Games video mashups via YouTube API

14 March 2008

Games companies and social networks seem set to benefit from new code announced this week by YouTube.

On Tuesday, the video-sharing site announced a new set of 'open' application programming interfaces (APIs) that would allow developers to embed and contribute YouTube videos more freely.

Most notably, the APIs open up the way in which videos can be uploaded to YouTube's servers, allowing websites, games and other applications to contribute video directly.

Reaction to the announcement was muted, with TechCrunch describing it as "a bit of an anticlimax", after running a competition to guess the nature of YouTube's impending announcement.

However, YouTube has been quick to provide some interesting case studies. These include plans from TiVo to allow people to watch YouTube videos on their TV, and from social network friendster, which is adding video sharing to its site.

Upcoming game Spore, from publisher EA, will allow players to record and upload gameplay directly to YouTube.

Category: Social media, Video sharing