Abstract: In a game system, a game managing server includes: a game controlling unit that controls a game; a game player instruction receiving unit that receives an instruction from a game player and forwards the instruction to the game controlling unit; and a watching point setting unit that sets a viewpoint position for generating a watching screen for viewing the game, the watching screen being offered to a plurality of watching players different from the game player.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for gaming systems are disclosed. A gaming system performs operations, including randomly determining and displaying game symbols of a first feature of a game. The operations further include determining that the game symbols include an initiator symbol and one or more activator symbols. The operations further include determining a quantity of the activator symbols. The operations further include initiating a quantity of second feature displays corresponding to the quantity of activator symbols. The operations further include randomly determining and displaying additional game symbols of a second feature of the game. The operations further include determining that the symbols of second feature correspond to awards and converting the symbols into the awards.

Abstract: There is provided a sensor device capable of operating and reducing electric power consumption effectively, in response to sensing data of a state of the hitting tool used by the user, the sensor device including: a sensor unit configured to directly or indirectly detect sensing data indicating a motion and an orientation of a hitting tool, a communication unit configured to transmit the sensing data detected by the sensor unit to an external device, and a control unit configured to control operation of the sensor unit and the communication unit. The control unit or the sensor unit changes at least one of the sensor unit and the control unit to an electric power saving mode, upon detecting that the hitting tool has a specific orientation for a certain amount of time.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to adjusting virtual item bundles made available to users of on online game based on user gameplay information. In implementations, information relating to prospective usage of the online game is used to classify users according by user type. Responsive to the determined user type of a user, customizations of item bundles in the online game made available to individual users for purchase within the online game may be determined.

Abstract: A system and method provide automated guild-dependent variation of in-game capabilities available to player in an computer-implemented game. An in-game capability is made available to the player in inter-guild competitive gameplay, for example comprising an object-specific ability associated with the game object, such as a collectible card. A value for a variable attribute of the in-game capability is dynamically adjusted based at least in part on one or more guild metrics for an associated guild of which the player is a member. The one or more guild metrics may include guild size and activity levels of guild members.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer programs for controlling a view of a virtual scene with a handheld device are presented. In one method, images of a real world scene are captured using a device. The method further includes operations for creating an augmented view for presentation on a display of the device by augmenting the images with virtual reality objects, and for detecting a hand in the images as extending into the real world scene. In addition, the method includes operations for showing the hand in the screen as detected in the images, and for generating interaction data, based on an interaction of the hand with a virtual reality object, when the hand makes virtual contact in the augmented view with the virtual reality object. The augmented view is updated based on the interaction data, which simulates on the screen that the hand is interacting with the virtual reality object.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to adjusting virtual item bundles made available to users of on online game based on user gameplay information. In implementations, information relating to prospective usage of the online game is used to classify users according by user type. Responsive to the determined user type of a user, customizations of item bundles in the online game made available to individual users for purchase within the online game may be determined.

Abstract: A unified platform supports a plurality of game titles and diverse gaming devices to provide publishers and developers with a software development kit (SDK) including application programming interfaces (APIs) for creating multiplayer tournaments. Developers use the SDK to create tournament definitions and permission levels for tournament organizers. Tournament definitions specify configuration values as parameters the unified platform uses to create instances of multiplayer tournaments. Permission levels can define which tournament organizers are able to set up and manage tournaments and can define parameters to which they must adhere. The unified platform can store tournament definitions that are created by game publishers, game developers, or tournament organizers and can use the stored definitions to create tournament instances.

Abstract: Innovations in the area of controlling behavior of computer-controlled entities such as cars in a computer-represented environment are presented herein. In various examples described herein, the behavior of computer-controlled cars is controlled by an artificial intelligence (“AI”) behavior engine. The AI behavior engine performs operations to determine if the behavior (driving pattern, etc.) of a computer-controlled car should change for a funnel section. If so, the AI behavior engine switches the computer-controlled car to a trailing mode configuration and selects a candidate car to follow in the funnel section based on various criteria. The AI behavior engine also determines how to follow the candidate car by selecting a racing path and setting rules to determine the speed to use for following the candidate car. Control values are then set. The described innovations also generally apply to other racing scenarios, self-driving/autonomous cars, and other applications with robotic equipment and devices.

Abstract: System and method for providing cross-game virtual containers in online games are disclosed. Virtual items usable in multiple online games may be packaged in a cross-game virtual container. Instances of cross-game virtual container may be presented for purchase by user in a virtual store. The price of a given instance of cross-game virtual container may be set as a fraction of the total of the individual prices of the virtual items in the given instance of cross-game virtual container. After an activation of a purchased instance of cross-game virtual container by a user in one of the online games, virtual items in the purchased instance of cross-game virtual container may be made available for access to the user in respective online games. In some examples, a notification may be generated for informing the user of the availability of the virtual items in the activated instance of cross-game virtual container.

Abstract: Various aspects of a system and a method for providing one or more game extensions in a gaming environment are disclosed herein. The one or more game extensions that correspond to a selected game are dynamically determined. The game is selected based on a user input at a computing device. The one or more game extensions are transmitted to the computing device. Each of the one or more game extensions are associated with one or more pre-defined configurable actions that are triggered based on user interaction with a respective game extension.

Abstract: A unified platform supports a plurality of game titles and diverse gaming devices to provide publishers and developers with a software development kit (SDK) including application programming interfaces (APIs) for creating multiplayer tournaments. Developers use the SDK to create tournament definitions and permission levels for tournament organizers. Tournament definitions specify configuration values as parameters the unified platform uses to create instances of multiplayer tournaments. Permission levels can define which tournament organizers are able to set up and manage tournaments and can define parameters to which they must adhere. The unified platform can store tournament definitions that are created by game publishers, game developers, or tournament organizers and can use the stored definitions to create tournament instances.

Abstract: A game apparatus includes an input-output processor, and by following an instruction from the input-output processor, messages are transmitted and received with other game apparatus 12 connected via a network. The messages are transmitted and received in an electronic mail format, and has identification information of an application being a creation source of the message as well as general information, such as a transmission source, a destination and a subject as header information.

Abstract: The subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for determining a current performance of a gamer during a first gaming session of a gaming application, where the performance is determined from a first plurality of stimulus signals generated by a gaming accessory during the first gaming session according to a configuration setting assigned to the gaming accessory, identifying a prior performance of the gamer during a prior gaming session of the gaming application, where the prior performance is determined from a second plurality of stimulus signals generated by the gaming accessory according to the configuration setting, comparing the current performance to the prior performance to determine a change in performance of the gamer, and adjusting the configuration setting assigned to the gaming accessory according to the change in the performance of the gamer. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to rewarding users of an electronic game for real-world physical activity. Further aspects relate to altering virtual items based upon physical activity. An electronic game may comprise or otherwise relate to an online world (such as a “Virtual World”). Users may be represented through customized graphical representations, such as avatars. An account of a user (or entity) may be associated a “virtual region.” A threshold level of real-world physical activity may result in obtaining a reward that may be associated with a virtual item. A reward may be configured to result in: (1) altering visual appearance of a virtual item within a virtual region; (2) altering a virtual characteristic of a virtual item, such that the first user may engage in at least one additional virtual activity using that virtual item; and/or (3) acquiring a new virtual item for a virtual region.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a bonus opportunity when a designated relationship exists between a plurality of randomly determined elements. The gaming system randomly generates a plurality of elements in association with a play of a secondary game. The gaming system determines whether a designated relationship exists between the randomly determined elements. If the designated relationship exists between the randomly determined elements, the gaming system determines a bonus opportunity associated with the randomly determined elements and provides the bonus opportunity to a player.

Abstract: A method of runtime animation substitution may include detecting, by a processing device of a video game console, an interaction scenario in an instance of an interactive video game, wherein the interaction scenario comprises a target animation associated with a game character. The method may further include identifying, by the processing device, a valid transitional animation. The method may further include causing, by the processing device, the valid transitional animation to be performed by the game character in the instance of the interactive video game.

Abstract: A method of automatically targeting a target object, the method including setting a target range including a designated distance from a user-controlled character and a designated horizontal angle centering at a location of the character, selecting at least one target object included in the set target range, and displaying a shape distinguishable from a shape of the target object at a location near the at least one selected target object, wherein the target object is an object the character is able to attack from among objects in a computer game.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe methods and apparatuses for improving efficiency in emulation. An emulated CPU receives inputs and generates a first set of frames. The frames are stored in a buffer on the emulator. Once all of the frames in the first set of frames have been produced, the contents of the buffer may be delivered to an emulated GPU. Each frame is then rendered by the emulated GPU. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A computer game of chance is described. A system displays, via a user interface, at least a part of a field of play associated with a game of chance. The system receives, via the user interface, a user selection of a region within the field of play. The system evaluates a probability that an object will traverse the user-selected region during any of the random movements by the object from a beginning area to an ending area during a round of play. The system displays, via the user interface, the object moving in the field of play during at least some of the random movements. The system credits a success value, based on the probability, to a player of the game of chance if the object traversed the user-selected region during any of the random movements during the round of play.