System and method for combining multiple game or application views into a single media stream

A method comprising:

• executing a plurality of application/video game instances for a particular multi-player video game or application on a hosting service, the application/video game instances being executed in response to control signals received from a plurality of clients;
• combining video streams generated by each of the application/video game instances into a single video stream for a first one of the clients;
• and
• compressing the single video stream with low latency such that the user of the first one of the clients has the perception that the video game or application is being executed locally.

A system comprising:

• application/video game execution means comprising a plurality of application/video game instances executed for a particular multi-player video game or application on a hosting service, the application/video game instances being executed in response to control signals received from a plurality of clients;
• compositing means executed at the hosting service to combine video streams generated by each of the application/video game instances into a single video stream for a first one of the clients;
• and
• compression means to compress the single video stream with low latency such that the user of the first one of the clients has the perception that the video game or application is being executed locally.