Remember last week when Sony announced the PlayStation 4 to the world? Did you read all the mainstream articles the next day that kind of missed the point and whined about not seeing a box and not hearing about how the new games console would handle all the other things that aren’t games? Streaming services are ubiquitous and expected now, reporting on their (almost total) absence from Sony’s stage is like reporting that they didn’t say if it would have a power cable.
It’s been quite frustrating to see what was a very positive showing from Sony miscommunicated by reporters who are phoning in lazy reports that don’t understand their subject. So it’s nice that Engadget got to talk to Brad Hunstable, CEO of Ustream, about what their partnership with PlayStation would mean.
Basically, Hunstable is very clear about the role of his service – and by extension other streaming services – in the future of games consoles. He analogises that companies like Ustream are basically like cable providers, with consoles as set-top boxes and users as the program makers.
He goes on to say that the company intends to make its streaming service available for all kinds of content – not just videogames – on the PlayStation 4. You’ll be able to access all of Ustream’s events and shows from your console via an interface that they’re working to make as simple and intuitive as possible. Finally, Hunstable confirms that they expect all of Ustream’s features to be available and operational alongside the PlayStation 4 from launch.
Source: Engadget
tactical20
My old man is email buddies with the founder of Ustream. They share an interest in heraldry. Fact!
cam the man
All the Ustream stuff sounds good except to my broadband supplier.
Glad to see the ‘from launch’.
The report by Dan Silver in last weekend’s Sunday Mirror was one of the few I’ve read that praised the whole Playstation meeting.
Temascos
I hate how the press have been complete idiots when it came to the meeting. I bet they thought it would be out the next day, tools.
Nice to see Ustream supporting the system, I do hope we can stream game footage directly onto it for others to see and not just PSN users.
gazzagb
Considering how good Ustream’s stream was during the event, I don’t have high hopes for anything they do. Youtube successfully streamed the Red Bull Stratos jump to 6million people, while Ustream struggled with about 400k. It was also poor on Sony’s part for not making sure Ustream were up to the task of streaming the event.
TSBonyman
I’ve noticed a lot more encouraging articles in general about PS4 on the web this week now that the initial headline-grabbing ‘outrage’ stories have died down. Most sources seem genuinely interested and even excited about the potential for PS4.
Although you should still be careful Peter, we don’t want the Daily Mail to run a “PS4 to ship wthout power cable!” story… ;)
Esrei
I really don’t see why they’re not using Twitch.tv
Twitch’s userbase for gaming is HUGE now.