today as we watch DT tour the northeastern section of Searhus from 150m behind their last plane", etc. These days one button has that view going out live, with running commentary.

Considering this, you may as well just stream live for the enjoyment / involvement of your clanmates / fans... it won't mean all that much for OpSec.

The better option than streaming is Scenario Videos. Stuff like Kilroy, beagle, dsylexi, et al, do with ARMA.

Record everything (Voice Coms, video and game sound) and then edit a single life, moment, objective, funny clip, gal drop, base fight, etc, etc, into a stand alone video or themed series. That is much more rewarding for the viewer than just output dumping your entire interlife. The end result is better quality, easier to watch in a single sitting, more likely to be shared, and more to the point for your audience.

Streaming directed raids, exclusive / new content, world firsts and funeral bombings is cool and all, but it should be reserved for these kind of special events because no one wants to watch downtime.