Augmenting video games with add-ons
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.
1. A method, comprising:
executing at a server game logic of a video game to generate video data including one or more rendered video frames, wherein the game logic is executed responsive to a plurality of input commands received over a network from a client device of a player;
sending over the network at least one command from the server to the client device for execution by an add-on program, wherein the execution of the at least one command generates add-on data;
receiving over the network the add-on data at the server from the client device;
overlaying the add-on data at the server to the one or more rendered video frames;
encoding at the server the one or more rendered video frames overlaid with the add-on data to produce an encoded video stream; and
streaming the encoded video stream over the network from the server to the client device.
2. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the add-on data is new video data.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
executing the add-on program to enable communications with another player,
wherein the add-on data is audio data.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining by the game logic that the at least one command is directed to the add-on program, wherein the at least one command is taken from the plurality of input commands; and
wherein the sending over the network includes redirecting the at least one command to the client device for execution by the add-on program.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
establishing an instance of an add-on environment on the game logic; and
creating a file directory for the add-on program in a directory structure of the game logic,
wherein the instance of the add-on environment is configured to redirect the at least one command to the add-on program located at the client device based on the file directory for the add-on program,
wherein the instance of the add-on environment emulates the add-on program at the game logic.
6. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the add-on program includes a set of instructions used to augment functionality of the video game.
7. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the add-on program is another video game.
8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program for executing a method for executing an add-on program, the computer-readable medium comprising:
program instructions for executing at a server game logic of a video game to generate video data including one or more rendered video frames, wherein the game logic is executed responsive to a plurality of input commands received over a network from a client device of a player;
program instructions for sending over the network at least one command from the server to the client device for execution by an add-on program, wherein the execution of the at least one command generates add-on data;
program instructions for receiving over the network the add-on data at the server from the client device;
program instructions for overlaying the add-on data at the server to the one or more rendered video frames;
program instructions for encoding at the server the one or more rendered video frames overlaid with the add-on data to produce an encoded video stream; and
program instructions for streaming the encoded video stream over the network from the server to the client device.
9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 ,
wherein in the method the add-on data is new video data.
10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , further comprising:
program instructions for executing the add-on program to enable communications with another player,
wherein the add-on data is audio data.
11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , further comprising:
program instructions for determining by the game logic that the at least one command is directed to the add-on program, wherein the at least one command is taken from the plurality of input commands; and
wherein the program instructions for sending over the network includes program instructions for redirecting the at least one command to the client device for execution by the add-on program.
12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , further comprising:
program instructions for establishing an instance of an add-on environment on the game logic; and
program instructions for creating a file directory for the add-on program in a directory structure of the game logic,
wherein the instance of the add-on environment is configured to redirect the at least one command to the add-on program located at the client device based on the file directory for the add-on program,
wherein the instance of the add-on environment emulates the add-on program at the game logic.
13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 ,
wherein in the method the add-on program includes a set of instructions used to augment functionality of the video game.
14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 ,
wherein in the method the add-on program is another video game.
15. A computer system comprising:
a processor; and
memory coupled to the processor and having stored therein instructions that, if executed by the computer system, cause the computer system to execute a method for executing an add-on program comprising:
executing at a server game logic of a video game to generate video data including one or more rendered video frames, wherein the game logic is executed responsive to a plurality of input commands received over a network from a client device of a player;
sending over the network at least one command from the server to the client device for execution by an add-on program, wherein the execution of the at least one command generates add-on data;
receiving over the network the add-on data at the server from the client device;
overlaying the add-on data at the server to the one or more rendered video frames;
encoding at the server the one or more rendered video frames overlaid with the add-on data to produce an encoded video stream; and
streaming the encoded video stream over the network from the server to the client device.
16. The computer system of claim 15 ,
wherein in the method the add-on data is new video data.
17. The computer system of claim 15 , the method further includes:
executing the add-on program to enable communications with another player,
wherein the add-on data is audio data.
18. The computer system of claim 15 , wherein the method further includes:
determining by the game logic that the at least one command is directed to the add-on program, wherein the at least one command is taken from the plurality of input commands; and
wherein the sending over the network includes redirecting the at least one command to the client device for execution by the add-on program.
19. The computer system of claim 15 , the method further including:
establishing an instance of an add-on environment on the game logic;
creating a file directory for the add-on program in a directory structure of the game logic,
wherein the instance of the add-on environment is configured to redirect the at least one command to the add-on program located at the client device based on the file directory for the add-on program,
wherein the instance of the add-on environment emulates the add-on program at the game logic.
20. The computer system of claim 15 ,
wherein in the method the add-on program is another video game.