Twitch introduces Stream First games
In a bid to support game developers by increasing audience participation, Twitch announced its new Stream First series. The initiative aims to have more developers bake Twitch broadcasting into games from the start.
Twitch made the announcement during the 2016 Game Developers Conference. Through Stream First, developers will be able to release games "designed from the ground up for the live streamed experience."
The company believes this new initiative will pave the way for a new genre of video games by transforming traditional gameplay video streams into a cooperative community experience. One way gamers can actively participate in Stream First games could be similar to the way audiences were able to decide what happens next in Twitch Plays, according to Engadget.
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"In the last few years, we have seen a great deal of creativity in online interaction methods from the Twitch community, including Twitch Plays games, channel loyalty currencies, and subscriber tournaments, among many others," said Brooke Van Dusen, Director of Game Developer Success, Twitch. "However, these systems have always been external to the games broadcasters are playing. Stream First games by nature embrace these developments, incorporate features inspired by these creative concepts of Twitch community interaction, and bring about an entirely new genre of video games."
The Amazon-owned live streaming video platform revealed three games are already in development: "Superfight," "Wastelanders," and "Streamline." The first one has a similar setup as Twitch Plays where the audience will decide who will win among the superheroes created by players. The second one is a strategy game which places the streamer and his audience in a team as they battle it out against another streamer and his viewers. The third one works in a similar way, except the battle will be against broadcasters while viewers will bet on players and vote on rule changes, among others. These first Stream First Game are available for demonstrations at the Twitch section of Amazon's Game Developers Conference booth (South Hall #1224).
