A short-range wireless communication network may be established by direct communication between two or more wireless communication devices and/or communication via an access point to permit game play between a plurality of devices. A conventional cellular telephone includes an integrated short-range transceiver. The short-range transceivers of multiple wireless communication devices can be coupled together to dynamically form a short-range communication network without utilizing any wireless communication network supported by a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN). Data is disseminated between the wireless communication devices using a data message synchronization process. Messages may also be carried from one wireless network to another as the communication devices are carried by individuals.

A human-machine interface involves plural spatially-coherent visual presentation surfaces at least some of which are movable by a person. Plural windows or portholes into a virtual space, at least some of which are handheld and movable, are provided by using handheld and other display devices. Aspects of multi-dimensional spatiality of the moveable window (e.g., relative to another window) are determined and used to generate images. As one example, the moveable window can present a first person perspective porthole view into the virtual space, this porthole view changing based on aspects of the moveable window's spatiality in multi-dimensional space relative to a stationary window. A display can present an image of a virtual space, and an additional, moveable display can present an additional image of the same virtual space.

A wireless input device for playing an interactive motion-sensitive game using a wireless-compatible game console in which a virtual play environment is represented through one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects is provided wherein game play is conducted by moving, shaking, twisting, waving or pointing the input device in a particular manner. The input device can include motion-sensitive circuitry and/or command circuitry for generating control signals and/or an effects generator and associated control circuitry to enable the input device to selectively generate at least one visual, aural or tactile effect comprising sound, lighting or vibration. The input device can include a wireless transceiver for providing two-way wireless communication with the wireless-compatible game console. An optional display screen displays short text messages received through wireless communications with the wireless-compatible game console.

A computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions for conducting a game on a gaming system having a wireless input device for playing an interactive motion-sensitive game using a wireless-compatible game console in which a virtual play environment is represented through one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects is provided wherein game play is conducted by moving, shaking, twisting, waving or pointing the input device in a particular manner. The input device can include motion-sensitive circuitry and/or command circuitry for generating control signals and/or an effects generator and associated control circuitry to enable the input device to selectively generate at least one visual, aural or tactile effect comprising sound, lighting or vibration. The input device can include a wireless transceiver for providing two-way wireless communication with the wireless-compatible game console. An optional display screen displays short text messages received through wireless communications with the wireless-compatible game console.

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a method for detecting that a gaming system has presented a first of a plurality of gaming venue states of a game, presenting a first of a plurality of screen shots at a display responsive to detecting the first gaming venue state, detecting that the gaming system has transitioned to a presentation of a second of the plurality of venue states, and presenting a second of the plurality of screen shots at the display responsive to detecting the second gaming venue state. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

A short-range wireless communication network may be established by direct communication between two or more wireless communication devices and/or communication via an access point to permit game play between a plurality of devices. A conventional cellular telephone includes an integrated short-range transceiver. The short-range transceivers of multiple wireless communication devices can be coupled together to dynamically form a short-range communication network without utilizing any wireless communication network supported by a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN). Data is disseminated between the wireless communication devices using a data message synchronization process. Messages may also be carried from one wireless network to another as the communication devices are carried by individuals.

An information processing apparatus displays an image on a display, directly communicates wirelessly with another information processing apparatus, and also receives a plurality of operation input data from a plurality of operation devices. Then, the information processing apparatus performs game processing for a communication game based on the plurality of operation input data and received information, and based on the game processing, generates, by screen splitting, game images including images on which operations on the plurality of respective operation devices are reflected, and causes the game images to be displayed on the display.

A wireless input device for playing an interactive motion-sensitive game using a wireless-compatible game console in which a virtual play environment is represented through one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects is provided wherein game play is conducted by moving, shaking, twisting, waving or pointing the input device in a particular manner. The input device can include motion-sensitive circuitry and/or command circuitry for generating control signals and/or an effects generator and associated control circuitry to enable the input device to selectively generate at least one visual, aural or tactile effect comprising sound, lighting or vibration. The input device can include a wireless transceiver for providing two-way wireless communication with the wireless-compatible game console. An optional display screen displays short text messages received through wireless communications with the wireless-compatible game console.

In one implementation, a portable device is provided, including: a sensor configured to generate sensor data for determining and tracking a position and orientation of the portable device during an interactive session of a virtual reality program presented on a main display, the interactive session being defined for interactivity between a user and the virtual reality program; a communications module configured to send the sensor data to a computing device, the communications module being further configured to receive from the computing device an ancillary video stream of the interactive session that is generated based on a state of the virtual reality program and the tracked position and orientation of the portable device.

A wireless input device for playing an interactive motion-sensitive game using a wireless-compatible game console in which a virtual play environment is represented through one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects is provided wherein game play is conducted by moving, shaking, twisting, waving or pointing the input device in a particular manner. The input device can include motion-sensitive circuitry and/or command circuitry for generating control signals and/or an effects generator and associated control circuitry to enable the input device to selectively generate at least one visual, aural or tactile effect comprising sound, lighting or vibration. The input device can include a wireless transceiver for providing two-way wireless communication with the wireless-compatible game console. One or more optional auxiliary components modularly attach to the input device to selectively create a modified input device having different desired functions or aesthetics.