1. A computer implemented method for implementing an application programming interface (API) for allowing a video gaming system including an avatar renderer to render an avatar to a destination provided by a video game application executing on the video gaming system, the method comprising: informing the video game application that the avatar renderer is enabled; receiving an indication of whether the video game application is using a left-handed or right-handed coordinate system; informing the video game application of an amount of memory to be allocated for the avatar renderer and the avatar's metadata; communicating metadata for one or more player profiles; and indicating whether a shadow map should be allocated for the avatar.