Electronic gaming system and method for providing puzzle game using video feed

1. A games system comprising:

a control device arranged to be operable by a user;

a network interface for receiving data via a packet-based communication network, wherein the packet-based communication system is configured to provide voice over internet protocol (VoIP) two-way communication between the user and a remote user; and

a processing apparatus arranged to execute a game application and a communication client;

wherein the communication client is programmed to establish video communication via the network interface and packet-based communication network, receive video data from the remote user and decode the video data to produce a live video image;

wherein the game application is arranged to divide the live video image into segments, re-order the segments to produce a shuffled live video image and output the shuffled live video image for display on a display on a display unit, the segments of the live video image being continuously updated in real time while the video communication is ongoing between the user and the remote user and a live video stream being continuously received from the remote user; and

wherein the game application is further arranged to receive control information from the control device and cause a further re-ordering of the segments responsive thereto during the video communication.

2. A games system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the segments tessellate with at least one respective adjacent segment.

3. A games system according to claim 1 , wherein the game application is arranged to cause a selected segment to be moved on the display unit in response to commands from the user received in the control information.

4. A games system according to claim 1 , wherein the game application is arranged to notify the user when the further re-ordering of the segments results in the live video image being restored to its state prior to being shuffled.

5. A games system according to claim 1 , wherein the game application is arranged start a timer upon the re-ordering of the live video image and notify the user when the timer has expired.

6. A games system according to claim 5 , wherein the game application is arranged to stop the timer when the further re-ordering of the segments results in the live video image being restored to its state prior to being shuffled.

7. A games system according to claim 1 , wherein the video communications is bi-directional.

8. A games system according to claim 7 , further comprising a video camera, and wherein the communication client is arranged to receive video data from the video camera and transmit the video data to the remote user via the packet-based communication network.

9. A games system according to claim 1 , wherein the display unit is a television set.

10. A games system according to claim 1 , wherein the communication client is arranged to establish the video communication via a peer-to-peer connection in the packet-based communication network.

11. A game system according to claim 1 , wherein the packet-based communication network is the Internet.

12. A method of manipulating video images, comprising:

executing a game application and a communication client on a processing apparatus;

the communication client establishing video communication via a network interface and packet-based communication network, such that the communication client receives video data from a remote user and decodes the video data to produce a live video image, wherein the packet-based communication system is configured to provide voice over internet protocol (VoIP) two-way communication between the user and the remote user;

the game application dividing the live video image into segments, re-ordering the segments to produce a shuffled live video image and outputting the shuffled live video image for display on a display unit, the segments of the live video image being continuously updated in real time while the video communication is ongoing between the user and the remote user and a live video stream being continuously received from the remote user; and

receiving control information at the game application from a control device operable by a user and further re-ordering the segments responsive thereto during the video communication.

13. A method according to claim 12 , wherein each of the segments tessellate with at least one respective adjacent segment.

14. A method according to claim 12 , wherein the step of further re-ordering the segments comprises moving a selected segment on the display unit in response to commands from the user received in the control information.

15. A method according to claim 12 , further comprising the step of the game application notifying the user when the further re-ordering of the segments results in the live video image being restored to its state prior to being shuffled.

16. A method according to claim 12 , further comprising the steps of starting a timer upon the re-ordering of the live video image and notifying the user when the timer has expired.

17. A method according to claim 16 , further comprising the step of stopping the timer when the further re-ordering of the segments results in the live video image being restored to its state prior to being shuffled.

18. A method according to claim 12 , wherein the video communications is bi-directional.

19. A method according to claim 18 , further comprising the steps of the communication client receiving video data from a video camera and transmitting the video data to the remote user via the packet-based communication network.

20. A method according to claim 12 , wherein the step of establishing video communication comprises establishing the video communication via a peer-to-peer connection in the packet-based communication network.

21. A non-transitory computer program product comprising program code means which, when executed by a computer implement the steps of:

executing a game application and a communication client on a processing apparatus;

the communication client establishing video communication via a network interface and packet-based communication network, such that the communication client receives video data from a remote user and decodes the video data to produce a live video image, wherein the packet-based communication system is configured to provide voice over internet protocol (VoIP) two-way communication between the user and the remote user;

the game application dividing the live video image into segments, re-ordering the segments to produce a shuffled live video image and outputting the shuffled live video image for display on a display unit, the segments of the live video image being continuously updated in real time while the video communication is ongoing between the user and the remote user and a live video stream being continuously received from the remote user; and

receiving control information at the game application from a control device operable by a user and further re-ordering the segments responsive thereto during the video communication.