Virtual playbook with user controls

A media server system, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• at least one network interface;
• and
• memory storing computer program code configured to cause the at least one processor to perform the steps of:
• posting a link to initiate streaming of real-time live gameplay of a video game that is being played by at least one game player on at least one game player device;
• enabling selection of the link by a plurality of spectators on a plurality of spectator computers;
• receiving in real time by the at least one network interface via a first network connection a video game stream of the real-time live gameplay of the video game as the at least one game player is playing the video game, wherein the video game stream is of a first field of view displayed to the at least one game player during the real-time live gameplay;
• streaming in real time by the at least one network interface the video game stream of the real-time live gameplay of the video game via a second network connection to one or more commentator computer systems as the video game stream is being received by the media server system;
• receiving in real time by the at least one network interface a selection of a second field of view of the real-time live gameplay of the video game that is different than the first field of view and contemporaneous comment selection associated with the real-time live gameplay of the video game from at least one of the one or more commentator computer systems as at least one commentator is generating the contemporaneous comments on the at least one of the one or more commentator computer systems, wherein the second field of view can be from any angle or field of view within the video game, wherein the comment selection is a predetermined comment that is selected and placed onto a specific position within the second field of view of the game, wherein the comment selection is configured to be displayed in the specific position for a predetermined period of time on a spectator computer;
• generating in real time the video game stream from the second field of view for display using game code of the video game;
• generating a composite stream of at least a portion of the video game stream from the second field of view and the contemporaneous comment selection associated with the real-time live gameplay of the video game;
• receiving at a particular moment in time by the at least one network interface a selection of the link from a particular spectator computer of the plurality of spectator computers;
• and
• in response to receiving the selection of the link from the particular spectator computer, initiating over a third network connection to the particular spectator computer of the plurality of spectator computers a real-time streaming of the composite stream being generated at substantially the particular moment in time and thereafter.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing program code for causing a computer to perform the steps of:

• posting, by a media server system, a link to initiate streaming of real-time live gameplay of a video game that is being played by at least one game player on at least one game player device;
• enabling selection of the link by a plurality of spectators on a plurality of spectator computers coupled to the media server system;
• receiving in real time by the media server system via a first network connection a video game stream of the real-time live gameplay of the video game as the at least one game player is playing the video game, wherein the video game stream is of a first field of view displayed to the at least one game player during the real-time live gameplay;
• streaming in real time by the media server system the video game stream of the real-time live gameplay of the video game via a second network connection to one or more commentator computer systems as the video game stream is being received by the media server system;
• receiving in real time by the media server system a selection of a second field of view of the real-time live gameplay of the video game that is different than the first field of view and contemporaneous comment selection associated with the real-time live gameplay of the video game from at least one of the one or more commentator computer systems as at least one commentator is generating the contemporaneous comments on the at least one of the one or more commentator computer systems, wherein the second field of view can be from any angle or field of view within the video game, wherein the comment selection is a predetermined comment that is selected and placed onto a specific position within the second field of view of the game, wherein the comment selection is configured to be displayed in the specific position for a predetermined period of time on a spectator computer;
• generating in real time the video game stream from the second field of view for display using game code of the video game;
• generating by the media server system a composite stream of at least a portion of the video game stream from the second field of view and at least some of the contemporaneous comment selection associated with the real-time live gameplay of the video game;
• receiving at a particular moment in time by the media server system a selection of the link from a particular spectator computer of the plurality of spectator computers;
• and
• in response to receiving the selection of the link from the particular spectator computer, initiating over a third network connection to the particular spectator computer of the plurality of spectator computers a real-time streaming of the composite stream being generated by the media server system at substantially the particular moment in time and thereafter.