An avatar or avatar environment to visualize data may be provided within a social networking system or service, for example as part of the Internet, and/or within a desktop widget, panel, gadget, or the like. The avatar may further evolve or alter its appearance, animation, or other visual or audio characteristics in response to the data or other input such as athletic activity performed by a corresponding user. In particular, the avatar of an embodiment may respond to and provide visualization of athletic or sport performance data.

A method for remotely provisioning resources for running a computer application is described. The method includes: causing, using one or more processing units, an initialization of a user interactive video portion of a computer application, the computer application being executed using a remote server; determining a runtime of a static video portion of the computer application and a time required to complete initialization of the user interactive portion using information provided by the remote server; and delaying a start time of displaying the static video portion when the runtime of the static video portion is shorter than the time required to complete the initialization of the user interactive portion. A device that is capable of performing the above method and a server are also described.

A method for remotely provisioning resources for running a computer application is described. The method includes: causing, using one or more processing units, an initialization of a user interactive video portion of a computer application, the computer application being executed using a remote server; determining a runtime of a static video portion of the computer application and a time required to complete initialization of the user interactive portion using information provided by the remote server; and delaying a start time of displaying the static video portion when the runtime of the static video portion is shorter than the time required to complete the initialization of the user interactive portion. A device that is capable of performing the above method and a server are also described.

A dynamic quest-based experience system of an amusement park includes a memory storing instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions to cause the processor to receive a user input from a computing device indicative of starting a dynamic quest-based narrative, in which the dynamic quest-based narrative includes a plurality of sets of information. The instructions further cause the processor to place an identifier associated with the computing device in a virtual queue associated with a narrative endpoint of the amusement park, select a set of information from the plurality of sets of information based on a determined parameter, wherein the set of information is associated with a requested task, and output the set of information to the computing device.

A controller receives a message from a first user terminal of user terminals belonging to a chat group. In a case where the type of the message is of a normal message, the controller transmits the message to each of the user terminals. In a case where the type of the message is selection of the game icon, the controller generates a game message according to logic corresponding to the game icon and transmits the game message to each of the user terminals.

A controller receives a message from a first user terminal of user terminals belonging to a chat group. In a case where the type of the message is of a normal message, the controller transmits the message to each of the user terminals. In a case where the type of the message is selection of the game icon, the controller generates a game message according to logic corresponding to the game icon and transmits the game message to each of the user terminals.

A method for remotely provisioning resources for running a computer application is described. The method includes: receiving a request to execute a computer application using a virtual machine, the computer application having a static video portion and a user interactive video portion; while preparing the user interactive video portion, providing the static video portion to a user device remotely positioned relative to a server hosting the virtual machine; and streaming the user interactive video portion to the user device at an end of the static video portion. A start time of the static video portion is adjusted to accommodate a display time of the static video portion being different than a time required to prepare the user interactive video portion. A server and a system that are capable of performing the above method are also described.

A method for remotely provisioning resources for running a computer application is described. The method includes: receiving a request to execute a computer application using a virtual machine, the computer application having a static video portion and a user interactive video portion; while preparing the user interactive video portion, providing the static video portion to a user device remotely positioned relative to a server hosting the virtual machine; and streaming the user interactive video portion to the user device at an end of the static video portion. A start time of the static video portion is adjusted to accommodate a display time of the static video portion being different than a time required to prepare the user interactive video portion. A server and a system that are capable of performing the above method are also described.

A gaming system includes a network server and a gaming manager communicatively coupled to the network server. The gaming manager having a video control unit that starts a video game running remotely with a static video portion and a user interactive video portion and a video receiving unit, coupled to the video control unit, that receives the static video portion for local display while the user interactive video portion is being initialized remotely for subsequent local game play. The gaming system further includes a local user device, coupled to the gaming manager, that initially displays the static video portion and provides a user interface for the subsequent local game play following completion of remote initialization of the user interactive video portion. A method of managing a remote game is also provided.

A gaming system includes a network server and a gaming manager communicatively coupled to the network server. The gaming manager having a video control unit that starts a video game running remotely with a static video portion and a user interactive video portion and a video receiving unit, coupled to the video control unit, that receives the static video portion for local display while the user interactive video portion is being initialized remotely for subsequent local game play. The gaming system further includes a local user device, coupled to the gaming manager, that initially displays the static video portion and provides a user interface for the subsequent local game play following completion of remote initialization of the user interactive video portion. A method of managing a remote game is also provided.