Abstract: In certain aspects, the invention features a system that includes a number of grid-cluster schedulers, wherein each grid-cluster scheduler has software in communication with a number of computing resources, wherein each of the computing resources has an availability, and wherein the grid-cluster scheduler is configured to obtain a quantity of said computing resources as well as the availability and to allocate work for a client application to one or more of the computing resources based on the quantity and availability of the computing resources. In such aspects, the system further includes a meta-scheduler in communication with the grid-cluster schedulers, wherein the meta-scheduler is configured to direct work dynamically for one or more client applications to at least one of the grid-cluster schedulers based at least in part on data from each of the grid-cluster schedulers.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to ensure that a threshold game result is possible. According to one embodiment, a game condition associated with a game of skill is established. The game of skill may be, for example, a puzzle game (e.g., a word puzzle game or a graphical puzzle game) or an arcade-style game. It is determined that at least one set of possible player inputs during game play will produce at least a threshold game result given the established game condition. The threshold game result may be associated with, for example, prizes provided to players based on game results.