Patent ID: 8740694

Claim:
A method for providing a game system accessible over a wide area network by a plurality of users, comprising the steps: receiving an identification of a user at a server; retrieving a number of units associated with the user; providing the number of units to a game client of the user; making the units available for use by the user within a plurality of games available in the game system; providing to the user a selection of the plurality of games available within the game system; executing on the server at least a majority of calculations for a game selected by the user and providing results to the game client using an application programming interface; updating the number of units associated with the user based on a game activity of the user occurring during the course of the game; receiving a request for at least one item that can be obtained by the user within the game system; and deducting from the number of units a specified number of units responsive to the step of receiving a request.