This disclosure generally relates to systems and methods to provide graphical user interfaces in computer-implemented multiplayer games. The graphical user interface includes a friends panel that is operable between a collapsed condition and an expanded condition. The friends panel provides friends information display functionality, social network management functionality, and/or messaging functionality both in the collapsed condition and in the expanded condition. In the collapsed condition, the friends panel may comprise a friends bar that shows a row of friend cards or chiclets associated with respective friends of a host player associated with a displayed game instance, the friends bar being clear of a view of a virtual in-game environment shown in the game display, while the expanded friends panel may comprise a grid of friend cards or chiclets that functionally obscures the in-game environment.

Systems and methods of multi-participant interactive experiences are disclosed. Participants located location can interact with one another and share gaming, educational and other experiences. The system includes a coordination node to coordinate experiences between participants and one or more of interactive nodes. At each interactive node there is a main display that shows shared information to each of the participants and to other viewers. Each of the participants also uses a personal controller such as a smart phone which has a personal display. Information that is specific to the participant can be displayed on the personal controller.

Remote gaming and/or projection are provided. A first device includes a gaming system or presentations associated with its display. The features of the gaming system are accessed over a network and images associated with accessed features and/or associated with presentations of a host's display are then projected onto a client's display. The client and the client's display are remote from the host, the gaming system, and the host's display.

Remote gaming and/or projection are provided. A first device includes a gaming system or presentations associated with its display. The features of the gaming system are accessed over a network and images associated with accessed features and/or associated with presentations of a host's display are then projected onto a client's display. The client and the client's display are remote from the host, the gaming system, and the host's display.

A virtual reality (VR) system has a server coupled to a data repository and having a processor executing software, a VR game stored in the data repository; and a first network-connected appliance having a display screen, in communication with the network-connected server over the network. The server interacts with the first appliance enabling a user to play a VR game, and prepares a data stream based on the interaction to be streamed to a second computerized appliance, enabling a user of the second computerized appliance to view the activity of a virtual object of the user of the first network-connected computerized appliance as a passive observer from the viewpoint of the avatar, having no control input.

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an audio control apparatus having a game audio port for receiving a gaming audio signal generated by a gaming application, a chat port for receiving a chat signal comprising audio information generated by at least one gamer, and an audio system coupled to the game audio port and the chat port. The audio system can be operable to detect an energy level in the chat signal that exceeds a threshold, reduce a magnitude of the gaming audio signal to a desired audio energy level responsive to the aforementioned detection, generate a mixed audio signal comprising a combination of the gaming audio signal having the reduced magnitude and the chat signal, and transmit the mixed audio signal to a listening apparatus. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Remote gaming and/or projection are provided. A first device includes a gaming system or presentations associated with its display. The features of the gaming system are accessed over a network and images associated with accessed features and/or associated with presentations of a host's display are then projected onto a client's display. The client and the client's display are remote from the host, the gaming system, and the host's display.

Provided herein are systems and methods for dynamically capturing the graphics engine function calls and other virtual reality object data as it is created during a virtual reality session by a client virtual reality device and creating a modified virtual reality session data stream based on the captured virtual reality session for rendering a virtual reality replay session of the captured virtual reality session by the same or another client virtual reality device (or by multiple client replay devices either independently and/or in a synchronized, interactive replay), where the modified virtual reality session data stream allows the virtual reality replay session to mimic the virtual reality scenes and environment created during the captured virtual reality session, while permitting a third person spectator perspective to be selected, and dynamically re-selected, during the course of the virtual reality replay session.

Provided herein are systems and methods for dynamically capturing the graphics engine function calls and other virtual reality object data as it is created during a virtual reality session by a client virtual reality device and creating a modified virtual reality session data stream based on the captured virtual reality session for rendering a virtual reality replay session of the captured virtual reality session by the same or another client virtual reality device (or by multiple client replay devices either independently and/or in a synchronized, interactive replay), where the modified virtual reality session data stream allows the virtual reality replay session to mimic the virtual reality scenes and environment created during the captured virtual reality session, while permitting a third person spectator perspective to be selected, and dynamically re-selected, during the course of the virtual reality replay session.

This disclosure generally relates to systems and methods to provide graphical user interfaces in computer-implemented multiplayer games. The graphical user interface includes a friends panel that is operable between a collapsed condition and an expanded condition. The friends panel provides friends information display functionality, social network management functionality, and/or messaging functionality both in the collapsed condition and in the expanded condition. In the collapsed condition, the friends panel may comprise a friends bar that shows a row of friend cards or chiclets associated with respective friends of a host player associated with a displayed game instance, the friends bar being clear of a view of a virtual in-game environment shown in the game display, while the expanded friends panel may comprise a grid of friend cards or chiclets that functionally obscures the in-game environment.