Video recording and playback systems and methods
Methods and apparatus provide for: recording a sequence of video images output by a videogame, recording a sequence of depth buffer values for a depth buffer used by the videogame, recording a sequence of in-game virtual camera positions used to generate the video images, recording one or more in-game events and their respective in-game positions, associating the depth buffer value sequence, the in-game virtual camera position sequence, and an identifier for the videogame, with the video image sequence, and associating the one or more in-game events and their respective in-game positions with the identifier for the videogame. Methods an apparatus also provide for: obtaining a video recording of a videogame playing session, comprising a sequence of video images, obtaining a depth buffer value sequence, an in-game virtual camera position sequence, and an identifier for the videogame that are associated with the video recording, obtaining data indicative of a statistically significant in-game event and an in-game event position, calculating a position within the current video image corresponding to the in-game event position, in dependence upon the associated in-game virtual camera position and depth buffer values, and augmenting the current video image with a graphical representation of the statistically significant in-game event, responsive to the calculated position.
1. A video recording method, comprising the steps of:
recording a sequence of video images output by a videogame;
recording a sequence of depth buffer values for a depth buffer used by the videogame;
recording a sequence of in-game virtual camera positions used to generate the video images;
recording one or more in-game events and their respective in-game positions;
associating the depth buffer value sequence, the in-game virtual camera position sequence, and an identifier for the videogame, with the video image sequence; and
associating the one or more in-game events and their respective in-game positions with the identifier for the videogame.
2. A video recording method in accordance with claim 1 , in which
the step of recording a sequence of depth buffer values comprises, for each instance of the depth buffer recorded:
generating a depth image using at least one of a plurality of image data channels; and
the step of recording a sequence of in-game virtual camera positions comprises, for each camera position recorded:
encoding the in-game virtual camera position in a different one of a plurality of image data channels not being used to record depth buffer values.
3. A video recording method in accordance with claim 2 , in which
the step of recording a sequence of depth buffer values comprises, for each instance of the depth buffer recorded:
generating a 16 bit depth image using two image data channels; and
the step of recording a sequence of in-game virtual camera positions comprises, for each camera position recorded:
spatially encoding the in-game virtual camera position data as high contrast blocks in the respective image data channel.
4. A video recording method in accordance with claim 2 , comprising the steps of:
recording a sequence of in-game player positions, using the same co-ordinate system; and
for each in-game player position recorded:
spatially encoding the in-game virtual player position data as high contrast blocks in a different one of a plurality of image data channels not being used to record depth buffer values.
5. A video recording apparatus, comprising:
a recording processor adapted to record a sequence of video image output by a videogame to a video storage means;
the recording processor being adapted to record a sequence of depth buffer values for a depth buffer used by the videogame;
the recording processor being adapted to record a sequence of in-game virtual camera positions used to generate the video images; and
the recording processor being adapted to record one or more in-game events and their respective in-game positions;
an association processor adapted to associate the depth buffer value sequence, the in-game virtual camera position sequence, and an identifier for the videogame, with the video image sequence; and
the association processor being adapted to associate the one or more in-game events and their respective in-game positions with the identifier for the videogame.