The subject application describes an activity performed with or without a website, such as a game. The game can be played either when in contact with the website or when disconnected from the website. The game playing can be carried out for example on a mobile device. The game can be used to earn virtual cash on the website, when playing from the mobile device. The game can also be played when the mobile device is not attached to the website, in which case the points that are received are saved along with an encryption to avoid a user's improper increasing of the points.

The subject application describes an activity performed with or without a website, such as a game. The game can be played either when in contact with the website or when disconnected from the website. The game playing can be carried out for example on a mobile device. The game can be used to earn virtual cash on the website, when playing from the mobile device. The game can also be played when the mobile device is not attached to the website, in which case the points that are received are saved along with an encryption to avoid a user's improper increasing of the points.

Computer-implemented methods and systems for locating virtual elements that can be used or collected by players of a parallel reality game having a virtual world that parallels at least a portion of the real world are provided. In particular, the location of virtual elements in the virtual world is determined based on data associated with one or more real world conditions. Virtual elements can be located in the virtual world at locations corresponding to locations in the real world that encourage safe and effective game play. Locating virtual elements in the virtual world based on data associated with real world conditions improves the link between the parallel virtual world and the real world, enhancing the illusion that the virtual world is another dimension of the real world that the player can interact with through the parallel reality game.

A method and system (10) is provided for playing an interactive mobile device based game system though a communication network. The communication network includes at least one system central server (13) and database (14) accessible to the internet or other communication networks. The system further includes any number of mobile devices (15), (16) and (17). Each mobile device includes software or a software application for communicating with the system server. In playing the game, users or players accrue points or otherwise advance in the game as they compete or obverse events which occur in real life situations in their geographic location. The events are entered into the central server and verified by communicating requests from the central server to the mobile devices of other players of the game.

A method and system (10) is provided for playing an interactive mobile device based game system though a communication network. The communication network includes at least one system central server (13) and database (14) accessible to the internet or other communication networks. The system further includes any number of mobile devices (15), (16) and (17). Each mobile device includes software or a software application for communicating with the system server. In playing the game, users or players accrue points or otherwise advance in the game as they compete or obverse events which occur in real life situations in their geographic location. The events are entered into the central server and verified by communicating requests from the central server to the mobile devices of other players of the game.

This disclosure describes, in part, techniques for conserving power on an electronic device. For instance, at given time intervals, the electronic device may be sending input data to a network device and receiving audio data from the network device. The electronic device may then use one or more techniques to determine when to switch from operating in a first mode, where the electronic device sends and/or receives the data, to operating in a second mode, where the electronic device ceases sending and/or receiving the data. For example, the electronic device may make the determination based on an amount of data stored in a buffer, whether the electronic device receives data, using data received from the network device, and/or the like. Based on the determination, the electronic device may switch to the second mode in order to conserve power.

Cellular phone games based on television archives allow users to play games on their cellular phones wherein the games are based on archived television programs. The game is able to be played simultaneously between competitors or on demand. Game data and video data are combined into one file and are sent to participating cellular phones so that the required information is received at the same time at each cellular phone. Each cellular phone contains software to manipulate the game and video data so that the user is able to play the game. The game is played by watching video clips from archived television programs and then selecting choices related to the video clips using the inputs on the user's cellular phone. User scores are determined based on the answers to the questions related to the video clips and results are distributed to the participants.

Cellular phone games based on television archives allow users to play games on their cellular phones wherein the games are based on archived television programs. The game is able to be played simultaneously between competitors or on demand. Game data and video data are combined into one file and are sent to participating cellular phones so that the required information is received at the same time at each cellular phone. Each cellular phone contains software to manipulate the game and video data so that the user is able to play the game. The game is played by watching video clips from archived television programs and then selecting choices related to the video clips using the inputs on the user's cellular phone. User scores are determined based on the answers to the questions related to the video clips and results are distributed to the participants.

A method of providing physiological self-regulation challenges prior to participating in a series of activities or exercises at a series of predefined locations includes determining a physiological goal associated with each location. A sensing device measures a physiological state of a user, and a mobile communication device communicates to a user whether or not the user has achieved the physiological goal for the challenge. The level of difficulty of the physiological goal may be reduced if the user does not meet the goal. The physiological goal may comprise a brain state that is conducive to learning, and the sensing device may be configured to measure brain state values representing cognitive engagement. Upon achievement of each physiological goal, the participant is provided with a reward such as information concerning the current predefined location and/or information concerning the next predefined location.

A replay data acquisition section acquires replay data for reproducing a play status of a game. A replay image generation section generates a replay image of a game scene on the basis of the acquired replay data. A user determination section determines a user to be included in a combined image. A user image acquisition section acquires a user image obtained by imaging the determined user. A combination processing section generates the combined image by combining the acquired user image with the replay image.