Abstract: There is provided a system and method for inducing a reply from a first client connected to a virtual world to facilitate a social interaction using a second client connected to the virtual world. There is provided a method for inducing a reply from a first client connected to a virtual world to facilitate a social interaction using a second client connected to the virtual world, the method comprising locating, in the virtual world, an avatar of the second client in a proximity of an avatar of the first client, executing a social action using the avatar of the second client such that the social action is observable by the first client but not observable by the second client, receiving the reply from the first client in response to the social action, and rendering the reply from first client using the avatar of the first client.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and displaying a graphical representation of a player type profile. A respective player type profile may be generated for each of a plurality of users of a virtual environment that characterizes each user by a predominant player type. Player types may be defined by the designers of the virtual environment. The player type profile may be generated by logging the actions performed by the user when connected to the virtual environment and then analyzing the actions to determine the best characterization for the user.

Abstract: A method for enabling purchases of status items associated with an online virtual game is disclosed. The method involves: determining that a player of the online virtual game has achieved a first objective defined in the online virtual game, and informing an online store that the player has achieved the first objective. The online store is configured to allow the player to purchase a first status item for achieving the first objective. The first status item comprises a real-world indication that the player has achieved the first objective. The online store is configured to allow a particular player to purchase a particular status item associated with achieving a particular objective in the online virtual game that conveys that the particular player has, in fact, achieved the particular objective. The online store is configured to not allow the particular player to purchase the particular status item without actually having achieved the particular objective.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method for inducing a reply from a first client connected to a virtual world to facilitate a social interaction using a second client connected to the virtual world. There is provided a method for inducing a reply from a first client connected to a virtual world to facilitate a social interaction using a second client connected to the virtual world, the method comprising locating, in the virtual world, an avatar of the second client in a proximity of an avatar of the first client, executing a social action using the avatar of the second client such that the social action is observable by the first client but not observable by the second client, receiving the reply from the first client in response to the social action, and rendering the reply from first client using the avatar of the first client.

Abstract: A single instance of a virtual space may be provided that can be simultaneously represented in at least two dimensions or three dimensions on separate client computing devices. Virtual space information used to facilitate presentation of the virtual space may be agnostic as to whether the virtual space will be represented in two or three dimensions. That is, the same virtual space information may be sent to one or more client computing platforms regardless of the dimensionality of virtual space representations presented by any given client computing platform. A determination may be made at individual client computing platforms as to whether to present the virtual space representation in two dimensions or three dimensions based on one or more metrics associated with the individual client computing platforms. Such metrics may include a computing power of the one or more processors, a communication bandwidth, a screen size, and/or other metrics.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and displaying a graphical representation of a player type profile. A respective player type profile may be generated for each of a plurality of users of a virtual environment that characterizes each user by a predominant player type. Player types may be defined by the designers of the virtual environment. The player type profile may be generated by logging the actions performed by the user when connected to the virtual environment and then analyzing the actions to determine the best characterization for the user.

Abstract: A single instance of a virtual space may be provided that can be simultaneously represented in at least two dimensions or three dimensions on separate client computing devices. Virtual space information used to facilitate presentation of the virtual space may be agnostic as to whether the virtual space will be represented in two or three dimensions. That is, the same virtual space information may be sent to one or more client computing platforms regardless of the dimensionality of virtual space representations presented by any given client computing platform. A determination may be made at individual client computing platforms as to whether to present the virtual space representation in two dimensions or three dimensions based on one or more metrics associated with the individual client computing platforms. Such metrics may include a computing power of the one or more processors, a communication bandwidth, a screen size, and/or other metrics.

Abstract: A method for enabling purchases of status items associated with an online virtual game is disclosed. The method involves: determining that a player of the online virtual game has achieved a first objective defined in the online virtual game, and informing an online store that the player has achieved the first objective. The online store is configured to allow the player to purchase a first status item for achieving the first objective. The first status item comprises a real-world indication that the player has achieved the first objective. The online store is configured to allow a particular player to purchase a particular status item associated with achieving a particular objective in the online virtual game that conveys that the particular player has, in fact, achieved the particular objective. The online store is configured to not allow the particular player to purchase the particular status item without actually having achieved the particular objective.