One of the first marketing points of the Playstation 4 was its ability to broadcast your play so that your friends, or anyone else, could watch via Twitch. Steam launched its own broadcasting capabilities in beta form on the 3rd December, and Twitch.tv has been hugely popular since its launch in 2011.
How important is it to you that your games have a social element? Swathes of us already broadcast the minutiae of our lives through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and the like, so why not our gaming? Especially if we can make a more impressive show of gaming that we can of, say, eating an egg for breakfast (seriously Instagram - why?). The behemoth of social networking rolls on regardless.
But don’t social elements detract from the gameplay experience? Don’t they constantly stop us getting engrossed with the action by not allowing us to suspend our disbelief? Or - does that not matter? After all, it’s not like we ever really believe that what we’re playing is more than a game? Typing that last sentence though was, honestly, hard. I felt a deep sadness rising within me. Of course I know that games aren’t real, but what’s the harm in letting ourselves get invested in these exorbitant and fantastical worlds?
On a different tack, there’s the question of whether or not games are supposed to be inherently social - which is the subject of another of these Up For Debate segments, and I’d love to hear what you think about it. If games are intrinsically social, are easy ways to share our games with other people (even when there aren’t other people available) the next natural - and important - step to keep games facilitating our social lives and not the other way around?
Or is it just damn annoying having to have that ‘do you want to share?’ button or prompt dancing around in the corner when you’re trying to concentrate, or being expected to care when your friend has managed to headbutt some more stairs in the latest freerunner?
Why not give us your two cents?
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PC Specs
pls dont...!!!!
PC Specs
Developers are definitely going to find a way to make money using social networking integration in games. I am totally against this step.
PC Specs
Personally... NO, NOT EVEN IN A BILLION YEARS !!!
PC Specs
As long as it is optional and doesn't interfere with the game in any way (as to be forced to login or share a certain thing to gain unlock certain items or stuff).
But mainly I'm against this.
It's already bad enough developers force us..
PC Specs
It's already bad enough developers force us to use additional DRM just to play the game, now this?!.
NO thankyou.
PC Specs
Sharing should always be an option when it comes to social media and games and such as, but should not be forced upon those who do not wish to share.
It would be a win-win situation for both sides as opposed to just focusing on one side only. Usually when it comes to new games I sometimes record my first impressions, and if I like it I make it into a Let's Play. Otherwise, I don't record myself and play when I feel like it.
PC Specs
No thank you, I don't want to be forced to create a facebook account in order to play games.
PC Specs
I think the option to stream to twitch is fine and all but when devs force like and share buttons down your throat in a video game it becomes very off putting. Such as what happened when nexon added the share button to vindictus and it cause a host of problems with the UI especially for people who didnt have a facebook to login with. Or Gamedebates very own game giveaway that requires a twitter.
PC Specs
Different people have different opinions and thus, different tastes. So in that case, why not have this integrated into games, but have an option to turn it off? Win-Win situation.
PC Specs
I couldn't agree more... Some people, such as my best friend Raju, like social network integration into gaming... I'm not flat out against it, but neither am I a fan of it... Having the options of leaving it or disabling it is a win for all...
PC Specs
Sure, I would like to share my pictures of me killing a hooker in GTA V.
But to be serious, I think that when this does end up happening, it will at-least give us an option to turn it on or off.
But in my opinion this will not be acceptable, nobody wants any extra clutter in their screen, and this will just ruin the gamers experience with the game.
PC Specs
My words exactly...
PC Specs
couldn't agree more
PC Specs
I dislike excessive sharing and socialization, as FB tries to force so much. Who knows, maybe somebody is watching you sleep.
Normal mode on
I would hate to be playing Elder Scrolls VI and in the middle of an dungeon raid full of goblins and a big green button pops out of nowhere asking me if it's ok to share it
PC Specs
Imagine playing a horror game and getting really immersed and then the game goes "That was a scary scene would you like to broadcast it to all of your friends", it can totally kill the mood
PC Specs
lol, that was some smart comment, would you like to broadcast it to all of your friends?
PC Specs
I despise and don't use any social media, so as long as I don't have to fear any disadvantages from that I'm fine with it.
PC Specs
Only useful for youtubers.But i don't want a forceful integration of social media in videogames,that would just ruin most games.
PC Specs
I hate social media. It's yucky. Keep your disgusting social media habits where they belong, behind closed doors and away from my gaming.
PC Specs
I think it'd be good if it's optional. So we can turn them off or on in options. And then, everybody wins! ;)
PC Specs
I am an introvert...
so...
NO.
PC Specs
Couldn't give a **** for social media...
PC Specs
The buttons annoy me and I couldn't care less about social media.