A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for creating and representing a resource object in a virtual environment are presented. To begin, a graphical user interface may be provided to a player. The graphical user interface may display a virtual environment that includes the resource object and a game object. A resource object can be created by a player through selection of an area within the virtual environment. Responsive to definition of the selected area, the resource object is created and displayed in the virtual environment, having a resource production capacity determined by the size of the selected area.

The server performs the ranking determination process for determining the ranking of each player based on the variable information stored in a given timing, the specific player specifying process specifying a player who satisfies a given condition for the determined ranking of each player as a specific player, and the information providing process for providing the player-related information of the specific player stored in a player information storage and identification information for identifying the specified player from other players, to the terminal device concerned, in association with each other.

An input device for transmitting operation information of a user to an information processing device, includes: a housing having an upper surface; a left grip part located proximate to a left side of the upper surface of the housing, and sized and shaped to be gripped by a left hand of the user; a right grip part located proximate to a right side of the upper surface of the housing, and sized and shaped to be gripped by a right hand of the user; a first input part located proximately to the left grip part such that the user provides inputs to the first input part with the left hand; a second input part located proximately to the right grip part such that the user provides inputs to the first input part with the right hand, where the inputs from one of the first input part and the second input part cause system software of the information processing device to take action.

A communication game system is provided in which a first terminal apparatus is configured to be used by a first player and at least one second terminal apparatus is configured to be used by at least one second player. The first terminal apparatus and the second terminal apparatus are communication-connected to allow the second player to participate in a game executed by the first terminal apparatus. The second terminal apparatus incudes a processor that causes a second character to participate in the game executed by the first terminal apparatus according to a support request by a guidance from the first player. The second character is caused to participate in the game by substituting for any one of a plurality of first characters set as characters of the first player. The second character operates according to a guidance from the second player.

Various application-centric user interface techniques are described. A user can easily launch, add, or update applications. An application-centric activity center can be presented as part of a user interface for an operating system shell. A file defining metadata for an application can be defined. The techniques can be applied to game-related software.

Techniques for recommending and establishing connections between users within a gaming social network, designed for connecting users having common gaming interests or characteristics. Embodiments include methods for recommending connections from members of an out-of-game social network, the gaming social network, and gaming activity participants; evaluating user profile information and user characteristics in a gaming social network and gaming activity in a game networking system to determine an appropriate set of connections for a selected user; and presenting graphical user interface content and configurations to enable the suggestion, review, and accepting of recommended connections in the gaming social network.

A communication analysis system for an online game is described. A communication history among players of the online game is retrieved. Communication tracking metrics are generated based on the communication history of the players of the online game. A retention analysis is performed with the communication tracking metrics to determine retention of players of the online game. A retention recommendation is generated based on the retention analysis.

An image generation unit generates image data to be displayed on an outputting apparatus. An acceptance unit accepts operation information of inputting units provided in an inputting apparatus. A sharing processing unit carries out, when the acceptance unit accepts operation information of particular one of the inputting units provided in the inputting apparatus, a process of sharing the image data generated by the image generation unit or information relating to the image data. The particular inputting unit provided in the inputting apparatus is used by a user to input operation information to system software of an information processing apparatus, and the sharing processing unit carries out the sharing process only when the acceptance unit accepts the operation information of the particular inputting unit.

Disclosed is a method, system, and non-transitory computer-readable record medium for creating a chatroom according to a condition. The chatroom creation method may include providing an instant messaging service; registering a chatroom creation condition related to a specific account of the instant messaging service; retrieving at least one account of accounts of the instant messaging service that meets the chatroom creation condition; and automatically creating a chatroom of the specific account joined by the retrieved accounts.

The server device includes: a storage unit that associates and stores multiple first characteristic data sets for each user and associates and stores second characteristic data for each group to which the multiple first characteristic data sets belong; a different-user-selecting unit that selects a different user when a predetermined event occurs while a game is being played; a group formation-assessing unit that determines whether or not all of the first characteristic data sets belonging to a group are included in the first characteristic data sets associated with the user and the different user; and an action-executing unit that executes predetermined actions using, in addition to the first characteristic data sets associated with the user and the different user, the second characteristic data associated with the group for which it has been determined that all of the pertinent first characteristic data sets are included.