A system and method are described for an online game service. One method includes receiving a request from a client device interacting with a game application. The request is received by a server of the online game service. Then, receiving a control signal from the client device in response to an input made when interacting with the game application. The control signal is transmitted over a communication channel between the client device and the server. Executing a game associated with the game application by the server to generate a video stream comprising a sequence of images. Compressing the sequence of images of the application in accordance with a compression process to generate a compressed sequence of images using a compression resource used by said server and at least one other server of said online game service. The compression resource includes compression hardware or hardware running software that handles the compression of sequences of images for each of the servers executing games for the online game service. A state of each compressing operation processed for each of the servers is stored to enable the compression resource to take input from at least two of the servers and switch context of taking said input from among the two or more servers as the compression resource cycles taking input from among said respective two or more servers. And, sending respective compressed sequences of images to the client device or other client devices using the online game service via outbound routing that processes output of said compression resource.

An exemplary server communicates with a first information processing device and communicates with a second information processing device. The server stores at least shared game data representing game content that can be used in a first game application that is compatible with the first information processing device and that can be used in a second game application that is compatible with the second information processing device. The server obtains game data generated by executing the first game application on the first information processing device and updates the shared game data based on the obtained game data. The server transmits at least a part of the shared game data updated based on the game data generated by executing the first game application to the second information processing device for being used by the second game application.

A method and system tracks, analyzes or sorts behaviors of user or players across a network to draw correlations from, or characterizations of, those user or players and identifies similarly characterized or mutually complementary user or players. For example, the method automatically obtains player data regarding interactions by each of multiple players with a multiplayer electronic game via each player's corresponding data processing device connected via the network. The method can then sort, classify or suggest additional activities, games, groups, or other different activities or actions for the players.

A computer-implemented system and method are described for managing audio chat for an online video game or application. For example, a system according to one embodiment comprises: an online video game or application execution engine to execute an online video game or application in response to input from one or more users of the video game or application and to responsively generate audio and video of the video game or application; and a chat subsystem to establish audio chat sessions with the one or more users and one or more spectators to the video game or application, the chat subsystem establishing a plurality of audio chat channels including a spectator channel over which the spectators participate in audio chat and a user channel over which the users participate in audio chat.

Systems and methods are disclosed for delivering a requested game experience at any of multiple distributed venues. Each venue can include respective gameplay areas and multimedia gaming equipment for delivering a game experience in each gameplay area. The system can include a booking system for managing game bookings across the venues and a master central server configured to generate game sessions based on bookings at the booking system.

A system and method are described below for encoding interactive video used in video games streamed from a server to a client. For example, one embodiment of a computer-implemented method for performing video compression, and detecting a maximum data rate of a communication channel between a server and a client. The method includes transmitting a video stream comprising a series of compressed frames from the server to the client. The method includes detecting that the maximum data rate will be exceeded if a particular frame or frames of the sequence of frames are transmitted from the server to the client over the communication channel. The method includes reducing the frame rate of the video stream by adjusting compression of the video frames being sent from the server to the client to avoid exceeding the maximum data rate.

Enhanced methodology and apparatus for use in a multi-player video game for generating a array of user selectable options for choosing real or computer generated users to play with and/or compete against. For example, in a simulated multiple driver racing game application, the user of a computing device is presented with an option for selecting any of various ghost data packages for downloading over a communication network such as the Internet. For example, the user may be presented with the option of selecting one of an array of ghost data packages to race against such as the top five buddies of the user with highest scores, five buddies with scores similar to a user's own score, and teams/groups of various varieties. A simulated race in a computing device initially occurs with objects and a playing field of relatively low graphic complexity, limited by constraints of the system's processing power and the associated limited number of polygons that can be processed per second, the resolution of the screen, etc. A more powerful rendering of such objects/playing field thereafter takes place in a server after the ghost/performance data is collected and uploaded.

A game apparatus includes an input-output processor, and by following an instruction from the input-output processor, messages are transmitted and received with other game apparatus 12 connected via a network. The messages are transmitted and received in an electronic mail format, and has identification information of an application being a creation source of the message as well as general information, such as a transmission source, a destination and a subject as header information.

A mobile device is configured as a point and shoot type weapon for gaming, training, or the like. Utilizing the mobile device based weapon, such as a smart phone for example, a user thereof can simply aim the mobile device at a target and shoot. Shooting may be accomplished by tapping the mobile device, activating a button or soft key on the mobile device, making a gesture (e.g., moving a finger as if a trigger is being pulled), providing an audible command (e.g., shoot), or the like.

A system and method are described below for encoding interactive video used in video games streamed from a server to a client. For example, one embodiment of a computer-implemented method for performing video compression, and detecting a maximum data rate of a communication channel between a server and a client. The method includes transmitting a video stream comprising a series of compressed frames from the server to the client. The method includes detecting that the maximum data rate will be exceeded if a particular frame or frames of the sequence of frames are transmitted from the server to the client over the communication channel. The method includes reducing the frame rate of the video stream by adjusting compression of the video frames being sent from the server to the client to avoid exceeding the maximum data rate.