Abstract: A method for gaming including receiving game states of game plays of players playing a gaming application. The method includes tracking game play progression for each of the game plays based on game states, wherein game play progression is defined by a corresponding set of relationship characteristics. A first game play of a first player is associated with a first set of relationship characteristics. The method includes identifying for the first player players having corresponding game plays that include one or more relationship characteristics from the first set of relationship characteristics. The method includes surfacing the identified players for display to the first player. Each surfaced players have a corresponding game play progression that is related to the first game play progression. Each surfaced players is associated with a corresponding communication warning indicator that provides relative game play progression between game plays the corresponding surfaced player and the first player.

Abstract: Computer implemented systems and methods for cross-platform spoiler blocking are provided herein. An example method includes ascertaining by a data platform data potentially available to a user of a service having a media object; identifying by the data platform at least one object revealed by the media object, the at least one object being associated with an application; receiving by the data platform metadata associated with the at least one object, the metadata indicative of whether the at least one object should be hidden from the user; determining by the data platform, based on the metadata, the at least one object is a potential spoiler; and blocking by the data platform, the user from interacting with the media object through the service.

Abstract: A method for gaming interaction. The method including capturing a plurality of snapshots generated from a gaming application executed for a first user. The method including generating a user defined package according to parameter information provided by the first user through a first companion interface of a first computing device of the first user, wherein the parameter information is based on one or more snapshots of the plurality of snapshots. The method including generating a marker for the user defined package. The method including providing the marker for display on a second computing device of a second user, wherein the marker enables access to the user defined package.

Abstract: Computer-implemented systems and methods for providing contextual game guidance are described herein. An example method includes determining based on contextual information regarding an application an objective of the user; automatically deriving based on the contextual information and the objective contextual guidance to assist the user; generating a user interface having the contextual guidance; and transmitting the user interface to a client device.

Abstract: Computer implemented systems and methods for cross-platform spoiler blocking are provided herein. An example method includes ascertaining by a data platform data potentially available to a user of a service having a media object; identifying by the data platform at least one object revealed by the media object, the at least one object being associated with an application; receiving by the data platform metadata associated with the at least one object, the metadata indicative of whether the at least one object should be hidden from the user; determining by the data platform, based on the metadata, the at least one object is a potential spoiler; and blocking by the data platform, the user from interacting with the media object through the service.

Abstract: A method for gaming, including establishing a first communication channel with a first computing device associated with a first user configured for implementing a first instance of a gaming application in association with a first game play of the first user. The method further including establishing a second channel with a second computing device associated with the first user. The method further including generating an interface including information related to the first game play of the first user and second game play of a second user playing the gaming application. The method further including delivering the interface and the information over the second channel to the second computing device for display concurrent with the first game play of the first user.

Abstract: Computer implemented methods and systems for providing a uniform data platform for at least one application of a plurality of applications are disclosed. Exemplary methods include receiving application data from at least one of a device and a server, a device executing a portion of an application of a plurality of applications, storing the application data in a data platform, the data model including at least one metadata and at least one event, the one metadata corresponding to at least one object indicated in the data model, and the one event corresponding to a trigger condition associated with the one metadata entry, wherein values of the one metadata and one event are associated with a user profile and accessing via a plurality of remote networked services, the application data stored in the data platform, the plurality of remote network services accessing the application data using the data model.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems directed towards assignment of contextual gameplay assistance to player reaction. By analyzing user gameplay and reactions of a user, appropriate gameplay assistance (such as hints, advice, or walk-through information) can be assigned for different thresholds associated with levels of frustration that users can obtain regarding different obstacles found within the video games. The system and methods allow for customization of what type of gameplay assistance can be provided to each user as each user may have different thresholds of frustration or preferences regarding the types of assistance they would like to receive within the video game.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems directed towards utilizing social engagement to generate gameplay resources and subsequently utilizing those gameplay resources for metagaming. The metagaming is carried out via a first party platform that tracks and integrates user gameplay information coming from a plurality of different video games associated with a plurality of users participating within the same video games. The first party platform gameplay information is used to affect the user's performance and progress within a separate game (i.e. Metagame) which in turn can be used to affect the progress and performance of video games associated with the first party platform.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing assistance for an online game executed by a cloud gaming system includes receiving a game objective of a user playing the online game. A current location of the user in the online game is identified. A map of vector points defined for the online game is traversed in a backward direction from a vector point corresponding to location of the game objective to the current location, to identify vector points corresponding to activities performed by a plurality of prior players to achieve the game objective for the online game. A predicate list of the activities identified from the traversing is generated for presenting to the user. The predicate list specifies a sequence in which the activities need to be performed to achieve the game objective. The activities presented in the predicate list are dynamically adjusted based on changes to the current location of the user detected in the online game.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for enabling the creation, game play, and third party view of a head-to-head challenge game played synchronously or asynchronously by a first and second player. In one embodiment, a method includes operations for receiving a request to view the challenge game for obtaining a first and second video associated with a predefined segment of a single player game as played by the first and second player. The method further includes operations for executing the challenge game that plays the first video alongside the second video in a spectator interface, for accessing and processing telemetry data of the game play of the predefined segment to generate modified game play metrics, and for replacing game states that were produced when the predefined segment of the game was played with the modified game play metrics. The modified game play metrics are rendered to the spectator interface.

Abstract: A video chat system simulates real-life social dynamics by providing an onscreen map showing icons representing a potentially large number of people in the chat while permitting smaller groups of users to engage in conversations while viewing videos and hearing audio from members of the smaller group. Users can move between groups by moving their icons on the map, as people might circulate around a large room in a real-life gathering.

Abstract: A method for gaming. The method including receiving location based information of game play of a user playing a gaming application as displayed on a first computing device, wherein the location based information is made with reference to a location of a character in the game play of the user in a gaming world associated with the gaming application. The method including aggregating location based information of a plurality of game plays of a plurality of users playing the gaming application. The method including generating contextually relevant information for the location of the character based on the location based information of the plurality of game plays. The method including generating a companion interface including the contextually relevant information. The method including sending the companion interface to a second computing device associated with the user for display concurrent with the game play of the user.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing assistance for an online game executed by a cloud gaming system includes receiving a game objective of a user playing the online game. A current location of the user in the online game is identified. A map of vector points defined for the online game is traversed in a backward direction from a vector point corresponding to location of the game objective to the current location, to identify vector points corresponding to activities performed by a plurality of prior players to achieve the game objective for the online game. A predicate list of the activities identified from the traversing is generated for presenting to the user. The predicate list specifies a sequence in which the activities need to be performed to achieve the game objective. The activities presented in the predicate list are dynamically adjusted based on changes to the current location of the user detected in the online game.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems directed towards generating and utilizing earned gameplay resources for metagaming. The interconnected gameplay is carried out via a first party platform that tracks and integrates user gameplay information coming from a plurality of different video games. The first party platform gameplay information is used to affect the user's performance and progress within a separate game which in turn can be used to affect the progress and performance of video games associated with the first party platform.

Abstract: A method for gaming. The method including receiving location based information of game play of a user playing a gaming application as displayed on a first computing device, wherein the location based information is made with reference to a location of a character in the game play of the user in a gaming world associated with the gaming application. The method including aggregating location based information of a plurality of game plays of a plurality of users playing the gaming application. The method including generating contextually relevant information for the location of the character based on the location based information of the plurality of game plays. The method including generating a companion interface including the contextually relevant information. The method including sending the companion interface to a second computing device associated with the user for display concurrent with the game play of the user.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for enabling the creation, game play, and third party view of a head-to-head challenge game played synchronously or asynchronously by a first and second player. In one embodiment, a method includes operations for receiving a request to view the challenge game for obtaining a first and second video associated with a predefined segment of a single player game as played by the first and second player. The method further includes operations for executing the challenge game that plays the first video alongside the second video in a spectator interface, for accessing and processing telemetry data of the game play of the predefined segment to generate modified game play metrics, and for replacing game states that were produced when the predefined segment of the game was played with the modified game play metrics. The modified game play metrics are rendered to the spectator interface.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems directed towards identifying player engagement to generate contextual game play assistance. User gameplay information is monitored so that the user can be provided assistance within the video game where the user may have problems. User gameplay information is monitored in order to identify what type(s) of assistance could be provided to the user. The information can be based on the current level of frustration of the user with the video game.

Abstract: A method for gaming assistance. Information relating to game plays of player for a gaming application is received at a back-end server. A current game context of a first game play of a first player is determined from the information. Historical expert game contexts of expert game plays of experts that have played the gaming application are determined from the information. An assistance query related to the first game play is received. The current game context of the first player is compared to the historical expert game contexts to determine at least one expert having a corresponding historical expert game context that matches the first game context. A first expert is assigned to the first player for obtaining assistance. A communication session is generated between a device of the first expert and a device of the first player to enable the first expert to render assistance to the first player.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing assistance for an online game executed by a cloud gaming system includes receiving a game objective of a user playing the online game. A current location of the user in the online game is identified. A map of vector points defined for the online game is traversed in a backward direction from a vector point corresponding to location of the game objective to the current location, to identify vector points corresponding to activities performed by a plurality of prior players to achieve the game objective for the online game. A predicate list of the activities identified from the traversing is generated for presenting to the user. The predicate list specifies a sequence in which the activities need to be performed to achieve the game objective. The activities presented in the predicate list are dynamically adjusted based on changes to the current location of the user detected in the online game.