Xfire & HB

[Mess]

http://www.xfire.com/download/

Why join the Xfire community, and have to install and maintain another piece of software?
Well the one most obvious reason is that its easy to track you're friends and see what they are currently playing. Its easy to chat with all you're online friends, even while they or you are ingame.

IM Integration:
And if you are currently using AIM, MSN, Windows Live, Google chat, Yahoo, Twitter or all of the above. You can add you're details and you can chat with all you're friends and get twitter updated using just Xfire.

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1. GET STARTED
Access Instant Messenger Accounts under the 'Tools' menu. Click 'Add Account' to start the process.


2. CONFIGURE
Select the service you have and enter in your usename and password. You have the option to import your groups here.


3. ORGANIZE
Manage your groups by right-clicking on the group name. Add custom groups to organize your friends!

Screenshot Hosting:
But I have also found some other nifty things.
First of there is Video recording and screenshot hosting. I haven't used either much but the screenshot hosting seems like a nifty idea. Basically whenever you use Xfire to take the screenshot (Scroll lock+S), it is uploaded to you're profile page. A nice way to store you're screenshots.

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Easy to Capture
Press Scroll Lock + S to take a screenshot.

Easy to Share
Screenshots can be automatically uploaded to the Xfire website for millions of gamers to see.

High Quality
Your screenshots will be stored and viewable in full resolution on the Xfire website.

Video Recording:
Like I wrote above I never recorded much, I experimented a little with it once. But it lagged my computer to hell so I dropped it and never really looked back. But with Xfire the recorder is ready to launch whenever you want it too. And I haven't noticed any lag with my POS computer(disclaimer: Limited testing). Press Scroll lock+V while ingame and Xfire will start recording for you. Easy as that. You don't have to remember to start some program or set a million settings. If you at some point during you're game think, hey this could be cool to record. Just do it.

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1. SET UP
Go to Tools | Options | Video in the Xfire application and make sure of the following:

Enabled Video Capture checked
Make note of the Video Capture Key Binding
Full-size or half-size correctly set
Check Record Sound if desired
The correct audio devices are selected
Note: If you have Vista and don't see your device, see the instructions in the FAQ.

Recording video is hard on your computer - if you are having trouble playing your game, set the recording size to half-size and do not record sound.

2. RECORD
Launch the game that you want to record and start playing.
When you are ready to record, push your capture key (default Scroll Lock + V). A red light will start blinking at the top of your screen to indicate that you are recording.
Press the capture key again to stop recording.

3. UPLOAD VIDEO
Your videos are managed in the Video tab in the Xfire application. All your videos are listed there - both local videos on your hard drive, and remote videos you've already placed on the Xfire website.
To upload your newly recorded video, right click on the video and select "Upload Video." Xfire will convert the video to a web version and upload it automatically to your personal page on the site.
Visit your profile page to see your masterpiece!

Streaming:
A very cool thing I have been in need of a few times recently is a way to spectate games my friends are playing. I have been trying with Skype, Teamviewer and a few other apps and none has been usable. Skype was the best and it was lagging like hell. What I have just realized it that Xfire has a livestream feature. All you have to do is enable it and whenever you want to livestream you're current game, just press Scroll lock + B. And there you go, all you're friends and/or everyone on Xfire and livestream can watch you crash skulls while keeping it real!
I have been streaming a few times to test out, and its pretty nerve racking. There is an overlay counter at the top of you're screen so you can see how many is watching you're stream, and you can be sure it will peak just when you fuck up.
There are many cool thing which can be added to our community site, if more decide to share there ingame awesomeness.
Also If you decide to start live streaming please consider adding you'reself to the HB xfire streaming "list" here: http://www.hb-eu.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=7696

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1. SET UP
Go to Tools | Options | Broadcast in the Xfire application and make sure of the following:

Enabled Broadcast checked
Make note of the Broadcast Key Binding
Select Low, Medium, or High Broadcast Quality
Check Broadcast Audio if desired
The correct audio devices are selected
Note: If you have Vista and don't see your device, see the instructions in the FAQ.

Broadcasting live video is hard on your computer - if you are having trouble playing your game, set the recording size to half-size and do not broadcast sound.

2. STREAM
Launch the game that you want to broadcast and start playing.
When you are ready push your broadcast key (default Scroll Lock + B). A blinking red light at the top of your screen will show that you are broadcasting, along with the number of people who are viewing your stream.
Press the broadcast key again to stop.

3. CHAT
Each stream has its own chat room. When you start broadcasting, that room is created and you are automatically joined as the administrator. To see the chat room, bring up Xfire In-Game by hitting Scroll Lock + X.
Once in the room you can discuss your game with your ardent fans. Hit the green phone button to start a voice chat and talk directly with your viewers as well as type!

Community group:
Also most know we have an Xfire Support Group... Err... I mean Xfire Community Group, if you didn't know about it, and are already using Xfire, hurry up on over and join us. Right now we are only 3 but its early days still.
By joining the group you will instantly be able to see all the other Xfire community members activity. So you don't have to worry about having to add all you're friends in HB.
You can also add you're Xfire details in the UCP, you can check out my profile for the result. Brrr thats allot of hours gamming, and I just installed it.

Btw I did have some problems with the windows UAC in Win7, if it pops up and ask for permission every time you start you're computer, that can be fixed easily. Let me know if you have the problem and ill help you sort it.

Sorry for the wall of text, but I wanted to get all the positive sides in here.
Hope to see more of you on Xfire.

[Exinferis]

w00t, some things i had no idea was in xfire, need to test some of these features

[Mess]

We need more people streaming tbh... Especially while I'm at work.

[Filip]

Im on Xfire as well now... we need more ppl !!

games get 100% more fun when you play with someone you know... and tbw it seems xfire is a nice way to know what game to start up (because you can see if other ppl are playing what games)