Abstract:
Methods for playing a video game executed by a game cloud system are provided. One method includes generating a user interface for displaying game interactivity for playing the video game. The user interface includes controls for selecting a mode of play that includes a shadow mode. The method further includes detecting game play of the video game by a current user and identifying one or more previous plays of the video game by other users. After one of the other users is selected to be used in the shadow mode, for a set period of time, the shadow mode is enabled for the selected other user such that an image of the object controlled by the other user along a game sequence that is to be played by the current user of the video game is displayed.
Abstract:
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium stores one or more computer programs adapted to cause a processor based system to execute steps that include analyzing an image, identifying one or more faces in the image using a face recognition technique, designating at least one of the identified faces collectively as a first area of interest, and determining whether an insertion area exists in the image where additional content can be inserted without obstructing the first area of interest. Another computer program is adapted to cause a processor based system to execute steps that include determining whether the insertion area can be divided into two or more regions based on color. Methods and processor based apparatuses that perform one or more of these steps are also disclosed.
Abstract:
A video server is configured to provide streaming video to players of computer games over a computing network. The video server can provided video of different games to different players simultaneously. This is accomplished by rendering several video streams in parallel using a single GPU. The output of the GPU is provided to graphics processing pipelines that are each associated with a specific client/player and are dynamically allocated as needed. A client qualifier may be used to assure that only clients capable of presenting the streaming video to a player at a minimum level of quality receive the video stream.
Abstract:
Various metrics as may be deployed in an active, passive, or hybrid validation architecture are disclosed. A computing device configured to monitor network game activity may identify an inconsistency between user game data and a particular game metric governing a particular aspect of the network gaming environment. Upon identification of an inconsistency between game data and a game metric, which may indicative of illicit game play, a validation process (e.g., active, passive, and/or hybrid) may be implemented to further confirm the existence of illicit game. Alternatively, an action to maintain integrity of the gaming community may be executed without further confirmation whereby a purportedly illicit game device may be ejected from the network.
Abstract:
A method for use with content includes analyzing a sequence of frames of the content, determining whether an area exists in a scene depicted by the sequence of frames where additional content such as advertising can be inserted without obstructing activity in the scene, for any such area, determining an amount of time that the area is available when the sequence of frames is being played, and for any such area, determining a size of the area. A storage medium storing a computer program for causing a processor based system to execute these steps and an apparatus for use with content are also disclosed.
Abstract:
Dynamically replaceable assets are inserted in program content and may be used for the insertion of cinematic stage props therein. Such assets can be used for advertising purposes in that images of different products and services can be inserted therein and are changeable via a network. Such assets may be created by identifying locations in the content where the assets can be inserted, establishing the assets in the identified locations, and determining location and visual effects information for each asset. Replacement images, such as images of products, may be obtained via a network. The visual appearance of each replacement image may be modified using visual effects information so the inserted objects appear natural as if they were part of the original scene.
Abstract:
Pixel depth values of a user-controlled virtual object in a three-dimensional scene may be re-scaled to avoid artifacts when the scene is displayed. Minimum and maximum threshold values can be determined for the three-dimensional scene from a target derived from pixel depth data for the three-dimensional scene. Each pixel depth value of the user-controlled virtual object can be compared to the minimum threshold value and the maximum threshold value. A depth value of each pixel of the user-controlled virtual object that falls below the minimum threshold value can be set to a corresponding low value. Each pixel depth value of the user-controlled virtual object that exceeds the maximum threshold value can be set to a corresponding high value.
Abstract:
Systems, apparatus and methods for interacting with a virtual world being displayed on a video display are described. The virtual world includes user selectable tagged images. The tagged images are related to an asset and can include a redemption feature that can be used when acquiring the asset. A user interacting with a game console can select the tagged images. Upon selection of the tagged image the game console can communicate information related to the tagged image, the related asset and/or the redemption feature to a mobile device. The tagged images can also be associated with distribution rules that can be evaluated to determine when and to whom to distribute digital coupons associated with the tagged images.
Abstract:
Methods for tagging content in a video game title during game play executed on a game cloud system, and social sharing methods. One method includes receiving a pause indication during the game play and suspending the game play to hold the video game title in a current frame image, storing the game state, and receiving the tag data that is associated to a location in the current frame image and to a user identifier for the current frame image. The method further includes generating a video recording of the game play having the tag data and generating a mini-game from a portion of the video game title. The mini-game includes a playable portion to enable view of a portion of the video recording for the mini-game and an executable portion to enable the play of game code for the mini-game that is a portion of the video game title.
Abstract:
Graphics processing includes setting up a plurality of objects in a scene in virtual space, each object being defined by a set of vertices. A unique object identifier is assigned to each object and written to an ID buffer. Draw calls are issued to draw the objects associated with the object identifiers. Parameter values of the vertices are manipulated to output vertex parameter values. Primitives are set up from the vertices, each primitive being defined by one or more of the vertices. Each primitive belongs to one or more of the objects. Each primitive is rasterized at a plurality of pixels. Processing the pixels includes spatial or temporal anti-aliasing that utilizes the one or more object identifiers of the plurality of object identifiers. The pixels are processed for each rasterized primitive to generate an output frame.