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Microsoft said it is bolstering its Xbox arsenal with the purchase of a startup specializing in letting people join in the fun while watching live-streamed game play.
Microsoft did not disclose financial terms of the deal to buy Seattle-based Beam, which puts an interactive spin on the hot trend of video games being spectator sports.
"With Beam, you don't just watch your favorite streamer play, you play along with them," Xbox Live partner group program manager Chad Gibson said in a blog post.
For example, Beam can be used to let viewers assign missions, summon adversaries, or select virtual gear in games being streamed online by broadcasters.
Beam, which launched in January of this year, will become part of the team at Microsoft devoted to the technology titan's Xbox consoles.
"As part of Xbox, we'll be able to scale faster than we've ever been able to before," Beam co-founder and chief executive Matt Salsamendi said in an online post.
(Score: 2) by tibman on Monday August 15 2016, @04:58PM
Yeah right. Just because you crushed everyone at two-player pong doesn't mean modern co-op games are for morons. Stop and think about all the silly sports that involves throwing or hitting a ball and then think about the huge crowds of people who watch someone else hit/throw that ball. Archery, swimming, and many other sports are you versus environment. No direct competition at all.
Computer games as a spectator "sport" should not be looked down upon. Competitive games (the kind you like) do take skill and other people appreciating that skill is only natural.
Fans love to get involved with their favorite team/player in all sports. Imagine football (hand-egg) where it would be feasible for fans to physically participate in the game. They could run out (with no pads) and run interference (i think i'm using the phrase correctly) for their favorite player and get totally clobbered by the other team. People would love it. But "professional" sports are not done for fun so the interaction thing really falls flat there. Having a couple yokels causing chaos in the game would certainly make most sports/games fun though.
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