Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring and controlling remote interactive systems includes a client, a client computer, and a client server for a computer network. A bidirectional data stream of information about a remote interactive instrument/game is provided on the server. A communication socket, creating a connection-oriented communication path between the client computer and the server is provided for enabling transfer of the bidirectional data stream between the client computer and the server. A detachable header is provided on the server which describes and identifies the data stream, separate and apart from the bidirectional data stream, and provides access to the bidirectional data stream by the client.