Patent ID: 7811174

Claim:
A method, comprising: retrieving, by a game console, a list of recently used nicknames from a storage device in a game controller, at least one nickname being associated with multiple different game applications; displaying, responsive to a signal from the game console, the list of recently used nicknames retrieved from the storage device in the game controller by displaying first in the list any nicknames used with a current game application and then displaying next in the list any nicknames used with other game applications; receiving, by the game console, a selected nickname that is selected from the list of recently used nicknames; retrieving, by the game console, authentication data from the storage device in the game controller, the authentication data being associated with the selected nickname and a user; communicating the authentication data to a key distribution center to authenticate an identity of the user to join the game console with a network gaming environment; and executing, by the game console, a game application associated with the selected nickname when the identity of the user is authenticated.