Xfire wiki

From Software Informer

Xfire

Main server list window on version 1.90 with the new default skin
Developed by	Xfire, Inc.
Latest release	1.106 / 2009-03-23; 252 days ago
Operating system	Microsoft Windows
Type	Instant messaging service
License	Freeware
Website	www.xfire.com

Xfire (pronounced "X-fire"^[1]) is a freeware instant messaging service targeted at gamers, that also serves as a game server browser and has various other features. It is currently available for Microsoft Windows. Xfire was originally developed by Ultimate Arena based in Menlo Park, California.

[edit] History

In 2003, at a company formerly called Ultimate Arena gaming, Xfire was originally developed by Garrett Blythe and Chris Kirmse. Many employees have contributed to its development since then, including the former CEO Mike Cassidy^[2] (former CEO of Direct Hit), COO David Lawee and Dennis "Thresh" Fong (former U.S. Champion of Quake). On April 25, 2006, Xfire was acquired by Viacom in a $102-million deal.^[3] In September 2006, Sony was misinterpreted to have announced that Xfire would be used for the PlayStation 3.^[4] Instead, what they actually meant was that only one PS3 game, ' was to use some of the features, with more game support planned for the future.^[5] On May 7, 2007, Xfire announced they have over 7 million registered users.^[6] On June 13, 2007, Mike Cassidy, CEO and co-founder, departed the company to work for venture capital firm, Benchmark Capital.^[7] Adam Boyden, VP Business Development & Marketing was assigned to take his place and manage the company for a temporary period.

[edit] Lawsuits

Yahoo! filed a lawsuit against Xfire, Inc. on January 28 2005, claiming Xfire has infringed Yahoo!'s U.S. Patent No. 6,699,125, for a "Game server for use in connection with a messenger server". Xfire, Inc. filed a countersuit against Yahoo! on March 10, 2005. The countersuit was eventually disqualified by the judge. There has been a settlement between the companies as of January 31 2006. More details were posted to Xfire's forums, though terms were not disclosed.^[8]

[edit] Game detection

Xfire features the ability to detect the video game a particular contact is running. By analyzing running processes, Xfire can detect active games and send that information to Xfire clients with the current player as a friend. For many games, it can also detect which server people are playing on, the level which is running and ping times. Some games may be joined instantly. Xfire logs what games users are playing, how many hours they have played them, and saves other information (such as scores) from game servers. This information can be converted into a PNG image by the server via PHP for every user to use as a signature.

[edit] Instant messages

Xfire also includes the support for sending and receiving instant messages from inside a game in fullscreen mode, eliminating the need to minimize the game window. Users can also send in-game messages to other players without joining the game. Users are also able to see what games their friends are playing.

[edit] Voice chat

With version 1.43, released August 2005, Xfire, Inc. added a beta voice chat feature using Voice over IP technology, similar to, among others, TeamSpeak, Ventrilo, GameStreet Talk, etc.

[edit] Screenshots and videos

Xfire has the ability to take screenshots in game and save them to a specified folder, though this only works with Xfire In-Game-supported games, unlike Fraps. A user can take as many in-game screen shots as they want. Once the user exits their game, Xfire will load all of their screenshots in a window, where the user can then select all of the screen shots that they want to upload to their Xfire profile page. Users can also give each screenshot a caption. However, there are some games that are not compatible with Xfire In-Game. Xfire has the ability to record video in-game. However, it has a significant impact on performance.

[edit] SDK

The Xfire Game Software development kit (SDK) was released with version 1.56 (May 2006). It offers game developers an interface to expose some of the game data to the Xfire application. This is not compatible with some games, just like the Screenshot feature.

[edit] Clan and guild system

In version 1.63, Xfire released a beta clan system. This allowed users to create clans or guilds on the Xfire website and invite members (recruits can also ask to join). Many other features were also associated with this such as setting up ranks, favorite games and the number of hours everyone has been playing. With version 1.85, the Clans & Guilds system was officially released.

[edit] Live Video (Broadcasting)

Xfire added a video streaming feature in version 1.97. This feature is still in the Alpha phase, and a broadcast must be viewed using a web browser plugin, unfortunately only supporting Microsoft Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox at the present time. It lets anyone watch a live feed of a user's screen while they are playing a game. When a user begins a stream, it opens up a chatroom which anyone who is watching your live feed can join.

[edit] In-Game Web Browsing

In-game internet browsing capabilities were added to Xfire in version 1.103.

[edit] Support

As of version 1.84, released on November 19 2007, Xfire provided feature support for over 1000 games^[9] of many different genres, which include games such as Counter-Strike: Source, Battlefield 2, Starcraft, and World of Warcraft. Support for Windows 98 and Windows Me was discontinued as of January 2007.^[10]

[edit] Xfire events

Xfire hosts events every month ranging from chat sessions with the program's developers or game developers, debates, game tournaments and machinima contests.

[edit] Third-party modifications

There are many third party modifications for Xfire's client and services, including skins, infoview templates, plugins, and protocol implementations. Some of these may or may not violate Xfire's Terms of Service, according to paragraph 6^[11].

[edit] Skins and Infoviews

Skins can be used to provide a new look to the Xfire Client and chat windows, and Infoview skins can be used to provide extra functionality in the infoview pane. Skins are created through XML and image files, and Infoviews are created using HTML, Javascript, and images.

Gun's Ammo Crate (home page) 

A site designed to let you find an Xfire skin for your favourite game, brand, or even for a clan. You can also find infoview skins and tutorials on how to make your own skin.

[edit] Xfire plugins

Xfire's lack of an API or SDK for developing 3rd party plugins makes the availability and development of plugins difficult.

Xfire Plus (home page) 

A compilation of extension programs and files that allow you to enhance your Xfire client.

Programs such as the Music plugin allow you to display the music you are currently playing, whereas the Xfire Web Messenger allows you to chat with your Xfire friends anywhere in the world, from any Java supporting operating system.

Xfire Music Plugin (plugin page) 

A public domain standalone plugin for Windows Media Player on 32-bit operating systems that sets the user's status to a customizable string based on the media they are currently playing. The source is provided with the plugin and wi-fi

[edit] Multi-protocol messenger plugins

The following plugins allow users to chat on Xfire with other instant messaging clients.

Gfire (home page) 

A Pidgin plugin which lets users chat and see what games their friends are playing. It is the first Xfire client for Linux.

Miranda IM plugin (plugin page) 

Chat with people on XFire, game detection and much more.

Trillian Plugin (plugin page) 

Allows users to chat and see the status of their friends; also detects games when the user runs them.

Xblaze (home page)

An open source plugin for Adium that allows communication over the Xfire protocol. It is the first Xfire client for Mac OS X However, as of Nov.25/08 Xfire will not work on any mac due to a new Xfire update.

PlayXpert (home page) 

Built by former Xfire users^[12], includes support for chatting over the Xfire protocol, among many other features; also includes game detection.

[edit] Open source protocol libraries

These libraries offer developers a way to write software to access the Xfire network, without having to write supporting code to handle the protocol, from scratch.

OpenFire

An open source (LGPL licensed) Java API and suite of tools for accessing the XFire instant messaging network.

xfirelib

An open source library written in C++ which implements the Xfire Protocol. Based upon it is a Jabber gateway to Xfire (XFireGateway) which also implements GOIM extensions to the Jabber protocol.

[edit] References