Abstract: An abstraction layer in a gaming environment intercepts calls to standard random number and user selection functions and returns data based on game operating mode and data availability. When operating as a Class 2 game, random number data may be received from a server while in a Class 3 game, random numbers may be received from a local random number generator. In a history mode or power recovery mode, calls for both random numbers and user selections may be supplied from a file storing data from a previously played or an interrupted game, respectively. Pay table testing may be accommodated by using predetermined random numbers resulting in known reel or other outcome states. The abstraction layer isolates game code from the unique requirements of the different modes of operation required for operating environment or regulatory compliance.

Abstract: A golf aid for assisting a user in reading a green includes a user tracking system to determine the location of a user on a golf course, a heads up display, and a processor. The heads up display is configured to be worn on the user's head, and to display an image within a field of view of the user. The processor is in communication with the user tracking system and with the heads up display, and maintains a representation of a topology for each of a plurality of golf greens, receives an indication of the location of the user from the user tracking system, identifies one of the plurality of golf greens that is the closest to the user, and displays a representation of the topology within the field of view of the user via the heads up display.

Abstract: A haptic peripheral comprising a housing, a user input element, a position sensor coupled to the user input element, and an actuator located within the housing and coupled to the user input element. The position sensor is configured to detect a position of the user input element and is configured to send the position to a processor. The actuator is configured to receive a haptic effect drive signal from the processor and is configured to output a force in response to the haptic effect drive signal from the processor. The force is transmitted to the user input element as a kinesthetic haptic effect. The haptic peripheral may include a mechanical amplification system coupled to the actuator and configured to increase the force output by the actuator. In such an embodiment, the increased force is transmitted from the mechanical amplification system to the user input element as a kinesthetic haptic effect.

Abstract: Facilitating a user to provide inputs to a computing platform by applying varying pressure to one or more external points on a pressure sensitive peripheral device is disclosed. The pressure sensitive peripheral device may include one or more pressure sensors disposed within a housing body or housing bodies of the pressure sensitive peripheral device. The pressure sensors may provide pressure signals conveying information associated with compressive forces applied to the housing body or bodies of the pressure sensitive peripheral device. Inputs to control one or more aspects of a computing platform coupled to the pressure sensitive peripheral device may be provided based on the pressure signals. The one or more aspects of the computing platform may include one or more aspects of a graphical user interface on a display associated with the computing platform, operational aspects of the computing platform and/or any other aspects of the computing platform.

Abstract: A card shoe apparatus includes a card reading unit for reading from a card a code when the card is drawn from the card housing unit, and a control unit that determines the winner/loser of a card game based on the number of the cards sequentially read by the card reading unit. The control unit further includes a memory that stores information on a predetermined number of cards read by the card reading unit, and has a function of detecting an irregularity of a shuffled playing card set.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the gaming system, gaming device, and gaming method disclosed herein provide a primary game and a free activation bonus sequence, wherein the gaming system enables the player to select one or more of a plurality of different volatility options for use in the free activation bonus sequence. Each option is associated with a different number of free activations and a different pool of symbols or different symbol functionality. The gaming system provides this variation in the pool of symbols or symbol functionality in various embodiments by enabling the player to replace one or more symbols of a pool or set of symbols of the primary game (i.e., the primary set of symbols) with the symbol associated with a player selected option. The symbols of this modified set of symbols (i.e., the secondary set of symbols) are used in the free activation bonus sequence).

Abstract: A gaming system, kit and attendant methodology provide users with overlapping real-virtual world interactive play. The gaming kit enables a user's smart phone or tablet type computer to enable virtual gaming upon the visual display thereof. A user-operable control device separate from the computer includes externally ornamental circuitry housing and signal-transmitting circuitry. The user-operable control device generates and transmits virtual object control signals enabled via the signal-transmitting circuitry. A signal-communicating mechanism receives virtual object control signals from the control device and communicates the virtual object control signals to the user's computer. A computer-implementable gaming application is deployable via the computer for providing a controllable and visually displayed virtual object upon the electronic visual display.

Abstract: A sensor system for detecting aspects of a person's swing of a sporting implement having proximal and distal ends displays the aspects of the person's swing on a portable electronic device. The system includes a distal enclosure, a proximal enclosure, and a software application resident on the portable electronic device. The proximal and distal enclosures are fixable with the proximal and distal ends, respectively, of the sporting implement, and two additional hip enclosures may be include for fixing with the person's hips. Each enclosure includes a power source that powers a sensing circuit having at least one sensor and a transmitter. The software application is adapted to receive the sensor data from the sensing circuits and display aspects of the person's swing on a display thereof as derived from the sensor data. Embodiments adapted for use with golf clubs, sporting racquets, and baseball bats are disclosed.

Abstract: A gaming machine including a secondary processor coupled to a player tracking system for tracking game play of a patron using a virtual player loyalty card is described. A virtual player loyalty card can be created by associating an existing physical player loyalty card with a newly created mobile loyalty card account. The mobile card can be virtually inserted into an electronic gaming machine when a portable electronic device with an associated mobile application is in the vicinity of an electronic gaming machine. Once the mobile card is virtually inserted into the gaming machine, the patron's game play at the gaming machine can be tracked.

Abstract: One or more hardware components identify a bottleneck stage within a processor pipeline that processes frames of a video stream. The bottleneck stage has a first clock. An upstream stage receives a feedback signal from the bottleneck stage. The upstream stage has a second clock and the feedback signal includes information as to time required by the bottleneck stage to operate on data and information as to time the data spent queued. The upstream stage adjusts the speed at which the upstream stage operates and queues data to approximate the speed at which the bottleneck stage is operating and queuing data.

Abstract: In one aspect, there is described a computer-implemented method of configuring timeout values for an electronic gaming system. The electronic gaming system includes an electronic gaming machine and a first host coupled to the electronic gaming machine through a network. The method includes: receiving a command to initiate timeout calibration through an input interface associated with the electronic gaming system; and in response to receiving the command: i) sending a plurality of test messages between the electronic gaming machine and the first host; ii) determining transmission times for the test messages; iii) based on the determined transmission times, automatically determining one or more timeout values; and iv) configuring one or both of the electronic gaming machine and the first host based on the determined timeout values.

Abstract: The field of the invention relates to multi-user online gaming systems, and more particularly to systems and methods that enable customizable teams for online active games. In an embodiment, the system includes an online game session server system communicatively coupled to a network for access by a plurality of users to establish a plurality of real-time interactive games sessions, wherein each game session includes at least one team and wherein the at least one team may be established in accordance with a preferred composition defined by a user.

Abstract: A virtual space is provided to users via client computing devices. Device information related to a client computing platform used by a user to interact with the virtual space may be obtained. Customized in-game capabilities available for the user may be determined based on the device information, which may include a description of or otherwise identify the client computing platform. The device information may include or otherwise by used to obtain device capabilities such as hardware, software, network, and/or other specifications. Different users using different client computing platforms may be provided with different in-game capabilities such as user roles, content items, levels, and/or other content or actions available for the user in the virtual space based on the client computing platform used by the users to interact with the virtual space.

Abstract: A system and method for entering text within a video game application are described.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a content providing method for a content providing server to provide contents to client terminals via a network. The method includes: obtaining play data indicating progress conditions of a computer game progressing according to user operation on the client terminals; evaluating game plays by each predetermined evaluation item on a basis of the play data; obtaining data of a moving image of a game play extracted according to an evaluation result; and distributing the data of the moving image to the client terminals via the network.

Abstract: Exemplary methods, apparatuses, and systems provide a user of a social network system access to a game over a network from a user device. The social network system matches the user with players of the game based on respective skill levels of the players and/or social proximity between the user and the players. The social network system sends a list of matched players to the user device for selection by the user, and sends an invitation to one or more of the players selected by the user to enable the user to play the game over the network with the one or more players.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and/or a system of an electronic puzzle game comprising a set of extendable lines combinable to form a puzzle image is disclosed. In one embodiment, an electronic puzzle game includes a set of instructions, which when operated through a processor communicatively coupled with a memory operate in a manner to: generate a set of positions, wherein when at least some of the set of positions are combined together along a predetermined pathway, the combined ones of the set of positions form a puzzle image, generate a plurality of lines that are maneuverable onto each of the set of positions through a control interface, and extend the plurality of lines responsive to an action of a user along the set of positions, and when the plurality of lines are extended across the predetermined pathway by the user, the extended lines combine together to render the puzzle image.

Abstract: A game system includes a housing to be held by a player. The housing incorporates an XY-axis acceleration sensor to detect an acceleration in a X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction and a Z-axis contact switch to detect an acceleration in a Z-axis direction. The sensor and switch detect at least one of an amount (e.g., tilt amount, movement amount, impact amount or the like) and a direction (e.g., tilt direction, movement direction, impact direction or the like) of a change applied to the housing. A simulation program provides simulation such that a state of a game space is changed related to at least one of the amount and direction of the change applied to the housing.

Abstract: A skill level initiated interleaved wagering system is disclosed, including: an interactive controller configured to: communicate an application telemetry communication comprising application telemetry; scan an application resource instruction; and scan a wager outcome communication; a wager controller constructed to: scan a wager instruction; generate the wager outcome; communicate, to the application controller, the wager outcome communication comprising the wager outcome; and the application controller operatively connecting the interactive controller and the wager controller and constructed to: determine an application level change, wherein the application level is associated with a user; generate the wager instruction comprising one or more wager parameters used in determining wager outcomes; communicate, to the wager controller, the wager instruction; scan the wager outcome communication from the wager controller; generate the application resource instruction comprising application resources; communicat

Abstract: Games, lotteries, and/or sweepstakes as well as tickets, systems, technologies, and/or methods related thereto. In some embodiments, unique games and/or unique administrations of games and/or unique tickets useful for participating in games. In certain preferred embodiments, games which can be administrated or participated in contemporaneously with an event, such as a sporting event, music performance, or trade show (e.g., at the same time or during a live event). In certain of such preferred embodiments, participants in games make no payment to participate in the games.