Synchronization model for virtual tournaments

A system, comprising:

• at least one data processor;
• and
• a memory storing instructions, which, when executed by the at least one data processor, causes the at least one data processor to perform operations comprising:
• receiving, by a tournament server, data characterizing a first client and a second client enrolled in a tournament of an asynchronous online video game, the data received by a tournament server hosting the tournament;
• transmitting, by the tournament server, an instruction to the first client and the second client, the instruction causing synchronous initiation of the asynchronous online video game including a first game instance executing on the first client and a second game instance executing on the second client, wherein the first game instance and the second game instance have different game states and execute using a game server, and wherein the game server, the first game instance, and the second game instance lack a mechanism for initiating gameplay synchronously;
• receiving, from the tournament server and at a media management server, a first video stream and a second video stream, the first video stream and the second video stream synchronized in response to the transmission of the instruction, the first video stream comprising captured video of gameplay of the first game instance, and the second video stream comprising captured video of gameplay of the second game instance;
• identifying, by the media management server, a first highlight video segment from the first video stream and a second highlight video segment from the second video stream;
• assembling, by the media management server, a suggested broadcast video stream for a commentator client, the suggested broadcast video stream comprising at least the first highlight video segment and the second highlight video segment;
• transmitting, by the media management server, the suggested broadcast video stream to the commentator client;
• selecting, by an interface at the commentator client, one or more key video segments comprising at least a portion of the suggested broadcast video stream;
• and
• streaming, by the media management server, the one or more key video segments as a broadcast video stream to a viewing client.

A non-transitory computer program product storing instructions, which, when executed by at least one data processor forming part of at least one computing system, implement operations comprising:

• receiving, by a tournament server, data characterizing a first client and a second client enrolled in a tournament of an asynchronous online video game, the data received by a tournament server hosting the tournament;
• transmitting, by the tournament server, an instruction to the first client and the second client, the instruction causing synchronous initiation of the asynchronous online video game including a first game instance executing on the first client and a second game instance executing on the second client, wherein the first game instance and the second game instance have different game states and execute using a game server, and wherein the game server, the first game instance, and the second game instance lack a mechanism for initiating gameplay synchronously;
• receiving, from the tournament server and at a media management server, a first video stream and a second video stream, the first video stream and the second video stream synchronized in response to the transmission of the instruction, the first video stream comprising captured video of gameplay of the first game instance, and the second video stream comprising captured video of gameplay of the second game instance;
• identifying, by the media management server, a first highlight video segment from the first video stream and a second highlight video segment from the second video stream;
• assembling, by the media management server, a suggested broadcast video stream for a commentator client, the suggested broadcast video stream comprising at least the first highlight video segment and the second highlight video segment;
• transmitting, by the media management server, the suggested broadcast video stream to the commentator client;
• selecting, by an interface at the commentator client, one or more key video segments comprising at least a portion of the suggested broadcast video stream;
• and
• streaming, by the media management server, the one or more key video segments as a broadcast video stream to a viewing client.