Abstract: A video game client on a client device may, for example, be operated by a broadcasting game player, and the client device may capture video generated by a video game client and transmit (e.g., stream) the video to one or more spectators. The video game client may include a local server component, such as a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) server, which executes locally at the client device. The local server component may be employed to provide statistical information from the video game to a local client component, such as a web interface. The statistical information provided by the local server component may be included in one or more visual display items that are generated by the client device. The visual display items may be included in the video that is captured and transmitted by the client device, thereby potentially providing live streaming statistical information to spectators of the video game.

Abstract: A video game client on a client device may, for example, be operated by a broadcasting game player, and the client device may capture video generated by a video game client and transmit (e.g., stream) the video to one or more spectators. The video game client may include a local server component, such as a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) server, which executes locally at the client device. The local server component may be employed to provide statistical information from the video game to a local client component, such as a web interface. The statistical information provided by the local server component may be included in one or more visual display items that are generated by the client device. The visual display items may be included in the video that is captured and transmitted by the client device, thereby potentially providing live streaming statistical information to spectators of the video game.

Abstract: A game spectating system that leverages game metadata to allow spectators to join or “step into” games being broadcast. Broadcast content may include user interface elements via which spectators can order, purchase, or otherwise obtain demo or full versions of games. Game client software and game data may be obtained and downloaded to the spectator's devices via the spectating system interfaces and broadcast streams. Spectators can order, purchase, or otherwise obtain characters, avatars, and gear for participation in particular games. Using the spectating UI to obtain the game client software, game data, characters, and gear via the broadcast streams, the spectators may join live game sessions of online games, start new game sessions, and/or replay previously recorded game sessions.

Abstract: A video game client on a client device may, for example, be operated by a broadcasting game player, and the client device may capture video generated by a video game client and transmit (e.g., stream) the video to one or more spectators. The video game client may include a local server component, such as a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) server, which executes locally at the client device. The local server component may be employed to provide statistical information from the video game to a local client component, such as a web interface. The statistical information provided by the local server component may be included in one or more visual display items that are generated by the client device. The visual display items may be included in the video that is captured and transmitted by the client device, thereby potentially providing live streaming statistical information to spectators of the video game.

Abstract: A game spectating system that provides interfaces and methods for providing game content to viewers. The spectating system obtains game metadata from game systems for games being broadcast by the spectating system according to the API, and generates broadcast content based at least in part on the game metadata. The broadcast content includes user interface (UI) elements for obtaining virtual or physical objects corresponding to the game content. The broadcast content is provided to spectator devices with the broadcasts. The spectating system receives indications of spectators' interactions with the broadcast content from the spectator devices including interactions requesting the virtual or physical objects, and facilitates provisioning or delivery of the objects to respective spectator devices or spectators.

Abstract: A spectating system that leverages game metadata and/or broadcast metadata to provide rewards to or otherwise acknowledge participants in broadcasts. The system may analyze the metadata to detect events or other information about broadcasts, and may recognize and/or reward participants based at least in part on the analysis. Spectators may be rewarded for participating in broadcasts, or in particular events in broadcasts. Broadcasters may be rewarded for in-game achievements or for achieving levels of audience participation or support. Participants may select or vote on other participants to receive rewards. Rewards may, for example, include acknowledgement of participants via the user interface, virtual items such as in-game virtual gear, physical items such as game-related merchandise, and granting of benefits or privileges by the spectating system and/or game system such as special content for a broadcaster's channel.

Abstract: A spectating system that generates game inputs based on spectating inputs and provides the game inputs to game systems according to an application programming interface (API). The spectating inputs may include spectator participation statistics, text chat inputs, audio inputs, and spectator interactions with a spectating user interface. The game inputs may include random numbers based on the spectating inputs that may be used as entropy sources for games. The game inputs may also include parameter inputs that provide values for parameters in the game based on spectating inputs. The spectators may become involved in the games being broadcast by influencing game play via the spectating inputs. Game play for the players may be enhanced by providing interesting variations in game play based on the spectating inputs.

Abstract: A spectating system that generates game inputs based on spectator inputs and interactions, and provides the game inputs to game systems according to an application programming interface (API). The spectating system may allow spectators to interact with and affect a game being broadcast via inputs to and interactions with user interface (UI) elements presented on the spectating UI. Spectators may affect or influence the game, objects within the game universe, events within the game, or the players in the game via the UI elements on the spectating UI. The spectators may become involved in the games being broadcast by influencing game play via the spectating inputs. Game play for the players may be enhanced by providing interesting variations in game play based on the spectating inputs.

Abstract: Features are described to use data from game play to construct social networks of users. For example determining that a user played a game with a certain player, a certain number of times, can indicate compatibility between the user and the player. The compatibility may suggest the potential for a social network connection between the user and the player. Social network connections could be within the particular game platform, or the connection may be outside the game such as via other social networking platforms. In addition, a type of connection via the service may be identified. For example, some services allow users to follow or friend other users, where each type of connection is associated with different data security features.

Abstract: Features are described to use data from game play to construct social networks of users. For example determining that a user played a game with a certain player, a certain number of times, can indicate compatibility between the user and the player. The compatibility may suggest the potential for a social network connection between the user and the player. Social network connections could be within the particular game platform, or the connection may be outside the game such as via other social networking platforms. In addition, a type of connection via the service may be identified. For example, some services allow users to follow or friend other users, where each type of connection is associated with different data security features.

Abstract: A game spectating system that provides interfaces and methods for providing game content to viewers. The spectating system obtains game metadata from game systems for games being broadcast by the spectating system according to the API, and generates broadcast content based at least in part on the game metadata. The broadcast content includes user interface (UI) elements for obtaining virtual or physical objects corresponding to the game content. The broadcast content is provided to spectator devices with the broadcasts. The spectating system receives indications of spectators' interactions with the broadcast content from the spectator devices including interactions requesting the virtual or physical objects, and facilitates provisioning or delivery of the objects to respective spectator devices or spectators.

Abstract: A spectating system that generates game inputs based on spectator inputs and interactions, and provides the game inputs to game systems according to an application programming interface (API). The spectating system may allow spectators to interact with and affect a game being broadcast via inputs to and interactions with user interface (UI) elements presented on the spectating UI. Spectators may affect or influence the game, objects within the game universe, events within the game, or the players in the game via the UI elements on the spectating UI. The spectators may become involved in the games being broadcast by influencing game play via the spectating inputs. Game play for the players may be enhanced by providing interesting variations in game play based on the spectating inputs.

Abstract: A spectating system that generates game inputs based on spectating inputs and provides the game inputs to game systems according to an application programming interface (API). The spectating inputs may include spectator participation statistics, text chat inputs, audio inputs, and spectator interactions with a spectating user interface. The game inputs may include random numbers based on the spectating inputs that may be used as entropy sources for games. The game inputs may also include parameter inputs that provide values for parameters in the game based on spectating inputs. The spectators may become involved in the games being broadcast by influencing game play via the spectating inputs. Game play for the players may be enhanced by providing interesting variations in game play based on the spectating inputs.

Abstract: A game spectating system that leverages game metadata to allow spectators to join or “step into” games being broadcast. Broadcast content may include user interface elements via which spectators can order, purchase, or otherwise obtain demo or full versions of games. Game client software and game data may be obtained and downloaded to the spectator's devices via the spectating system interfaces and broadcast streams. Spectators can order, purchase, or otherwise obtain characters, avatars, and gear for participation in particular games. Using the spectating UI to obtain the game client software, game data, characters, and gear via the broadcast streams, the spectators may join live game sessions of online games, start new game sessions, and/or replay previously recorded game sessions.

Abstract: A spectating system that leverages game metadata and/or broadcast metadata to provide rewards to or otherwise acknowledge participants in broadcasts. The system may analyze the metadata to detect events or other information about broadcasts, and may recognize and/or reward participants based at least in part on the analysis. Spectators may be rewarded for participating in broadcasts, or in particular events in broadcasts. Broadcasters may be rewarded for in-game achievements or for achieving levels of audience participation or support. Participants may select or vote on other participants to receive rewards. Rewards may, for example, include acknowledgement of participants via the user interface, virtual items such as in-game virtual gear, physical items such as game-related merchandise, and granting of benefits or privileges by the spectating system and/or game system such as special content for a broadcaster's channel.

Abstract: A spectating system that exposes an application programming interface (API) to game systems. The spectating system obtains game metadata from the game systems for games being broadcast by the spectating system according to the API, and generates content for the broadcasts based at least in part on the game metadata. The broadcast content is provided to spectator devices with the broadcasts. The spectating system receives indications of spectators' interactions with the broadcast content from the spectator devices, and provides indications of the interactions to the game systems according to the API.