A game apparatus includes an input-output processor, and by following an instruction from the input-output processor, messages are transmitted and received with other game apparatus 12 connected via a network. The messages are transmitted and received in an electronic mail format, and has identification information of an application being a creation source of the message as well as general information, such as a transmission source, a destination and a subject as header information.

An optimized friend recommendation system is described. An active social network (ASN) of a player of an online game is determined based on a frequency of reciprocated communications between the player and friends of the player. The ASN of the player has friends of the player with a minimum number of closed-loop communications with the player within a predetermined duration. The social network of non-ASN friends outside the ASN of the player is identified. One or more non-ASN friends identified and suggested to socially engage with the player in an online game based on the social network of non-ASN friends of the player outside the ASN of the player are.

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, receiving at a computer device a plurality of stimulus signals generated by one or more gaming accessory devices of a gamer controlling a gaming application, generating a plurality of gaming stimulations based on the plurality of stimulus signals, generating a plurality of gaming action results from the gaming application responsive to the plurality of gaming stimulations, combining the plurality of gaming action results and the plurality of gaming stimulations to generate a plurality of hardware statistics associated with the gamer, and transmitting to a social network the plurality of hardware statistics associated with the gamer.

Targeted recommendations may be provided to specific user segments. The users may be segmented on or more user parameters that facilitate targeted provision of recommendations to the individual segments of users. A recommendation may prompt a user to take a recommended action in the game.

The server device according to the invention 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.

A system and method are described for managing the state of an online video game. A method includes initiating a new online video game in response to user input from a client device, the online video game being in a first state on a first server when initiated; executing the online video game on the server, thereby causing the online video game to enter a second state; pausing or terminating the online video game; determining differences between the first state and the second state and generating difference data containing the differences; transmitting the difference data over a network to a second server; and recreating the second state from the difference data and the first state in response to user input indicating that the user wishes to resume the online video game and in response to the second server being selected as the server on which to execute the video game.

A video game processing apparatus for controlling progress of a video game including a turn-based battle against an enemy character by displaying a player character on a display screen of a display device includes a profile information storage section for storing summon admissibility information in which a battle command used in the turn-based battle is associated with other player character that carries out an action corresponding to the battle command; receives the summon admissibility information from other video game processing apparatus in which the other player character is used as a main character; receives a summoning request indicating a usage request of the summon admissibility information in the turn-based battle; determines summon admissibility information to be used in a case where the summoning request is received; and summons the other player character indicated by the determined summon admissibility information to be caused to carry out the action.

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.

An instant messaging user may use a buddy list that includes a user-selected list of potential instant messaging recipients (buddies) to identify another instant messaging user with whom instant messages are to be exchanged. An instant messaging user also may use a buddy list for other purposes, such as to initiate playing of an on-line game or to invite participants to play an on-line game. Techniques are provided to transform a buddy list from one messaging-mode to another messaging-mode. The transformation may include, for example, substitution or re-ordering of groups of buddies, substitution of buddy icons associated with buddies, substitution of information displayed about buddies, and substitution of controls for directing operation of the buddy list.

An optimized friend recommendation system is described. An active social network (ASN) of a player of an online game is determined based on a frequency of reciprocated communications between the player and friends of the player. The ASN of the player has friends of the player with a minimum number of closed-loop communications with the player within a predetermined duration. The social network of non-ASN friends outside the ASN of the player is identified. One or more non-ASN friends identified and suggested to socially engage with the player in an online game based on the social network of non-ASN friends of the player outside the ASN of the player are.