Games Tabs in Messaging Applications

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes providing, to a client system of a first user of a messaging network, a games-tab element on a messaging application of the messaging network running on the client system; in response to receiving an indication that the first user is accessing the games-tab element for a first time, providing instructions for presenting a first games tab including an initial list of games on the messaging application; receiving game data associated with one or more games interacted with by the first user from the first games tab; and in response to receiving an indication that the first user is accessing the games-tab element for a second time, providing instructions for presenting a second games tab including (1) the one or more games interacted by the first user and (2) game data associated with each of the one or more games interacted by the first user.

1 . A method comprising, by one or more computer systems:
 providing, to a client system of a first user of a messaging network, a games-tab element on a messaging application of the messaging network running on the client system;   in response to receiving an indication that the first user is accessing the games-tab element for a first time, providing, to the client system of the first user, instructions for presenting a first games tab comprising an initial list of games on the messaging application of the messaging network running on the client system of the first user based on one or more criteria;   receiving, at periodic time intervals, game data associated with one or more games interacted with by the first user from the first games tab; and   in response to receiving an indication that the first user is accessing the games-tab element for a second time, providing, to the client system of the first user, instructions for presenting a second games tab comprising (1) the one or more games interacted by the first user and (2) game data associated with each of the one or more games interacted by the first user.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more criteria for presenting the first games tab comprising the initial list of games comprise one or more of:
 a global popularity of the games;   a recency of release of the games;   interactions of the games by one or more second users who are associated with the first user; or   one or more activities of the first user with respect to the games.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the game data associated with each of the one or more games comprise one or more of:
 one or more message threads associated with the game;   performance metrics of the first user relative to one or more second users playing the game;   performance metrics of the one or more second users;   total number of users playing the game;   game updates or releases from a game bot associated with the game; or   challenges or invites received from the one or more second users to play the game.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein each of the one or more message threads is operable to allow the first user to view a live gameplay of the associated game and play the game from inside the message thread. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein each of the one or more message threads comprises one or more of:
 messages between the first user and the one or more second users playing the associated game; or   messages between the first user and the game bot associated with the game.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein each of the one or more message threads comprises one or more messages relating to the associated game. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining whether the first user has satisfied a threshold level of gaming activity,   wherein providing, to the client system of the first user, the instructions for presenting the second games tab is further based on determining that the first user has satisfied the threshold level of gaming activity.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the threshold level of gaming activity comprises the first user playing the one or more games more than a threshold number of times within a predefined time period. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the threshold level of gaming activity comprises the first user viewing gameplay of one or more second users for the one or more games more than a threshold number of times within a predefined time period. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the threshold level of gaming activity is determined based on a measure of game affinity of the first user with respect to the one or more games. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more games in the second games tab are displayed according to a ranking order. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more games in the second games tab are ranked based on one or more second criteria, wherein the one or more second criteria comprise one or more of:
 a recency of interaction with the one or more games by the first user;   a measure of engagement of the first user with the one or more games;   a measure of social-network activity of the first user relating to the one or more games; or   a measure of game affinity of the first user with respect to the one or more games.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second games tab is dynamically updated at the periodic time intervals to one or more of:
 re-sort a current list of games in the second games tab;   incorporate additional game data associated with the current list of games;   incorporate one or more second games interacted by the first user; or   incorporate second game data associated with each of the one or more second games interacted by the first user.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more games interacted with by the first user are identified using a gamer graph associated with the messaging network. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the gamer graph comprises:
 a first user node corresponding to the first user;   a plurality of game nodes corresponding to a plurality of games, respectively; and   a plurality of edges connecting the first user node to the plurality of game nodes;   wherein each edge connecting the first user node to a game node represents an interaction by the first user with a game corresponding to the game node, and   wherein the one or more games interacted with by the first user are identified based on a number of edges connecting each game node corresponding a respective game to the first user node.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the games are integrated as part of the messaging network via an application programming interface (API) of a game server. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein upon interaction with a particular game in the first games tab or the second games tab, a game session is initiated within a message thread associated with the particular game by making an API call to the particular game on the game server. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the particular game is played from inside the message thread on the messaging application via the API of the game server. 
     
     
         19 . One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying software that is operable when executed to:
 provide, to a client system of a first user of a messaging network, a games-tab element on a messaging application of the messaging network running on the client system;   in response to receiving an indication that the first user is accessing the games-tab element for a first time, provide, to the client system of the first user, instructions for presenting a first games tab comprising an initial list of games on the messaging application of the messaging network running on the client system of the first user based on one or more criteria;   receive, at periodic time intervals, game data associated with one or more games interacted with by the first user from the first games tab; and   in response to receiving an indication that the first user is accessing the games-tab element for a second time, provide, to the client system of the first user, instructions for presenting a second games tab comprising (1) the one or more games interacted by the first user and (2) game data associated with each of the one or more games interacted by the first user.   
     
     
         20 . A system comprising: one or more processors; and a non-transitory memory coupled to the processors comprising instructions executable by the processors, the processors operable when executing the instructions to:
 provide, to a client system of a first user of a messaging network, a games-tab element on a messaging application of the messaging network running on the client system;   in response to receiving an indication that the first user is accessing the games-tab element for a first time, provide, to the client system of the first user, instructions for presenting a first games tab comprising an initial list of games on the messaging application of the messaging network running on the client system of the first user based on one or more criteria;   receive, at periodic time intervals, game data associated with one or more games interacted with by the first user from the first games tab; and   in response to receiving an indication that the first user is accessing the games-tab element for a second time, provide, to the client system of the first user, instructions for presenting a second games tab comprising (1) the one or more games interacted by the first user and (2) game data associated with each of the one or more games interacted by the first user.