Abstract: A method comprises the steps of: selecting in a server, a subset of a plurality users of an online environment for a first user, wherein when in said online environment, said first user interacts with one or more users of said subset of the plurality users.

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 computer-implemented method comprising: storing in a memory information of one or more game objects; causing to be displayed on a user interface of a touchscreen display a game board comprising one or more of said game objects; in response to determining contact or proximity of a selector at a first location of said display, determining by the processor one or more of said game objects stored in said memory that are displayed on and/or proximate to said location; and causing one or more of said game objects that are displayed on and/or proximate to said first location to be displayed on said display in a magnified region at a second location, wherein said second location is spaced from said first location.

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.

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 of multiple tiles in a first direction 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.

Abstract: A computer implemented game is provided where each of first and second game computer code provide user selectable game objects on a display. The configuration of game objects presented to a user by the first and second game computer code is different. A first marker is generated when a game objective is attained in the first game computer code, and a second marker is generated when a second game objective is attained in the second game computer code.

Abstract: In an embodiment there is provided a device having a touch user interface configured to display a game board having a plurality of selectable game objects comprising tiles stored in at least one memory and displayed in a configuration on said game board, each game object having a boundary defined on the user interface, said user interface being configured to receive user input, and at least one processor in connection or communication with the at least one memory and the user interface and configured to detect a selection of a game object in response to touch user input within the game object boundary, detect a trajectory of the user input towards neighboring game objects, determine an angle of said trajectory with respect to an axis of the game board, and select at least one of the neighboring game objects in dependence on said trajectory and determined angle. The angle may be determined by comparison with predefined angular regions corresponding a game object or tile configuration.

Abstract: A computer game mode module provides a navigable image on a display, the navigable image comprising a set of location icons each representing a location associated with a game mode object of multiple game mode objects of different types selectable at the location icon. A first game mode generates a first marker when a first game objective is attained. A second game mode generates a successful task signal which causes an electronic assistance message to be provide. A third game mode receives remote user input game data generated at other user devices.

Abstract: A method, implemented as computer code being executed by one or more processors, in which a computing device displays computer game graphics showing a gameboard with multiple game elements that are removed when matched or switched, such as in a match-3, clicker or switcher game; and in which the processor draws the elements as irregularly arranged columns of colored blocks; and the processor draws small animals are placed on or amongst the blocks; and the processor is programmed such that the object of the game is to enable a target number of the animals to descend to the ground and be rescued, by the player removing blocks from the gameboard.

Abstract: A method comprises receiving a call to a method in response to detection of a game event in a user device, responsive to said call, generating a data file, said data file comprising identity information associated with said game event and a value of at least one parameter; and storing said data file in a data store.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of managing objects presented on a user interface of a computer device having at least one processor and at least one memory, comprising displaying an arrangement of selectable objects each having one or more characteristics, information on said arrangement of objects and said objects being stored in said at least one memory, determining a selection of at least a first object in dependence on a user input received via the user interface, evaluating using the stored information on said arrangement, if the selected shares one or more characteristic with neighboring objects in the arrangement, determining an input time period of the user input; determining, in dependence on the stored information on said board arrangement if the selected object shares one or more characteristics with neighboring objects; and if so indicating a valid status to a user by highlighting or removing at least the selected object.

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: A computer device includes at least one processor in communication with a database storing at least one first object having one or more characteristics and at least one second object having at least one different characteristic to the characteristics of the first object, the at least one processor being configured to control an exchange of the at least one first object or the second object between a first device and a second device, the control comprising the steps of retrieving an identifier associated with the second device, selecting the first object having one or more characteristics or the second object having at least one different characteristic in dependence on the identifier associated with the second device and at least one predetermined rule, and transmit the selected first object or the selected second object to said first device.

Abstract: In an embodiment there is provided a device having a user interface configured to display a game board having a plurality of first objects, each first object having one or more characteristics stored in at least one memory, said user interface being configured to receive user input, and at least one processor in connection or communication with at least one memory configured to display a game board having a plurality of first game objects, each object having one or more characteristics, detect a selection sequence of at least one first game object with respect to said displayed game board in response to user input, generate a second object having default second object characteristics, alter the second object characteristics in dependence on at least one predetermined rule, and display said second object. The rule may comprise determining a game state comprising game data that is monitored to alter the second object characteristics.

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: 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, where the casual, social game is downloaded as an app to a smartphone and/or tablet computer and can be accessed or played using a social network application or environment; and in which one or more of the processors are programmed such that: a notification is automatically generated if a player is stuck at a level for more than a defined time or after more than a defined number of attempts to pass that level, the notification alerting friends of the player so that they can assist him or her.

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 such that: in the game, a player is automatically allocated lives, is only permitted to play a game if it has one or more lives left, and loses one or more lives if it fails a level; and in which a player can see which of their friends on the social network are playing, or have played, the game and the level they have reached; and in which the processor enables players who are friends on the social network to collaborate, including by sending a message to their friends, or a subset of their friends, transferring in-game assistance.

Abstract: A method and device for controlling a user interface displaying a game board, comprising, via at least one processor, displaying a game board arrangement having a plurality of game objects each having one or more characteristics, information on said game board arrangement and the game objects being stored in memory, determining an initial selection of a first game object based on user input and the stored information, determining a subsequent input selection of a second game object based on user input and the stored information determining the validity of the subsequent selection as being valid defined by said first and second game objects based on a first direction of the sequence with respect to the game board arrangement, the length of the sequence and if the first and second game object have at least one same characteristic, updating said game board arrangement information.