A plurality of game apparatuses function as a master, a client, and an audience. The master and the client register each other by performing therebetween an authentication process. The authentication process is not performed between the master and the audience. The audience receives a beacon from the master and registers the master in an own apparatus while the audience is not registered in the master. The master and the client execute a predetermined program, exchanging data by communicating with each other. The audience receives the data exchanged between the master and the client, and executes the predetermined program using the received data, thereby watches a game which is progressed between the master and the client, as a spectator.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a game apparatus and a game system in which a player who operates a game apparatus without having a game program can obtain the same benefit such as an item which is originally obtained through a communication play, when the game apparatus which does not have the game program downloads a part of the game program from a game apparatus which has the game program and performs the communication play with the game apparatus having the game program.

A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a processor that facilitates a performance of operations. The operations may include monitoring a triggering event during a gameplay associated with a game played by a first user, detecting the triggering event responsive to the monitoring, and responsive to the detecting of the triggering event: storing a first portion of the gameplay associated with the first user in a first storage medium, identifying a second user that is an opponent of the first user that was affected by the triggering event, and sending a message to cause a storing of a second portion of the gameplay associated with the second user in a second storage medium, wherein the first portion of the gameplay differs from the second portion of the gameplay. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

A plurality of game apparatuses function as a master, a client, and an audience. The master and the client register each other by performing therebetween an authentication process. The authentication process is not performed between the master and the audience. The audience receives a beacon from the master and registers the master in an own apparatus while the audience is not registered in the master. The master and the client execute a predetermined program, exchanging data by communicating with each other. The audience receives the data exchanged between the master and the client, and executes the predetermined program using the received data, thereby watches a game which is progressed between the master and the client, as a spectator.

The present disclosure provides a method of synchronizing an online game, and a server device, that do not require centralized information management, reduce the processing burden on each device during online communication, and allow for continuation of processing in an offline environment. A method, according to the present disclosure, of synchronizing an online game that allows for transmission and reception of information related to game processing between a first client terminal and a second client terminal via a server includes: receiving, from the first client terminal connected online, first information related to game processing on the first client terminal; determining whether the first information is information that determines a game status; and storing the first information on the server and transmitting the first information to the second client terminal when the first information is determined to be information that determines the game status.

A location-based game system is provided. Such a system may take the form of any device (e.g., a wireless telephone) that includes a locating device (e.g., a GPS system). One such location-based game may operate such that the actual, physical location of a user on a physical playfield corresponds to the location of a virtual character on a virtual playfield. Such location based games are referred to herein as actuality games. In one multiplayer actuality embodiment, two game devices may communicate location, and other, information to a remote database such that the two user's may interact on different physical playfields, but play on the same virtual playfield. A number of wireless communications protocols, self-configuration, and auto-download software applications are also provided to optimize integration with, for example, a wireless telephone.

A location-based game system is provided. Such a system may take the form of any device (e.g., a wireless telephone) that includes a locating device (e.g., a GPS system). One such location-based game may operate such that the actual, physical location of a user on a physical playfield corresponds to the location of a virtual character on a virtual playfield. Such location based games are referred to herein as actuality games. In one multiplayer actuality embodiment, two game devices may communicate location, and other, information to a remote database such that the two user's may interact on different physical playfields, but play on the same virtual playfield. A number of wireless communications protocols, self-configuration, and auto-download software applications are also provided to optimize integration with, for example, a wireless telephone.

A peer-to-peer (P2P) network boost system for boosting the transmission of specific packets between at least two electronic devices on the internet includes at least one boosting node and a hardware boosting device, wherein the hardware boosting device includes a geographical location judging module, a P2P matching module and a transmitting module. The boosting node is configured for receiving the specific packets and planning the transmitting route of the specific packet. The hardware boosting device judges the specific packets from a plurality of packets sent by the electronic device and sends the specific packets to the others electronic devices through the boosting node. The P2P network boost system achieves the network boosting function and optimizes the transmitting route through the hardware boosting device and the boosting node to improve the connecting quality and reduce the connecting cost.

Systems and methods of the present invention for maintaining network data distribution are provided. Network data may be distributed in such as manner as to allow a network session to weather interrupted communications between host and clients without significant loss of data. Embodiments of the present invention provide for one or more clients to serve as backup host(s) for the network session. When the other clients transmit data to the host, they may also transmit the data to one or more backup hosts if there are any indications of interrupted communication.

An image processing unit 118 generates a distribution image including a game image. A distribution processing unit 126 distributes the distribution image to one or more of information processing terminals through a shared server. A participation processing unit 128 accepts play requests of viewing users operating the information processing terminals and approves a game play of one of the viewing users who has made a request for a play. An application execution unit 110 processes a game using operation information transmitted from the information processing terminal operated by the viewing user the game play of which has been approved.