Facebook launched its Gaming Creator program in January to boost gaming livestreams on its platform. It’s now building on that with its Gaming Creator landing page, which acts as a hub for relevant broadcasts, as well as the Level Up program, which will give emerging livestreamers access to monetization tools and marketing support. The Gaming Creator program debuted in January to encourage folks to stream PC, console, and mobile games on Facebook. Since its launch, the program has expanded outside of North America to South America as well as the Asia Pacific region. It’s also beefed up the ways broadcasters can monetize their channels with the introduction of Facebook stars, which is similar to Twitch’s bits, are a way for viewers to tip creators during a livestream. Recently, it also rolled out a subscription feature, which enables folks to subscribe to broadcasters for $5 per month and get access to locked personalized content. Tim “Darkness429” Havlock … [Read more...] about Facebook launches Level Up program and landing page for gaming livestreams
Virtualization for gaming
Xsolla opens one-stop shop for game developers to monetize and grow globally
Digital payments company Xsolla is expanding to become a one-stop-shop for game developers to create, monetize, and scale the growth of video games worldwide. The Los Angeles company will launch its new product suite next week at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles next week. Xsolla’s existing Pay Station payments product will now be bundled with Xsolla Partner Network, Xsolla Site Builder, Xsolla Store, Xsolla Login, and Xsolla Launcher. All of the products in the suite could create a seamless ecosystem where any size industry player can access the tools and services necessary for success, said Xsolla chief marketing officer Nathalie Lubensky in an interview with GamesBeat. “Our goal is to celebrate and empower developers,” Lubensky said. “We want to be an extension of their team and help automate things like payments, taxes, and other things.” Above: Xsolla wants to broaden the reach of game developers.Image … [Read more...] about Xsolla opens one-stop shop for game developers to monetize and grow globally
HDMI Vs. DisplayPort: Which Is Better For Gaming?
When you purchase a modern graphics card or a new monitor, the most perplexing, ambiguous setup task you're faced with is a choice of interface: Which cable is the best one to use to connect your panel to your PC? The four familiar PC-centric display interfaces--VGA, DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort--come in various combinations on both video cards and monitors. Often, a cable for one (or more) of them comes bundled with a new monitor. You might be tempted just to plug in that cable and run with it, with no further consideration. But which interface should you be using, especially if you're a dedicated PC gamer? Does it make a difference? Recapping the Big Four Any modern video card will have several display output connectors, and usually among them will be the familiar, many-pinned DVI. That connector is fast becoming a legacy one, though. (The occasional high-end video card these days drops it altogether.) Old-school VGA is fading out even faster, and it now tends to be found only on … [Read more...] about HDMI Vs. DisplayPort: Which Is Better For Gaming?
This virtual reality game is helping young patients having surgery
Children about to have surgery can now play a virtual reality game to reduce their anxiety. The 360-degree, first-person interactive story is designed for two- to eight-year-olds so that they get to know medical instruments and strange surroundings while becoming a hero with the help of friendly characters. Medical VR Solution by South Korean gaming firm JSC was being showcased at the Wearable Technology Show at ExCeL in east London this week. Five minutes before their procedure the young patient puts on a VR headset to collect “magic items” in the game so the experience is fresh in their mind. They collect items in scenarios including having an injection, going for surgery, getting an X-ray and anaesthesia. The game’s creators say the experience helps reduce stress by 40 per cent. The backdrop the child sees can be changed so it matches their hospital. The missions are completed with the encouragement of a Transformers-style Carbot and there is also a “germ … [Read more...] about This virtual reality game is helping young patients having surgery
Atomontage reveals voxel 3D simulation technology for games
Game developers have battled each other for decades about whether voxels or polygons are best for game graphics. A voxel is volume element, a way of illustrating a 3D image without using traditional polygons. Atomontage‘s founders believe voxels are a much better way to create fully interactive 3D applications, and they’re unveiling a new platform to enable voxel art in high-end video games. Atomontage’s technology is the result of 15 years of research and development by Branislav Siles, who has more than 23 years of experience in graphics programming and volumetric technology. In an interview with GamesBeat, he said breakthroughs in the tech could change the way people create, share, and engage with 3D content. The tech will enable volumetric simulations to scale massively in fully interactive 3D applications, with billions of voxels. The company’s prototypes show that augmented reality and virtual reality rendering and interaction with large … [Read more...] about Atomontage reveals voxel 3D simulation technology for games