Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer device comprising: a user interface controllable to display to a user a gameboard of multiple user selectable game elements of at least two types; and a processor configured to: generate a user activatable booster object for display on the user interface; detect a user input to activate the booster object; activate the booster object to generate a booster effect; wherein the processor is further configured, on activation of the booster object, to generate the booster effect by detecting a group of game elements in a region defined on the gameboard; and sort the game elements in the group to display game elements of a matching type adjacent one another in the region to generate a sorted configuration of game elements in the region.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, system and computing device for identifying a test option associated with an application for a user is described. The method comprises selecting a predefined test indicated by a test identifier associated with the requested application, the test having more than one test option associated therewith, generating a hash of the test identifier and a user identifier associated with the user, processing the hash to generate an index, comparing said index with a distribution of numbers divided into multiple ranges, each range being associated with a test option, and selecting a test option associated with the range into which the index falls. The applications may be computer gaming applications.

Abstract: A computer device provides a computer implemented game. Different levels of the computer implemented game are displayed. A game starting at one of the levels and being with a plurality of other players is provided. The game challenge require the completion of a plurality of consecutive levels of the levels. If the player or another other player fails to complete a level, the player or other player is removed from the game challenge. As the player progresses through the levels information about a remaining number of the plurality of players in the game challenge is displayed.

Abstract: A computer device has a user interface configured to present to a user a selected one of a plurality of game levels. Each game level is associated with a set of rules which control the display of game outcomes. A pre-level screen is displayed to the user comprising selectable objects, each of which is associated with a set of rule modifications. The user selects one of the selectable objects. The set of rules associated with the game level is modified according to the rule modifications associated with the selected selectable object. The level is presented to the user for interaction according to the modified set of rules. A corresponding method and computer program is provided.

Abstract: A control module transferring data between a shard and destination shards within a database comprising a plurality of shards, the control module: generating a first hash wheel distribution of shard allocations by applying a defined hashing function to a first integer value per shard allocation; generating a further hash wheel distribution of shard allocations by applying the defined hashing function to a further integer value per shard allocation; determining a range of hash values associated with data to be transferred between the shard and a destination shard, wherein the range of hash values, the shard and the destination shard are defined based on determining a difference between the first hash wheel distribution of shard allocations and the further hash wheel distribution of shard allocations; selecting and controlling the transfer of data associated with the determined range of hash values between the shard and the destination shard.

Abstract: A computing arrangement receives data. The data is from computer apps running on computer devices. The data has user identity data and associated device identity data. A memory stores sets of identity data. A respective set of identity data is associated with a user identity. Sets of identity data comprise at least one user identity data, at least one device entity data and information defining a connection relationship between the identity data of the respective set of identity data. At least one processor determines in response to received user identity data and device identity data that a first stored set of identity data is to be divided into two or more sets of user identity data. At least two sets of user identity data are associated with different user identities. The set of identity data is divided in dependence on the information defining the connection relationships.

Abstract: A user device has a plurality of modules which support an application such as gaming application. The user device has a stream processing module which is able to stream process events which are generated, for example when the application is run. The events which are generated by the modules are passed to an event module which distributes the events to other of the modules.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, system and computing device for identifying a test option associated with an application for a user is described. The method comprises selecting a predefined test indicated by a test identifier associated with the requested application, the test having more than one test option associated therewith, generating a hash of the test identifier and a user identifier associated with the user, processing the hash to generate an index, comparing said index with a distribution of numbers divided into multiple ranges, each range being associated with a test option, and selecting a test option associated with the range into which the index falls. The applications may be computer gaming applications.

Abstract: A computer device is configured to provide a computer implemented game. The computer device has at least one processor which is configured to determine a number of booster options that have been activated, a booster option being usable in the computer implemented game to provide a respective additional effect. The at least one processor is further configured to determining if the determined number of booster options is greater than a threshold number and when the determined number of booster options is greater than the threshold number, determine that a further booster option is to be provided in the computer implemented game.