Abstract: Systems and methods for image retargeting are provided. Image data may be acquired that includes motion capture data indicative of motion of a plurality of markers disposed on a surface of a first subject. Each of the markers may be associated with a respective location on the first subject. A plurality of blendshapes may be calculated for the motion capture data based on a configuration of the markers. An error function may be identified for the plurality of blendshapes, and it may be determined that the plurality of blendshapes can be used to retarget a second subject based on the error function. The plurality of blendshapes may then be applied to a second subject to generate a new animation.

Abstract: A system and method for capturing and sharing console gaming data is described. Embodiments capture gameplay data directly at the gaming console, without the need for external hardware. This allows users to easily capture rich console gaming experiences and share them across a variety of outlets. In one embodiment, the methods described herein can be implemented with a patch or driver on the operating system of the user device, rendering it unnecessary to heavily modify the source code of the game.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method assigns one or more trophies to a user. A game is emulated in response to a request from a client device. A trophy trigger is detected during emulation of the game by comparing a memory value of the emulated game to a predetermined value and assigning the one or more trophies to the user based on the detected trophy trigger.

Abstract: Systems and methods for image retargeting are provided. Image data may be acquired that includes motion capture data indicative of motion of a plurality of markers disposed on a surface of a first subject. Each of the markers may be associated with a respective location on the first subject. A plurality of blendshapes may be calculated for the motion capture data based on a configuration of the markers. An error function may be identified for the plurality of blendshapes, and it may be determined that the plurality of blendshapes can be used to retarget a second subject based on the error function. The plurality of blendshapes may then be applied to a second subject to generate a new animation.

Abstract: Shadow banning a participant within a social VR system includes: receiving and forwarding an identity of the participant, who may be shadow banned; recognizing and tracking inappropriate behaviors including inappropriate language and comments, inappropriate gestures, and inappropriate movements; receiving and processing the recognized and tracked inappropriate behaviors of the participant; generating a safety rating based on the processed inappropriate behaviors; comparing the safety rating to a threshold value; and outputting a signal to label the participant as a griefer and shadow ban the griefer when the safety rating is greater than the threshold value.

Abstract: A virtual reality network provides access to a number of virtual reality representations, each virtual reality representation representing a location in a virtual universe and defined by VR data stored on the network. The VR data can be in a simplified data format and include data from an intelligent personal assistant and knowledge navigator (IPAKN). The IPAKN receives queries about a VR representation of a location and generate a new VR data set based on information downloaded from web sources about the location. A database server that provides access to the VR data is updated with the new VR data set.

Abstract: A computing system is configured to execute a computer program on a server and to provide a video stream of the program output to a geographically remote client over a communication network. An add-on manager is provided to facilitate the use of add-ons to extend the functionality of the computer program. The add-on manager is responsive to commands received from the client and is configured to associate individual add-ons and add-on data with specific user accounts. The add-ons can be located on the server or some other location remote from the client.

Abstract: Systems and methods for image retargeting are provided. Image data may be acquired that includes motion capture data indicative of motion of a plurality of markers disposed on a surface of a first subject. Each of the markers may be associated with a respective location on the first subject. A plurality of blendshapes may be calculated for the motion capture data based on a configuration of the markers. An error function may be identified for the plurality of blendshapes, and it may be determined that the plurality of blendshapes can be used to retarget a second subject based on the error function. The plurality of blendshapes may then be applied to a second subject to generate a new animation.

Abstract: A method and system that dynamically partitions a 3-D model into multiple regions. The method determines the vertices to be included in each region according to values assigned to an appropriate color channel for each vertex. After partitioning the 3-D model into different regions, the method allows a user to assign different weights to each region to specify a contribution by a driving shape for deforming that region. Dynamic partitioning may be used on multiple color channels to partition the three dimensional model into more than two regions.

Abstract: Methods and systems for predicting instant play includes pre-loading one or more instances of select ones of games on one or more game consoles on a cloud game server. The loading of instances is based on usage history of the games. Users are assigned to select ones of the instances of the games loaded on the one or more game consoles, in response to user interaction detected at the select ones of the games exceeding a pre-defined threshold value. User interactions are monitored at the instances of the select ones of games assigned to the users. Based on the monitored interactions, the number of instances of the games loaded on the one or more game consoles are dynamically adjusted. The dynamic adjustment includes scaling up or scaling down the number of instances of the games loaded on the one or more game consoles.

Abstract: A method is provided, including the following method operations: rendering, by a client device, game title icons in a gaming platform interface to a display device, the game title icons identifying video games that are accessible through the gaming platform interface using the client device; receiving, by the client device, user selection data indicating selection of a game title icon and identifying a corresponding video game for exploration of related Internet content; generating a search query based on the identified video game, transmitting the search query over the network to a search engine, and receiving results of the search query over the network from the search engine, the results identifying Internet content items related to the video game; generating preview images of at least some of the Internet content items; rendering the preview images in association with the identified video game via the gaming platform interface.

Abstract: A method is provided, including: recording gameplay metadata generated from execution of a first session of a video game, the execution of the first session being driven by interactive gameplay of the video game by a first user using a first head-mounted display (HMD), wherein the execution of the first session renders a first view of a virtual environment from a first location determined by the interactive gameplay, and based on tracked movement of the first HMD; transmitting the gameplay metadata to a client device; tracking movement of a second HMD; executing, by the client device, a second session of the video game using the gameplay metadata to recreate gameplay events, wherein the execution of the second session renders a second view of the virtual environment from a second location that is determined based on the first location, and based on the tracked movement of the second HMD.

Abstract: The system is directed towards an interactive events platform. The interactive events platform may discover current in-game events associated with different video games currently available (or active). The platform may further notify a user of the discovered in-game events associated with different video games and facilitate the user joining a particular in-game event. The interactive events platform may also discover and notify the user of future in-game events associated with different video games. In some embodiments, the discovery and notification of any in-game events are based on games currently being played (or registered) with the user.

Abstract: A system and method for entering text within a video game application are described.

Abstract: A communication device communicates with an originating device during an originating session and receives originating data from the originating device over a wireless communication link and then communicates with a receiving device during a receiving session and sends the originating data to the receiving device over a wireless communication link, such that the originating session and the receiving session occur at different times, and at least one of the sessions is an ad hoc communication session.

Abstract: A system and method for capturing and sharing console gaming data is described. Embodiments capture gameplay data directly at the gaming console, without the need for external hardware. This allows users to easily capture rich console gaming experiences and share them across a variety of outlets. In one embodiment, the methods described herein can be implemented with a patch or driver on the operating system of the user device, rendering it unnecessary to heavily modify the source code of the game.

Abstract: A method for editing. The method includes receiving a sequence of interactive VR scenes of digital content, each interactive VR scene showing a 3D gaming environment. The method includes placing the sequence of interactive VR scenes within a 3D editing space. The method includes sending a view of the 3D editing space including at least one of the sequence of interactive VR scenes to an HMD for viewing by the user. The method includes receiving at least one input editing command from a device of the user. The method includes modifying the sequence of interactive VR scenes in response to the input editing command, wherein the at least one editing command is provided through an input enabled while wearing the HMD and viewing the 3D editing space via the HMD so as to provide real-time views showing modifications made to the sequence of interactive VR scenes.

Abstract: Methods for creating an interactive gaming environment are provided. In various embodiments, methods of the present invention may include initializing an interactive game application at a game server which is then characterized as having an active status, notifying a lobby server concerning the active status of the game server, registering the application with a universe management server via the lobby server, and allowing users to join the interactive gaming environment. The users joining the interactive gaming environment may be identified by a server key obtained from the game server.

Abstract: Methods for creating an interactive gaming environment are provided. In various embodiments, methods of the present invention may include initializing an interactive game application at a game server which is then characterized as having an active status, notifying a lobby server concerning the active status of the game server, registering the application with a universe management server via the lobby server, and allowing users to join the interactive gaming environment. The users joining the interactive gaming environment may be identified by a server key obtained from the game server.

Abstract: Methods for creating an interactive gaming environment are provided. In various embodiments, methods of the present invention may include initializing an interactive game application at a game server which is then characterized as having an active status, notifying a lobby server concerning the active status of the game server, registering the application with a universe management server via the lobby server, and allowing users to join the interactive gaming environment. The users joining the interactive gaming environment. may be identified by a server key obtained from the game server.