Developers can restrict game capture and streaming on PS4
The idea of Twitch/Ustream integration for the PS4 sounds great on paper, but it looks like developers are going to be able to restrict exactly what you stream and what you record.
The "Share" button on PS4 promises to make uploading gameplay clips much easier than ever before--especially with Twitch and Ustream integration. However, don't expect to capture games in their entirety, as the ability to record gameplay comes with caveats. Notably, developers can restrict what footage can be captured in their games.
In an FAQ, Sony stated that users will not be able to record, distribute, or stream entire game playthroughs. "Users may not be able to record certain areas within the game," the FAQ states. "Developers can select the area of restriction, and what will be restricted will depend on game titles. In these cases, recording will be temporarily suspended during the scene."
Sony's policy enables game creators to block having story-related spoilers posted online. For example, Beyond: Two Souls can be found in its entirely on YouTube.
In addition, PS4 cannot share videos to YouTube at launch. Savvy users, however, will be able to get around this restriction by using the YouTube function from their Twitch video archive. Users will also be able to make use of an external HDMI-based capture device following a post-launch system update.
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replyOzzie Mejia posted a new article, Developers can restrict game capture and streaming on PS4.
The idea of Twitch/Ustream integration for the PS4 sounds great on paper, but it looks like developers are going to be able to restrict exactly what you stream and what you record.-
...or you can just buy something like an El Gato Game Capture HD, and share as you wish.
The stance of "Oh, we want to avoid story spoilers" is dumb, because publishers already have a tool that they can use: lawyers. Cease and desist their YouTube or Twitch channel all you want. And if companies complain that that's too hard, they should know that any attempt to technically restrict legal video capture will open up a legal can of worms.
I remember the Giant Bomb guys talking about next-gen console video capture, and at no point did they say anything about using the PS4's "Share" button, because it wasn't going to be versatile and open enough. Now, it will apparently black out on developer-chosen segments, which is even worse. -
This might be pure naivete, but I don't see this as a bad thing. I've had plot points spoiled in reviews before because the reviewer didn't exercise discretion with the footage she/he included in the video review. I doubt developers will restrict ALL story-related material, so a good reviewer should be able to critique the plot intelligently while making do with, say, clips from the intro. For all other footage, you're just showing gameplay--combos, special moves, what-have-you. I don't see why there wouldn't be plenty of that available.
Also, I'm sure most developers know that the YouTube community is huge and will leave most of their games open to recording through YT and other outlets. This is just a way to prevent most users (all but the most tech savvy) and reviewers from from spoiling critical moments for others. If players REALLY want to watch a game rather than play it, they'll be able to do that pretty easily.-
But what reviewer is going to use the Share tool? I'd wager most will just do the same things they've been doing.
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Well, I'm wondering: are these restrictions tied to the Share function, or did Sony implement some measure to allow developers to protect certain areas of their game from other common methods of recording?
I have no idea how recording works, honestly. I've never streamed anything. I have read about software that lets outlets such as Giant Bomb grab any footage they need to regardless of restrictions. Of course, I know nothing about those restrictions, so... yeah.-
I would think they're tied to the Share function itself. Like, a develop could flag a certain sequence or section as "not available" and the Share function would either stop when trying to record that area, or maybe it just gives a blank screen, I dunno.
I'd be very surprised if there were some higher-level controls, but mostly because I'd think the cost of doing that would be much higher than a simple "no Share enabled here"-type thing. -
All PS4 and PS3 output is encrypted using HDCP over the HDMI output. Most streamers used the analog output of the PS3 to get around this, but the PS4 has only HDMI.
HDCP was designed purely for Bluray protection. It's a stupid, pointless, useless thing.
Game streamers who have a lot of money, can break it using a device called an HDFury, which is an HDCP stripper. That's what people like giantbomb use to capture PS3/PS4 output.-
"gamers who have a lot of money" - or those who have $16 for certain brands of HDMI splitters you can buy on Amazon.
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I don't necessarily see this as a bad thing. I just want to be able to show off that BF4 multiplayer rocket hip-shot that takes down a jet and makes me look like "I meant to do that... and I'm awesome!" I would kill for some video clips of my multiplayer hi-jinx from the last couple of decades. Sadly, they reside only in my memory.
