Abstract: A user selection of character settings for a character associated with a playing user of the online gaming system is received. Responsive to detecting an access to the online game by the character associated with the playing user, whether the morphing settings have been specified for the online game is determined. Whether the one or more components of the character that correspond to the first components identified by the morphing settings are permitted to be changed is determined. Responsive to determining the morphing settings have been specified for the online game and determining that the one or more components of the character that correspond to the first components identified by the morphing settings are permitted to be changed, generation of a first morphed character for presentation within the online game by changing the one or more components of the character in accordance with the morphing settings is caused.

Abstract: Some implementations relate detection of malicious games. In some implementations, a computer-implemented method includes obtaining a list of games that includes a plurality of games, analyzing the plurality of games to identify at least one likely malicious game, and creating a ticket.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed that permits consent verification within an online gaming platform.

Abstract: A virtual reality (VR) system has a server coupled to a data repository and having a processor executing software, a VR game stored in the data repository; and a first network-connected appliance having a display screen, in communication with the network-connected server over the network. The server interacts with the first appliance enabling a user to play a VR game, and prepares a data stream based on the interaction to be streamed to a second computerized appliance, enabling a user of the second computerized appliance to view the activity of a virtual object of the user of the first network-connected computerized appliance as a passive observer from the viewpoint of the avatar, having no control input.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and non-transitory computer-readable media are provided for fraud detection within an interactive media system such as a computer-based game. In some implementations, fraud in online subscription payments can be detected. The fraud detection can be used to adjust virtual currency revenue sharing payouts to developers associated with the computer-based game.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed that permits users of an online gaming platform to communicate via voice with other user in the online gaming platform.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for predictive preloading of game data are described. In some implementations, a method can include using a machine learning model of player cohort behavior to predict which games (or game-related data assets) to begin preloading prior to a user making a game selection. Once the user makes a selection, any preloading not related to the selection can be terminated. Thus, during the time period when the user is viewing available game selections, a given number of selections can begin to be preloaded based on predictions from the machine learning model. The preloading can help reduce latency from game selection by the user to game start time.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for hybrid streaming of media content such as video for a computer-based game. In some implementations, a background media content stream includes a background video rendered on a server. The background media content stream is received at a client device. The client device renders one or more three-dimensional objects and forms a composite media stream by combining the background media content stream and the one or more three-dimensional objects. The composite media stream can be output to a display or other external system.

Abstract: A system and method identifies activity data that is related to activity of a plurality of users of a gaming platform. The activity data is used by the gaming platform to perform a gaming process. The system and method identifies first data of the activity data based on a first characteristic. The first data is a subset of the activity data. The system and method determines a number of times that the first data of the activity data meets a first condition. The system and method responsive to determining that the number of times that the first data of the activity data meets the first condition satisfies a first threshold, modifies the activity data by removing the first data from the activity data. The system and method performs the gaming process using the modified activity data.

Abstract: Implementations described herein relate to methods, systems, and computer-readable media to detect counterfeit virtual three-dimensional (3D) objects. In some implementations, a computer-implemented method includes receiving an unauthenticated virtual 3D object. The method further includes determining a plurality of two-dimensional (2D) views of the unauthenticated virtual 3D object. In some implementations, the plurality of 2D views include at least two 2D views and each view of the plurality of 2D views is captured from a respective viewpoint. The method further includes calculating a hash value for each 2D view of the plurality of 2D views. The method further includes determining whether the respective hash values of at least two of the plurality of 2D views match hash values of corresponding 2D views of an authentic virtual 3D object and if it is determined that the respective hash values match, classifying the unauthenticated virtual 3D object as a counterfeit object.

Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a method that includes storing, in a collaboration platform, a first geographic location and a first time of a first authentication request for an account at the collaboration platform responsive to successful authentication of the first authentication request. The method includes receiving a second authentication request for the account at the collaboration platform. The method includes identifying a second geographic location and a second time of the second authentication request. The method includes providing access to the account responsive to a determination that a difference in time between the first time and the second time is large enough that a user of the account is able to travel a difference in distance between the first geographic location and the second geographic location within the difference in time.

Abstract: A game system has one or more network-connected servers executing system software (SSW) on one or more processors from a non-transitory medium, providing virtual reality games for players logged in to the system to select and play, and a plurality of mobile digital devices in use by players logged in to the system, associated by the system with individual player identity, executing a mobile application (MA) enabled to interact with the SSW, and equipped with GPS tracking. The MA reports GPS coordinates for individual ones of the plurality of players to the SSW periodically, and the SSW identifies clusters of players based on pre-programmed geography limitations, and uses cluster data for various interactions between players and the system, and between players and other players.

Abstract: Some implementations relate to methods, systems, and computer-readable media to generate text tags for games. In some implementations, a computer-implemented method to generate one or more text tags includes obtaining a plurality of chat transcripts, each chat transcript associated with a respective gameplay session of a respective game of a plurality of games. Each chat transcript includes content provided by participants in the gameplay session. The method further includes programmatically analyzing the plurality of chat transcripts to determine one or more characteristics for each game of the plurality of games, and generating a text tag for at least one game of the plurality of games based on the one or more characteristics of the at least one game.

Abstract: Prominent display of a targeted game in search results from a search within an online gaming platform. In some implementations, a server receives a search query from a device. The search query is executed against a data store of available games to obtain search results indicating a set of games. Based on one or more characteristics of the set of games, it is determined whether the search query is directed to a narrow search for a particular game in the set of games. In response to determining such a narrow search, the particular game is designated with a highlight indication, and the search results and highlight indication are transmitted to the device, causing display of a user interface that includes at least a portion of the search results. The highlight indication causes the device to display an identifier of the particular game as highlighted relative to other search results.

Abstract: Systems and methods to perform virtual item transactions within a collaboration platform. In some implementations, entries in a secure ledger are generated to record transactions of virtual items making up an exchange or trade transaction. Entries in the secured ledger are each linked to a preceding entry using one or more hash values. A claim can be received from a first user account to dispute a transaction. Responsive to the claim, the transaction can be verified and an account restore operation can be performed when a transaction was not completed according to user intent, and virtual items can be restored to user accounts when a transaction was not completed as intended according to the secure ledger.

Abstract: A system and method includes using a queue with map-reduce. The system includes a computer cluster that is to execute, by a first node, a first reduce operation on a first location of data to generate a first plurality of markers indicative of data at the first location of data and execute, by a second node, a second reduce operation on a second location of data to generate a second plurality of markers indicative of data at the second location of data. Responsive to generation of one or more markers, the computer cluster is to submit the one or more markers to a queue. Responsive to completing the first reduce operation by the first node, the computer cluster is to direct the first node to perform a first copy operation that copies first data identified by a first marker of the one or more markers in the queue.

Abstract: A method and system is provided to create animated faces using texture manipulation. A face template is provided to enable a user to define features of the face. A composite face is created from multiple layers that include a bottom layer, an animation layer, and a static layer. The composite face is animated by selectively animating one or more of the layers.

Abstract: The camera view of an avatar traversing in a three-dimensional (3D) world in an electronic game may be changed to avoid occlusion of the avatar by a graphical object that in the camera view. The camera view may be moved forward towards the avatar to avoid the occlusion, and the camera view may then be moved backward away from the avatar after the avatar has passed the graphical object. Graphical objects that do not significantly occlude the avatar in the camera view may not trigger a change in the camera view.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed receives a user selection of a game from a gaming platform via a user interface. The method and system receives a user selection of a camera option of the game. The camera option enables a camera to be controlled within a three-dimensional (3D) environment of the game by a user during real-time gameplay. The method and system move the camera within the 3D environment during the real-time gameplay responsive to user input to move the camera. The method and system responsive to moving the camera within the 3D environment, provide, via the user interface, a presentation of views from a perspective of the camera of the real-time gameplay in the 3D environment.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed that permits users of an online gaming platform to communicate via voice with other user in the online gaming platform.