Black Ops 2 in-game 'Shoutcasting' video tour

Xav de Matos — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 13:30:00 EST

When Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 launches on November 13, it will feature built-in tools that allow players on any platform to livestream their multiplayer sessions to the web. No capture boxes or special software required.

For competitive video game commentators - or anyone who wants to shoutcast a match of Call of Duty - Black Ops 2 also features a slew of in-game options to control the action as it happens live or from watching a replay. You can adjust items on the HUD, add scoreboards and user name cards, jump to the map showing all users, listen in on team mics to hear their strategies, and more.

If you're worried the tools could help opponents get the upper hand, Treyarch has thought about it. Players in the middle of a game won't hear the shoutcasters do their thing and the online time delay is such that it wouldn't make a difference if someone you were playing against was watching the same match. There's also the ability to turn off streaming for certain kinds of matches - like a tournament you've organized.

The tools both embrace the growing world of eSports and advance the possibilities of gaming. In-game streaming and shoutcasting tools have made it to the top of our "every game should have this feature" list. And you don't need a pair of commentators explaining the on-screen action in order to make use of the new feature, you could just stream it worldwide at any time for any reason.

Joystiq had a chance to play with the feature and discuss its tools with Treyarch advisor (and pro shoutcaster) Mike Rufail as a group of journalists battled it out in a multi-team deathmatch on the Yemen map in Black Ops 2. Watch the mayhem (and why I shouldn't quit my day job) above.

Black Ops 2 in-game 'Shoutcasting' video tour originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Aug 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Ops 2 features in-game livestreaming and 'Shoutcasting'

Xav de Matos — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 02:05:00 EST

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is looking to leave a mark on the future with its feature list, bringing livestreaming options into the series for the first time in its history. Developer Treyarch has revealed that Black Ops 2 will include the ability to stream and Shoutcast directly from the game on all platforms when it launches on November 13.

In the mode, two players can serve as Shoutcasters - otherwise known as commentators - for a multiplayer match. Though inspired by the eSports crowd, the mode is available to all. Players can shoutcast games live as they are taking place or add commentary to games saved in the Theater mode of Black Ops 2.

Delayed livestreams can be activated from the menu at any time, feeding the game to a web browser for anyone on a PC, Mac, or mobile device to watch.

In my experience Shoutcasting a match during a recent Black Ops 2 event I learned two things: I'm honestly terrible at it and Treyarch has just vaulted Black Ops 2 to a new level in the competitive gaming scene.

Stay tuned for a video of Joystiq shoutcasting tomorrow.

Black Ops 2 features in-game livestreaming and 'Shoutcasting' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Aug 2012 02:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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