Disclosed herein is an event management server for providing services related to participation in events to an information processing device that performs an information processing task using data provided as an event by a content provision server, the event management server including: an event information storage section adapted to store event-related information; and a correlation information preparation section adapted to acquire details of a user operation, extract events that match the details of the user operation, prepare event data that represents the events in a given format, transmit the data to the information processing device, acquire details of a user operation performed on the information processing device to register for participation, prepare registration information that correlates a user with the event, and store the registration information in a storage device. The correlation information preparation section extracts matching events on the basis of user information that includes the registration information.

Exemplary communication system 1 includes game devices 10, communication terminals 20, and game support server 30. Game devices 10 enable users to perform a multi-play activity. Each of communication terminals 20 runs an application associated with corresponding game device 10. Game support server 30 divides communication terminals 20 into separate communication groups in accordance with a situation of the multi-play activity performed by game devices 10 so that communication terminals 20 belonging to a same communication group can communicate with each other.

A multi-user platform provides an immersive digital (including virtual reality (VR)) environment to solicit and broadcast commentary related to gameplay. The multi-user platform receives gameplay content, which includes a plurality of media streams that show one or more views. The multi-user platform generates a graphical representation for each media stream in the VR environment, receives commentary content corresponding to one or more media streams in the VR environment, and determines one graphical representation for one media stream is an active representation in the VR environment for a time period. The multi-user platform further synchronizes a portion of the commentary content received in the time period with the one media stream associated with the active representation to create synchronized content and broadcast gameplay channel(s) that includes the synchronized content to one or more subscribers connected to the multi-user platform.

In a method for providing an augmented reality interface for use by a first real-world human user and a second real-world human user, an augmented reality and virtual reality engine (AR-VR engine) retrieves a first set of user data associated with the first user, wherein the first set of user data is associated with a third-party virtual environment. The AR-VR engine renders a first visual transformation of the first user and an electronic interface through which the second user can interact with at least one of the first visual transformation of the first user and the transformed visual environment. The AR-VR engine detects a change in a virtual object associated with the first user and the third-party virtual environment and identifies a real-world object corresponding to the virtual object using a sensor. The AR-VR engine links the real-world object and the virtual object and renders the change associated with the virtual object onto the real-world object.

In a method for providing an augmented reality interface for use by a first real-world human user and a second real-world human user, an augmented reality and virtual reality engine (AR-VR engine) retrieves a first set of user data associated with the first user, wherein the first set of user data is associated with a third-party virtual environment. The AR-VR engine renders a first visual transformation of the first user and an electronic interface through which the second user can interact with at least one of the first visual transformation of the first user and the transformed visual environment. The AR-VR engine detects a change in a virtual object associated with the first user and the third-party virtual environment and identifies a real-world object corresponding to the virtual object using a sensor. The AR-VR engine links the real-world object and the virtual object and renders the change associated with the virtual object onto the real-world object.

A server apparatus, which may be configured to execute a step of storing one or more first game content associated with a plurality of users, a step of selecting two or more users from among the plurality of users, an establishment step of establishing association between each user and a second game content, and a step of executing a first game part on the basis of the second game content of which association with each user may be established and a user operation on the terminal device used by each user. The second game content associated with the first user among the two or more users may be selected from among one or more first game content associated with the first user and one or more first game content associated with the second user among the two or more users.

A server apparatus, which may be configured to execute a step of storing one or more first game content associated with a plurality of users, a step of selecting two or more users from among the plurality of users, an establishment step of establishing association between each user and a second game content, and a step of executing a first game part on the basis of the second game content of which association with each user may be established and a user operation on the terminal device used by each user. The second game content associated with the first user among the two or more users may be selected from among one or more first game content associated with the first user and one or more first game content associated with the second user among the two or more users.

Data characterizing two players enrolled in a tournament of an online video game is received. Each player is executing a separate instance of the online video game. The online video game is asynchronous between the two players. The data is received by a tournament server hosting the tournament and separate from a game server providing game data to clients associated with the two players. An instruction for synchronous initiation of gameplay between the two players is generated. The instruction is transmitted to the clients associated with the two players, the instruction causing synchronous initiation of the asynchronous games for the two players. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

Data characterizing two players enrolled in a tournament of an online video game is received. Each player is executing a separate instance of the online video game. The online video game is asynchronous between the two players. The data is received by a tournament server hosting the tournament and separate from a game server providing game data to clients associated with the two players. An instruction for synchronous initiation of gameplay between the two players is generated. The instruction is transmitted to the clients associated with the two players, the instruction causing synchronous initiation of the asynchronous games for the two players. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

A method of and system for handling latency issues encountered in producing real-time entertainment such as games of skill synchronized with live or taped televised events is described herein. There are multiple situations that are dealt with regarding latencies in receiving a television signal with respect to real-time entertainment based on the unfolding games played along with the telecasts. Systemic delays, arbitrarily imposed delays of a broadcast signal and variances in the precise broadcast times of taped television programs have to be equalized so as to provide fair entertainment.