Embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods for multi-player gaming. Some embodiments relate to systems having an improved communications infrastructure and improved handheld game controllers, while other embodiments relate to improvements in handling large numbers of players in the multi-player game when played in a game arena with a single large display screen showing the multi-player game images. In one particular embodiment, a system is provided that has a game server controlling a display system to display the multi-player game on the large screen and a plurality of game controllers. Each game controller has a secondary display means for providing a secondary game display and input means for receiving player input. The system further comprises communication means for enabling communication between the game server and each of the plurality of game controllers. The plurality of game controllers are located in proximity to the large display screen such that it is visible to game players manipulating the game controllers while playing the multi-player game.

Embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods for multi-player gaming. Some embodiments relate to systems having an improved communications infrastructure and improved handheld game controllers, while other embodiments relate to improvements in handling large numbers of players in the multi-player game when played in a game arena with a single large display screen showing the multi-player game images. In one particular embodiment, a system is provided that has a game server controlling a display system to display the multi-player game on the large screen and a plurality of game controllers. Each game controller has a secondary display means for providing a secondary game display and input means for receiving player input. The system further comprises communication means for enabling communication between the game server and each of the plurality of game controllers. The plurality of game controllers are located in proximity to the large display screen such that it is visible to game players manipulating the game controllers while playing the multi-player game.

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller to collect a plurality of User Interface (UI) device configurations, receive a request from a computing device to download one or more of the plurality of UI device configurations, and transmit to the computing device the one or more UI device configurations requested to configure one or more UI devices of the computing device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller to collect a plurality of User Interface (UI) device configurations, receive a request from a computing device to download one or more of the plurality of UI device configurations, and transmit to the computing device the one or more UI device configurations requested to configure one or more UI devices of the computing device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Provided is a method for controlling a computer, etc., which makes it possible to improve the usability of city building games. The computer is provided with a storage unit configured to store game contents arranged within a game space, positions of the game contents, and a template defining positions of one or more of game contents, and progresses a game by arranging the game contents within the game space based on a command by a player. The method includes when the template is applied to a predetermined area within the game space based on the command by the player, moving, by the computer, the game contents arranged within the game space to the positions of the game contents defined by the template.

Provided is a method for controlling a computer, etc., which makes it possible to improve the usability of city building games. The computer is provided with a storage unit configured to store game contents arranged within a game space, positions of the game contents, and a template defining positions of one or more of game contents, and progresses a game by arranging the game contents within the game space based on a command by a player. The method includes when the template is applied to a predetermined area within the game space based on the command by the player, moving, by the computer, the game contents arranged within the game space to the positions of the game contents defined by the template.

A game program causes a computer to set, if it is determined that a point based on a first action of the character of each of an own player and another player is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, a specific period from a time when an instruction to input a second action has been first accepted from the own player or the other player as a cooperation accepting period, to accept the instruction to input the second action up to a maximum number of times set for each cooperation player from a cooperation player other than the player who has instructed input of the second action, among the own player and the other player, during the cooperation accepting period, and to vary an effect of the second action in accordance with the number of times of the instruction to input the second action.

A game program causes a computer to set, if it is determined that a point based on a first action of the character of each of an own player and another player is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, a specific period from a time when an instruction to input a second action has been first accepted from the own player or the other player as a cooperation accepting period, to accept the instruction to input the second action up to a maximum number of times set for each cooperation player from a cooperation player other than the player who has instructed input of the second action, among the own player and the other player, during the cooperation accepting period, and to vary an effect of the second action in accordance with the number of times of the instruction to input the second action.

A computer implemented method of controlling an interactive hybrid environment representing a motorised sporting event at a track is described. The interactive hybrid environment includes representations of real and virtual vehicles on the track. The method comprises receiving a stream of real sensor data, the real sensor data comprises: real kinematic data of a real vehicle on the track, the real kinematic data being captured by infra-red sensors at the track, and real control data regarding the control of the real vehicle by a driver, the real control data being captured by vehicle sensors and obtained via telemetry systems from the real vehicle; determining the position and kinematic behaviour of the representation of the real vehicle within the interactive hybrid environment using the real kinematic data; using the real control data and the real kinematic data to create a black box determination of the position of the real vehicle on the track based on the real control data; receiving a stream of computer-generated control data which is obtained by user interaction with a computer presenting the interactive hybrid environment to the user and capturing the user inputs to control kinematic behaviour the representation of the virtual vehicle; and determining the position and kinematic behaviour of the representation of the virtual vehicle within the interactive hybrid environment by using the black box determination and the computer-generated control data.

A computer implemented method of controlling an interactive hybrid environment representing a motorised sporting event at a track is described. The interactive hybrid environment includes representations of real and virtual vehicles on the track. The method comprises receiving a stream of real sensor data, the real sensor data comprises: real kinematic data of a real vehicle on the track, the real kinematic data being captured by infra-red sensors at the track, and real control data regarding the control of the real vehicle by a driver, the real control data being captured by vehicle sensors and obtained via telemetry systems from the real vehicle; determining the position and kinematic behaviour of the representation of the real vehicle within the interactive hybrid environment using the real kinematic data; using the real control data and the real kinematic data to create a black box determination of the position of the real vehicle on the track based on the real control data; receiving a stream of computer-generated control data which is obtained by user interaction with a computer presenting the interactive hybrid environment to the user and capturing the user inputs to control kinematic behaviour the representation of the virtual vehicle; and determining the position and kinematic behaviour of the representation of the virtual vehicle within the interactive hybrid environment by using the black box determination and the computer-generated control data.