A gaming unit and producing a game-audio output of a varying volume level and a chat-voice output is connected to headphones adapted to be worn by a player of the unit and connected to the gaming unit for making the chat-voice output and the game-audio output audible to the player. A circuit or software associated with the headphones can increase the chat-voice volume level generally proportionately to the game-audio volume level.

Aspects of the present disclosure involve a system comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program and a method for providing a platform that facilitates communication between a messaging application and a web-based gaming application. The web-based gaming application is launched, via the platform, from the messaging application. Context of the messaging application from which the web-based gaming application was launched is determined. The context of the messaging application is communicated, via the platform, to the web-based gaming application. A feature of the messaging application is integrated, via the platform, into the web-based gaming application based on the context from which the web-based gaming application was launched.

Disclosed is a method, system, and non-transitory computer-readable record medium for creating a chatroom according to a condition. The chatroom creation method may include providing an instant messaging service; registering a chatroom creation condition related to a specific account of the instant messaging service; retrieving at least one account of accounts of the instant messaging service that meets the chatroom creation condition; and automatically creating a chatroom of the specific account joined by the retrieved accounts.

A server device that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a memory and a processor. The processor can identify first and second players present at first and second physical locations, to identify first and second boundary and topographical information of the first and second physical locations, to map the first and second boundary and topographical information of the first and second physical locations to a virtual gaming space, to capture first and second position and orientation information for the first and second players, to map the first and second position and orientation information to the virtual gaming space, to generate first and second virtual players corresponding to the first and second players, and to transmit to first goggles information representative of the second virtual player for display superimposed onto a transparent viewing apparatus for viewing of the virtual gaming space. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Aspects of the present disclosure involve a system comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program and a method for providing, by one or more processors, a first user of a plurality of users with access to a gaming application testing platform, each of the plurality of users being associated with a common gaming application developer entity, the gaming application testing platform being associated with a messaging application. A request from the first user to create a gaming application is received with the gaming application testing platform. A request from the first user to authorize a second user of the plurality of users to access the gaming application is received with the gaming application testing platform. The gaming application, integrated with features of the messaging application, is presented to the second user with the gaming application testing platform.

A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a gaming system that cooperates with a graphical user interface to enable user modification and enhancement of one or more audio streams associated with the gaming system. In embodiments, the audio streams may include a game audio stream, a chat audio stream of conversation among players of a video game, and a microphone audio stream of a player of the video game. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Aspects of the present disclosure involve a system comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program and a method for providing an in-game status bar. A gaming application is launched from a messaging application. A state in the messaging application from which the gaming application was launched is determined. A communication interface that is associated with the messaging application is generated for display, concurrently with a display of the gaming application. Functionality of the communication interface is modified based on the state in the messaging application from which the gaming application was launched.

A non-transitory computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for a game device having a processor, in which the program causes the processor to: identify a game element in a virtual space, or a position of the game element in the virtual space, based on an indicated direction in the virtual space in accordance with an operation input made by a user; and generate first information to enable a position designation image to be displayed on a display unit, the position designation image being to representative of the position in the virtual space depending on an identification result obtained by identifying the game element or the position of the game element.

A gaming unit and producing a game-audio output of a varying volume level and a chat-voice output is connected to headphones adapted to be worn by a player of the unit and connected to the gaming unit for making the chat-voice output and the game-audio output audible to the player. A circuit or software associated with the headphones can increase the chat-voice volume level generally proportionately to the game-audio volume level.

A system and method are described for managing the state of an online video game. A method includes initiating a new online video game in response to user input from a client device, the online video game being in a first state on a first server when initiated; executing the online video game on the server, thereby causing the online video game to enter a second state; pausing or terminating the online video game; determining differences between the first state and the second state and generating difference data containing the differences; transmitting the difference data over a network to a second server; and recreating the second state from the difference data and the first state in response to user input indicating that the user wishes to resume the online video game and in response to the second server being selected as the server on which to execute the video game.