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Broadcast your own TV show with PS4's AR Studio
The PlayStation 4 Playroom app is now good for more than just torturing (?) adorable robots with the PS4 Camera. The Playroom now also includes AR Studio, which lets you create your own live, interactive broadcasts. The amount of functionality (assuming it all works, of course) is kind of impressive, allowing broadcasters to use lots of screen effects, play MP3s via USB and even play back videos recorded on your PS4. Want to do your own SportsCenter-esque wrap-up of your unbelievable Resogun run, complete with custom soundtrack and video play-by-play? It sounds like you'll be able to do just that. Eat your heart out, Avatar Kinect. You all remember Avatar Kinect, right? No? Never mind. AR Studio is available via the PlayStation Store as a free add-on.
Ninja Bots invade PlayStation 4's free Playroom app
The PlayStation 4's free Playroom app has been updated with a new gameplay mode, allowing players to send their virtual robotic pals on a deadly trip through an augmented reality ninja training course. Ninja Bots is a brief, autoscrolling platformer in which up to four players compete for coins while fending off enemy ronin bots. Players tilt to control lateral bot movement and flick shuriken at approaching enemies by swiping the DualShock 4's touch pad. The latest app update also introduces a new set of unlockable trophies exclusive to the Ninja Bots mode. Note that The Playroom requires a PlayStation Camera in order to function -- potentially a tall order, as the device is now in short supply at multiple retailers. If you need some tips on corralling your virtual critters, our own Richard Mitchell showed off the Playroom's features prior to the PS4's launch last year, and only a few bots were seriously hurt in the process. They seem to enjoy music, so bust our your ukulele if you have one handy. [Image: Sony]
Twitch removes PS4's Playroom from directory for now
Twitch has removed the PlayStation 4's AR sandbox app, The Playroom, from its browsing options after a few people used the app to stream unsavory, non-gaming activities. "We removed Playroom content from the directory because a majority of it was non-gaming related," a Twitch spokesperson tells Joystiq. "We will look into adding it back as PS4 owners become more familiar with the games-only focus of Twitch content. In the meantime, you can view all of the amazing gameplay from PS4 broadcasters in this directory page on Twitch." Twitch previously mentioned on Twitter that it was monitoring Playroom streams, reminding followers that content must be about games or gaming, as outlined in its Terms of Service. A few Playroom streams have been archived in Twitch's search, including our live review of the app. In related news, saying, "He loves it when I tickle his dangly parts," during a Playroom Twitch stream isn't a bannable offense.
Couples reveal PS4 streaming on Twitch to be a double-edged sword
Twitch streaming on the PlayStation 4 has allowed for the creation of a call-in show, and it's caught the attention of several higher-ups at Sony. Engadget reports that a Washington couple utilizing The Playroom and their PlayStation Camera streamed what they're calling "The Spartan Show" on November 21, and it wasn't long before Shuhei Yoshida, president of Worldwide Studios for Sony Computer Entertainment, and Adam Boyes, head of publisher relations at Sony Computer Entertainment America, joined in. Boyes even phoned in, much to the delight of the couple. Unfortunately, the combined powers of PS4, The Playroom and Twitch have also been used for great evil not so good; GameRevolution reports [Warning: subject matter NSFW] that a man exposed his drunk wife's breast and later stripped her completely naked during a livestream. Twitch banned the offending account, but we have to wonder if we're going to have a Nintendo-shutting down-SpotPass-for-Swapnote situation on our hands.
Watch Ice-T bully robots in Jimmy Fallon's PS4 demo of The Playroom
The PlayStation 4 returned on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon this week with a cuter, cuddlier demo in contrast to Killzone: Shadow Fall. Yet it still led to undue physical violence. Some people, like Fallon, just want to play and have fun with the adorable augmented-reality robots of tech demo The Playroom. Then there are people like Fallon's guest Ice-T, who can't resist giving the innocent little androids a boot up the hiney. While the audience was impressed by what The Playroom can do, they reserved their fullest applause for when a poor robot was pelted flat against the screen by the rapper-turned-actor. Don't forget, this guy has starred in fighting games as himself. The Playroom is pre-installed on every PS4, and as you can see it uses the PlayStation Camera in some impressive ways. Check out own less violent hands-on video right here.
Joystiq Live Review: The Playroom on PS4 [Update: Watch the replay!]
We're rolling out PlayStation 4 review coverage all the way through the launch on Nov. 15. Check out more reviews and news here! Update: The live stream is over, but you can watch the replay right here. The PlayStation 4 is only a day away in North America, and it's bringing with it some pretty cool innovations like built-in live streaming. To that end, we've decided to do some innovating ourselves: We're going to review a PS4 game ... live. Specifically, we'll be reviewing the built-in PlayStation Camera game, The Playroom. Join us here at 2 p.m. Eastern to see the review. If you want to participate in the live broadcast, we'll be answering your Playroom and PS4 questions on Joystiq's Twitch channel.
Hands-on with The Playroom, Sony's robot-filled AR pack-in
Pre-installed on every PlayStation 4, The Playroom is an augmented reality tech demo and toy box that fills your living room with tiny, dancing robots, assuming you've got the new Eye camera handy. It's pretty adorable and, as a piece of AR technology, is incredibly responsive, as we discovered during our (literal) sit-down with Sony's Nicolas Doucet at this year's Tokyo Game Show. The Playroom isn't really the sort of thing most people will spend a lot of time with as a game, but it will invariably be booted up every time there's someone new to impress with your PlayStation 4 purchase. We figure it'll also be a big hit at parties, what with the obviously hilarious implications of the software's PlayStation App support.
Double Fine working on DLC for 'The Playroom' on PS4
During the PlayStation Indie Arcade event tonight at PAX Prime, Sony's Adam Boyes announced Double Fine is working on DLC for PS4 tech demo, The Playroom. The DLC will be available to all PS4 owners free of charge. The Playroom, first demoed at E3 this year, includes a variety of micro-games and augmented reality experiences meant to showcase the features of the PS4. The Playroom will be bundled with every PS4 system when it launches on November 15.
