Abstract: A method of modifying a transparency factor of one or more objects in a computer game. A display of a computer device displays a first object having a transparency factor at a first location, said first object overlying at least one of a plurality of game objects. In response to a trigger event at least one of said transparency factor of the first object, a transparency factor of a game pointer, and a transparency factor of at least one game object are modified and at least one of said first object, said game pointer, and said at least one game object are displayed with said at least one modified transparency factor.

Abstract: A method for displaying the relative positions of two players playing a game on a user device. The set of levels within an episode that a first player is playing are displayed on the graphical user interface of his computer device. These levels are set out in a predetermined order, wherein access to the next level is granted once the player has completed the preceding levels. Inputs from the player are received as the player plays each level. This enables the game to determine when the level has been completed, and to generate player data indicating the level the player is playing. In an episode race, the relative positions of the two players can then be displayed based on the time taken for the first and second players to complete one or more levels in their respective sets of levels. A player may compete against bots, created from historic user data, or against live opponents. In another feature, the user can select a specific theme from a group of themes to play an episode of the game in.

Abstract: A user device provides a computer implemented game with different levels. The device has a user interface. A player selects a level via the user interface. When a level is selected, the associated game board in displayed. Information about the difficulty of at least one of the levels is displayed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of using a scene data structure to display a game tutorial on a display, including accessing a scene data structure, the scene data structure having a plurality of display data elements, each associated with a respective data element identifier, the display data elements containing display data for displaying game elements on the display in a game scene; accessing tutorial data, the tutorial data comprising a tutorial data element identifier; searching the scene data structure for a data element associated with the tutorial data element identifier, that data element containing display data for displaying a respective game element; generating highlighting data using the results of the searching step, the highlighting data for highlighting the respective game element on the display; and displaying the respective game element as a highlighted game element on the display in a tutorial scene using the generated highlighting data. Devices and systems are disclosed.

Abstract: A mechanism for refilling an electronic game board after game elements of different game types, for example those referred to as ‘clickers’ or ‘linkers,’ have been removed through play. In these games, a player must identify a group of matching game elements on a game board, select (or click on) a game element within the group. This causes the group of selecting matching game elements to be removed. A refill process is then executed to replenish the game board with new game elements. When competitors at remote devices are playing the same game board, there is a requirement to keep the game board aligned as play progresses. The present invention addresses the latency problem by enabling independent refill at respective computer devices which are engaged in a competitive game. The refill process may also be utilised on a single computer device where a single player is playing a game.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing data are provided. The method and apparatus receive data relating to one or more computer implemented games. The data includes event identity information, which is parsed using an event definition of an event type. The event type is associated with the respective event identity information, wherein each event type belongs to an event class and to at least one semantic class. The parsed data is processed using information that defines one or more event classes or one or more semantic classes in order to provide a set of processed data.

Abstract: A method of controlling a user interface of a device responsive to user input by a user comprising: displaying on the user interface of the device a plurality of objects displayed in an arrangement, each object having one or more characteristics; providing an array of selection detection areas, and associating each of the selection detection areas with a respective object on the user interface so as to enable detection of selection of one or more of the objects by the user; following a selection of one of the plurality of objects by the user, predicting a subsequent object to be selected by the user in dependence on one or more selection criteria; and enlarging a selection detection area associated with the subsequent object.

Abstract: A computer implemented game has a game code module. The game code module generates a group game mode for user engagement at a user interface, the group game mode providing user selectable game objects on an initial game board on the display. The game code module is configured to receive from a server remote user game data generated by other user devices of users engaged in the group game mode. The display displays a progress indicator which indicates cumulative progress of the user and other users, using the game data generated by the user device and the remote user game data.

Abstract: A computer device has a display which displays game elements in a game board. In a move, one or more game elements is removed from the game board and the game board is displayed on the display to be refilled. The computer device is configured to cause images showing at least the removal of the game elements and the refilling of the game board to be displayed on the display at a rate which increases over time.

Abstract: A display of a computer device displays a plurality of different levels of a computer implemented game and a first reward item. The first reward item is associated with a first level which has yet to be completed. At least one processor determines that a player has reached the first level and in response thereto, the display displays a second reward item. The second reward time associated with a second different level of said computer implemented game which has yet to be completed and a time limit. If the player reaches the second level within said time limit, a game reward is provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a computer implemented method of controlling a display on a first computer device connected via a communication network to a plurality of other computer devices, the method comprising: receiving user inputs from the first and other computer devices during interaction with a game rendered on the display of each computer device, the game being played by users of the computer devices over the communication network; storing the user inputs in computer storage and generating user behavior data based on the user inputs; accessing computer storage holding a plurality of contact identifiers of the users and controlling the display of the first computer device to display only a selected set of the stored contact identifiers, wherein the set of contact identifiers is selected to be displayed based on the user behavior data.

Abstract: A computer device has a display which display game elements. A first type of game elements is associated with a matching characteristics of an ordered set of matching characteristics. At least one processor is configured to determine that at least three game elements have at least one common matching characteristic to satisfy a match condition and at least one of said game elements satisfying said match condition is of the first type. The first type of game elements in the match are removed if a current matching characteristic is a last matching characteristic of the respective ordered set or changed a next characteristic of the set.

Abstract: A computer device has a display which displays game elements. The game element being one of a plurality of different types and having a weight. A user interface detects when a user engages with a game element. If there is a match associated with the game element, the weights of the all the match game elements is summed. If the weight is above a threshold, the engaged game element is removed from the game board. The weight is distributed to other game elements.

Abstract: A computer device has a touch screen which displays game elements. A user is able to move game elements to make a match. When a match is made, the game elements of the match are removed. Each game element is associated with a tile. A subset of the tiles is able to toggle between a set of characteristics each time a game element, associated with a tile of the subset, is removed. A game objective is satisfied when the subset of tiles have a respective predefined characteristic one of the set of characteristics.

Abstract: The invention relates to a computer implemented method for controlling the display of a tile image on a display of the computer device, the method comprising: storing in a computer memory at the computer device, image texture data comprising a plurality of sets of predefined masks, each set of predefined masks for forming a respective tile image; selecting at random a tile image for display from a plurality of tile images; determining a location of each mask in the set of predefined masks for forming the selected tile image, in the image texture data; and supplying an indication of said location to a shader program executed on the computer device to control the shader program to use the set of predefined masks to form the selected tile image on said display.

Abstract: A system for providing a computer implemented game with a plurality of game elements which in use are displayed on display. The system comprises: a game engine; and for each game element a game element actor and game element data, said game element data comprising information about said respective game element and said game element actor being configured to perform a view function for the respective game element.

Abstract: A demand side platform DSP is provided which will receive an advertisement bid win notification comprising identity information and time information, The DSP will check the time information to make sure the notification is not too old. If not the DSP will check if the identity information is in a cache. If not, a check is made against a database. If not, the bid win is recorded in the cache and the database.

Abstract: A computer device has a touch screen which displays game elements. A user is able to move game elements to make a match. When a match is made, the game elements of the match are removed. Each game element is associated with a tile. Each tile either has a cover object or no cover object. Underlying entities are provided which occupy at least two tiles. The device has a processor which is configured to determine on detecting the match game condition if at least one tile of the game elements in the match game condition has a cover object and if so to remove the cover object and subsequently to determine if the underlying entities are only associated with tiles having cover tiles. If not, the underlying entity is repositioned if partially uncovered or removed if completely uncovered.