A virtual reality (VR) head-mounted display (HMD), a computer-implemented method, and a VR tracking system are described. Generally, a VR HMD includes an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and an optical sensor. When a second VR HMD is located in a same physical environment, the VR HMD can be operated to track a motion of the second VR HMD in the physical environment. For example, image data captured by the VR HMD in addition to inertial data of both VR HMDs are used to determine a three dimensional (3D) physical position of the second VR HMD and to track the 3D physical position over time. Three degrees of freedom (DOF) or six DOF for the motion are derived from the tracking.

A virtual reality (VR) head-mounted display (HMD), a computer-implemented method, and a VR tracking system are described. Generally, a VR HMD includes an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and an optical sensor. When a second VR HMD is located in a same physical environment, the VR HMD can be operated to track a motion of the second VR HMD in the physical environment. For example, image data captured by the VR HMD in addition to inertial data of both VR HMDs are used to determine a three dimensional (3D) physical position of the second VR HMD and to track the 3D physical position over time. Three degrees of freedom (DOF) or six DOF for the motion are derived from the tracking.

The present disclosure provides a system for a game application host system and game application that can determine the hardware characteristics of a user computing system for use during online matchmaking in a multiplayer game application. The game application can include a hardware analysis module that can evaluate the user computing system to determine the speed and operational characteristics of the hardware. The hardware characteristics can be used for matchmaking by a matchmaking module of the host application system to select hosts and users for a game match. The hardware analysis module that can run tests, such as a data throughput analysis and a processing analysis, to evaluate and rate the user computing system. The ratings can be incorporated into the matchmaking analysis along with other matchmaking characteristics, such as latency, player skill level, geographical location, and other existing matchmaking characteristics, in order to selects users for game matches.

The present disclosure provides a system for a game application host system and game application that can determine the hardware characteristics of a user computing system for use during online matchmaking in a multiplayer game application. The game application can include a hardware analysis module that can evaluate the user computing system to determine the speed and operational characteristics of the hardware. The hardware characteristics can be used for matchmaking by a matchmaking module of the host application system to select hosts and users for a game match. The hardware analysis module that can run tests, such as a data throughput analysis and a processing analysis, to evaluate and rate the user computing system. The ratings can be incorporated into the matchmaking analysis along with other matchmaking characteristics, such as latency, player skill level, geographical location, and other existing matchmaking characteristics, in order to selects users for game matches.

A method includes discovering, via a device, a peer-to-peer gaming service of a peer-to-peer network offered by a peer device, wherein the peer-to-peer gaming service facilitates a user of the device to select, access, and play a plurality of specific networked games of the peer device, wherein the specific networked games are not already installed on the device, selecting, via the device, a networked game from the plurality of specific networked games of the peer device, and downloading a program by the device, wherein the program is configured to execute the selected networked game on a processor of the device, wherein downloading the program comprises downloading the program from a third party computing arrangement and receiving from the peer device, authentication for access to the third party computing arrangement, wherein the authentication limits the downloaded program for play of the networked game with only the peer device.

A method includes discovering, via a device, a peer-to-peer gaming service of a peer-to-peer network offered by a peer device, wherein the peer-to-peer gaming service facilitates a user of the device to select, access, and play a plurality of specific networked games of the peer device, wherein the specific networked games are not already installed on the device, selecting, via the device, a networked game from the plurality of specific networked games of the peer device, and downloading a program by the device, wherein the program is configured to execute the selected networked game on a processor of the device, wherein downloading the program comprises downloading the program from a third party computing arrangement and receiving from the peer device, authentication for access to the third party computing arrangement, wherein the authentication limits the downloaded program for play of the networked game with only the peer device.

An information processing apparatus performs predetermined game processing based on operation inputs from a plurality of operation devices and generates a game image based on the game processing. Then, in accordance with the number of the operation devices used for the game processing, the information processing apparatus generates a game image for multiplayer play using a split screen, and performs a restriction process for, in a case where an output destination to which the game image is to be output is a display, placing a restriction so that multiplayer play is not performed by players exceeding a predetermined number of players, and in a case where the output destination to which the game image is to be output is an external display, not placing the restriction.

Systems and methods for interfacing video games and user communications are provided. Communications amongst users can affect a video game provided to the users. For example, communications can be monitored to determine when a video game event occurs and then a video game event can be generated. Moreover, one or more aspects of the video game can affect communications amongst the users. For example, the active user of a video game may be used to adjust the prominence of communications amongst the users.

Systems and methods for interfacing video games and user communications are provided. Communications amongst users can affect a video game provided to the users. For example, communications can be monitored to determine when a video game event occurs and then a video game event can be generated. Moreover, one or more aspects of the video game can affect communications amongst the users. For example, the active user of a video game may be used to adjust the prominence of communications amongst the users.

A content execution unit executes a game program, and a sharing processing unit manages the control right of a content. A distribution processing unit transmits content image data to a different information processing apparatus. The sharing processing unit includes an information acquisition unit acquiring operation information of a controller from the different information processing apparatus, an operation data provision unit providing the acquired operation information to the game program, a control data acquisition unit acquiring control data for a control target unit of the controller from the game program, and a control data provision unit providing the control data to a controller of the different information processing apparatus.