| 摘要 |
An entertainment device comprises a display generator arranged to generate for display a representation of an on-line virtual environment corresponding to a first instance of a plurality of substantially similar on-line virtual environments and to generate for display within the representation of the on-line virtual environment an avatar controlled by the user of the entertainment device and one or more software-controlled avatars; a data communications arrangement operable to transmit an alert signal in response to a predetermined action of the user of the entertainment device within the first instance of the on-line virtual environment, said signal serving to request interaction with a human operator, the data communications arrangement being further operable to receive a notification signal; the display generator being arranged to respond to the notification signal by changing the mode of a software controlled avatar to represent an additional user of another entertainment device in data communication with the entertainment device, wherein the additional user is an operator whose entertainment device has been switched to the same first instance of the on-line virtual environment as that of the entertainment device in response to the transmitted alert signal; and the data communications arrangement being arranged to exchange information between the user of the entertainment device and the operator within the same first instance of the on-line virtual environment via their respective avatars. |
