Abstract: A method for performing a social project in a video game is provided. A session of the video game for a primary user is initiated, and a social project is initiated within the session of the video game. One or more secondary users are determined from a social graph of the primary user. A message requesting help to complete the social project is sent to the one or more secondary users, the message including a low-friction response mechanism. Upon activation of the low-friction response mechanism of the request, a response is received indicating an intent to help complete the social project from a responsive secondary user. Upon receiving the response, automated retrieval and animation of an avatar of the responsive secondary user is triggered within the primary user's session of the video game so as to collaborate on the social project.

Abstract: A system, a machine-readable storage medium, and a computer-implemented method are directed to a Contact Ranking Engine (hereinafter “CR Engine”). The CR Engine identifies a plurality of contacts of a player of a first game on a gaming network environment (or a game networking system). The CR Engine collects contact attributes for each of the plurality of contacts from one or more contact attribute sources. The CR Engine requests a first configuration table related to the first game. Upon receiving the first configuration table, the CR Engine scores the collected contact attributes of each contact of the player according to one or more updateable rules of the first configuration table. The CR Engine ranks in a contacts ranking list each contact based on a respective score. The CR Engine selects a portion of the contacts ranking list. The CR Engine displays each contact from the selected portion.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing recommendations of online games to friends of social network are described. A method for processing recommendations includes identifying a gaming session of a user on an online game provider network, accessing a use profile of the user for the online games of the online game provider network, and accessing a social graph of the user to identify friends of the user and respective friend profiles from the social network. The method further includes producing a recommendation of an online game. The recommendation includes an identification of a target friend of the user and is being provided by examination of the use profile of the user and friend profiles in the social graph. The method includes providing the recommendation to the user. The recommendation also includes an offer incentive to the user to share the recommendation with the target friend.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for identity key management in networked application execution. In one embodiment, an identifier request is transmitted from a client system to a server system, in which an identity key value in the identifier request is blank. Upon detecting the blank identity key value at the server system, the server system operates to generate a new identity key value and an identifier for the new identity key value. The new identity key value and the identifier for the new identity key value are transmitted from the server system to the client system. The new identity key value is stored in a local store of the client system. The local store of the client system is secured by a passcode and persists data through power cycling of the client system. The identifier is used to track execution of a networked application in an anonymous execution mode.

Abstract: A system, a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium storing instructions, and a computer-implemented method to cause simulation of a kinetic disaster is provided. A physical interaction with a client device is detected during gameplay of a multiplayer game that includes a virtual environment. The detected physical interaction is analyzed using a user interaction profile. A kinetic disaster simulator is selected based on the analyzing the physical interaction with the user interaction profile. Simulation of a predefined game action is caused within the virtual environment.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for executing a game and for creating computer-generated game quests, which are referred to as dynamic quests. One method includes an operation for identifying a template for creating a dynamic quest. The dynamic quest includes quest tasks and quest rewards, which are provided to a player upon completion of the quest tasks in the game. The template includes template tasks and template rewards. Further, the method includes an operation for selecting one or more template tasks for the quest tasks, and an operation for selecting one or more template rewards for the quest rewards. The dynamic quest is created in the game with the selected one or more template tasks and the selected one or more template rewards.

Abstract: A method for facilitating asynchronous group play of an online casino game is provided. A group session is initiated over the Internet, including a plurality of players. A group objective defines a requirement of two or more of the plurality of players achieving winning outcomes that result from initiation of player decisions occurring in relative proximity to each other. For each player, outcomes of player decisions occurring during a period of gameplay are stored to a current session database defined in a storage device, wherein the periods of gameplay of at least two of the plurality of players are asynchronous. The current session database is analyzed to identify outcomes of two or more of the plurality of players occurring within a predefined number of player decisions of each other. The identified outcomes are combined and compared against the group objective.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for providing play areas to communities of players in an online game. One method includes an operation for identifying attributes of players in the online game. A characteristic that is common to a subset of players is determined in the online game, where the characteristic is based on the attributes of players in the online game. The method further includes an operation for creating a playing area in the online game, such that the subset of players are allowed to play in the playing area, but other players in the online game, that are outside the subset of players, are disallowed from playing in the playing area. The subset of players is then enabled to play in the playing area with other players from the subset of players.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer-readable storage medium for guiding a player to the completion of a task during game play. The player selects a control device in a graphical user interface device generated by a processor. In response to the selection, a hint is provided to the user in the graphical user interface that presents a game board to a player. The player may use the hint to accomplish the task.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for executing a computer game. One method includes an operation for setting an initial value to the jackpot of a first player. The jackpot of the first player is increased based on each bet by the first player in the computer game. Additionally, the jackpot of the first player is increased based on each bet made by friends of the first player in the computer game. The friends of the first player have a social connection with the first player, and the jackpot of the first player is independent from bets in the computer game of players that are not friends of the first player. The method further includes an operation for resetting the jackpot of the first player to the initial value when the first player or when any friend of the first player wins the jackpot.

Abstract: A system, machine-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for providing reciprocation of game asset gifts from a player is provided. A notification of a game asset of a first player that is available to a plurality of players is sent from a game server to the plurality of players. The notification is sent through a web feed in a game user interface of each player of the plurality of players. A first response requesting the game asset of the first player is received from a second web feed in a second game user interface of a second player in response to the notification. The game asset is provided to a second account of the second player in response to the first response.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for processing operations of a computer game to be played on a computing device. One method includes an operation for detecting a petition for help from a first player to a second player to obtain a first game asset for the first player. The petition is sent to the second player notifying the second player that a game asset needed by the second player would be awarded to the second player for helping the first player. Further, the method includes operations for selecting a game asset to award the second player, the game asset being from a wish list of the second player, the wish list including game assets pre-identified by the second player. The second player is awarded with the game asset that is selected from the wish list of the second player, and as a result, both the first and second players are enabled to make progress within the game.

Abstract: A collaborative diplomacy mechanics system for an online game is described. A player selects an ally to be engaged in a combat mode of an online social game against an enemy. The profile of the selected ally is retrieved. An ally power up weapon is generated based on the profile of the selected ally. The ally power up weapon is applied against a combat unit of an enemy of a player in the combat mode. The ally power up weapon can also be applied on a combat unit of the player in the combat mode.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for selecting game servers and assigning seats to players in poker tables. One method includes an operation for receiving table parameters from a user in a poker game. The table parameters identify the characteristics of a desired table for playing poker by the user. A distance from the desired table to the available poker tables is calculated, where the distance based on the similarity between the desired table and each of the available poker tables. Each of the available poker tables is served by one of a plurality of servers. Additionally, the method includes operations for selecting candidate tables from the available poker tables based on the calculated distances, and for selecting a playing table from the candidate tables at random. The user is then connected to a server that serves the selected playing table.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a method of estimating odds that a player will win a round of a card game is disclosed. Information is received pertaining to cards that have been dealt from a deck at a particular point during a round of a card game. The information identifies cards that have been revealed to the player and a number of cards that have not been revealed to the player. An estimation of odds that the player will win the round of the card game is generated. The generating includes repeatedly, for each of the number of cards that has not been revealed to the player and for each remaining card to be dealt in the round, randomly selecting a card from remaining cards in the deck. The estimation of the odds is communicated for integration into a presentation of information pertaining to the card game.

Abstract: Software on a server and/or client device verifies a user as eligible to play an online game in which the wager and payout are made with real money. The software causes a graphical user interface (GUI) view for a first online game to be displayed to a user. The software then receives a first game input from the user. The first game input represents a wager or a play according to game mechanics of the first online game. The software causes a GUI view for a second game to be displayed to the user. And the software receives a second game input from the user. The second game input represents a play according to game mechanics for the second game. Then the software provides a payout for the first online game. The payout includes a promotional payout that depends at least in part on the second game input.

Abstract: Software on a server transmits a copy of a string of text data containing game state parameters to a client device executing an instance of a computer-implemented game. The string is serialized and unstructured. The instance modifies the game state parameters according to game logic and events generated by a user as the user plays the game. The software on the server then receives a batch file transmitted after a threshold period of time by the instance. The batch file includes a plurality of events. The software processes the plurality of events in the batch file against game logic to update one or more of game state parameters in the string and stores the text data in the updated string in a persistent database.

Abstract: A system has a first web node, a first server node, a second server node, a push messaging server, and a second web node. The first web node receives a message from a first player at a first client node for a second player at a second client node within an online game. The first server node maintains a first persistent connection with the first client node. The second server node maintains a second persistent connection with the second client node. The push messaging server stores a game state of the first and second players of the online game, updates the game state based on the message, and notifies the first and second server node. The second web node receives the message from the push messaging server and forwards the message to the second client node via the second persistent connection.

Abstract: The computer-implemented game comprises a plurality of user-initiated in-game actions for affecting game state information that includes a set of browser in-game actions which is available via a browser user interface and includes a set of convenience in-game actions which is unavailable via the browser user interface, a single convenience in-game action of the set of convenience in-game actions being capable of producing a particular game result that corresponds to a plurality of browser in-game actions from the set of browser in-game actions, the plurality of browser in-game actions being capable of collectively producing the particular game result. A mobile application allows access to a set of mobile in-game actions that includes at least a portion of the set of browser in-game actions and includes the set of convenience in-game actions, initiation of each convenience in-game action being a user-selectable option for a user only via the mobile application.