Abstract: A computer device has a display and a user interface which receives user input. A processor receives data representing the user input. The processor controls the display to transition from displaying a first image to displaying a second image. When there is no longer a user input and the transition has not been completed, the processor determines which of the first and second images is to be displayed.

Abstract: A computer implemented game has unlockable game elements. When unlocked these unlockable game elements may provide extra moves or the like when playing a level. These game elements may be associated with a level. The game elements are unlocked by playing the game over a set of levels.

Abstract: A method, implemented as computer code being executed by one or more processors, in which computer game graphics for a casual, social game are shown on a display of a computing device and in which one or more of the processors are programmed to show: a virtual path or other virtual world that indicates the level reached by the player and some of that player's social network friends; a score board that displays the score of a player once he has completed a level successfully, together with the highest scores of some of its social network friends' for that level; and in which each level of the game can be failed and, if the processor determines that the player is running out of moves or time, then the processor causes the game to automatically display a message offering extra moves and/or time for the player to purchase, to carry on playing the game, or other in-game assistance.

Abstract: A messaging system for both generating and receiving message data, which breaks up a sent message and displays it as a time sequence of message parts on the receiving user's device. Breaks in the sent message are defined by delimiters, which are inserted into the message data by the user on the generate device and are detected by the receiving device. Delimiters or other part of the message data determine the time period for each part of the message. The first part of the message is displayed on the receiving user's device for the time period associated with that part. Once the time period for the first message part has expired, the next message part is displayed in addition to the preceding part. This continues until the whole sent message is displayed, thus creating a timeline of message parts for the receiving user.

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 computer system has at least one memory and at least one processor. The at least one memory stores one or more options. Each option is associated with a gaming application provided to a user device. Each option has a respective identifier and a respective weight. The at least one processor retrieves one or more of the options from the at least one memory. The weight provides a weighting for each option in dependence on previous selections of that option.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of controlling a user interface of a computer device which is responsive to user engagement with displayed player objects on the interface. The method comprises steps implemented by computer executable code (executed by one or more hardware processors on the computer device) and encompassing, but not limited to, displaying a game area with a number of game objects in a static player graph as well as providing a player object which can be selected to target and shoot game objects in response to player behavior or to contribute directly to a game objective. A boost action is triggered when game objective is fulfilled.

Abstract: A method of transferring data between database locations comprising: providing a location reference comprising location values of one or more data collections stored in a database; providing an indicator in association with at least one data collection of the one or more data collections, the indicator being provided in response to initiation of a transfer process of the at least one data collection from a first location of the database to a second location of the database; wherein the indicator is changeable between a first state and a second state, the first state being indicative of the initiation of the transfer process; and as part of the transfer process of the at least one data collection, selectively updating a location value of the at least one data collection in the location reference, in dependence on a determination of whether the indicator is in the first state or the second state.

Abstract: A computer implemented method is performed in a device. One or more first game objects is displayed. In response to user input one or more collectable game objects, are accumulated. It is determined if a number of accumulated collectable game objects has reached a predetermined value, and if not, a further set of first game objects is displayed only if a game level has been played.

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: A computer device has user interface configured to display user actuatable game elements and to detect user input when a user engages with a game element; and a processor configured to receive a detected user input and on detecting a match game condition to control the user interface to remove at least three game elements from the display and to provide on the user interface replacement user actuatable game elements, wherein the manner of providing each replacement game element has a graphical representation governed by a tile associated with each game element, wherein each tile has a selectable physics which controls at least one of (i) the direction in which it moves to replenish a vacancy left by the removed user game elements; and (ii) the speed at which it moves to replenish the vacancy.

Abstract: In an embodiment there is provided a computer implemented method of providing a game, the method comprising the following implemented by at least one processor and at least one memory of a device retrieving from at least one memory information associated with a plurality of first objects and one or more characteristics of said first objects and causing said objects with said one or more characteristics to be displayed on a display in an arrangement, executing at least one algorithm which: responsive to detected user input rearranges said first objects to provide a sequence of at least three adjacent first objects sharing at least one same characteristic, determines an upgrade level of each of said at least three adjacent first objects, and in response to said determination selecting one of said at least three adjacent first objects for upgrading, and causes an updated arrangement to be displayed with said selected one of the said at least three adjacent first objects being upgraded and having said same charac

Abstract: A method, implemented as computer code being executed by one or more processors, in which a computing device displays computer game graphics for a computer game, and in which one or more of the processors are programmed to implement the game with: (a) a first game mode where the player is prompted to find items on a list within a picture; and (b) a second game mode where the player is prompted to compare two nearly identical images and find the differences; (c) a third game mode where the player is promoted to find items on a list within a certain picture, wherein the picture is darkened and only a select section is lit up, the lit section being dependent on input given by a pointing device.

Abstract: A method of rendering a grid based user interface includes selecting a gaming object with an illumination value to be updated. The gaming objects located directly adjacent to the selected gaming object each having an associated illumination value. The updated illumination value takes into account the illumination values of the directly adjacent gaming objects. The game object is rendered using the updated illumination value.

Abstract: A computer device has a user interface configured to receive an input from a user. The device also has a display configured to display game elements for engagement by a user via the user interface to allow the user to play a game. A processor is provided which is configured to control the display to display at least one of two different progress paths through a game. Each of the progress paths comprises a plurality of different game levels.

Abstract: A method for caching in a server is provided. Data from a database is duplicated in an external cache and a hot cache which are used to speed up access and distribute server load reducing access traffic the database. The server is configured to process data requests by checking the hot cache first, then the external cache before attempting to retrieve data from the database.

Abstract: A computer device has a user interface which displays user actuatable game elements. User input is received and used to determine if there is a match involving three or more game elements. If so a check is made to see if one of the game elements is of a particular type. If so the size of the particular game element is determined to see if it is the smallest size. If not at least two further game elements of the given type are provided with a smaller graphical representation as compared to the at least one game element of the given type in the match game condition.

Abstract: A computer implemented device has a display which displays game elements of a computer implemented game board. A use selects via a user interface a game element and moves that game element. A processor will update a count value for each move made. When the count reaches a certain value, the use is prevented from making further moves. If a user back tracks, the count value is correspondingly updated.

Abstract: A computer device having a user interface configured to display user actuatable game elements in a game board and to detect user input when a user engages with a game element in a move; a processor configured to receive a detected user input and on detecting a match game condition to control the user interface to remove at least three game elements from the display and to generate replacement user game elements for a subsequent move; and a graphics rendering component operable to render the game elements on the user interface, each game element having a graphical representation on a tile having a background appearance, wherein the processor is configured to determine on detecting the match game condition if at least one tile in the match game condition has an attained background appearance and if so to apply the attained background appearance to each tile of the match condition.