Abstract: Various embodiments are directed towards employing one or more physical sensors arranged on or in proximity to a video game player to obtain biofeedback measures that are then useable to dynamically modify a state of play of a video game. The sensors may be connected or even un-connected to the game player, replace, or otherwise augment traditional physical game controllers. The sensors gather various biofeedback measures and provide such measures to a biofeedback application programming interface (API). Before and/or during video game play, the video game queries the biofeedback API to request inferences about the game player's state of arousal. The response to the query is then used to modify the state of the video game play. Where the video game is a multi-player video game, biofeedback measures from other game players may also be obtained and used to further modify the state of the video game play.

Abstract: An online gaming system for adjusting game content presented to users in an online game. The system may adjust content based on mood profiles determined for the individual users. The system may comprise one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules. The system may include a game module configured to execute an instance of an online game and to implement the instance of the online game to facilitate participation of users in the online game. The system may include a biometrics module configured to obtain biometric characteristic information from user client computing platforms. The system may include a mood module configured to determine mood profiles for the users based on the biometric characteristic information. The system may include a content adjustment module configured to identify and effectuation presentation of content in the online game based on the mood profiles.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are provided to arbitrate network bandwidth that is shared between multiple video players executing concurrently on one or more client platforms that each have at least one video data stream supplied over a data network. An amount of bandwidth available from the data network is determined. An arbitration module calculates whether the selected video players can sustain a video playback quality above a pre-defined threshold using the determined amount of bandwidth available, and a modify playback message is sent to at least one video player when the video playback quality is not sustainable. Various implementations could prioritize bandwidth based upon the content presented so that high-bandwidth scenes (e.g., action sequences) receive more bandwidth than more static scenes.

Abstract: A method of automatically generating a calibration file for a card handling device comprises automatically generating a calibration file stored in memory of a main control system for a card handling device. Automatically generating the calibration file comprises identifying at least one parameter associated with a rank area around a rank of at least a portion of the card, identifying at least one parameter associated with a suit area around a suit of the at least a portion of the card, and storing the at least one parameter associated with the rank area and the at least one parameter associated with the suit area in the calibration file. Additionally, a method of automatically generating deck libraries for one or more decks of cards comprises automatically generating a plurality of master images for the cards of the first deck type using the parameters from the calibration file.

Abstract: Golf performance and equipment characteristics may be determined by analyzing the impact between a golf ball and an impacting surface. In some examples, the impacting surface may be a golf club face. The impact between the golf ball and the surface may be measured based on sound and/or motion sensors (e.g., gyroscopes, accelerometers, etc.). Based on motion and/or sound data, various equipment-related information including golf ball compression, club head speed and impact location may be derived. Such information and/or other types of data may be conveyed to a user to help improve performance, aid in selecting golf equipment and/or to insure quality of golfing products.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for an automatic user or friend recommendation system that matches players that have compatible play styles, play schedules, or the like. Behavioral data is collected or entered from players, and a profile of each player is created and compared to calculate a compatibility score. If the compatibility score exceeds a predetermined threshold, then the players are marked as compatible, or a degree of compatibility may be calculated and displayed as well. Users can edit their profile, e.g., on a web application or in-game. Users may also interact with optional and incremental demographic survey questions as they log in. A notification of compatible players may be provided via the web application or via an in-game indication. For example, a glow may appear around a compatible player, or compatible players may be displayed in a list, such as an instant messaging client.

Abstract: A system and method for providing secondary gaming for fantasy sports to provide more interactive, robust and comprehensive fantasy sports gaming. A secondary game involves one or more fantasy sports players, one or more statistics to measure fantasy performance of the players, one or more time period in which to evaluate the fantasy player, and a game value amount, which is the consideration contested in the fantasy game. Accordingly, Users may place wagers on the expected performance of fantasy players or teams in a fantasy league regardless of whether the party is a participant in the league. The system may be functionally connected to the league software manager to provide real-time registration, submission, monitoring, and submission of second games.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system and method for automatically creating and updating a friend database associated with a player. Generally, in various embodiments, the system of the present disclosure is configured to access one or more player accounts (such as social media accounts) of the player, collect player friend data from the accessed player account(s), determine a list or one of more friends of the player based on the collected player data, and create or update a friend database associated with the player to include the determined friends. The system of the present disclosure thus dynamically and automatically creates and updates the friend database associated with the player without requiring the player to actively create and repeatedly and actively update (e.g., add friends to and remove friends from) the friend database.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention enable rich control input data to control video games that are remotely executed. Rich control input includes three-dimensional image data, color video, audio, device orientation data, and touch input. A remotely-executed video game is one executed on a server or other computing device that is networked to a client device receiving the rich control input. Rich control input includes more data than can be uploaded to a game server without degrading game performance. Embodiments of the present invention preprocess the rich control data on the client and into data that may be uploaded to the game server. The rich input stream may be processed in a general way or in a game-specific way.

Abstract: A system for presenting a skill-based game, the system includes at least one server including a processor configured to execute machine readable code, the machine readable code executable by said processor configured to cause the server to serve a set of matchups of participants of an event, to the plurality of presentation devices, the plurality of presentation devices displaying the set of matchups on a display; receive over the wide area network data from the presentation devices characterizing a set of user selected winners of the matchups made by the users; update the event data pertinent to participants in the actual events; using the updated data to calculate and assign payoffs to the users based on the fixed payoff odds.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for displaying information relating to a roulette game. A roulette game display comprises at least one of a hot bet field, a number frequency field, and an even-money bet road chart. The hot bet field displays a message including information relating to a highest ranking event stored in an event history. The number frequency field includes an arrangement of indicator spaces configured for marking to show recent results of a plurality of roulette wheel spins. The even-money bet road chart includes a grid for displaying a plurality of recently winning even-money bets.

Abstract: A method at a server system includes: in response to a request for a user to enter a first information exchange hall, detecting a lock status of predefined information of an information exchange operation that is associated with the user and a second information hall; in accordance with a determination that an operation state of an information exchange operation that was executed at the second information exchange hall is a predefined inactive operation state: changing the lock status of the predefined information from the locked state to the unlocked state; and processing entry of the user into the first information exchange hall; and in accordance with a determination that the operation state of the information exchange operation is a predefined active operation state, initiating a process to restore entry of the user into the second information exchange hall.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided to implement a technique for managing the response of a digital entity in a simulation to reflect its interaction with one or more players over time, such as managing a non-player character's responses to player characters in an online computer game. In the system, a computer system tracks the interaction of the digital entity with other entities and the occurrence or status of internal and external events to control how the digital entity reacts to current events and interactions.

Abstract: An accessory apparatus includes a housing, an apparatus connector, a plurality of auxiliary accessory interfaces, and an internal microcontroller. The connection connector is configured to mate with a corresponding accessory connector of a physical controller to electrically connect the internal microcontroller to the physical controller. Each auxiliary accessory connector is configured to enable a separate auxiliary user input device to operatively connect to the accessory apparatus and electrically connect with the internal microcontroller. The internal microcontroller is configured to: (1) receive an input control signal from an auxiliary user input device operatively connected to an auxiliary accessory connector of the plurality of auxiliary accessory connectors, (2) map the input control signal to a mapped control signal corresponding to a physical control of the physical controller, and (3) send the mapped control signal to the physical controller via the apparatus connector.

Abstract: The systems and methods are directed towards cut-scene gameplay. Cut-scene gameplay refers to implementation of gameplay within different portions of a movie. The gameplay elements invite viewers to provide input that influences how the movie progresses. The movie may include many different branching storylines. In this way, different viewers are provided different experiences even though they may all be viewing the same general movie. Furthermore, subsequent viewing of the same movie may provide different experiences or at least encourage viewers to view the movie again in order to provide different inputs in hopes of obtaining different branches/or endings of the movie.

Abstract: A method of designing multiple computer games, using a software module running on a processor, in which the module enables pre-defined kinds of game design functions to be implemented across multiple different computer games; and in which the module implements multiple pre-defined kinds of common game design functions; and is extensible in that new components can be added to the module to create new functionality.

Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to methods for making user activity recommendations. In some aspects, a process of the technology can include operations for receiving a free-to-play indication, the free-to-play indication specifying availability of a user associated with a media system, retrieving, via the network interface, peer information indicating an availability of one or more online peers of the user, and retrieving, via the network interface, activity information indicating one or more activities available to the user, and at least one of the online peers. In some aspects method can further include operations for providing an activity recommendation to the user based on the peer information and the activity information, wherein the activity recommendation includes a suggestion of at least one activity that can be conducted by the user with the media system. Systems and computer-readable media are also provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods for integrating graphic animation technologies with fantasy sports contest applications are provided. This invention enables a fantasy sports contest application to depict plays in various sporting events using graphic animation. The fantasy sports contest application may combine graphical representation of real-life elements such as, for example, player facial features, with default elements such as, for example, a generic player body, to create realistic graphic video. The fantasy sports contest application may provide links to animated videos for depicting plays on contest screens in which information associated with the plays may be displayed. The fantasy sports contest application may play the animated video for a user in response to the user selecting such a link. In some embodiment of the present invention, the fantasy sports contest application may also customize animated video based on user-supplied setup information.

Abstract: A game of skill played simultaneously by several players whereby each participant effectively competes only against players having a similar skill tier to provide a better opportunity to win awards. The system includes a central computer system with each remote participant having a mobile device such as a cell phone. The system also provides for effective promotion or updating to a higher skill tier of successful players of the game. Each skill tier adds complexity which increase point potentials. The game play is relatively easy initially, permitting new users to enjoy success in the game. As the user becomes more skilled and reaches higher tiers prizes increase and game elements become more challenging thus motivating continued play while retaining a player's interest. While players are able to view all scores including those in higher tiers, they will know that players in other tiers had more opportunities to earn points.

Abstract: The fencing sword comprises a handle, a guard, and a short shaft in place of the blade. Weights may be added/removed from the shaft to adjust the weight of the fencing sword. The weights can additionally be added/removed from other fencing swords having different handle designs from other forms of fencing. In some embodiments, a laser pointer is mounted to or near the shaft. The laser may register on a target mimicking scoring a touch in a bout and can be used to train a user's accuracy.