Asynchronous Group Goal Game System for Casual Play
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Solution Overview
Problem
Casual computer games face challenges in providing technical complexity and a varied gaming experience while allowing users to play at their convenience, while also incorporating interaction with other players in a way that feels engaging and synchronized, even when players are not playing simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A computer device and method that displays game elements of a level with a group goal, allowing user input to contribute to a shared objective, receiving and processing game data from other users, and updating progress information, with features to display next levels and provide rewards when goals are met, enabling cooperative gameplay and asynchronous interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a game provides technical complexity and varied gaming experience through multiple levels and group goals, then user engagement and replayability are improved, but device complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The game system is segmented into independent levels, each with its own goal conditions and game elements. Players progress through discrete levels rather than a continuous complex system, allowing the overall game to be versatile without requiring any single component to be overly complex. Each level can be designed independently with specific themes and mechanics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension to gameplay by allowing players to contribute to group goals at different times. Instead of requiring simultaneous multiplayer interaction, the system accumulates contributions over time from multiple players working toward common objectives across different levels, adding variety without increasing real-time system complexity.
2Ease of operation
If a game allows casual play at user convenience, then ease of operation is improved, but game engagement and social interaction are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Players can perform preliminary actions by completing levels and contributing to group goals at their convenience. The system stores these contributions and automatically applies them toward group objectives, allowing casual play flexibility while maintaining engagement through accumulated progress that will eventually lead to group goal achievement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback to players about their contributions to group goals and the overall progress toward level completion. This feedback mechanism maintains engagement by showing players how their individual casual play sessions contribute to collective objectives, encouraging continued participation without requiring synchronized interaction.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a game implements group goals requiring multiple players, then social interaction is improved, but game complexity and coordination requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary layer that manages group goal coordination automatically. Rather than requiring direct player-to-player coordination, the system mediates by tracking individual contributions, aggregating them toward group objectives, and managing the complexity of multiple players working together on shared goals across different levels.
Solution Approach 2:
Players contribute to group goals independently through self-service gameplay without needing to coordinate with other players in real-time. Each player autonomously completes levels and contributes to group objectives at their own pace, with the system automatically handling the aggregation and coordination of multiple contributions toward shared goals.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer device has a display which displays game elements of a level of a computer implemented game. The computer implemented game has the level and at least one other level which are associated with a group goal. At least one processor determines using game data associated with a move made by the user a first contribution to the goal. The processor determines using game data associated with a corresponding move by one or more other users a second contribution. The processor based on the first and second contributions of one or more moves if the group goal is satisfied.