Abstract: User log-in to a user account of an online game may be incentivized by providing awards to the users for logging in. Reengagement time periods for individual ones of the user accounts may be determined. The reengagement time periods may be determined to expire at times when a user may be logged out and/or may be expected to be logged out. By way of non-limiting example, the reengagement time periods may expire during wait periods for ongoing in-game tasks. The awards may be provided based on the expiration of the reengagement time periods and the user accounts conveying satisfaction of award redemption criteria.

Abstract: An electronic gaming machine where the player plays an interactive game using their player eye gaze. A graphics processor generates an interactive game environment and defines a viewing area as its subset, the viewing area having visible game components. A display device displays the viewing area having the plurality of visible game components. The display controller controls rendering of the viewing area on the display device using the graphics processor. At least one data capture camera device continuously monitors the player eye gaze to collect player eye gaze data. The game controller determines the location of the player's eye gaze relative to the viewing area and triggers a control command to the display controller. In response, the display controller controls the display device in real-time to provide a graphical animation effect displayed on the display device representative of a visual update to the visible game components in the viewing area.

Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to toy devices having an embedded memory for use in a storytelling environment. One embodiment provides a toy device that includes a memory storing data representing a plurality of effects. The toy device includes a memory bus communicatively coupled to the memory and a communication port communicatively coupled to the memory bus. An action disc device connected to the communication port can retrieve at least a portion of the stored data for playback over the communication port. The action disc device is configured to, upon detecting that a corresponding stimulus condition has been satisfied, retrieve data from the memory corresponding to one of the plurality of effects for playback using the communication port. The toy device further includes a connector mechanism to which the action disc device can be removably attached, while the action disc device is connected to the communication port.

Abstract: An approach to facilitate providing an event space associated with a primary virtual space is provided. An event space is provided to users of a primary virtual space, wherein the event space comprises one or more event objectives. Users of the primary virtual space having primary user accounts have associated event space accounts indicating event user parameters, event game parameters, and event inventory information for the first user. The user may be provided with event virtual items for purchase wherein the event virtual items are used in the event space during the event period. In response to a determination of the progress of the user associated with one or more event objectives an event award is determined for distribution to the user, wherein the event award may be used within the primary virtual space.

Abstract: A combination computing device and input device. The computing device provides a plurality of sides. The input device providing a structural bridge, a pair of control modules, and a touch sensitive input module attached to the back side of the input device. The pair of control modules confine the computing device on at least two opposing sides of the plurality of sides. The pair of control modules adaptively and snugly accommodate the width of the computing device, and alternatively, adaptively and snugly accommodate a width of a second computing device, the second computing device having a width greater than the width of the computing device. The structural bridge secures the pair of control modules one to the other, and, adaptively and snugly, accommodate the length of either the computing device or, the second computing device, the second computing device having a length greater than the length of the computing device.

Abstract: A user input device is described that includes a thumbstick that comprises a thumbstick module and a thumbstick cap that is connected thereto. The thumbstick cap includes a thumbstick base that is mounted upon the thumbstick module and a thumbstick top that can be removably connected to the thumbstick base. The manner of interconnection between the thumbstick top and the thumbstick base is such that a user can connect and disconnect the two components without having to disassemble the game controller and without having to use any tools.

Abstract: A device directed to a combination computing and input device. The computing device providing a plurality of sides, each of the plurality of sides are disposed between an electronic display screen and a back of the computing device. The input device communicates with the computing device and provides a pair of control modules adjacent to and confining the computing device on at least two opposing sides of the computing device. The input device further provides a structural bridge securing the pair of control modules one to the other, and a touch sensitive input module. The structural bridge adaptively and snugly accommodate the length of the computing device. A first of the pair of control modules features a retention mechanism communicating with the structural bridge. The retention mechanism adaptively secures the structural bridge such that the pair of control modules snugly accommodate the length of the computing device.

Abstract: Techniques to interact with an application via messaging are described. An apparatus may comprise an application support component and a communication component. The application support component may be operative to generate an image representing a state of an application and to update the state of the application according to a text command. The communication component may be operative to transmit the image to a client device via a messaging system as an image attachment to a first message and to receive a second message from the client device via the messaging system, the second message comprising the text command. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provides a bonus event on an electronic video gaming machine having touchscreen sensitivity on a video display in communication with a processor. The method includes: a) triggering a bonus event; b) providing and displaying at least one wild card symbol in a fixed position in columns and rows used to determine a bonus outcome; c) the processor generates a first random symbol for use in the bonus game which is displayed on the video gaming machine; d) the touch screen is activated so that a final position for the first random symbol is selectable by touchscreen activity; e) the processor filling the unfilled frames with random symbols; and f) the processor resolving a bonus outcome of the bonus outcome according to paylines within the columns and rows used to determine the bonus outcome.

Abstract: A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method to display icons based on messaging activity is provided. A request to access a game user interface of the first player is received from a client device of a first player, the game user interface being associated with a computer-implemented game. First player messaging activity information associated with messaging activity of the first player is accessed, the messaging activity of the first player including receipt of a message from one or more players associated with the computer-implemented game. A first manner of displaying one or more icons each identifying the one or more players is determined including determining the first manner based on the first player messaging information. Display data to display the one or more icons in the first manner within the game user interface is provided to the client device.

Abstract: A method to identify positions of fingers of a hand is described. The method includes capturing images of a first hand using a plurality of cameras that are part of a wearable device. The wearable device is attached to a wrist of a second hand and the plurality of cameras of the wearable device is disposed around the wearable device. The method includes repeating capturing of additional images of the first hand, the images and the additional images captured to produce a stream of captured image data during a session of presenting the virtual environment in a head mounted display (HMD). The method includes sending the stream of captured image data to a computing device that is interfaced with the HMD. The computing device is configured to process the captured image data to identify changes in positions of the fingers of the first hand.

Abstract: Technologies are generally described for a game item management scheme. In some examples, a method performed under control of a game server may include receiving, from a player account, a request to play a game hosted on the game server; determining whether the player account has been dormant based at least in part on an amount of elapsed time between a most recent playing of the game and the receiving; and modifying at least one game item associated with the player account, when the determining indicates that the player account has been dormant.

Abstract: A system for controlling progress of an electronic game by determining attack power of one or more characters constituting an ally team on the basis of a first player operating a plurality of objects disposed on a board formed by m rows and n columns and displayed on a display unit, applying the attack with the attack power to one or more characters constituting an enemy team, and varying the remaining value of a physical strength parameter related to the character constituting the enemy team. The system can a placement control unit that displays a board including objects operated by the first player superimposed with objects operated by the second player, wherein an order of the superimposition and a display size of the board is varied in accordance with a progress of the electronic game.

Abstract: A system for transitioning from a first footwear type to a second footwear type is usable with an article of footwear including a sensor system with a plurality of force sensors engaged with an article of footwear and configured to sense force exerted by a foot of a user and an electronic module configured to collect data based on force input from the sensors and to wirelessly transmit data generated by the sensor system. An electronic device includes a processor that receives the data from the electronic module, compares the data to a footstrike template corresponding to a desired footstrike pattern of a footwear transitional program, determines whether a deviation from the footstrike template exists, and generates an indication to the user when the deviation from the desired footstrike pattern is determined to exist. The desired footstrike pattern corresponds to a preferred footstrike of the second type of footwear.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a providing a jackpot bonus in a gaming system A jackpot bonus element is generated in an entertainment game portion of a hybrid game and a gambling game in a gambling game portion of the hybrid game is triggered when a player initiates an encounter in the entertainment game with the bonus element. It is then determined if the player wins the gambling game triggered by the player's encounter with the bonus element in the entertainment game a payout is provided to the player when it is determined that the player has won the gambling game.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating chance-based in-game virtual item distribution in a video game. A mini-game interface presents a mini-game to a user that has committed to a battle. Prior to instigation of the battle the user participates in a chance-based mini-game that determines awards to be distributed to the user from a set of potential awards. Benefits associated with a determined award are applied to a game entity included in a battle which is to follow the mini-game.

Abstract: A wireless communications system includes a computer system run on a single platform on which different lottery games for different jurisdictions are supported and run from the single platform. The single platform is configured to be in communication with one or more social media sites. Computer executable instructions, when executed by at least one network processor in a workflow server residing in a mobile communications network, implements components that include: a workflow module of sets of workflow instructions for processing different types of lottery game packets from different jurisdictions. A deep packet inspection module inspects a received lottery game packet and provides information about the lottery game packet to the workflow module. The workflow module coordinates processing of the received lottery game packets using selected ones of selectable communication function modules based on the information about the lottery game packet provided by the deep lottery game packet inspection module.

Abstract: In a network game, player characters manipulated by individual players of video game apparatuses belong to the same party to battle with an opponent character. When a player character making a special move is not present in the party, the display screen of each video game apparatus becomes a screen focusing on the player character of the player who uses this video game apparatus. When one of the player characters makes a special move, not only the display screen of the video game apparatus corresponding to this player, but also the display screens of the video game apparatuses corresponding to the other player characters in the party become screens focusing on the player character which makes the special move.

Abstract: Implementing games of chance across multiple computing devices is described. An electronic hand is associated with each computing device. The electronic hand includes a set of characters having a value. An electronic bid, which is a total quantity of a character of the set characters at a particular value, is initiated. An electronic challenge to the electronic bid is initiated. An actual quantity of the character at the particular value in the bidding electronic hand is determined. A point value is allocated to the bidder if the actual quantity of the character at the particular value is greater than or equal to the total quantity of the character at the particular value in the electronic bid. The point value is adjusted based on a bid value, and/or bid level, and/or the number of participants.

Abstract: In a first aspect, there is described an optical system for monitoring a ball play volume of a roulette wheel. The optical system comprises an electronic image detector and a reflector arranged to reflect light from a ball play volume of a roulette wheel onto the electronic image detector. The electronic image detector is configured to form an image of the ball play volume from the reflected light. In a second aspect, there is described a method of monitoring a ball play volume of a roulette wheel. The method comprises the steps of using a reflector to reflect light from the ball play volume, and forming an image of the ball play volume from the reflected light. In a third aspect, there is described a method of manufacturing an optical system for monitoring a ball play volume of a roulette wheel. The method comprises the steps of providing an electronic image detector, and providing a reflector arranged to reflect light from a ball play volume of a roulette wheel onto the electronic image detector.