KR20210094149A - Automatic generation of suggested mini-games for cloud-gaming based on recorded gameplay - Google Patents

Abstract

A method is provided for generating a playable restricted version of a video game. The user's gameplay of the full version of the video game is recorded. The user's recorded gameplay is analyzed to determine areas of interest. Boundaries within the gameplay context of the video game are defined based on the determined region of interest. A limited version of the video game is generated based on defined boundaries.

Description

AUTOMATIC GENERATION OF SUGGESTED MINI-GAMES FOR CLOUD-GAMING BASED ON RECORDED GAMEPLAY

The present invention provides automatic generation of suggested mini-games based on recorded gameplay, generation of multi-part mini-games for cloud-gaming based on recorded gameplay, sharing recorded gameplay to social graphs, and a method and system for remote control of a first user's gameplay by a second user.

The video game industry has seen many changes over the years. As computing power has expanded, developers of video games have likewise created game software that takes advantage of these increases in computing power. For this purpose, video game developers have been coding games that incorporate sophisticated computation and mathematics to produce highly immersive gaming experiences.

Exemplary gaming platforms include: Sony Playstation(R), Sony Playstation2(R)(PS2), and Sony Playstation3(R) ( (PS3), each sold in the form of a game console. As is well known, game consoles are designed to connect to a monitor (usually a television) and enable user interaction via a handheld controller. Game consoles are designed with specialized processing hardware, firmware and software including a CPU, a graphics synthesizer for processing intensive graphics operations, a vector unit for performing geometric transformations, and other glue hardware. The game console is further designed to have an optical disc tray for receiving a game compact disc for local play through the game console. Online gaming is also possible, where users can play interactively against or with other users via the Internet. As game complexity continues to arouse the interest of players, game and hardware manufacturers continue to innovate to enable additional interactivity and computer programs.

A growing trend in the computer gaming industry is to develop games that increase the conversation between the user and the gaming system. One way to achieve a richer interactive experience is to use a wireless game controller whose movements are tracked by the gaming system to track the player's movements and use those movements as input for the game. Generally speaking, gesture input refers to reacting an electronic device, such as a computing system, video game console, smart appliance, etc., to a certain gesture made by a player and captured by the electronic device.

Another growing trend in the industry includes the development of cloud-based gaming systems. Such a system may include a remote processing server that executes a gaming application and communicates with a local thin client that may be configured to receive input from a user and render video on a display.

It is within this context in which embodiments of the invention arise.

Embodiments of the present invention provide automatic generation of suggested mini-games based on recorded gameplay, generation of multi-part mini-games for cloud-gaming based on recorded gameplay, and social graphing of recorded gameplay A method and system for sharing, and remote control of a first user's gameplay by a second user. It should be appreciated that the invention may be embodied in numerous ways, such as as a process, apparatus, system, device, or method on a computer-readable medium. Several inventive embodiments of the present invention are described below.

In one embodiment, there is provided a method for generating a playable restricted version of a video game, the method operation comprising: recording a user's gameplay of a full version of the video game; analyzing the user's recorded gameplay to determine areas of interest; an operation that defines boundaries within the gameplay context of the video game based on the determined region of interest; and generating a limited version of the video game based on the defined boundaries, the method being executed by the processor.

In another embodiment, there is provided a method for generating a playable limited version of a video game, the method operation comprising: recording a user's gameplay of a full version of the video game; analyzing the user's recorded gameplay to determine areas of interest; an operation that presents each of the regions of interest for selection; an operation for receiving a selection input representing a selected region of interest; an operation for defining, for the selected region of interest, boundaries within the gameplay context of the video game based on the selected region of interest; and generating a limited version of the video game based on the defined boundaries, the method being executed by the processor.

In another embodiment, there is provided a method for generating a playable limited version of a video game, the method operation comprising: recording user's gameplay of a full version of a video game, either user input data or game state data an operation for recording a user's gameplay, including operations for recording one or more; an operation of analyzing the user's recorded gameplay to determine one or more regions of interest, wherein each region of interest is automatically identified based on a correspondence to one or more thresholds; an operation that presents each of the regions of interest for selection; an operation for receiving a selection input representing a selected region of interest; an operation for defining, for the selected region of interest, boundaries within the gameplay context of the video game based on the selected region of interest; A method is provided, comprising an operation that generates a limited version of the video game based on defined boundaries, the method being executed by a processor.

In one embodiment, there is provided a method for generating a playable restricted version of a video game, the method operation comprising: recording a user's gameplay of a full version of the video game; an operation that determines a plurality of user-defined portions of the user's recorded gameplay; for each user-defined portion, defining boundaries within the gameplay context of the video game based on the user-defined portion, and generating a playable portion of the video game based on the defined boundaries; A method is provided, comprising the operation of arranging each of the playable portions of the video game in a series to define a limited version of the video game, the method being executed by a processor.

In another embodiment, there is provided a tangible computer readable medium embodied on program instructions for generating a playable limited version of a video game, the instructions comprising: a program for recording gameplay of a user of a full version of the video game command; program instructions for determining a plurality of user-defined portions of the user's recorded gameplay; program instructions for, for each user-defined portion, defining boundaries within a gameplay context of the video game based on the user-defined portion, and generating a playable portion of the video game based on the defined boundaries; A medium is provided containing program instructions for arranging each of the playable portions of the video game in series to define a limited version of the video game.

In another embodiment, a system includes: at least one server computing device, the at least one server computing device comprising: logic for recording gameplay of a user of a full version of a video game; logic for determining a plurality of user-defined portions of the user's recorded gameplay; logic for, for each user-defined portion, defining boundaries within a gameplay context of the video game based on the user-defined portion, and generating a playable portion of the video game based on the defined boundaries; A system with logic for generating a playable limited version of a video game is provided, comprising logic for arranging each of the playable portions of the video game in a series to define a limited version of the video game.

In one embodiment, there is provided a method for sharing recorded gameplay to a social graph, comprising the following method operations: recording a video of a user's gameplay during an active state of a gameplay session; an operation that receives a command to initiate a shared operation during an active state of a gameplay session; in response to receiving the command, entering an idle state of the gameplay session and presenting a sharing interface; processing input received via the sharing interface to determine a user-defined selection of recorded video; an operation to share a user-defined selection of recorded video to the user's social graph; A method is provided, comprising an operation for resuming an active state of a gameplay session, wherein the method is executed by a processor.

In another embodiment, there is provided a method for sharing recorded gameplay to a social graph, comprising the following method operations: recording a video of a user's gameplay during an active state of a gameplay session; an operation that receives a command to initiate a shared operation during an active state of a gameplay session; in response to receiving the command, determining a user-defined selection of recorded video; A method is provided, comprising the operation of sharing a user-defined selection of recorded video to a user's social graph, wherein the method is executed by a processor.

In another embodiment, a non-transitory computer readable medium having program instructions defined for sharing recorded gameplay to a social graph is provided. The program instructions include: program instructions for recording a video of a user's gameplay during an active state of a gameplay session; program instructions for receiving a command to initiate a shared operation during an active state of a gameplay session; program instructions for determining, in response to receiving the command, a user-defined selection of recorded video; program instructions for sharing a user-defined selection of recorded video to a user's social graph.

In one embodiment, there is provided a method for providing remote control of a user's gameplay, the method operation comprising: presenting a live video feed of a first user's gameplay to a remote second user; processing a request to transfer control of the first user's gameplay to the second user; A method is provided, comprising an operation that initiates control of gameplay of a first user by a second user, the method being executed by at least one processor.

In another embodiment, there is provided a method for providing multiplayer gameplay comprising the following method operations: presenting a live video feed of a gameplay session of a first user to a remote second user; processing a request for a second user to join a gameplay session of the first user; A method is provided, comprising the operation of initiating gameplay by a second user in a gameplay session of a first user, the method being executed by at least one processor.

In another embodiment, a non-transitory computer readable medium embodied in program instructions for providing remote control of a user's gameplay is provided, the program instructions comprising: a live video feed of a first user's gameplay program instructions for presentation to a remote second user; program instructions for processing a request to transfer control of gameplay of a first user to a second user; program instructions for initiating control of the first user's gameplay by the second user.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:
1A is an illustration of a user playing a cloud-based video game, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
1B is an illustration of multiple users in multiple venues engaging in gameplay of a cloud-based video game;
2A is an illustration of a system for cloud gaming, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
2B is a conceptual illustration of the accumulation of game titles across various generations of gaming consoles, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
3 is an exemplary diagram of a method for providing a game demo to a user, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
4A is an illustration of a hierarchical organization of various portions of a videogame, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
4B is an illustration of an interface for selecting a portion of a gameplay timeline for generation of a minigame or game slice, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
4C is an illustration of an interface for selecting a portion of a gameplay timeline for generation of a minigame, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
5 is an illustrative series of screenshots demonstrating a method for generating a minigame from an existing cloud-based videogame, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
6 is an exemplary diagram of a system for generating game slice codes, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
7A is an illustration of a modification of a virtual space for the purpose of generating a game slice of a video game, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
7B is an illustration of a modification of a scene graph for the purpose of generating a game slice, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
8 is an illustration of a method for generating a game slice, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
9A is an illustration of an interface for browsing game slices associated with various game titles, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
9B is an exemplary diagram of a game slice information page, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
10 is an illustrative view of a user's account information, including a live view of a friend in a cloud gaming social network, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
11 is an illustration of a method for presenting a live gameplay feed of a friend of a current user, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
12 is an exemplary diagram of a system including a social network and a cloud gaming system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
13 is a graph illustrating various game state variables over time, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
14A is an illustration of a method for generating a game slice for a linear type videogame, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
14B is an illustration of a method for generating a game slice for an open world type videogame, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
14C is an illustration of a method for generating a game slice for a sports videogame, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
15 is a conceptual illustration of the formation of a multi-game slice game, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
16 is a conceptual illustration of the generation of a multi-game slice game, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
17 is an exemplary diagram of an interface for sharing gameplay, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
18 is an illustration of an interface 1800 for selecting a portion of a recorded gameplay video for sharing, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
19 is an illustration of an interface 1900 for viewing a live video stream of a user's gameplay, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
20 is an illustration of a user interface and hardware that may be used to provide interactivity with a video game, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
21 is an illustration of additional hardware that may be used to process instructions, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
22 is a view showing a game client 1102 connected to server processing via the Internet and each user A to E having a conversation, according to an embodiment of the present invention. ) of an example; and
23 is an exemplary diagram of one embodiment of an information service provider architecture.

The following embodiments provide automatic generation of suggested mini-games based on recorded gameplay, generation of multi-part mini-games for cloud-gaming based on recorded gameplay, and recording recorded gameplay into social graphs. A method and apparatus for sharing and remote control of a first user's gameplay by a second user are described.

However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well-known process operations have not been described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention.

1A illustrates a user playing a cloud-based video game, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, user U1 plays a cloud-based video game shown on display 100 . Cloud-based video games are primarily video games that run on remote servers. A server, in one embodiment, may include an individual server or servers running in a virtual machine data center, in which case many servers may be virtualized to provide the requested processing. In the illustrated embodiment, the cloud gaming server(s) 104 runs a video game that is rendered on the display 100 . The client 101 is located at the user's location to receive and process inputs and communicate them to the cloud gaming server 104 , and also to receive video and audio data from the cloud gaming server 104 . The client 101 and the cloud gaming server 104 communicate via a network 102 such as the Internet. In another embodiment, the client, whether portable or not, wireless or not, as long as the client provides access to the display to communicate with the network and render gameplay and input from the user may enable interactivity to be driven. , can be any device. In one embodiment, the client is a thin client. However, in other embodiments, the client may be a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, gaming console, personal computer, laptop computer, tablet computer, mobile computing device, portable gaming device, cellular phone, set-top box, streaming media interface/device , a smart television or networked display, or any other computing device that may be configured to perform the functionality of a client as defined herein. In one embodiment, the cloud gaming server is configured to detect the type of client device being used by the user and provide a cloud-gaming experience suitable for the user's client device. For example, image settings, audio settings, and other types of settings may be optimized for the user's client device.

In various embodiments, the degree of processing performed by the client may vary with respect to input and output processing. However, for the most part, the video game state is maintained and executed substantially on the cloud gaming server 104, where the client functions primarily to receive and communicate user input and to receive video/audio data for rendering. The client 101 may be a standalone device that connects to the display 100 and provides video data for rendering on the display 100 . In another embodiment, the client may be integrated into the display 100 . In one embodiment, display 100 is a networked display that provides a platform operating system for an application or “app” using the network connectivity of the display. In one such embodiment, the client may be defined by an application running on the platform provided by the operating system of the display.

1B illustrates the participation of multiple users in multiple venues in gameplay of a cloud-based video game. A user U1 is shown having a conversation with a video game rendered on the display 100 at a first location. Users U2 and U3 are shown conversing with a video game rendered on display 106 at a second location. User U4 is shown playing a video game rendered on display 108 in a third location. Users U5 , U6 , and U7 are shown having a conversation with a video game rendered on display 110 at a fourth location.

At each of the first, second, third and fourth venues, at least one computing device is provided for processing input from the various users and rendering the cloud-based video game on their respective displays. It should be appreciated that the computing device may be integrated into a display and may be a stand-alone device such as a personal computer, set-top box, gaming console, or any other type of device having at least one processor and memory for processing and storing data do. A computing device may execute or define a client, as described above. The computing device is networked and communicates with the cloud gaming server 104 via a network, such as the Internet 102 .

The cloud gaming server 104 provides various video games played by the user, defining the game state of a given video game moment by moment, and sending video data (including image data and audio data) to a computing device at a specific location. Run the game. The computing device at the location processes input from the user(s) playing the video game, sends the input data to a cloud gaming server, and in turn sends the input data to affect the game state of the video game. process It should be appreciated that cloud-based gaming facilitates multi-player gaming from players located in different locations by providing for execution of video games on remote servers accessible to all players via a network. In this way, the execution of the video game is not dependent on any single player's hardware or network connectivity, though that will affect the user experience for that given player.

2A illustrates a system for cloud gaming, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the user 200 manipulates the controller 202 to provide input to the cloud-based video game. The controller 202 may include any of a variety of input devices, such as buttons, joysticks, touchpads, trackballs, and motion sensing hardware such as accelerometers and magnetometers. In one embodiment, the controller 202 may include a lighting object that can be tracked to determine the location of the controller 202 . The controller 202 may communicate wirelessly with the thin game client 204 . The client 204 communicates with the cloud gaming service 210 via the network 208 . The client 204 processes data from the controller 202 to generate input data that is communicated to the video game played by the cloud gaming service 210 . Additionally, the client 204 receives video data from the cloud gaming service 210 for rendering on the display 206 . In one embodiment, the client 204 may process the received video data to provide a video stream in a format compatible with the display 206 . In one embodiment, the client 204 may include a controller device or a camera for tracking objects located on the controller device. As mentioned, the object may be illuminated to further facilitate tracking based on analysis of image frames captured from the camera.

The cloud gaming service 210 includes resources for providing an environment in which video games can be played. Broadly, resources may include various types of computer server hardware, including processors, storage devices, and network equipment, and may be utilized to facilitate execution of video game applications. In the illustrated embodiment, the video game library 212 contains various game titles. Each game title defines, along with executable code, an associated library of data and assets used to instantiate the video game. The host 214 may be a single computing device that defines a platform for instantiating the virtual machine 216 . In another embodiment, the host 214 may itself be a virtualized resource platform. In other words, the host 214 may operate across one or more server computing devices to handle the allocation and use of resources defined by the server computing devices, while presenting an integrated platform upon which the virtual machine 216 may be instantiated. can

Each virtual machine 216 defines a resource environment that can support an operating system in which video game applications 218 can run. In one embodiment, the virtual machine may be configured to emulate a hardware resource environment of a gaming console, and an operating system associated with the gaming console is running on the virtual machine that will support execution of a gaming title developed for that gaming console. In another embodiment, the operating system may be configured to emulate the native operating system environment of the gaming console, although the underlying virtual machine may or may not be configured to emulate the hardware of the gaming console. In another embodiment, the emulator application runs on top of the operating system of the virtual machine, and the emulator is configured to emulate the native operating system environment of the gaming console to support video games designed for the gaming console. It should be appreciated that a variety of current and legacy gaming consoles may be emulated in cloud-based gaming systems. In this way, the user can access game titles from several different gaming consoles through the cloud-gaming system.

When the user 200 requests to play a particular video game title, the video game title is retrieved from the library 212 . If a compatible virtual machine has not already been instantiated or is not available for use, then a new compatible virtual machine is instantiated on the host 214 . The retrieved video game title is then executed as an application 218 on the available or newly instantiated virtual machine 216 . In one embodiment, this involves determining a suitable platform for a video game title (eg, which gaming console or operating system the game requires to run) and a virtual machine suitable for execution, eg, a video game title. It may involve assigning a video game title to having an emulator application that can handle the execution of During execution, the video game communicates with the game client 204 to provide an interactive gaming experience to the user 200 . More specifically, while running, the videogame application 218 receives input data from the client 204 over the network 208 . Application 218 processes the input data to update the application's game state during execution. When the game state changes, the application 218 outputs video data that is sent to the client 204 for rendering on the display 206 . Additionally, the application 218 may also output feedback data to the client 204 that is used to provide an additional feedback mechanism to the user. As an example, the user's controller 202 may include a tactile vibration feedback mechanism that may be activated based on output feedback data from a video game application.

In one embodiment, the cloud gaming system is configured to detect the type of client device associated with the user, and also the type of controller available to the user to provide input to the cloud-based video game. For example, in one embodiment, when users log into the cloud gaming system, they may be presented with an option to specify the type of client device they are accessing the cloud gaming system. In one embodiment, a set of client device options are presented from which the user may select the corresponding one for their client device. The user may also be presented with an option to specify the type of controller device they will use to play the video game. In one embodiment, the user may be presented with a set of controller options from which the user may select to specify a controller type corresponding to their controller hardware. In another embodiment, the cloud gaming system may be configured to automatically detect a client device type and/or a controller device type.

For example, upon login, the client device may send information to the cloud gaming server (eg, in response to a request from the cloud gaming server) identifying itself as well as the connected controller device. Based on this information, the cloud gaming server may determine an appropriate video game output configuration and input parameter configuration to provide an optimized gaming experience to the user's client device and controller device. In one embodiment, a look-up table is employed to determine the video game configuration and input parameter configuration based on the detected client device and the detected controller device.

It should be appreciated that certain video games may be developed for particular platforms and particular associated controller devices. However, when such games become available through a cloud gaming system as presented herein, the user may be accessing the video game with another controller device. For example, a game may be developed for a game console and its associated controller, whereas a user may be accessing a cloud-based version of the game from a personal computer using a keyboard and mouse. In such a scenario, the input parameter configuration may define a mapping from inputs that may be generated by the user's available controller devices (in this case, keyboard and mouse) to inputs that may be accepted for execution of the video game. there is.

In another example, a user may access the cloud gaming system through a tablet computing device, touchscreen smartphone, or other touchscreen powered device. In this case, the client device and the controller device are integrated together in the same device, and the input is provided by a detected touchscreen input/gesture. For such devices, the input parameter configuration may define a specific touchscreen input that corresponds to a game input for a video game. For example, a button, directional pad, or other type of input element may be displayed or overlaid during execution of a video game to indicate a location on a touchscreen that a user may touch to generate game input. Gestures such as specific touch motion or swiping in a specific direction may also be detected as game input. In one embodiment, to familiarize the user with the manipulation of controls on the touchscreen, for example, prior to beginning gameplay of a video game, a tutorial is provided to the user showing how to provide input via the touchscreen for gameplay can be provided.

In some embodiments, the client device serves as a point of attachment to the controller device. That is, the controller device communicates with the client device via a wireless or wired connection to transmit input from the controller device to the client device. The client device in turn may process these inputs and then transmit the input data to the cloud gaming server via a network (eg, accessed via a local network device such as a router). However, in other embodiments, the controller may itself be a networked device with the ability to communicate input directly over the network to the cloud gaming server without being required to first communicate such input through the client device. there is. For example, the controller may be connected to a local network device (such as the router described above) to send data to and receive data from the cloud gaming server. Thus, the controller can send input directly over the network to the cloud gaming server, bypassing the client device, while the client device may still be required to receive video output from the cloud-based video game and render it on a local display. By doing so, the input latency can be reduced.

In one embodiment, the networked controller and client device may be configured to send certain types of input to the cloud gaming server directly from the controller and other types of input through the client device. For example, input whose detection does not depend on any additional hardware or processing other than the controller itself may be sent directly from the controller to the cloud gaming server via the network, bypassing the client device. Such inputs may include button inputs, joystick inputs, embedded motion detection inputs (eg, accelerometer, magnetometer, gyroscope), and the like. However, input using additional hardware or requiring processing by the client device may be sent by the client device to the cloud gaming server. These may include captured video or audio from the gaming environment that may be processed by the client device prior to sending it to the cloud gaming server. Additionally, input from the controller's motion detection hardware may be processed by the client device along with the captured video to detect the controller's position and motion, which would subsequently be communicated by the client device to the cloud gaming server. It should be appreciated that a controller device according to various embodiments may also receive data (eg, feedback data) directly from a client device or from a cloud gaming server.

2B conceptually illustrates the accumulation of game titles across various generations of gaming consoles, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In the video gaming industry, video games are developed for specific video game consoles. Over time a library of game titles accumulates for a particular game console. For example, in the diagram illustrated, a first generation console 220 has a set of game titles 228 that have been developed for it. The second generation console 222 has associated therewith a set of game titles 230 that have been developed for it. and a third generation console 224 is also shown having a set of game titles 232 developed for it. In other embodiments, there may be a set of game titles 234 that have been specifically developed as cloud-based games for use with clients 226 . Moreover, other types of games, such as Internet games, may be developed and aggregated for distribution across cloud gaming systems, as described herein. Game titles from different generations of game consoles may be collected and consolidated in the cloud gaming library 212 . As shown, library 212 includes a first generation console library 236 containing game titles that have been developed for first generation console 220 . In a similar manner, library 212 also includes a second generation console library 238 and a third generation console library 240 containing video games that have been developed for second and third generation consoles, respectively. do. Other types of games, such as games that have been developed for the client 226 and Internet games, may also be included in the game library 212 . As can be seen, a large number of game titles from across different generations of video gaming consoles may be accumulated and made available through the cloud gaming library. As described, each of these games may be run on a virtual machine simulating an operating system environment associated with a given gaming console on which the game was developed. In this way, users accessing a cloud-based gaming system can easily access games from other contacts, such as Internet games and games that have been developed specifically for use with cloud-based gaming systems, as well as games that span different consoles You can access and play.

3 illustrates a method for providing a game demo to a user, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. An interface 300 is shown that provides vignettes or icons 302 , 304 , 306 , 308 , 310 , 312 of various game titles available for demonstration. Each icon may be configured to provide an image representing the game it represents. In one embodiment, when a user navigates to an icon, the icon may be activated to show an animation or video clip representing the video game or otherwise providing additional information to the user about the content of the video game. . In the illustrated embodiment, the user has navigated to icon 302 , so highlighted to display an active animation showing a scene from the video game. When the user selects the icon, a preview video may be shown according to method operation 314 . If the user continues to select a game at method operation 316 , then at method operation 318 , the game code for demo is launched. In method operation 320, a game demo is made immediately available for gameplay by the user. It should be appreciated that since the game demo is cloud-based, it may be made available on the fly from a preloaded game demo instantiation in a cloud-based system. When the game demo is launched, the preloaded game demo instantiation is triggered to run. In method operation 322, it is determined whether the user wishes to continue gameplay of the game demo or, if one is available, to play additional demos of the video game. If so, then the method returns to operation 322 to continue running the game demo or run a new game demo for the videogame. If not, then in method operation 324, the user is presented with the option to purchase a mini version of the videogame. Additionally, at method operation 326 , the user may be presented with an option to purchase a full version of the videogame. If the user chooses to purchase either the mini version or the full version of the game, then the method operation 328 adds that game version to the user's account. It should be appreciated that, as the game is made available through the cloud-based gaming system, adding the game to the user's account may simply involve associating the user's account with privileges of access to a particular version of the game. Moreover, once purchased, the game may be actually made available immediately from the cloud-based system for gameplay by the user, particularly since the game may be pre-instantiated in the cloud-based system.

4A illustrates the hierarchical organization of various parts of a videogame, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As an example, a videogame may be organized into various sections 400 . In the illustrated embodiment, these may include a setting section, an introduction section, a various level section, and an outro section. A given level may be further divided into various scenes. As shown, the level 3 section is divided into various scenes 402 . As the user plays through a scene, a gameplay timeline of that scene may be recorded, including the game state and recorded input data of the executed game application as well as recorded video of the user's gameplay. In the illustrated embodiment, the gameplay timeline 404 is shown as representing user gameplay of scene 2 of level 3 of the game. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, users can select from which parts of their recorded gameplay to generate mini-games or game slices. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the gameplay timeline 404 has a start time T ₀ and an end time T _z . The minigame was chosen to generate from a portion of the gameplay timeline _{from time T x} to time T _{y .}

4B illustrates an interface for selecting a portion of a gameplay timeline for generation of a minigame or game slice, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, interface 412 is presented on touchscreen 411 of device 410 . In one embodiment, device 410 is a tablet computing device. Interface 412 includes a selectable gameplay timeline 414 . In enlarged view 430 of gameplay timeline 414 , it can be seen that in one embodiment, gameplay timeline 414 is represented as a strip of film with adjustable markers 416 , 418 . Marker 416 designates a starting point along the gameplay timeline 414 of selection, while marker 418 designates an ending point along the gameplay timeline of selection. Further, the marker 419 may be positioned within the portion of the gameplay timeline 414 found by the start marker 416 and the end marker 418 . For ease of use and to provide the user with a visual understanding of which part of their gameplay is being selected, a starting frame 420 is shown corresponding to a point along the gameplay timeline at which a marker 416 is located. can get The start frame 420 is an image of the recorded gameplay video corresponding to the time at which the start marker 416 is positioned. Likewise, a representative end frame 424 may be shown corresponding to a point along the gameplay timeline at which the marker 418 was located. In a similar manner, end frame 424 is an image of the recorded gameplay video corresponding to the time at which end marker 418 is positioned. Additionally, representative frames 422 may be displayed corresponding to points of markers 419 along the gameplay timeline. Representative frame 422 may be used as a representative image for a minigame that is created based on a selected portion of the gameplay timeline. Although a touchscreen interface is provided and described in the illustrated embodiment, it should be noted that in other embodiments a variety of other types of input may be used to select starting and ending points that will define some of the gameplay for the creation of a minigame. should be recognized For example, input may be via a game controller, keyboard, via gesture input, voice input, and other types of input to enable selection of portions of gameplay along with selection of representative image frames from recorded gameplay video. It may be provided depending on the device and mechanism.

In some embodiments, the selection marker may not be continuously adjustable along the gameplay timeline, but instead may be configured to tick to pre-defined time points along the gameplay timeline. For example, predefined time points may be defined to correspond to specific events occurring in the gameplay timeline. Certain events in a given gameplay timeline to which predefined time points will be assigned may occur based on analysis of user gameplay and will depend on the particular architecture of videogame gameplay. In one embodiment, the predefined time points may be assigned based on the geographic location of the character within the virtual world defined by the videogame. For example, a predefined time point may indicate that a character moves, eg, from one scene location to another, moves from one city to another, enters a structure, enters a room within the structure, enters a vehicle may be assigned to a specific time of movement from one geographic stage to another, into a location, into a different type of environment, or any other kind of geographic transition that is significant. In another embodiment, predefined time points may be assigned based on the evolution of a user's character or entity controlled in the videogame. For example, a predefined time point may indicate that a character or entity controlled by the user accomplishes a task, acquires a skill, acquires an object, passes a level, or otherwise completes a portion of a videogame, or a videogame. may be assigned when performing or accomplishing any other kind of meaningful activity in

4C illustrates an interface for selecting a portion of a gameplay timeline for generation of a minigame, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Gameplay timeline 414 generally illustrates a timeline in which a user can set start and end markers 416 and 418 to specify a selection of gameplay that will result in a minigame. In addition to the start frame 410 corresponding to the position of the start marker 416 , an end frame 424 corresponding to the position of the end marker 418 is also shown. It will be appreciated that frames can be identified from recorded video of the user's gameplay. Several candidate frames 440 , 442 , 444 , 446 are presented from which the user can select one to be used as a representative frame for the minigame. The candidate frame may be determined according to various methods. For example, candidate frames may be presented from fractional intervals of selected portions of the gameplay timeline. Intervals may be uniform such that candidate frames are equally spaced along the gameplay timeline, or the intervals may be non-uniform such that some frames are closer together than others along the gameplay timeline. In one embodiment, the higher density of candidate frames is generated from earlier portions of the selected portion of the gameplay timeline compared to later portions of the selected portion of the gameplay timeline. In one embodiment, the higher density of candidate frames originates from regions both earlier and later of the selected portion of the gameplay timeline, while the lower density of candidate frames is the center of the selected portion of the gameplay timeline. arises from part.

After the user has selected a portion of gameplay for which to create a minigame, embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for creating a playable minigame based on the selected portion of gameplay. More specifically, the minigame may cause the user to play substantially the same portion of the video game originally played, and under substantially the same conditions and parameters. In this sense, minigames are more than simply replay videos of the original user's gameplay (even if a replay video clip of the original user's gameplay can be presented with the minigame), but are based on user selections of their own gameplay. A playable part of the designated video game itself. Thus, the secondary user may experience a gameplay experience substantially similar to that of the original user.

5 illustrates a series of screenshots demonstrating a method for generating a minigame from an existing cloud-based videogame, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Screenshot 500 shows the user's videogame play. In the illustrated embodiment, the user plays level 3 of the videogame. In screenshot 502, the user has completed level 3 of the videogame. Upon completion of a level, the user is presented with the option to generate a game slice or minigame based on the user's gameplay of that level. When the user agrees to generate a game slice, then in screenshot 504 the user is presented with an interface to select a starting point for the game slice from the user's recorded gameplay. As described, a representation of the gameplay timeline can be shown with an adjustable slider that the user can move to specify a starting point for a game slice. After the user has defined the starting point, then in screenshot 506, the user is presented with an interface configured to enable selection of an ending point for the game slice. Again, the adjustable slider is moved by the user to specify an end point along the representative gameplay timeline in the interface. After starting and ending points are specified from the user's gameplay timeline, a game slice or minigame is generated by the system as described elsewhere herein. In screenshot 508, the user has the option to share the newly created game slice with other users, or otherwise inform other users of the newly created game slice, to generate another game slice from the same gameplay timeline, the current Additional options may be presented, such as an option to continue gameplay of the videogame, an option to view the user's existing game slice, and the like. If the user chooses to view their existing game slice, then in screenshot 510 an interface is shown displaying the user's previously created game slice. In the illustrated embodiment, the user may select one of the previously created game slices and view information and statistics related to that game slice, as shown in screenshot 512 . Information and statistics related to a given game slice may include any of the following: the title of the game slice, the videogame in which the game slice was originally created, the date the game slice was created, and when the game slice was played by another user. The number of times, the percentage complete representing the average percentage of game slices that have been completed by users who have initiated to play the game slice, comments left by other users, etc.

Although in the presently described embodiment the option to generate a game slice is presented to the user following completion of a level in the videogame, in another embodiment, a recorded videogame of a videogame in which selections can be defined by the user for the game slice. If gameplay is present, it should be appreciated that the user may generate game slices during gameplay of the videogame or at any other time. For example, in one embodiment, an interface may be presented that provides access to various recorded gameplay from various video games associated with the user. A user may generate a game slice by selecting the gameplay of a particular videogame and selecting a portion of the recorded gameplay for which to generate a game slice according to embodiments described herein.

6 illustrates a system for generating game slice codes, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The terms game slice and minigame are used herein interchangeably to define discrete and playable portions of a videogame that are generated based on user selections from existing recorded gameplay. In the illustrated embodiment, user gameplay 600 is a conceptual representation of a user interacting with a full version of a videogame. Main game code 602 is executed to define the full version of the videogame displayed by the user. When a video game is played, it generates various types of gameplay output, including video data, game state data, and user input data. These can be recorded to define the user's recorded gameplay. In the illustrated embodiment, the image stream 604 conceptually represents the video data output by the videogame. Game state metadata 606 and user input data 608 are also shown. Game state data 606 includes data defining the game state of the videogame during execution moment by moment during gameplay. The game state data may include the value of any variable that defines the running state of the video game. User-input data may be provided via activation of an input device on the controller device, detection of sensor data (eg, motion sensor), captured audio input, etc. Data generated by capturing an action.

As described, the user interface may graphically depict the user's recorded gameplay to facilitate selection by the user of a portion of the user's gameplay to generate a game slice. In the illustrated embodiment, the user has defined selections 610 from their recorded gameplay. This selection of the user's recorded gameplay is used by the game slice generator to generate game slice code 622 that defines a limited game based on the selected portion of the user's gameplay. The game slice generator 612 includes a game state analyzer 614 that analyzes the game state of the recorded selection 610 . Based on the analysis of the game state of the recorded selection, the game breakpoint processor determines suitable breakpoints to define the start and end of the game slice. Breakpoints may be defined based on geography, time, task or goal achievement, scene boundaries (physical or temporal), or any other aspect of a video game in which the gameplay of the video game may be segmented along to generate a game slice. can A brief description of some example embodiments will serve to highlight certain possibilities for breakpoint determination.

For example, some video games involve controlling a character that can be moved from one geographic scene or stage to another. A selected portion of the user's gameplay may be determined to result from gameplay in a particular scene. In one such embodiment, the boundaries of a particular scene define geographic breakpoints for the game slice, entailing the exclusion of non-adjacent or non-contiguous or less relevant or irrelevant scenes, as well as other adjacent or abutting scenes. A scene can be selected by excluding other scenes. The recorded gameplay selection 610 may involve gameplay from multiple scenes, in which case the game breakpoint processor 616 is configured to follow the boundaries of the multiple scenes used for the recorded gameplay selection. It should be appreciated that it can be configured to define breakpoints.

It should be noted that a scene can be both geographical and temporal in nature. That is, a scene may not only define a geographic area within the virtual space defined by the video game, but may also be configured to exist at a specific chronological point or for a specific time within the larger context of the video game. Such a scene may have defined an objective or goal to be achieved by the player. Thus, game breakpoints may be defined based on chronological or other temporal aspects as defined by video games.

Moreover, certain scenes may have associated objects or features that are presented as part of the scene during gameplay. These objects or features can be analyzed to define additional breakpoints according to their inclusion. For example, objects in a scene may be taken from a subset of the asset library, in which case the subset of the asset library excludes other objects in the asset library that are not used in the scene(s) associated with the recorded gameplay selection and , may be defined for the game slice by the game breakpoint processor 616 . It should be understood that objects and features may be dynamic elements of a scene, and the associated mechanisms may define their changes in response to events occurring in the video game. For example, an object may have a damage modeling module that determines and adjusts the appearance of the object when it is damaged (eg, hit by a weapon). Or the feature could be a vehicle that becomes available during a scene, and the vehicle has associated logic that defines its appearance as well as its manipulation and response to user input during gameplay. Such logic or damage modeling may further define game breakpoints for the occurrence of game slices.

Various aspects of a video game that are used or otherwise defined for a selected portion of the video game may be the basis for defining game breakpoints. The examples currently described are provided by way of example only and not limitation. In other embodiments, other aspects of a video game may form the basis for defining breakpoints at which game slices will occur.

In one embodiment, the video game may be organized into various scenes that must be completed in a linear fashion such that later scenes cannot be attempted until their predecessors have been completed first. Each scene may include several objectives or goals, some of which may be required for completion of the scene, some of which may be optional for completion of the scene. The objective is to navigate from the starting position to a predefined end position in the scene, to survive for a predefined length of time, to kill a predefined number of enemies, to obtain a predefined number of points, to defeat a specific enemy, or any other activity that may define an in-game purpose. A scene may contain a variety of predefined completion points, i.e., once the user achieves the completion point, the user may be prompted for some reason (e.g., the user quits the game, the user's character dies or runs out of life or health, the user's If you can't continue gameplay due to a vehicle smashed, etc.), you can have points to return to those points. At a predefined point of completion, the video game may be configured to automatically save the user's progress, or to present the user an option to save their progress.

In one embodiment, the game breakpoint processor 616 is configured to define a game breakpoint at a predefined completion point. In one embodiment, this is accomplished by finding the completion points closest to the selected start and ending points of the user's recorded gameplay selection, and using these closest completion points to define game breakpoints for the game slice. . In another embodiment, the closest completion point occurring before the selected starting point of the recorded gameplay selection is used to define a starting breakpoint, while the closest completion point occurring after the selected ending point of the recorded gameplay selection is the game Used to define an ending breakpoint for creation of a slice. In another embodiment, if the completion point lies within a predefined radius of either (eg, before or after) the start or end point of the user's recorded gameplay selection, then the completion Points are used to define corresponding start or end game breakpoints for game slices. On the other hand, if the completion point does not lie within the predefined radius, then a game breakpoint that more closely matches the user's selected start or end point for the recorded selection is defined. In other embodiments, predefined radii for start and end points may be different for the purpose of determining whether to use existing completion points to define game breakpoints.

As discussed, the game breakpoint processor 616 determines suitable breakpoints applicable to various aspects of the videogame based on analysis of the user recorded gameplay selections. The breakpoints defined by the processor 616 serve to define a limited range of game slices to be computed based on user recorded gameplay selections. In one embodiment, an overlay processor 617 is provided to generate an overlay that may contribute to an improved user experience when playing the game slice generated by the game slice generator 612 . For example, in one embodiment, the overlay processor 617 provides pre-game slice data defining video or gameplay or additional information that may be provided as an introduction to a game slice prior to actual gameplay of the game slice. define An example of pre-game slice data is an introductory video that can provide context to a user initiating sliced gameplay. In another embodiment, the pregame slice data may define introductory gameplay for a game slice, which may provide the user with an opportunity to learn skills that may be required or useful to play the slice game. In another embodiment, the pre-game slice data may define a series of one or more informational screens or images that provide the user with information about the game slice. Such information may include controller configurations, story background information, objectives or goals, maps, or any other type of information related to a game slice that may be useful to the user or otherwise improve the user's experience playing the game slice.

The overlay processor 617 may also be configured to define postgame slice data. In some embodiments, the postgame slice data may define a video or image to be viewed following completion of game play of the game slice. For example, a celebratory video may be shown after the user has finished slicing the game. Such a video may be customized based on the user's gameplay of the game slice, for example, by showing information or images based on the user's gameplay. In one embodiment, the postgame slice data may define a playback mechanism that plays a recorded portion of the user's gameplay of the game slice following its completion. In another embodiment, the postgame slice data may be configured to display statistics about user gameplay of the game slice, and may represent a comparison of user gameplay to that of the original creator of the game slice or that of another user. there is. In yet another embodiment, the postgame slice data may define additional interactive elements to be presented to the user upon completion of the game slice. These may include the option to purchase in whole or in part the video game on which the game slice is based, the option to redirect to additional sources of information related to the video game, and the like.

In some embodiments, overlay processor 617 may be configured to define elements that are overlaid into a game slice. These may include elements that may be customized by the user playing the game slice, such as customization of characters, objects, attributes, and other types of customization options. In some embodiments, the overlay processor 617 may be configured to define simplified elements for the game slice to reduce the amount of resources required to execute the game slice and the complexity of the game slice code. As an example, many video games include artificial intelligence (AI) entities such as characters, vehicles, enemies, and the like. These AI entities can be governed by artificial intelligence models that define the reactions and activities of AI entities based on events occurring in the videogame in full videogames. However, in the context of game slices, which is of limited scope, it may be acceptable to simply define the activity of an AI entity through hard-coded definitions or simplified extrapolation, rather than full modeling the activity of an AI entity as would be the case in a full videogame. there is.

For example, in the recorded gameplay selection of a full videogame, if a given AI character moves in a certain way according to that AI model, which is unlikely to change in the game slice, then an approximation of the AI character's motion relative to the game slice It may be more efficient to define Such an approximation would not require the full AI model to be included as part of the game slice code, but would provide a user playing a game slice with an experience substantially similar to that of the original user's gameplay for which the game slice was generated for that AI character. something to do. The resource savings realized through approximation of AI entities can be even more significant when multiple AI entities are present and conversing in the user's recorded gameplay choices. For each of the AI entities you can have an AI model that depends on the output of those of the other AI entities. However, the activities of each of these AI entities are known when the gameplay is recorded, so they can be reproduced in the game slice through simplified mechanisms such as approximation of their activities and direct encoding of their control variables.

With continued reference to FIG. 6 , a game setup state processor 618 is provided to define an initial state of a game slice. Based on the operation of the game state analyzer 614 , the game breakpoint processor 616 , and the game settings state processor 618 , the code assembly manager 620 assembles the various pieces of code to define the game slice code 622 . ring When the game slice code 622 is executed, the user gameplay 624 defines a state of execution of the game slice code that yields a gameplay output that includes video data and feedback data to render the game slice to the user. provide input. The video data may include pregame slice overlay video 622 , game slice video 624 which is video resulting from gameplay of the game slice, and postgame slice overlay video 626 .

It should be noted that, in one embodiment, the game slice code 622 is completely self-contained, including all portions of the code required to execute the game slice. However, in other embodiments, the game slice code 622 may incorporate references or pointers to existing code portions within the main game code of the full video game. Moreover, the game slice code 622 may use or contain references to existing assets in the asset library of the main game code of the full video game. However, in other embodiments, a new asset library may be generated for the game slice code.

7A illustrates a modification of a virtual space for the purpose of generating a game slice of a video game, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Map 700 represents a geographic portion or scene of a video game. A map as shown is a two-dimensional representation capable of representing a three-dimensional virtual space navigated and experienced during actual gameplay of a video game. As shown, map 700 illustrates an area 702 , and several paths 704 , 706 , 708 , 710 . In recorded gameplay of a video game, the user's character 712 moves from area 702 to path 710 . Based on this recorded movement and other analysis of the gameplay of the video game, it may be determined that additional paths 704 , 706 , 708 are not required for the generation of that game slice. Those paths may represent incorrect choices relative to path 710, may lead to areas unrelated to the game slice, or impair the game slice player's ability to follow the path and experience gameplay similar to that of the original user. can do it Moreover, if the region that the path 704 , 706 , 708 leads to is not supported in the game slice, then inclusion of such path may cause confusion among players, or at least a poor user experience. Thus, in the modified map 720 , paths 704 , 706 , 708 become unavailable for gameplay in the game slice, while region 702 along with path 710 remains unchanged. Thus, when a user plays a game slice that incorporates the topography defined by map 720, he will experience a virtual space in which paths 704, 706, 708 are not available for traversing. The user will then be more likely to traverse the path 710 as the original user did, and thus experience similar gameplay.

It will be appreciated that the portion of virtual space defined for a game slice or minigame may be defined by boundaries determined based on the user's recorded gameplay. A boundary defines a sub-region of a larger virtual space and will contain a subset of features available in the larger virtual space. In some embodiments, the virtual space boundary is determined by determining a location within the virtual space defined by the user's gameplay, and then determining a predefined boundary associated with the virtual space that is closest to and arranged to encompass them. can be decided. For example, the user's gameplay may define a path traversed by the user's video game character. This path may be analyzed and, based on the path's location in virtual space, a predefined set of boundaries may be selected to define an area encompassing the path. In some embodiments, predefined boundaries may be defined by specific features that uniquely define portions of virtual space, eg, doors, windows, walls, rooms, corridors, fences, roads, intersections, corridors, etc. .

7B illustrates a modification of a scene graph for the purpose of generating a game slice, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The scene graph 730 conceptually illustrates the organization of various scenes A to G of a video game. Scenes as described herein may be geographical and/or temporal in nature, each with a stage, level, section, location, or any other organizational unit within a videogame that the player may follow from one scene to another Similarly, a playable part of a video game can be expressed. In the scene graph 730, various nodes representing scenes A through G are shown. As shown, the player can progress from scene (A) to scene (B) and from scene (B) to either scene (D or E). The player can also progress from scene (A) to scene (C) and from scene (C) to either scene (F or G). Scene graph 730 illustrates the scene organization of a full video game. However, for purposes of creating a game slice, not all of the available scenes may be required for a game slice. Thus, by way of example, scene graph 732 illustrates the organization of a scene for a game slice. As shown, scenegraph 732 includes scenes A, B, C, and F, but not the rest of the scenes that were included in scenegraph 730 of the full video game. Thus, the user can proceed from scene A to either scene B or C, and from scene C to scene F. However, other scenes from the full video game scene graph 730 are not available for gameplay in the game slice. As described, a system according to an embodiment of the present invention may be configured to limit the inclusion of scenes when generating game slices. In this way, a game slice does not contain scenes that are not required for its intended purpose and the limited context of its gameplay.

8 illustrates a method for generating a game slice, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In method operation 800 , user gameplay of the video game is recorded and includes video game data such as game state data and input data of the video game and video of the user gameplay. In method operation 802, a user interface is presented for selection of recorded gameplay to generate a game slice. The interface defines a mechanism for receiving user input to define start and end points from recorded gameplay. For example, an interface for reviewing recorded gameplay video may be provided to allow a user to define start and end points within the gameplay video based on the playback or navigation of the gameplay video. At method operation 804 , a user-defined selection of gameplay video is received. At method operation 806 , a videogame breakpoint is identified based on the received user-defined selection of gameplay video. In one embodiment, there are predefined breakpoints for videogames. Based on the user-defined selection of the gameplay video, game breakpoints closest to the start and end points of the user-defined selection may be selected as game breakpoints for the game slice to be generated. In method operation 808, game code is defined for the slice selection as defined by the identified breakpoint. In method operation 810, a game setup state is defined for slice selection. In one embodiment, the game setup state is based on a game state that existed during the user's recorded gameplay. In method operation 812, game slice code is generated, and in method operation 814, the game slice code is stored in a game slice library and associated with the user's account.

In one embodiment, the method may include a method operation 816 in which a suggested game slice video selection is generated based on the user's recorded gameplay video and data. The suggested selection of user gameplay may be determined based on analysis of the user's recorded gameplay. For example, the portion of gameplay in which a higher activity level (eg, an activity level exceeding a predefined threshold) is detected may be suggested as a possible game slice video selection. At method operation 818, the user interface described above for game slice selection may present a suggested game slice video selection to the user. In one embodiment, a screenshot representing each suggested game slice video selection may be presented to the user. In method operation 820, a selection by the user of one of the suggested game slice video selections is received. Based on user selections, game slice codes may be generated and stored as described above.

9A illustrates an interface for browsing game slices associated with various game titles, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the interface is organized into a series of tabs, including tabs 900 , 902 , 904 , which when selected provide access to various pages corresponding to different game titles. In the illustrated embodiment, tab 900 is currently selected so that the presented page provides information about the game slices created for the particular game title T1. The game slice list 904 lists the various game slices that have been created from the game title T1. In one embodiment, game slice listing 904 also identifies the user who created the game slice (eg, displays the username of the user who created the game slice). In one embodiment, the game slice list 904 may be navigated or browsed to highlight other of the listed game slices in the game slice list 904 . In the illustrated embodiment, game slice A created by user A is currently highlighted, causing details 906 relating to game slice A to be displayed. Details 906 include the level or stage at which the game slice was created, the game details providing more specific information about the location where the game slice was created, comments by user A who created the game slice, and comments from others. It may include various kinds of information related to a game slice, such as a number, the number of times a game slice has been played, or any other type of information about a game slice that may be provided when a list of game slices is highlighted.

9B illustrates a game slice information page, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The game slice information page is for the game slice (A) discussed with reference to FIG. 9A and can be reached when the user selects a list of game slices (A) as shown in FIG. 9A . With continued reference to FIG. 9B , the game slice information page provides various types of information related to game slices. In addition to bibliographic information about the game slice (eg, title, username of the user who created the game slice, creation date, etc.), a video 910 of the game slice may be displayed. In one embodiment, video 910 is a recorded gameplay video of the original user who created the game slice. In another embodiment, video 910 may be a recorded gameplay video of another user, such as the user who achieved the highest score in a game slice, or the user who most recently played the game slice. In one embodiment, video 910 may be a live feed of a user currently playing a game slice. In other embodiments, a representative image of a game slice may be shown instead of a video.

The game slice information page may further include a selectable button 912 for initiating gameplay of the game slice. The game slice information page may also include a details section 914 , which may characterize various detailed and statistical information about the game slice, such as number of plays, average completion rate, and the like. The game slice information page may also include a comments section 916 , featuring comments left by users. A sort button 918 may be provided to select various options for categorizing comments (eg, chronological order, reverse chronological order, most popular, rank rating, by relationship to current user (eg For example, comments by the user's friends in the social graph take precedence), etc.).

10 illustrates a view of a user's account information, including a live view of a friend in a cloud gaming social network, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The library section 1002 displays various game titles in the user's library. These may be game titles that the user has purchased or otherwise acquired. The display of the game title may include, in addition to the title information, display of representative graphics. It will be appreciated that the games may be full version game titles, but may also be mini versions, which are limited versions, each of which may be part of a full version game title or may have some limited capacity compared to a full version game title. Friends list 1004 lists the current user's friends (ie, other users in the current user's social graph) in social networks associated with the cloud gaming system. The social network may be a social network specific to the cloud gaming system, or may be a (third party) social network that exists separately from the cloud gaming system, through which the cloud gaming system communicates to obtain information about the user's social graph. . The friend list 1004 describes the games owned by each friend, identifies the friend's online status (eg, online, offline, inactive, etc.), the friend's last login and its duration. , the last game played by the friend, etc. may include additional information about the user's friends.

In one embodiment, the live active users section 1006 provides a live view of gameplay of a friend who may be currently online and playing a video game. In one embodiment, each user has the option to define whether their live gameplay is made available for live viewing by other users. In one such embodiment, the live view is presented only from those users who have the option specified to allow their live gameplay to be viewed by other users. In the illustrated embodiment, the live active users section 1006 includes a live view 1008 of friend A's current gameplay, as well as a live view 1010 of friend B's current gameplay. In one embodiment, the current user may navigate or browse friends in friend list 1004 and/or browse live views available in live active users section 1006 . In one embodiment, the live view may be highlighted as the current user navigates there, and may be rendered in a manner distinct from other live views. For example, the live view may be displayed in a desaturated color scheme by default, but may be displayed in a fully saturated color scheme when highlighted or selected. The live view may by default also be displayed at a lower resolution, frame rate or size, but may be displayed at a higher resolution, frame rate or size when selected. In this way, bandwidth may be allocated to a particular live view based on user selection to provide a live view that the user is interested in viewing with greater hi-fi than other live views that may be active at the same time. It should be appreciated that the live view may display not only the specific gameplay of the video game, but also other types of activities related to their cloud gaming session or other activities of a friend on the cloud gaming system, such as their navigation through menus. .

In one embodiment, the live view is only available to those users who are currently actively participating in the gameplay of the video game. In other words, a live view of a given user is not available when the user is offline or online but not actively participating in the gameplay of the video game. Thus, when the user is performing other non-gameplay activities on the cloud gaming system (eg, navigating the graphical interface of the cloud gaming system while logging into the system), those activities are available in the live feed for others to view. not done In another embodiment, the live view may include all activities of a user logged into the cloud gaming system, including other non-gameplay activities in addition to the user's gameplay.

In one embodiment, a given user's live view may be filtered so as not to expose potentially sensitive or personal information to others to view. For example, a cloud gaming system may support a chat function. As some users may wish their chats to remain confidential, the option to exclude chat logs may be provided when presenting a live view. It should be appreciated that the chat function may be implemented during gameplay activity as well as during non-gameplay activity, and may be filtered from the live view of either or both of these situations. In another embodiment, aspects of the video game may be filtered from the live view. For example, a user may wish to keep certain user-defined settings secret as they may confer an advantage to that user during gameplay. As such, an option may be provided that activity related to settings is not displayed as part of the live feed (eg, when the user accesses the settings interface of the video game). In another embodiment, the live view is configured to prevent viewing of personal information (eg, preventing viewing when a user accesses a personal information page, enters payment information, enters a password, etc.) can be

In one embodiment, the interface provides the primary user with an option to request to join the gaming session of the secondary user who is currently online. For example, a primary user may view a secondary user's live gameplay feed and wish to join the secondary user's gameplay. In one embodiment, activation of the option sends a request to the secondary user notifying the secondary user that the primary user wishes to join their session. If the secondary user accepts the request, then a multiplayer mode of the video game is initiated, facilitating multiplayer gameplay by the first and second users. In another embodiment, two or more secondary users may already be engaged in multiplayer gameplay. In one such embodiment, the primary user may send a request to join the multiplayer gameplay. Upon acceptance of the request by one of the secondary users (eg, the designated host of the gameplay session), the primary user may join the multiplayer session of the video game. It should be appreciated that the aforementioned interface showing the secondary user's live gameplay feed facilitates joining the secondary user's gameplay after the primary user has been able to view their gameplay.

In one embodiment, the option to request to join the secondary user's gameplay is predicted upon determination of the status of ownership of the video game by the primary user. If the primary user does not own the video game, then the option may not be presented, whereas if the primary user owns the same video game as the secondary user, then the option to request to join the secondary user's gameplay It is made available as part of this interface. In one embodiment, when it is determined that the primary user is not the owner of the video game, then the primary user is still in multiplayer mode to the secondary user's gameplay, however, the duration of the gameplay, available scenes/levels/stages/ etc., may join with limited capacity, such as limited in terms of customization options, abilities, skills, weapons, characters, vehicles, or any other aspect of the video game that may be limited. In one embodiment, following gameplay of the limited version of the video game, the primary user is provided with the option to purchase the full video game. In another embodiment, the primary user is provided with the option to purchase an additional portion of the video game.

With continued reference to FIG. 10 , the displayed information may also include game history information 1012 of the user's friends. The game history information 1012 may provide information on the gameplay history of a certain friend, such as the most recent game played, the duration of a gameplay session, statistics related to gameplay, and the like.

It will be appreciated that many methods and configurations for presenting a cloud gaming interface are possible in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. In one such embodiment, there is provided a method for displaying a current gaming situation of a user of a cloud gaming system, comprising: an operation for presenting a cloud gaming interface of a primary user; an operation for determining one or more secondary users that are friends of the primary user; an operation for determining, as each current situation of the secondary user, a current situation that is one of online or offline; providing, for the at least one online secondary user, a live feed of the online secondary user's current gaming session, the live feed comprising providing the primary user with an option to join the online secondary user's current gaming session to the primary user's cloud gaming interface operation presented in ; In response to the primary user receiving a request to activate an option to join the online secondary user's current gaming session, a multiplayer mode of the online secondary user's current gaming session, the primary user's game in the online secondary user's current gaming session an operation for initiating a multiplayer mode provided for play, wherein the operation for initiating a multiplayer mode comprises an operation for determining an ownership situation of a primary user with respect to a video game defining a current gaming session of an online secondary user; ; When it is determined that the primary user owns the video game, then a multiplayer mode is provided for the gameplay of the full version of the video game; When it is determined that the primary user does not own the video game, then a method is provided in which a multiplayer mode is provided for the gameplay of the limited version of the video game.

In one embodiment, the limited version of the video game, when compared to the full version of the video game, includes one or more available levels, available scenes, available features, time restrictions, virtual space, campaign length, number of lives, or Defines the reduction in the number of replays.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises a method operation of presenting to the primary user an option to purchase at least a portion of the video game when the video game is not owned by the primary user.

In one embodiment, the online secondary user's live feed is presented at a first resolution, and selection of the live feed triggers presentation of the online secondary user's live feed at a second resolution higher than the first resolution.

In one embodiment, the online secondary user's live feed is presented in a desaturated color mode, and selection of the live feed triggers presentation of the online secondary user's live feed in a saturated color mode.

In one embodiment, presenting the cloud gaming interface includes presenting a library of game titles associated with each of the secondary users.

In one embodiment, determining the one or more secondary users comprises accessing a social graph associated with the primary user. In one embodiment, accessing the social graph comprises accessing an API of the social network.

In one embodiment, presenting the cloud gaming interface of the primary user comprises presenting each list of secondary users in a priority order, wherein the priority order is current situation, recentity of login, or relationship with the primary user. Based on one or more of the common ownership of the game.

11 illustrates a method for presenting a live gameplay feed of a friend of a current user, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. At method operation 1100 , the current user logs on to the cloud gaming system. At method operation 1102 , a friend of the current user is identified from the social graph of the current user. As mentioned, the current user's social graph may be from a social network specific to the cloud gaming system or from a social network that exists separately from the cloud gaming system. In method operation 1104, library information of the user's friend is retrieved. The user's friend's library information may identify a game title in the user's friend library. At method operation 1106 , the current status of a friend of the current user is identified. If the current status of the given friend is online, then a method operation 1108 determines whether the given friend is currently engaged in gameplay of a videogame on the cloud-based system. If so, then in method operation 1112, a live gameplay feed for that user is obtained. At method operation 1110, the current user's friends are prioritized for display based on various factors or preferences. In method operation 1114, the current user's friends and their context information and live gameplay feeds are presented in priority order. In one embodiment, the current user's friends who are online may be prioritized over friends who are currently offline. In one embodiment, friends of the current user who are currently engaged in active gameplay may be prioritized over friends not currently engaged in active gameplay. In one embodiment, friends with live gameplay feeds available may be prioritized over other friends. In one embodiment, friends may be prioritized based on recentness of logging into the cloud gaming system. In another embodiment, friends may be prioritized based on common ownership of the videogame. The above examples of prioritizing friends are provided by way of example only and not limitation. Those skilled in the art will recognize that, in other embodiments, the current user's friends may be prioritized and presented according to a prioritization arrangement based on any other relevant factor.

12 illustrates a system including a social network and a cloud gaming system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The cloud gaming system 1200 provides cloud-based access to your games. The cloud gaming system includes a game library 1202 containing various game titles that may be played by a user. User data 1204 includes various types of data associated with a user account, such as game titles owned by the user, and any stored gameplay of the user. In the illustrated embodiment, various gameplay sessions are conceptually illustrated, including session A, session B, and session C. Session A defines the gameplay of user A, viewing the gameplay of session A on display 1208 . Session A's gameplay is rendered as view 1210 on user A's display 1208 . Similarly, session B defines user B's gameplay, which is rendered on user B's device 1212 as view 1214 . In the illustrated embodiment, user B's view 1214 of a session includes an interface comprising a live view from another user, including a live view of session A and a live view of session C. is showing As gameplay from Sessions A, C progresses, gameplay video is output from Sessions A, C and streamed through User B's Session, such that it is displayed in User B's View 1214 . can be The gameplay video may be processed to stream through user B's session, eg lowering the resolution, size, framerate, color saturation, etc. to conserve bandwidth.

With continued reference to FIG. 12 , a social network 1216 is also shown. Social network 1216 includes user data 1218 , including data such as the user's social graphs, posts, photos, videos, bio information, and the like. The app 1220 may run on the social networking platform. A graphical user interface (GUI) 1222 defines an interface for interacting with a social network. API 1224 facilitates access to social networks. Notification module 1226 handles notifications to social network users according to their preferences. As mentioned, user B's view 1214 includes live feeds from other users' sessions. In one embodiment, user B's friends may be determined based on accessing API 1224 of social network 1216 to determine members of user B's social graph. These members were cross-referenced against the user of the cloud gaming system to provide live gameplay feeds from users B's friends, including feeds from sessions A and C.

In one embodiment, user A agrees to share on his social graph from his gameplay session A. User A's session A communicates via API 1224 to activate notification module 1226 of social network 1216 to send appropriate notifications to friends in user A's social graph. When social network users 1230 within user A's social graph access the social network through device 1228, they can view messages or posts from user A about user A's session. there is. Once set, the user may receive a notification, such as an e-mail, indicating that user A has shared something on the social network. User (A) receives a video clip of user (A)'s gameplay: achievements in the video game, invitation to play the video game, comments on the video game, invitation to view or play the game slice created by user (A) It should be appreciated that a variety of video game related activities may be shared, such as, for example.

13 is a graph illustrating various game state variables over time, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated that, in various embodiments, there may be several different kinds of game state variables that are specific to a particular video game. Those shown and described with reference to the illustrated embodiments are provided by way of example only and not limitation. The game state variable may include values defined by the video game during execution as well as values defined by user input. In the illustrated embodiment, position variables are shown representing the X, Y and Z positions of objects in the virtual space of the videogame, such as characters or vehicles. The camera angle variable represents the direction of the virtual camera or virtual view in the videogame. In one embodiment, the camera angle is determined by an azimuth component measured relative to an azimuth reference (eg, along a horizontal plane) and a tilt angle component measured relative to an inclination angle reference (eg, relative to a vertical line). Defined. Action variables, such as illustrated actions (A, B), represent the initiation and duration of various actions in the videogame. It should be appreciated that actions for a given videogame will be specific to the context of that videogame. For example, an action may be triggered by user input during the course of a videogame, triggering a modification mechanism that modifies an existing action, such as initiating a particular maneuver, applying a skill, increasing its intensity or frequency level, etc. It may contain other types of actions or activities. With continued reference to Figure 13, the weapon variable represents the triggering of the weapon in the videogame. A health variable represents, for example, a health level of a user's character in a video game. The button variable represents the state of a button on the controller device, eg, whether the button is in a pressed or released state. In the illustrated embodiment, the joystick state variable indicates the magnitude of the joystick movement relative to the neutral position. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the game state variables described with reference to the illustrated embodiments are exemplary only, and that many other types of game state variables may be tracked over time.

Referring again to the embodiment of FIG. 6 , in one embodiment, game state analyzer 614 may be configured to analyze game state variables of the user's recorded gameplay. Based on the analysis of the user's recorded gameplay, various areas of interest of the user's recorded gameplay can be defined and presented to the user as possible choices for generating game slices. For example, regions of gameplay characterized by high activity levels for a particular game state variable may define the user's choices of recorded gameplay. It should be appreciated that the activity level for a given game state variable may be based on various factors such as intensity level, activation frequency, duration, and the like. In some embodiments, the analysis of the game state variable is to find areas of gameplay where the activity levels of two or more other game state variables are correlated in a predefined way, eg, where two or more variables simultaneously have high activity levels may entail The high activity level may be determined based on a predefined threshold.

In various embodiments, the region of interest of the user's recorded gameplay may be automatically determined based on threshold detection of any one or more of the following: one or more user inputs, the user's input rate, input frequency, input type. repetition of, occurrence of input patterns, combinational input (e.g., combo keys), motion vectors, pressure exerted on the controller, user (e.g., detected based on the user's captured image or audio data) of excitement.

14A illustrates a method for generating a game slice for a linear type videogame, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In general, linear videogames are such that the player's progression through the videogame follows a linear course, but in order to progress through the videogame, the player must complete an earlier objective before proceeding to a later objective. Thus, all players must complete the same objectives in the same order in order to progress through the videogame. Objects in linear videogames can be tied to geographic as well as temporal locations within the context of the videogame's space-time storyline. At method operation 1400 , a scene of a videogame is identified. A scene is spatial and temporal in nature, and can have a variety of purposes defined therein. In method operation 1402, the spatial or temporal length of the scene is defined. The length of the scene may be defined according to a user input, and may also be defined based on a purpose tied to the scene. In a method operation 1404, an initial property of an item, character, or any other object in the scene to which the property can be assigned is defined. In a method operation 1406, a game slice is generated for the identified length of the scene having the initial properties as defined above.

14B illustrates a method for generating a game slice for an open world type videogame, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. An open world video game can be characterized as one in which the user is free to pursue any number of goals in the order of their own choice. Typically open world type video games also allow the user to freely navigate one or more virtual spaces. In order to progress through the different levels of a videogame or complete a videogame, completion of a specific set of objectives may be required, however, the user is free to complete these objectives in any number of different orders. At method operation 1410, a location within the virtual world of the videogame is identified. At method operation 1412, a limited portion of the virtual world is defined. A limited portion of the virtual world may be defined based on user input defining selections of recorded gameplay as described herein. For example, a user's gameplay in an open world videogame may span a wide variety of locations during the course of gameplay. However, for purposes of generating a game slice, the user may select a portion of the gameplay that takes place within a limited geographic area of the virtual world of the videogame. This limited geographic area tracks the location of a user-controlled character within the virtual world, for example, based on analysis of a user-selected portion of their recorded gameplay, and defines a boundary that includes all locations where the character is found to exist. It can be determined by definition. In method operation 1414, initial properties of various objects, characters, items, vehicles, or any other objects found within a limited geographic area previously determined from the user's recorded gameplay selections are defined. In a method operation 1416, a game slice is generated based on the previously defined attributes and the limited geographic area of the open world.

14C illustrates a method for generating a game slice for a sports videogame, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Game slices may be generated based on user-defined selections of user recorded gameplay. At method operation 1420, settings are identified based on the user's selection of recorded gameplay. As an example, a setting may define a location for a sporting event, such as a court, stadium, track, or any other venue setting where the sporting event of a videogame may take place. At method operation 1422, a time period is identified based on the user's selection of recorded gameplay. The time period defines the portion of time in which the game slice will occur, and may be defined based on user selections of recorded gameplay. A time period of a sports video game may determine certain aspects of a video game slice, such as the inclusion of special rules or activities that occur during a particular time period during a sport. At method operation 1424, a player of the game slice is determined based on the player included in the user's recorded gameplay selection. In addition to one or more user-defined characters, the player may also include AI characters controlled by the video game's artificial intelligence (AI) character control logic during execution during gameplay. As described elsewhere herein, the actions of an AI character may be approximated in some cases. Whereas in some embodiments, AI character control logic is defined for the game slice with parameters as defined in the user's recorded gameplay selections. In method operation 1426, scene properties for positioning of sports video game slices are defined. For example, these may include attributes such as weather, track or court conditions, and other attributes of sports settings. At method operation 1428, a game slice for the video game is generated based on the parameters described above.

15 conceptually illustrates the formation of a multi-game slice game, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Videogames can be organized into various levels or stages. In the illustrated embodiment, user gameplay from various levels of a videogame is shown. In particular, gameplay timeline 1500 represents the user's gameplay from a first level of the videogame, while gameplay timeline 1502 and gameplay timeline 1506, respectively, represent the first level of the videogame. Represents the user's gameplay from the 2nd and 3rd levels. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a user may concatenate multiple game slices from a videogame to form a larger multi-game slice minigame. In the illustrated embodiment, a selection 1502 from the user's gameplay timeline 1500 is used to define a first game slice 1514 . A selection 1504 from the user's gameplay timeline 15 of 2 is used to define a second game slice 1818 . and selection 1508 from the user's gameplay timeline 1506 is used to define a third team slice 1522 . The first, second and third game slices are arranged in sequential order to define a minigame 1510 . In doing so, minigame 1510 includes game slices from each of the first, second and third levels of the videogame. In this way, a user playing the minigame 1510 may experience a limited portion of the multiple levels of the videogame by playing through the minigame 1510 . This can be useful to provide a more intense preview or demo of a video game than an idiomatic game demo in which the user can only play one level or one portion from a stage of the video game. The experience is similar to that of a movie preview, typically providing clips from different parts of the same movie, rather than just a single clip. According to embodiments of the present invention, users can enjoy multi-part game demos that provide a better range of meanings of full videogames, and which can characterize gameplay in a continuous manner from one part to the next. .

In one embodiment, the user may insert additional material, such as a user-defined video, message, image, or any other type of information, before or after a game slice. In the illustrated embodiment, an introduction 1512 is provided to introduce the player to the minigame 1510 and possibly also the player to the first game slice 1514 . Additionally, a message 1516 is inserted between the first game slice 1514 and the second game slice 1518, while the other message 1520 is inserted between the second game slice 1518 and the third game slice (1518). 1522) is inserted. In one embodiment, the embedded material may include recorded gameplay video of the original user's recorded gameplay from which the game slice occurred. If the recorded gameplay is shown before playing the game slice, the player initiating the game slice can better understand the game slice and its purpose before starting the gameplay, whereas when viewed after the gameplay of the game slice, the player can understand how comparable their gameplay of the game slice is to that of the original user.

16 conceptually illustrates the generation of a multi-game slice game, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, game (A), along with the user's recorded gameplay timeline 1604 for game (B), and the user's recorded gameplay timeline 1608 for game (C) A user's recorded gameplay timeline 1600 is shown. In one embodiment, a user may generate a multi-game slice minigame based on game slices from several different video games. In the illustrated embodiment, the user's selection 1602 of the recorded gameplay 1600 is used to define the game slice 1616 , while the user's selection 1606 from the recorded gameplay 1604 is The game slice 1620 is used to define, and the user's selection 1610 from the recorded gameplay 1608 is used to define the game slice 1624 . Game slices 1616 , 1620 , 1624 are arranged sequentially to define a minigame 1612 . Optionally, additional material may be inserted before or after the game slice. In the illustrated embodiment, an introduction 1614 is inserted before game slice 1616, while an interlude 1618 is defined between game slice 1616 and game slice 1620, and another interlude 1622 is It is defined between the game slice 1620 and the game slice 1624 .

It will be appreciated that in the illustrated embodiment, game slices are taken from several different video games. This allows great flexibility for users to mix together different game titles, genres, and also game slices from across console platform generations. By way of example only, a user may create a minigame with game slices from each of several game titles in a singular video game series. In this way, the player of the minigame can experience and perceive the evolution of the video game series as a continuous gameplay experience.

Embodiments of the present invention have been described generally with reference to a cloud-based gaming system. However, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that similar concepts and principles as described herein may be applied to traditional console-based video game systems, and possibly with cloud-based gaming systems. For example, a user may play a console-based videogame and have the user's gameplay input data and game dwell metadata recorded during gameplay. Based on the user's gameplay input data and game state metadata, the actual gameplay output of the videogame may be played back at a later time. Thus, the recorded input data and game state metadata can be used in conjunction with the videogame code to provide an interface for the user's selection of a portion of gameplay to generate a minigame, as described. The minigame code may be generated on the console and uploaded to a cloud system to make it available for download by other users. In another embodiment, the minigame code is generated by the cloud system after receiving the selected portion of the user gameplay input data and game state metadata. The cloud system processes the selected portion of the user gameplay input data and game state metadata to generate minigame code based on the videogame code stored in the cloud system. Once generated, the minigame may be made available for cloud-based gaming, where the execution of the minigame takes place on a cloud-based system, but is a traditional console for execution on the console to facilitate console-based gameplay of the minigame - can also be made available for download to the underlying system. In this way, minigames can be created and played both by users of console-based video gaming systems and by users of cloud-based video gaming systems.

Embodiments of the present invention have been described generally with reference to a playable user-defined portion or minigame of a video game. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that many of the principles described herein also readily apply to the generation and sharing of recorded gameplay, including sharing live streaming of recorded gameplay videos, screenshots, and active gameplay. will be. In some embodiments, providing access to the minigame (eg, in response to receiving the notification) may include presentation of a recorded video of the original user's gameplay that formed the basis for the minigame. can In yet another embodiment, methods, systems, and interfaces are contemplated for facilitating sharing of a user's gameplay to a user's social graph.

In one embodiment, a method for storing gameplay is contemplated. Gameplay may be executed by the game console's operating system in response to a user request, which may come in the form of a standard file operation with respect to a data set associated with the desired gameplay. The request may be sent from an application associated with the game. Gameplay may include video content, audio content, and/or static visual content, including, for example, wallpapers, themes, code "add-on" content, or any other type of content associated with a game. It is contemplated that such content may be user- or developer-generated, free or paid, full or trial, and/or for sale or rental.

Part of the gameplay may be buffered, ie temporarily stored. For example, for previous actions in gameplay, the previous 15 seconds, previously completed levels, may be temporarily stored, as further described herein. As used herein, the term “portion” may correspond to any portion of gameplay that is divisible into any related or arbitrary group of single or multiple bits or bytes of data. For example, a “portion” of gameplay may correspond to a level, chapter, scene, stage, character, background, texture, course, action, song, theme, duration, size, file, portion thereof, and combinations thereof. . Moreover, part of the gameplay may include a screen shot or a defined duration of video capture.

In one embodiment, portions of gameplay may be stored locally on the game console in either temporary or permanent storage. Alternatively or additionally, portions of gameplay may be transmitted over a network and stored remotely. For example, portions of gameplay may be transmitted over a wireless or wired network to another computing device, to another game console, or to a remote server. Such remote servers may include social media servers.

Optionally, portions of gameplay that are not retrieved from the buffer or portions of gameplay outside a specific gaming interval (eg, a specific duration, level, chapter, course, etc.) may be removed from the buffer. This removal process can be completed using standard file operations on the operating system.

Portions of gameplay may be displayed on any of several display devices that have access to the stored gameplay. For example, the stored gameplay may be displayed on a television set connected to the game console from which the gameplay was captured. In another example, the stored gameplay may be displayed on a computer to which the stored gameplay was transmitted. Stored gameplay may be displayed alone or with other information, such as on a social media website.

In one embodiment, the portion of the gameplay is displayed by another game console associated with the user other than the user who buffered or captured the gameplay. According to this embodiment, a portion of the gameplay may show, from the first user's perspective, a ball being thrown from a first user to a second user. The portion of the gameplay may then be transmitted to the second user's game console. Thus, the second user can then view the gameplay from the perspective of the first user. The second user may also have a portion of the gameplay stored, from the second user's point of view, showing the ball thrown by the first user and caught by the second user. In such an embodiment, the second user may review the gameplay both from the first user's perspective and from the second user's perspective. Even more, the portion of the gameplay stored by the second user may be transmitted to the game console of the first user, so that the first user may review the gameplay from two perspectives. This embodiment can be applied to any number of users with any number of viewpoints, so that gameplay can be reviewed from any number of different viewpoints.

With respect to storage, transmission, and/or display of portions of gameplay as described herein, it is contemplated that portions of gameplay may be stored, transmitted, and displayed as image or video data. However, in another embodiment, portions of gameplay may be stored and transmitted as metadata or telemetry representing image or video data and re-as images or video by a game console or other device prior to display. can be created

In some embodiments, a portion of the gameplay has a predetermined relationship to the executed gameplay. For example, a portion of gameplay may correspond to a certain amount of gameplay prior to gameplay currently in execution, such as the previous 10 seconds of gameplay. In another embodiment, the first portion of the gameplay has a predetermined relationship with the second portion of the gameplay. For example, a first portion of gameplay may correspond to a certain amount of gameplay prior to receipt of a request to capture a second portion of gameplay, such as 10 seconds prior to selection of a capture button. In each of these embodiments, the amount of gameplay buffered prior to the current gameplay or requested gameplay may be configured and adjusted by the user according to his or her specific preferences.

In other embodiments, the buffer is "smart" or "elastic" such that it captures gameplay according to a variable, regardless of time. In some embodiments, the first portion of gameplay has a predetermined relationship to an event related to gameplay. For example, a first portion of gameplay may be buffered to include statistical anomalies, such as reaching a high score, collecting multiple points in a short amount of time, multiple selection of buttons on a controller, and other rare events. Such statistical anomalies can generally be determined by comparing the gameplay metric to an average metric for all games or for a particular game or scene. Such average metrics may be stored remotely or locally for comparison. For example, a game console may track a global high score for a particular game, and buffer gameplay as the user approaches and surpasses that high score. In another example, a remote server may track a global high score for a particular game, and communicate that information to the game console, thereby buffering gameplay as the user approaches and surpasses that high score.

In another example, portions of gameplay may be buffered to include achievements, such as trophies earned or other landmarks reached. Such trophies or landmarks commemorated some goal or gaming achievement, such as a specific number of points earned, a specific level reached, and the like. For example, gameplay may be buffered to include the awarding of trophies for reaching level 10, reaching 100,000 points, and the like.

Similarly, progress towards reaching an event may be buffered for inclusion as part of gameplay, in addition to statistical anomalies or actual winning of trophies. For example, screenshots may be taken at each of levels one through ten to create a photo album to commemorate the receipt of a trophy for reaching level ten. As another example, a video may be taken of a user winning a race for innings 1-5, where a trophy is awarded for victories 5 times.

Thus, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, at least a portion of the executed gameplay may always be held in a buffer during operation. In other words, when a request to share a portion of the gameplay is received, the portion of the previous gameplay may already be captured to include the previous footage. For example, if a request to share gameplay is received after the user crosses the finish line in a racing game, the buffered gameplay may include footage of the user crossing the finish line. In other words, the user will be able to capture the moment that occurs before the request to share gameplay is made.

17 illustrates an interface for sharing gameplay, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Interface 1700 as shown includes various selectable icons to facilitate sharing to the user's friends, eg, members of the user's social graph. In one embodiment, interface 1700 can be accessed from a dedicated button on the controller device. When the button is pressed during gameplay, an interface 1700 may be presented to allow users to share their gameplay.

Icon 1702 may be selected to initiate upload of a screenshot from the user's gameplay. In one embodiment, area 1704 of icon 1702 is populated with representative screenshots from the user's recent gameplay, thereby providing small-scale previews of screenshots that can be shared. In one embodiment, selection of icon 1702 provides access to an additional screenshot selection interface that allows the user to select specific screenshots from the user's recorded gameplay for sharing to the user's social graph. can provide This may take the form of a navigable gameplay video timeline, which may be navigated or traversed to identify specific time points within gameplay and their corresponding screenshots.

Icon 1706 may be selected to initiate upload of a video of the user's gameplay. Area 1708 of icon 1706 displays representative video clips from the user's recent gameplay, eg, the last 5 seconds of the user's gameplay, recent achievements, etc. may be configured to display a small-scale preview of a video clip from gameplay.

Icon 1710 may be selected to initiate a live video streaming of the user's active gameplay. In one embodiment, selection of icon 1710 will trigger a resumption of the user's gameplay while initiating live video streaming of the user's gameplay. In another embodiment, selection of icon 1710 may include, with whom to share streaming video, whether to include a video stream from a local image capture device intended to be shown to the user herself/herself during gameplay, comments Provides access to the interface to determine settings for streaming video broadcasts, such as whether to enable and so on.

Users will appreciate that they can share gameplay (eg, selected screenshots, videos, or live gameplay streams) to one or more specially selected friends, to their entire social graph, or to any user on a social network. . The social network may be a gaming social network associated with the platform on which the video game is run, or a third party social network that exists independently of the video game or the platform. The social network may be accessed through APIs defined to enable interfacing with the social network. Users with whom gameplay has been shared may receive a notification informing them about the shared gameplay. Such notifications may take the form of postings to social news feeds, confidential messages via social networks, in-game notifications, e-mails, chat notifications, and the like. Sharing gameplay on a social network may involve making the gameplay available to a different subset of users of the social network that may or may not be part of the sharing user's social graph. For example, for a given video game, the gameplay may be shared or made available to any user on a social network who also owns the video game and is thus granted access to the video game's shared gameplay. Such shared gameplay may be accessed through online forums, chat rooms, or other online channels available only to players of the video game. In one embodiment, the video game may have a dedicated page or site on the social network. The shared gameplay may be made available to users accessing a page or site of the video game. Of course, it will be appreciated that, in terms of sharing users, options may be provided that allow users to specify and tailor their gameplay to whom and on what forums.

18 illustrates an interface 1800 for selecting a portion of a recorded gameplay video for sharing, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Interface 1800 includes a preview area 1802, which loops a preview of the currently selected portion of video from the user's gameplay. Screenshots 1804 , 1806 , 1808 , 1810 , 1812 are positioned adjacent to each other in chronological order to define a timeline of screenshots representing the content of the gameplay video. The various screenshots 1804, 1806, 1808, 1810, 1812 may be image frames extracted at regular intervals from gameplay video. The screenshot timeline can be scrolled left or right to show additional frames preceding or following those currently displayed. Markers 1814 and 1816 indicate start and end points for the currently selected video clip (or segment or portion). The currently selected video clip can be played repeatedly in the preview area 1802 , as noted.

In one embodiment, buttons 1818 and 1820 may be selected to decrease or increase the duration of the selected video portion, respectively. Preview option 1822 may be selected to trigger playback of a full-screen preview of the currently selected video clip. Trimming options 1824 may be selected to access additional video trimming features.

19 illustrates an interface 1900 for viewing a live video stream of a user's gameplay, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. At reference 1902 , the name and/or nickname of the user who is streaming their gameplay is shown. At reference 1904 , the number of users currently viewing the live video stream is shown. A live video stream of the user's gameplay is displayed in a video display area 1906 . Additionally, a live user video 1908 may be included, showing a live video of an actual user whose gameplay is being live streamed. A command option 1910 can be selected that allows the viewing user to issue commands that affect the video game, or even control the streaming user's gameplay. Recognize that the issuance of an in-game command or remote control of a user's gameplay may require permission from the user playing the game, whether requested or predefined during gameplay, to enable the viewing user to perform such an action. something to do.

Option 1912 allows the viewing user to join the streaming user's gameplay. and option 1914 enables the viewing user to purchase the in-progress video game.

Furthermore, the interface may include a comments section 1916 that displays comments from the user viewing the live video stream indicating the time of each comment. A comment input field 1918 is provided for the viewing user to enter text for a comment to be posted. And the send button 1920 is pressed to upload comments for viewing by the live streaming user and others viewing the live video stream.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to accessing various interfaces for sharing from a dedicated button press, in other embodiments, some or all of these interfaces are not required to facilitate sharing of gameplay to the user's social graph. You will realize that you may not. For example, in one embodiment, a controller button may be configured to capture a screenshot of the user's gameplay when pressed. Captured screenshots can then be automatically uploaded and shared on user social graphs.

In another embodiment, pressing a specific button on the controller initiates the recording of gameplay video. When the particular button is pressed a second time, the recording of the gameplay video is stopped, and the video clip can be uploaded and shared to the user social graph. In one embodiment, uploading and sharing of video clips to the user social graph may occur automatically following the end of the video recording operation. However, in another embodiment, when a particular button is pressed a second time to stop recording, trimming the video, selecting a representative screenshot for the video, determining a particular user to share the video with An interface is presented that allows the user to customize various options, such as adding text, captions or titles, and the like. After customization by the user, the video may be shared with others or otherwise made available for viewing.

In one embodiment, a specific button on the controller may be configured to share a predefined duration of a gameplay video on a social network. For example, the user may specify that the previous 10 seconds of gameplay video will be shared to the user social graph when a button is pressed. In another embodiment, it may be specified that the next 10 seconds of gameplay video will be recorded and shared to the social graph when the button is pressed. It should be appreciated that options for trimming the video and performing other types of customization may apply to recorded gameplay video. Moreover, recorded gameplay video of a predefined duration following a button trigger may be combined with previously buffered gameplay video as described.

In yet another embodiment, a specific button on the controller device may be configured to initiate a live video streaming of a user active gameplay. Live video streaming is only available to members of the user social graph, or other smaller or It can be predefined to only be made available to a larger group of users.

Automatic generation of suggested mini-games for cloud-gaming based on recorded gameplay

In one embodiment, there is provided a method for generating a playable restricted version of a video game, the method operation comprising: recording a user's gameplay of a full version of the video game; analyzing the user's recorded gameplay to determine areas of interest; an operation that defines boundaries within the gameplay context of the video game based on the determined region of interest; and generating a limited version of the video game based on the defined boundaries, the method being executed by the processor.

In one embodiment, recording the user's gameplay comprises recording one or more of user input data or game state data. In one embodiment, analyzing the recorded gameplay of the user comprises determining an activity level of user input data or game state data, wherein the region of interest is an region having an activity level that exceeds a predefined threshold. .

In one embodiment, defining boundaries within the gameplay context of the video game includes defining spatial boundaries within the virtual space of the video game. In one embodiment, a spatial boundary within the virtual space of the video game defines a portion of the virtual space that is smaller than the entire virtual space, the portion of the virtual space having a subset of the features of the virtual space.

In one embodiment, defining boundaries within the gameplay context of the video game includes defining temporal boundaries within the temporal context of the video game.

In one embodiment, defining the boundary comprises identifying a closest start point or a closest end point of one or more of a stage, level, or scene.

In one embodiment, analyzing the user's recorded gameplay comprises determining user game state settings based on the user's recorded gameplay, and generating a limited version of the video game comprises the determined user game state settings defining a limited version of the video game to have initial game state settings based on the

In one embodiment, regions of interest are automatically identified based on correspondence to one or more thresholds. In one embodiment, at least one of the thresholds is: user input, rate of user input, frequency of user input, repetitions of user input, input pattern, sharing of gameplay context with other users, game on social network associated with one or more of the posting of comments associated with the play, or the popularity of portions of the video game based on social network sharing levels.

In another embodiment, there is provided a method for generating a playable limited version of a video game, the method operation comprising: recording a user's gameplay of a full version of the video game; analyzing the user's recorded gameplay to determine areas of interest; an operation that presents each of the regions of interest for selection; an operation for receiving a selection input representing a selected region of interest; an operation for defining, for the selected region of interest, boundaries within the gameplay context of the video game based on the selected region of interest; and generating a limited version of the video game based on the defined boundaries, the method being executed by the processor.

In one embodiment, recording the user's gameplay comprises recording one or more of user input data or game state data. In one embodiment, analyzing the user's recorded gameplay comprises determining an activity level of user input data or game state data, wherein each region of interest has an activity level that exceeds a predefined threshold. is the area

In one embodiment, analyzing the user's recorded gameplay comprises determining user game state settings based on the user's recorded gameplay, and generating a limited version of the video game comprises the determined user game state settings defining a limited version of the video game to have initial game state settings based on the

In one embodiment, each region of interest is automatically identified based on a correspondence to one or more thresholds.

In another embodiment, there is provided a method for generating a playable limited version of a video game, the method operation comprising: recording user's gameplay of a full version of a video game, either user input data or game state data an operation for recording a user's gameplay, including operations for recording one or more; an operation of analyzing the user's recorded gameplay to determine one or more regions of interest, wherein each region of interest is automatically identified based on a correspondence to one or more thresholds; an operation that presents each of the regions of interest for selection; an operation for receiving a selection input representing a selected region of interest; an operation for defining, for the selected region of interest, boundaries within the gameplay context of the video game based on the selected region of interest; A method is provided, comprising an operation that generates a limited version of the video game based on defined boundaries, the method being executed by a processor.

In one embodiment, defining boundaries within the gameplay context of the video game comprises defining a spatial boundary within a virtual space of the video game, wherein the spatial boundary within the virtual space of the video game is a virtual space that is less than the entirety of the virtual space. defines a part of , and a part of the virtual space has a subset of the features of the virtual space.

In one embodiment, defining boundaries within the gameplay context of the video game includes defining temporal boundaries within the temporal context of the video game.

In one embodiment, defining the boundary comprises identifying a closest start point or a closest end point of one or more of a stage, level, or scene.

In one embodiment, at least one of the thresholds is: user input, rate of user input, frequency of user input, repetitions of user input, input pattern, sharing of gameplay context with other users, game on social network associated with one or more of the posting of comments associated with the play, or the popularity of portions of the video game based on social network sharing levels.

Generation of multi-part mini-games for cloud-gaming based on recorded gameplay

In one embodiment, there is provided a method for generating a playable restricted version of a video game, the method operation comprising: recording a user's gameplay of a full version of the video game; an operation that determines a plurality of user-defined portions of the user's recorded gameplay; for each user-defined portion, defining boundaries within the gameplay context of the video game based on the user-defined portion, and generating a playable portion of the video game based on the defined boundaries; A method is provided, comprising the operation of arranging each of the playable portions of the video game in a series to define a limited version of the video game, the method being executed by a processor.

In one embodiment, determining each user-defined portion of the user's recorded gameplay comprises receiving a user-defined start point and a user-defined end point within the user's recorded gameplay, and and determining a user-defined portion based on the received user-defined start point and user-defined end point.

In one embodiment, recording the user's gameplay comprises recording one or more of user input data or game state data. In one embodiment, generating the playable portion of the video game includes analyzing game state data to identify code elements, and code to define executable code defining the playable portion of the video game. It involves assembling elements.

In one embodiment, defining boundaries within the gameplay context of the video game includes defining spatial boundaries within the virtual space of the video game. In one embodiment, a spatial boundary within the virtual space of the video game defines a portion of the virtual space that is smaller than the entire virtual space, the portion of the virtual space having a subset of the features of the virtual space.

In one embodiment, defining boundaries within the gameplay context of the video game includes defining temporal boundaries within the temporal context of the video game.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises, for each user-defined portion, analyzing the user's recorded gameplay to determine a user game state setting, generating a playable portion of the video game. includes defining the playable portion of the video game to have initial game state settings based on the determined user game state settings.

In one embodiment, defining the boundary comprises identifying a closest start or end point of one or more of a stage, level, or scene.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises the operation of recording a user-defined video, wherein arranging the playable portion of the video game at a position in the series preceding or following one of the playable portions of the video game and arranging user-defined videos. In one embodiment, the user-defined video comprises video from at least one of the user-defined portions of the user's recorded gameplay.

In another embodiment, there is provided a tangible computer readable medium embodied on program instructions for generating a playable limited version of a video game, the instructions comprising: a program for recording gameplay of a user of a full version of the video game command; program instructions for determining a plurality of user-defined portions of the user's recorded gameplay; program instructions for, for each user-defined portion, defining boundaries within a gameplay context of the video game based on the user-defined portion, and generating a playable portion of the video game based on the defined boundaries; A medium is provided containing program instructions for arranging each of the playable portions of the video game in series to define a limited version of the video game.

In one embodiment, determining each user-defined portion of the user's recorded gameplay comprises receiving a user-defined start point and a user-defined end point within the user's recorded gameplay, and and determining a user-defined portion based on the received user-defined start point and user-defined end point.

In one embodiment, recording the user's gameplay comprises recording one or more of user input data or game state data. In one embodiment, generating the playable portion of the video game includes analyzing game state data to identify code elements, and assembling the code elements to define executable code that defines the playable portion of the video game. includes doing

In one embodiment, the tangible computer-readable medium further comprises, for each user-defined portion, program instructions for analyzing a user's recorded gameplay to determine a user game state setting, the video game's Generating the playable portion includes defining the playable portion of the video game to have initial game state settings based on the determined user game state settings.

In another embodiment, a system includes: at least one server computing device, the at least one server computing device comprising: logic for recording gameplay of a user of a full version of a video game; logic for determining a plurality of user-defined portions of the user's recorded gameplay; logic for, for each user-defined portion, defining boundaries within a gameplay context of the video game based on the user-defined portion, and generating a playable portion of the video game based on the defined boundaries; A system with logic for generating a playable limited version of a video game is provided, comprising logic for arranging each of the playable portions of the video game in a series to define a limited version of the video game.

In one embodiment, determining each user-defined portion of the user's recorded gameplay comprises receiving a user-defined start point and a user-defined end point within the user's recorded gameplay, and and determining a user-defined portion based on the received user-defined start point and user-defined end point.

In one embodiment, recording the user's gameplay comprises recording one or more of user input data or game state data. In one embodiment, generating the playable portion of the video game includes analyzing game state data to identify code elements, and assembling the code elements to define executable code that defines the playable portion of the video game. includes doing

In one embodiment, the logic further comprises, for each user-defined portion, logic to analyze the user's recorded gameplay to determine a user game state setting, wherein: Generating includes defining the playable portion of the video game to have initial game state settings based on the determined user game state settings.

Share your recorded gameplay to social graphs

In one embodiment, there is provided a method for sharing recorded gameplay to a social graph, comprising the following method operations: recording a video of a user's gameplay during an active state of a gameplay session; an operation that receives a command to initiate a shared operation during an active state of a gameplay session; in response to receiving the command, entering an idle state of the gameplay session and presenting a sharing interface; processing input received via the sharing interface to determine a user-defined selection of recorded video; an operation to share a user-defined selection of recorded video to the user's social graph; A method is provided, comprising an operation for resuming an active state of a gameplay session, wherein the method is executed by a processor.

In one embodiment, recording a video of the user's gameplay includes storing the video in a buffer during an active state of the gameplay session.

In one embodiment, presenting the sharing interface includes retrieving and presenting one or more portions of the video from a buffer.

In one embodiment, the sharing interface includes a duration selector for defining the duration of the user-defined selection.

In one embodiment, sharing the selection includes uploading the selection for use on a social networking service that defines the user's social graph.

In one embodiment, uploading the selection includes compressing the selection and uploading the compressed selection.

In one embodiment, sharing the selection includes generating a notification to members of the user's social graph.

In one embodiment, the notification is defined by one or more of a confidential message, a chat message, an in-game notification, posting to a social news feed, or e-mail.

In one embodiment, sharing the selection includes presenting the selection on the user's profile page.

In one embodiment, receiving a command to initiate a sharing operation is defined from a button press on the controller device.

In another embodiment, there is provided a method for sharing recorded gameplay to a social graph, comprising the following method operations: recording a video of a user's gameplay during an active state of a gameplay session; an operation that receives a command to initiate a shared operation during an active state of a gameplay session; in response to receiving the command, determining a user-defined selection of recorded video; A method is provided, comprising the operation of sharing a user-defined selection of recorded video to a user's social graph, wherein the method is executed by a processor.

In one embodiment, recording a video of the user's gameplay includes storing the video in a buffer during an active state of the gameplay session.

In one embodiment, determining a user-defined selection of recorded video includes retrieving and presenting the video from a buffer, and processing user input identifying a portion of the video.

In one embodiment, sharing the selection includes uploading the selection for use on a social networking service that defines the user's social graph.

In one embodiment, receiving a command to initiate a sharing operation is defined from a button press on the controller device.

In another embodiment, a non-transitory computer readable medium having program instructions defined for sharing recorded gameplay to a social graph is provided. The program instructions include: program instructions for recording a video of a user's gameplay during an active state of a gameplay session; program instructions for receiving a command to initiate a shared operation during an active state of a gameplay session; program instructions for determining, in response to receiving the command, a user-defined selection of recorded video; program instructions for sharing a user-defined selection of recorded video to a user's social graph.

In one embodiment, recording a video of the user's gameplay includes storing the video in a buffer during an active state of the gameplay session.

In one embodiment, determining a user-defined selection of recorded video includes retrieving and presenting the video from a buffer, and processing user input identifying a portion of the video.

In one embodiment, sharing the selection includes uploading the selection for use on a social networking service that defines the user's social graph.

In one embodiment, receiving a command to initiate a sharing operation is defined from a button press on the controller device.

Remote control of the first user's gameplay by the second user

In one embodiment, there is provided a method for providing remote control of a user's gameplay, the method operation comprising: presenting a live video feed of a first user's gameplay to a remote second user; processing a request to transfer control of the first user's gameplay to the second user; A method is provided, comprising an operation that initiates control of gameplay of a first user by a second user, the method being executed by at least one processor.

In one embodiment, initiating control of the first user's gameplay by the second user comprises disabling control of the first user's gameplay by a first controller device associated with the first user, and a second and activating control of gameplay of the first user by a second controller device associated with the user.

In one embodiment, control of the gameplay of the first user by the second controller device comprises receiving input commands from the second controller device and applying the input commands to define the gameplay of the first user. .

In one embodiment, the live video feed is presented to a second user via a social interface, the social interface providing access to the second user's social graph, and the first user as a member of the second user's social graph. Defined.

In one embodiment, the social interface includes a comments interface for posting comments during gameplay of the first user.

In one embodiment, processing the request to exercise control includes receiving an acknowledgment from the first user allowing control of the first user's gameplay by the second user.

In one embodiment, presenting the live video feed of the first user's gameplay to the second user comprises presenting the live video feed in a non-full screen format, wherein the game by the second user is Initiating control of play includes triggering presentation of a live video feed in a full screen format.

In another embodiment, there is provided a method for providing multiplayer gameplay comprising the following method operations: presenting a live video feed of a gameplay session of a first user to a remote second user; processing a request for a second user to join a gameplay session of the first user; A method is provided, comprising the operation of initiating gameplay by a second user in a gameplay session of a first user, the method being executed by at least one processor.

In one embodiment, initiating gameplay by a second user in a gameplay session of the first user comprises initiating a multiplayer mode of the video game.

In one embodiment, the live video feed is presented to a second user via a social interface, the social interface providing access to the second user's social graph, and the first user as a member of the second user's social graph. Defined.

In one embodiment, the social interface includes a comments interface for posting comments during gameplay of the first user.

In one embodiment, processing the request to join the gameplay session of the first user includes receiving an acknowledgment from the first user allowing gameplay by the second user in the gameplay session of the first user. include

In one embodiment, presenting the live video feed of the gameplay of the first user to the second user comprises presenting the live video feed in a non-fullscreen format, wherein the second user in a gameplay session of the first user Initiating gameplay by the user includes triggering presentation of a live video feed in a full screen format.

In another embodiment, a non-transitory computer readable medium embodied in program instructions for providing remote control of a user's gameplay is provided, the program instructions comprising: a live video feed of a first user's gameplay program instructions for presentation to a remote second user; program instructions for processing a request to transfer control of gameplay of a first user to a second user; program instructions for initiating control of the first user's gameplay by the second user.

In one embodiment, initiating control of the first user's gameplay by the second user comprises disabling control of the first user's gameplay by a first controller device associated with the first user, and a second and activating control of gameplay of the first user by a second controller device associated with the user.

In one embodiment, control of the gameplay of the first user by the second controller device comprises receiving input commands from the second controller device and applying the input commands to define the gameplay of the first user. .

In one embodiment, the live video feed is presented to a second user via a social interface, the social interface providing access to the second user's social graph, and the first user as a member of the second user's social graph. Defined.

In one embodiment, the social interface includes a comments interface for posting comments during gameplay of the first user.

In one embodiment, processing the request to exercise control includes receiving an acknowledgment from the first user allowing control of the first user's gameplay by the second user.

In one embodiment, presenting the live video feed of the first user's gameplay to the second user comprises presenting the live video feed in a non-full screen format, wherein the game by the second user is Initiating control of play includes triggering presentation of a live video feed in a full screen format.

20 illustrates a user interface and hardware that may be used to provide interactivity with a video game, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 20 is a Sony(R) PlayStation3(R) console that may be compatible to interface a control device with a computer program running on a base computing device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; ) schematically illustrates the overall system architecture of the entertainment device. The system unit 2000 is provided with various peripheral devices connectable to the system unit 2000 . The system unit 2000 includes: a cell processor 2028; Rambus(R) Dynamic RAM (XDRAM) unit 2026; a reality synthesizer graphics unit 2030 having a dedicated video RAM (VRAM) unit 2032 ; and an I/O bridge 2034 . System unit 2000 also includes a Blu Ray(R) disc BD-ROM(R) optical disc reader for reading from disc 2040a, accessible via I/O bridge 2034. 2040 ) and a removable slot-in hard disk drive (HDD) 2036 . Optionally, the system unit 2000 also includes a memory card reader 2038 for reading compact flash memory cards, similarly accessible via an I/O bridge 2034, and a Memory Stick(R) memory card. etc.

The I/O bridge 2034 also includes six Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0 ports 2024; Gigabit Ethernet port 2022; IEEE 802.11 b/g wireless network (Wi-Fi) port 2020; and a Bluetooth (registered trademark) wireless link port 2018 capable of supporting up to 7 Bluetooth connections.

In operation, I/O bridge 2034 handles all wireless, USB, and Ethernet data, including data from one or more game controllers 2002-2003. For example, when the user is playing a game, the I/O bridge 2034 receives data from the game controller 2002-2003 via a Bluetooth link and directs it to the cell processor 2028, which in turn Update the current state of the game.

Wireless, USB and Ethernet ports also include: remote control (2004); keyboard (2006); mouse (2008); portable entertainment devices 2010 such as the Sony Playstation Portable(R); video cameras such as EyeToy(R) video camera 2012; microphone headset (2014); and microphone 2015, providing connectivity to other peripheral devices in addition to the game controller 2002-2003. So such a peripheral device can in principle be wirelessly connected to the system unit 2000 ; For example, the portable entertainment device 2010 may communicate via a Wi-Fi ad-hoc connection, while the microphone headset 2014 may communicate via a Bluetooth link.

The provision of these interfaces makes the PlayStation 3 device also potentially compatible with other peripheral devices such as digital video recorders (DVRs), set-top boxes, digital cameras, portable media players, VoIP phones, mobile phones, printers and scanners. it means.

Additionally, an older memory card reader 2016 is connected to the system unit via a USB port 2024 and is used by a Playstation (registered trademark) or Playstation 2 (registered trademark) device. It is possible to enable reading of a type of memory card 2048 .

The game controller 2002-2003 is operable to communicate wirelessly with the system unit 2000 via a Bluetooth link, or to be connected to a USB port, thereby also providing power to charge the battery of the game controller 2002-2003. do. Game controller 2002-2003 also includes memory, processor, memory card reader, permanent memory such as flash memory, light sphere section, emitter such as LED or infrared light, microphone and speaker for ultrasonic communication, acoustic chamber, digital camera, internal clocks, recognizable shapes such as sphere sections facing a game console, and wireless communications using protocols such as Bluetooth®, WiFi®, and the like.

Game controller 2002 is a controller designed to be used with two hands, and game controller 2003 is a one-handed controller with attachments. In addition to one or more analog joysticks and idiomatic control buttons, the game controller facilitates three-dimensional positioning. As a result, gestures and movements by the user of the game controller can be converted as inputs to the game in addition to or instead of idiomatic button or joystick commands. Optionally, other wireless-capable peripheral devices, such as PlayStation(TM) portable devices, may be used as the controller. In the case of a PlayStation (trademark) portable device, additional game or control information (eg, control commands or number of lives) may be presented on the screen of the device. Custom controllers such as a dance mat (not shown), a light gun (not shown), a steering wheel and pedals (not shown), or a single or several large buttons (also not shown) for quick-response quiz games Other alternative or supplemental control devices may also be used, such as

The remote control 2004 is also operable to communicate wirelessly with the system unit 2000 via a Bluetooth link. The remote control 704 includes controls suitable for operation of the Blu Ray (trade name) disc BD-ROM reader 2040 and navigation of the disc content.

The Blu Ray (trade name) disc BD-ROM reader 2040 is a CD-ROM compatible with PlayStation and PlayStation 2 devices, in addition to the conventional pre-recorded and recordable CDs, and so-called Super Audio CDs. operable to read ROM. Reader 2040 is also operable to read DVD-ROMs compatible with PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 devices, in addition to conventional pre-recorded and recordable DVDs. Reader 2040 is further operable to read conventional pre-recorded and recordable Blu-ray Discs, as well as BD-ROMs compatible with PlayStation 3 devices.

System unit 2000 provides audio and video, whether decoded or generated by a PlayStation 3 device through reality synthesizer graphics unit 2030, a display 2044 and one or more loudspeakers 2046 through audio and video connectors. operable to supply a display and sound output device 2042 such as a television set or monitor with Audio connector 2050 may include idiomatic analog and digital outputs, while video connector 2052 may include a variety of component video, S-video, composite video, and one or more high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) outputs. . As a result, the video output may be in a format such as PAL or NTSC, or 720p, 1080i or 1080p high definition.

Audio processing (generation, decoding, etc.) is performed by cell processor 2028 . The operating system of the PlayStation 3 device is Dolby® 5.1 surround sound, Dolby® Theater Surround (DTS), and 7.1 surround from Blu Ray® discs. Supports sound decoding.

In this embodiment, the video camera 2012 is an intra-image based motion picture expert group (MPEG) for decoding by a single charge coupled device (CCD), an LED indicator, and the compressed video data by the system unit 2000 . It includes hardware-based real-time data compression and encoding devices so that they can be transmitted in a suitable format, such as a standard. The camera LED indicator is arranged to illuminate in response to appropriate control data from the system unit 2000 to indicate, for example, lighting conditions. Various embodiments of the video camera 2012 may be connected to the system unit 700 through a USB, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi communication port. Embodiments of a video camera may include one or more associated microphones and may also be capable of transmitting audio data. In an embodiment of a video camera, the CCD may have a resolution suitable for high-definition video capture. In use, an image captured by a video camera may be interpreted or incorporated into a game, for example as a game control input. In another embodiment, the camera is an infrared camera suitable for detecting infrared light.

In general, in order to successfully communicate data with a peripheral device such as a remote control or a video camera through one of the communication ports of the system unit 2000, a suitable piece of software such as a device driver must be provided. Device driver techniques are well known and will not be described in detail herein, other than to say that those skilled in the art will recognize that a device driver or similar software interface may be required in the described embodiments.

21 illustrates additional hardware that may be used to process instructions, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Cell processor 2028 has an architecture that includes four basic components: an external input and output structure including a memory controller 2160 and dual bus interface controllers 2170A, B; a main processor referred to as a power processing element 2150; eight co-processors referred to as synergistic processing elements (SPEs) 2110A-H; and a circular data bus that connects the above components, referred to as element interconnect bus 2180 . The cell processor's total floating-point performance is 218 GFLOPS, compared to 6.2 GFLOPS for the PlayStation 2 device's Motion Engine.

The Power Processing Element (PPE) 2150 is based on a two-way simultaneous multithreading Power 570 compliant PowerPC Core (PPU) 855 operating with an internal clock of 3.2 GHz. It contains a 512 kB level 2 (L2) cache and a 32 kB level 1 (L1) cache. The PPE 2150 is capable of 8 single position operations per clock cycle, which translates to 25.6 GFLOPS at 3.2 GHz. The primary role of the PPE 2150 is to serve as a controller for the synergistic processing elements 2110A-H, which handle most of the computational workload. In operation, the PPE 2150 maintains a job queue to schedule jobs for the synergistic processing elements 2110A-H and monitor their progress. As a result, each synergistic processing element 2110A-H executes a kernel whose role is to fetch a job, execute it and synchronize it with the PPE 2150 .

Each synergistic processing element (SPE) 2110A-H includes a respective synergistic processing unit (SPU) 2120A-H, and a respective dynamic memory access controller (DMAC) 2142A-H, each memory management each memory flow controller (MFC) 2140A-H, which in turn includes a unit (MMU) 2144A-H and a bus interface (not shown). Each SPU 2120A-H is in principle a RISC processor clocked at 3.2 GHz with 256 kB local RAM 2130A-H expandable up to 4 GB. Each SPE gives a single precision performance of theoretical 25.6 GFLOPS. The SPU can operate on four single-precision floating-point members, four 32-bit numbers, eight 16-bit integers, or 16 eight-bit integers in a single clock cycle. In the same clock cycle it can also perform memory operations. SPU 2120A-H does not directly access system memory (XDRAM) 2026; The 64-bit address formed by the SPU 2120A-H is the MFC 2140A-H, which instructs its DMA controller 2142A-H to access the memory via the element interconnect bus 2180 and the memory controller 2160. is handed over to

Element interconnect bus (EIB) 2180 is a logical cyclic communication bus inside cell processor 2028, and the above processor elements, ie, PPE 2150, memory controller 2160, dual bus interfaces 2170A, B, and Connect 8 SPEs (2110A-H), a total of 12 participants. Participants can simultaneously write to and read from the bus at a rate of 8 bytes per clock cycle. As mentioned above, each SPE 2110A-H includes a DMAC 2142A-H for scheduling longer read or write sequences. The EIB includes four channels, two each in a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction. As a result, for 12 participants, the longest step-by-step data-flow between any two participants is 6 steps in the appropriate direction. So the theoretical peak instantaneous EIB bandwidth for 12 slots is 96B per clock for full utilization with inter-participant arbitration. This equates to a theoretical peak bandwidth of 307.2 GB/s (gigabytes per second) at a clock rate of 3.2 GHz.

The memory controller 2160 includes an XDRAM interface 2162 developed by Rambus. The memory controller interfaces with the Rambus XDRAM 2026 with a theoretical peak bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s.

Dual bus interfaces 2170A, B include Rambus FlexIO(R) system interfaces 2172A, B. The interface is organized into 12 channels, each 8 bits wide, with 5 paths inbound and 7 outbound. This is 62.4 GB/s (36.4 GB/s outbound, 26 GB/s inbound) between reality simulator graphics unit 2130 via controller 2170B and I/O bridge 2034 and cell processor via controller 2170A. gives the theoretical peak bandwidth of

The data sent by the cell processor 2128 to the reality simulator graphics unit 2130 will typically include a display list, which is a sequence of commands to draw vertices, apply textures to polygons, specify lighting conditions, and the like. will be.

22 is a view showing a game client 2202 connected to server processing via the Internet and each user A to E having a conversation, according to an embodiment of the present invention. ) is shown as an example. A game client is a device that allows a user to access server applications and processing via the Internet. Game clients allow users to access and play online entertainment content such as, but not limited to, games, movies, music and photos. Additionally, the game client may provide access to online communication applications such as VOIP, text chat protocols, and email.

The user interacts with the game client through the controller. In some embodiments, the controller is a game client specific controller, while in other embodiments, the controller may be a keyboard and mouse combination. In one embodiment, the game client is a standalone device capable of outputting audio and video signals to create a multimedia environment via a monitor/television and associated audio equipment. For example, a game client may be, but is not limited to, a thin client, an internal PCI-Express card, an external PCI-Express device, an ExpressCard device, an internal, external or wireless USB device, or a FireWire device, or the like. In another embodiment, the game client is integrated with a television or other multimedia device such as a DVR, Blu-ray player, DVD player or multi-channel receiver.

Within scene A of FIG. 22 , user A uses controller 2206A paired with game client 2202A to interact with a client application displayed on monitor 2204A. Similarly, within scene B, user B uses controller 2206B paired with game client 2202B to interact with another client application displayed on monitor 2204B. Scene C illustrates the view from behind when user C is looking at a monitor displaying a game and friends list from game client 2202C. Although FIG. 22 depicts a single server processing module, in one embodiment, there are multiple server processing modules located throughout the world. Each server processing module includes sub-modules for user session control, sharing/communication logic, user geo-location, and load balancing processing services. Moreover, the server processing module includes network processing and distributed storage.

When the game client 2202 connects to the server processing module, user session control may be used to authenticate the user. Authenticated users may have associated virtualized distributed storage and virtualized network processing. Exemplary items that may be stored as part of a user's virtualized distributed storage include, but are not limited to, purchased media such as games, videos, and music. Additionally, distributed storage can be used to store game situations for multiple games, customized settings for individual games, and general settings for game clients. In one embodiment, the user geo-location module of server processing is used to determine the geographic location of the user and their respective game clients. A user's geographic location may be used both by the load balancing processing service and by the sharing/communication logic to optimize performance based on geographic location and processing needs of multiple server processing modules. Virtualizing either or both of network processing and network storage will allow processing tasks from the game client to be dynamically shiftable to less utilized server processing module(s). As such, load balancing can be used to minimize the latency associated with recalls from storage and also with data transmission between the server processing module and the game client.

The server processing module has an instance of a server application (A) and a server application (B). The server processing module may support a number of server applications as represented by _{server application (X 1} ) and server application (X _{2 ).} In one embodiment, server processing is based on a cluster computing architecture that allows multiple processors in the cluster to process server applications. In another embodiment, other types of multi-computer processing techniques are applied to process server applications. This allows server processing to be scaled to accommodate multiple game clients running multiple client applications and corresponding server applications. Alternatively, server processing can be scaled to accommodate the increased computing demands made by requiring more graphics processing or gaming, video compression, or application complexity. In one embodiment, the server processing module performs the majority of processing through the server application. This reduces the cost of the game client by allowing relatively expensive components such as graphics processors, RAM and general purpose processors to be centrally located. The processed server application data is sent back to the corresponding game client via the Internet and displayed on the monitor.

Scene (C) illustrates an example application that may be executed by the game client and server processing modules. For example, in one embodiment, game client 2202C creates friend list 2220 where user C includes user A, user B, user D, and user E. and make it visible As shown, in scene C, user C can view a real-time image or avatar of each user on monitor 2204C. Server processing executes game client 2202C and respective applications of game client 2202 of user A, user B, user D, and user E, respectively. Since the server processing knows which application is running by the game client B, the friend list for user A can indicate which game user B is playing. Even more, in one embodiment, user A can view the reality in the game video directly from user B. This is only made possible by sending the processed server application data for user B to game client A in addition to it.

In addition to being able to view videos from friends, the communication application may enable real-time communication between friends. As applied to the previous example, this enables user A to provide encouragement or hints while watching real-time video of user B. In one embodiment, two-way real-time voice communication is established via a client/server application. In another embodiment, the client/server application enables text chat. In another embodiment, the client/server application converts speech to text for display on a friend's screen.

Scenes D and E illustrate users D and E, respectively, interacting with game consoles 2210D and 2210E, respectively. Each game console 2210D, 2210E is connected to a server processing module, illustrating a network in which the server processing module coordinates game play for both the game console and the game client.

23 illustrates one embodiment of an information service provider architecture. An information service provider (ISP) 2370 delivers a number of information services to users 2382 that are geographically dispersed and connected through a network 2386 . An ISP may deliver a single type of service, such as stock price updates, or a variety of services, such as broadcast media, news, sports, gaming, and the like. Additionally, the services provided by each ISP are dynamic, that is, services can be added or removed at any point in time. As such, ISPs that provide particular types of services to particular individuals may change over time. For example, the user may be served by an ISP in close proximity to the user while the user is in her hometown, and the user may be served by another ISP when the user travels to another city. The home ISP will migrate the required information and data to the new ISP so that the user information "follows" the user to the new city and the data is closer to the user and easier to access. In another embodiment, a master-server relationship may be established between a master ISP that manages information about a user and a server ISP that directly interfaces with the user under control from the master ISP. In another embodiment, data is migrated from one ISP to another as the client travels the world so that ISPs that are better positioned to provide services to users are delivering these services.

ISP 2370 includes an application service provider (ASP) 2372 that provides computer-based services to customers over a network. Software delivered using the ASP model is sometimes referred to as software on demand or software as a service (SaaS). A simple form of providing access to specific application programs (such as customer relationship management) is by using standard protocols such as HTTP. The application software resides on the vendor's system and is accessed by the user through a web browser using HTML, either by special purpose client software provided by the vendor, or other remote interface such as a thin client.

Services delivered over a large geographic area often use cloud computing. Cloud computing is a style of computing in which dynamically scalable and often virtualized resources are provided as a service over the Internet. Users do not have to be experts in the technology infrastructure in the "cloud" to support them. Cloud computing can be divided into several different services, such as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). Cloud computing services provide common business applications online, often accessed from a web browser, while software and data are stored on servers. The term cloud, based on how the Internet is depicted in computer network diagrams, is used as a metaphor for the Internet and is an abstraction to the complex infrastructure it conceals.

Further, ISP 2370 includes a game processing server (GPS) 2374 used by game clients to play single and multiplayer video games. Most video games played over the Internet operate through a connection to a game server. Typically, games use a dedicated server application that collects data from players and distributes it to other players. Although this is more efficient and effective than a peer-to-peer arrangement, it requires a separate server to host the server application. In another embodiment, the GPS establishes player-to-player communication and their respective game-playing devices exchange information without relying on a centralized GPS.

A dedicated GPS is a server that operates independently of the client. Such servers are typically run on dedicated hardware located within the data center, providing more bandwidth and dedicated processing power. Dedicated servers are the preferred way to host game servers for most PC-based multiplayer games. Multiplayer online games running on dedicated servers typically hosted by the software companies that own the game titles are large-scale, allowing them to control and update the content.

A broadcast processing server (BPS) 2376 distributes audio or video signals to viewers. Broadcasting to a very narrow audience is sometimes called narrowcasting. The final journey of broadcast distribution is how the signal gets to the listener or spectator, it may come to the antenna and receiver in the air, such as for a radio station or TV station, directly from the network or through a cable TV or cable radio station. (or "wireless cable"). The Internet can also lead radio or TV to recipients, particularly with multicasting that allows signals and bandwidth to be shared. Historically, broadcasts, such as national or regional broadcasts, have been delimited by geographic area. However, with the proliferation of high-speed Internet, broadcast is not defined by geography as the content can reach almost any country in the world.

A storage service provider (SSP) 2378 provides computer storage space and related management services. SSP also provides periodic backup and archiving. By providing storage-as-a-service, users can order more storage as needed. Another major advantage is that SSP includes a backup service and users won't lose all their data if their computer's hard drive fails. Moreover, the plurality of SSPs may have full or partial copies of the user's data, allowing the user to access the data in an efficient manner independent of where the user is located or the device used to access the data. For example, users can access personal files from their home computer as well as from their mobile phone while the user is on the go.

Communication provider 380 provides connectivity to users. One type of communication provider is an Internet Service Provider (ISP) that provides access to the Internet. ISPs connect their customers using a data transmission technology suitable for carrying Internet Protocol datagrams, such as dial-up, DSL, cable modem, wireless or dedicated high-speed interconnect. Communication providers may also provide messaging services, such as e-mail, instant messaging, and SMS text messages. Another type of communication provider is a network service provider (NSP) that sells network access or bandwidth by providing direct backbone access to the Internet. Network service providers may consist of telecommunications companies, data carriers, wireless communication providers, Internet service providers, cable television operators providing high-speed Internet access, and the like.

Data exchange 2388 interconnects several modules within ISP 2370 and connects these modules to user 2382 via network 2386 . Data exchange 2388 may cover a small area in which all modules of the ISP 2370 are in close proximity, or may cover a large geographic area when several different modules are geographically dispersed. For example, data exchange 2388 may include high-speed gigabit Ethernet (or higher speed) in a cabinet of a data center, or an intercontinental virtual area network (VLAN).

User 2382 accesses remote services with client device 2384 , including at least CPU, display, and I/O. The client device may be a PC, mobile phone, netbook, PDA, or the like. In one embodiment, the ISP 2370 recognizes the type of device used by the client and adjusts the communication method employed. In other cases, the client device uses a standard communication method, such as html, to access the ISP 2370 .

Embodiments of the present invention may be practiced in a variety of computer system configurations, including hand-held devices, microprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. The invention may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a wire-based or wireless network.

With the above embodiments in mind, it should be understood that the present invention may employ a variety of computer-implemented operations involving data stored in a computer system. These operations are those that require physical manipulation of physical quantities. Any of the operations described herein that form part of the present invention are useful machine operations. The invention also relates to an apparatus or device for performing these operations. The apparatus may be specially constructed for the required purpose, or the apparatus may be a general purpose computer selectively activated or configured by a computer program stored in the computer. In particular, various general purpose machines may be used with computer programs written in accordance with the teachings herein, or it may be more convenient to construct a more specialized apparatus to perform the required operations.

The invention may also be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readable medium. A computer readable medium is any data storage device capable of storing data, which can then be read by a computer system. Examples of computer-readable media include hard drives, network attached storage (NAS), ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, magnetic tape, and other optical and non-optical data storage devices. Computer-readable media may include computer-readable tangible media distributed over a network-coupled computer system such that the computer-readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.

Although the method operations have been described in a specific order, other housekeeping operations may be performed between the operations, they may be adjusted to occur at slightly different times, and as long as the processing of the overlay operations is performed in the desired manner. , it should be understood that operations may be distributed in a system that allows for the occurrence of processing operations at various intervals associated with processing.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be apparent that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, this embodiment is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope and equivalents of the appended claims.

Claims (7)

A method for sharing recorded gameplay to a social graph, comprising:
recording a video of the user's gameplay during an active state of the gameplay session;
receiving a command to initiate a shared operation during the active state of the gameplay session;
entering an idle state of the gameplay session in response to receiving the command, and presenting a shared interface while the gameplay session is idle;
processing input received via the sharing interface to determine a user-defined selection of the recorded video;
processing a request via the sharing interface to proceed with sharing the user-defined selection of the recorded video to the user's social graph;
in response to processing the request to proceed with sharing the user-defined selection, resuming the active state of the gameplay session;
wherein recording a video of the user's gameplay comprises storing the video in a buffer during an active state of the gameplay session;
wherein the sharing interface enables the user-defined selection of the recorded video of the user's gameplay, the sharing interface comprising a duration selector for defining a duration of the user-defined selection; ,
sharing the user-defined selection allows access to the user-defined selection through a website;
The method is executed by a processor,
wherein receiving a command to initiate a sharing operation is defined from a button press on a controller device during the active state of the gameplay session. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the sharing interface comprises retrieving and presenting one or more portions of the video from the buffer while idle in the gameplay session. The method of claim 1 , wherein sharing the selection comprises uploading the selection for use on a social networking service that defines the social graph of the user. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein uploading the selection comprises compressing the selection and uploading the compressed selection. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein sharing the selection comprises generating a notification to members of the social graph of the user. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the notification is defined by one or more of a confidential message, a chat message, an in-game notification, posting to a social news feed, or e-mail. The method of claim 1 , wherein sharing the user-defined selection comprises presenting the selection on a profile page of the user.

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