The Center for Computer Games and Virtual Worlds is set to study the social and technological aspects of online games.

Some 20 UC Irvine faculty members from computer science, arts, humanities, social science and education will work at the center, the school said.

The center plans to host research workshops as well as visiting research scholars.

UCI was among the first universities to establish programs in computer game culture and technology.

The UCI Game Culture & Technology Lab, launched in 2001, has attracted nearly $5 million in outside funding, according to the school.

Smith Micro Buys Co.

Aliso Viejo’s Smith Micro Software Inc., a maker of software for wireless phones, recently said it agreed to buy Core Mobility Inc. for $10 million in cash and stock.

Core Mobility, a Mountain View-based maker of smartphone software, is set to operate as a subsidiary of Smith Micro.

The deal, expected to close this year, could amount to more if Core Mobility reaches certain sales and product development goals.

Core Mobility’s software does backup and data synchronization, visual voicemail and runs “push to talk” features on smart phones.

Smith Micro recently has been pushing “connection manager” software that runs on a PC or mobile device and allows for a wireless connection to the Internet through a wireless service provider’s network.

The software simplifies the process of connecting a device to a wireless network by cutting down setup time and having fewer steps.