Video recording and playback systems and methods

A video playback apparatus, comprising:

• a playback processor adapted to obtain a video recording of a videogame playing session, comprising a sequence of video images;
• the playback processor being adapted to obtain 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;
• an analysis processor adapted to provide an in-game virtual camera position to an event analyser;
• the analysis processor being adapted to obtain data indicative of a statistically significant in-game event and an in-game event position;
• a position calculation processor adapted to calculate 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
• an augmentation processor adapted to augment the current video image with a graphical representation of the statistically significant in-game event, responsive to the calculated position.

A system, comprising:

• the video playback apparatus;
• and
• an event analyser,
• the video playback apparatus comprising:
• a playback processor adapted to obtain a video recording of a videogame playing session, comprising a sequence of video images;
• the playback processor being adapted to obtain 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;
• an analysis processor adapted to provide an in-game virtual camera position to an event analyser;
• the analysis processor being adapted to obtain data indicative of a statistically significant in-game event and an in-game event position;
• a position calculation processor adapted to calculate 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
• an augmentation processor adapted to augment the current video image with a graphical representation of the statistically significant in-game event, responsive to the calculated position
• the event analyser comprising:
• a receiver adapted to respectively receive, from a plurality of video recording apparatuses, a videogame identifier and one or more associated in-game events and their respective in-game positions,
• an analysis processor adapted to perform an analysis on one or more aspects of the in-game events associated with a videogame identifier, and their respective in-game positions, to identify statistically significant in-game events;
• the receiver being adapted to subsequently receive, from a video playback apparatus, a videogame identifier and at least one of an in-game virtual camera position and an in-game player position;
• a selection processor adapted to select one or more identified statistically significant in-game events associated with the received videogame identifier and having an in-game position within a predetermined distance of at least one received position;
• and
• a transmitter adapted to transmit data indicative of the in-game event and its in-game position to the video playback device.