A game control method, a game server, and a game system with which a user can efficiently increase the number of friends in a game with a friend-up function are provided. When a friend candidate list image 230 of a recommended friend search screen 23 is generated in response to a request from an information processor 1 connected to a game server 10 over a communication line, the game server 10 generates a list of friend candidates with reference to a friend seeking flag. The friend seeking flag is stored in association with a user ID by which each user is identified, and indicates whether the user corresponding to the user ID is seeking friends.

A method for emulation of graphical parameters during a play of a legacy game is described. The method includes receiving a user input from a hand-held controller and determining whether one or more basic blocks of code for servicing the user input are stored in a cache. The method further includes compiling the one or more basic blocks of code from one or more emulated processing unit (PU) code instructions upon determining that the one or more basic blocks are not stored in the cache. The method includes executing the one or more basic blocks of code to generate one or more legacy graphical parameters. The method includes emulating the one or more legacy graphical parameters to generate one or more image frames having one or more updated graphical parameters for display of one or more images of the legacy game on a display device.

A video game test system can determine an objective measure of elapsed time between interaction with a video game controller and the occurrence of a particular event within the video game. This objective measure enables a tester to determine whether a video game is objectively operating slowly or just feels slow to the tester, and may indicate the existence of coding errors that may affect execution speed, but not cause visible errors. The system may obtain the objective measure of elapsed time by simulating a user's interaction with the video game. Further, the system may identify data embedded into a frame of an animation by the video game source code to identify the occurrence of a corresponding event. The system can then measure the elapsed time between the simulated user interaction and the occurrence or triggering of the corresponding event.

A video game test system can determine an objective measure of elapsed time between interaction with a video game controller and the occurrence of a particular event within the video game. This objective measure enables a tester to determine whether a video game is objectively operating slowly or just feels slow to the tester, and may indicate the existence of coding errors that may affect execution speed, but not cause visible errors. The system may obtain the objective measure of elapsed time by simulating a user's interaction with the video game. Further, the system may identify data embedded into a frame of an animation by the video game source code to identify the occurrence of a corresponding event. The system can then measure the elapsed time between the simulated user interaction and the occurrence or triggering of the corresponding event.

A gaming system provides one or more arcade gaming devices in wireless communication with a central server via a network. Each arcade gaming device is configurable as a cabinet arcade gaming device with an upper gaming unit coupled to a pedestal, or alternatively as a tabletop arcade gaming device for positioning on a tabletop or other surface without a pedestal. Games may be downloaded using the arcade gaming device or from a gaming application on a mobile computing device directly to the arcade gaming device via the central server.

A method for emulation of user input during a play of a legacy game is described. The method includes receiving a user input from the updated hand-held controller and parsing the user input to identify an updated input device of the updated hand-held controller. The method further includes determining, based on the identity of the updated input device, an identity of a legacy input device of a legacy hand-held controller. The method includes determining whether one or more blocks of code for servicing a functionality of the legacy input device of the legacy hand-held controller are cached, and accessing one or more instructions of a legacy game code of the legacy game upon determining that the one or more blocks of code are not cached. The method includes compiling the one or more blocks of code from the one or more instructions of the legacy game code.

A method for emulation of user input during a play of a legacy game is described. The method includes receiving a user input from the updated hand-held controller and parsing the user input to identify an updated input device of the updated hand-held controller. The method further includes determining, based on the identity of the updated input device, an identity of a legacy input device of a legacy hand-held controller. The method includes determining whether one or more blocks of code for servicing a functionality of the legacy input device of the legacy hand-held controller are cached, and accessing one or more instructions of a legacy game code of the legacy game upon determining that the one or more blocks of code are not cached. The method includes compiling the one or more blocks of code from the one or more instructions of the legacy game code.

A game controller is configured to selectively pair with a companion device using a first communication protocol and one or more gaming systems using a second communication protocol. The game controller is configured to send a pairing request to the companion device using the first communication protocol based on companion-device pairing data stored in a storage subsystem of the game controller. The game controller is configured to send a pairing request to a last-paired gaming system with which the game controller last paired using the second communication protocol based on gaming-system pairing data stored in the storage subsystem. Responsive to the game controller being unable to pair with the last-paired gaming system and while the game controller is paired with the companion device, the game controller is configured to send an error notification to the companion device using the first communication protocol.

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for predictive preloading of game data are described. In some implementations, a method can include using a machine learning model of player data to predict which games (or game-related data assets) to begin preloading prior to a user making a game selection. Once the user makes a selection, any preloading not related to the selection can be terminated. Thus, during the time period when the user is viewing available game selections, a given number of selections can begin to be preloaded based on predictions from the machine learning model. The preloading can help reduce latency from game selection by the user to game start time.

Methods, systems, and apparatus are described herein for managing computing resources and computing tasks. A computing capability associated with a computing device can be compared to capability requirement associated with a computing task. In the case that a computing capability associated with a first computing device does not satisfy the capability requirement, an alternate computing device can be designated to execute the computing task.