A distributed electronic entertainment method and apparatus are described.
In one embodiment, a central management resource is coupled to multiple
out-of-home venues through a wide area network (WAN). The central
management resource stores content and performs management, monitoring
and entertainment content delivery functions. At each venue at least one
entertainment unit is coupled to the WAN. Multiple entertainment units in
a venue are coupled to each other through a local area network (LAN). In
one embodiment, an entertainment unit includes a user interface that
comprises at least one graphical user interface (GUI). The entertainment
unit further comprises a local memory device that stores entertainment
content comprising music, a peripheral interface, and a user input
device. A plurality of peripheral devices are coupled to the at least one
entertainment unit via the peripheral interface, wherein a user, through
the user input device and the user interface, performs at least one
activity from a group comprising, playing music, playing electronic
games, viewing television content, and browsing the Internet.