The present invention relates to an application that is configured to be operated in a multi-participant environment on a computer network. The application manages participants in an online session of a multi-user application so that if one of the participants exits the session, the session can continue without interruption. The application initiates an online session of the multi-user application, wherein the online session includes two or more participants comprised of network computers that are communicatively linked to a computer network. If the application detects that a first participant has disconnected from the online session, wherein the first participant is responsible for managing certain managerial functionality associated with the running of the multi-user application, then the application broadcasts a notification to existing participants of the online session over the communication network, thereby notifying the existing participants that the first participant has disconnected from the online session. The initiating application then re-assigns the functionality associated with the first participant to an existing participant of the online session. The participants can be communicating in a peer-to-peer arrangement or can be performing server duties in a client-server arrangement.

A method of acquiring probability information of a gacha system includes: acquiring, by a first user terminal, second gacha event information that is information about a gacha event occurring in a second user terminal; acquiring, by the first user terminal, third gacha event information that is information about a gacha event occurring in a third user terminal; acquiring probability information of the gacha system based on the acquired second gacha event information and third gacha event information; and displaying the acquired probability information of the gacha system.

A method of acquiring probability information of a gacha system includes: acquiring, by a first user terminal, second gacha event information that is information about a gacha event occurring in a second user terminal; acquiring, by the first user terminal, third gacha event information that is information about a gacha event occurring in a third user terminal; acquiring probability information of the gacha system based on the acquired second gacha event information and third gacha event information; and displaying the acquired probability information of the gacha system.

Systems and methods for reducing hops associated with a head mounted display are described. The head mounted display includes a communications circuit for receiving and transmitting interactive media associated with a game program via a network. The interactive media is processed by the game cloud system and streamed directly to the communications circuit of the head mounted display. The head mounted display further includes a user input circuit for receiving an action from a user to generate an input, which includes position and motion detected by the user input circuit. The head mounted display includes a game processing circuit for decoding the interactive media received from the network. The game processing circuit drives a portion of interactivity associated with the game program. The portion of interactivity is generated based on the input.

Systems and methods for reducing hops associated with a head mounted display are described. The head mounted display includes a communications circuit for receiving and transmitting interactive media associated with a game program via a network. The interactive media is processed by the game cloud system and streamed directly to the communications circuit of the head mounted display. The head mounted display further includes a user input circuit for receiving an action from a user to generate an input, which includes position and motion detected by the user input circuit. The head mounted display includes a game processing circuit for decoding the interactive media received from the network. The game processing circuit drives a portion of interactivity associated with the game program. The portion of interactivity is generated based on the input.

An apparatus and method for providing social network content in an online game is disclosed herein. Content is obtained from a social network site and is displayed within the game. The game also provides a mechanism for the user of the game to generate content to the posted within the social network from within the game. Such generated content is automatically posted in the social network for a recipient specified by the user.

An apparatus and method for providing social network content in an online game is disclosed herein. Content is obtained from a social network site and is displayed within the game. The game also provides a mechanism for the user of the game to generate content to the posted within the social network from within the game. Such generated content is automatically posted in the social network for a recipient specified by the user.

A system and method is provided that simulates gameplay of non-player characters (NPCs) distributed across networked end user devices. The system may identify end user devices that are connected to the system through a network and are available to participate in a simulation in which each participating end user device is provided with one or more NPCs to be executed. An end user device may be available to participate when it has sufficient computing capacity, such as when in an idle or standby state. As such, the system may leverage spare computing capacity of networked end user devices to execute NPCs at networked end user devices during a simulation. In this manner, the behavior of an NPC may be tested using real-world conditions that may affect gameplay, such as a network connection quality, user-to-user game engine coordination and data exchanges, and/or other real-world conditions associated with networked end user devices.

A system and method is provided that simulates gameplay of non-player characters (NPCs) distributed across networked end user devices. The system may identify end user devices that are connected to the system through a network and are available to participate in a simulation in which each participating end user device is provided with one or more NPCs to be executed. An end user device may be available to participate when it has sufficient computing capacity, such as when in an idle or standby state. As such, the system may leverage spare computing capacity of networked end user devices to execute NPCs at networked end user devices during a simulation. In this manner, the behavior of an NPC may be tested using real-world conditions that may affect gameplay, such as a network connection quality, user-to-user game engine coordination and data exchanges, and/or other real-world conditions associated with networked end user devices.

A video game system includes a video server system (VSS) having a first network address. The VSS pairs a game controller having a second network address with a display system having a third network address. The VSS receives controller data packets directed to the first network address from the game controller over a first communication channel. The controller data packets include the second network address and information for updating a game state of a video game. The VSS decodes the controller data packets and directs generation of an updated game state of the video game using information within the controller data packets. The VSS generates a video stream of the video game using the updated game state. The VSS transmits the video stream to the display system at the third network address over a second communication channel. The first and second communication channels differ by at least one network segment.