Automated Worker System for RTS Game Resource Collection

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Solution Overview

Problem

In real-time strategy (RTS) games, the initial minutes of each match are often repetitive and mechanical due to the need for players to manually control and manage worker virtual units for resource collection and management, which can lead to a disadvantage for beginners and reduce strategic depth early in the game.

Innovation Solution

An automated worker system is introduced, where virtual units are automatically generated, fixed to resource locations, and configured to collect resources without requiring player control. These automated worker units regenerate automatically when eliminated, eliminating the need for players to spend resources or manage supply for their creation or maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If players manually control worker virtual units to collect resources, then resource collection can be performed, but the initial minutes of each match become repetitive and mechanical, reducing strategic depth and disadvantaging beginners

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource management operationVSAvoidstrategic depth

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically generates worker virtual units and assigns them to resource locations without requiring player intervention. The workers self-manage their own deployment, movement to resource locations, and resource collection activities, freeing players from repetitive manual control while maintaining resource collection functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-generates worker virtual units at the start of the game and automatically assigns them to appropriate resource locations before the player needs to make strategic decisions. This preliminary automation of worker deployment allows players to immediately focus on higher-level strategy rather than micromanaging worker assignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If players manually manage and control worker virtual units, then resource collection is achieved, but players spend excessive time on mechanical tasks instead of strategic decisions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource collection efficiencyVSAvoidtime spent on micromanagement

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Worker virtual units automatically navigate to resource locations, collect resources, and return to base without player control. The system handles all micromanagement tasks including worker movement, resource gathering timing, and coordination, allowing players to focus on strategic decisions while resource collection continues efficiently in the background.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical control system for worker units is replaced with an automated intelligent system that uses algorithms to manage worker deployment and resource collection. This substitution eliminates the need for players to perform repetitive clicking and micromanagement while maintaining or improving resource collection efficiency through optimized automated management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If workers are automatically generated and fixed to resource locations, then player burden is reduced, but player control over worker units is eliminated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworker unit managementVSAvoidplayer control flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Worker virtual units are automatically generated and self-assign to resource locations based on game state and strategic needs. Players retain the ability to issue high-level commands such as moving workers to different locations or adjusting their behavior, while the system handles the detailed coordination and assignment automatically, preserving both ease of operation and player control flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20250121286A1Automatic resource collection

Publication Date: 2025.04.17 TENCENT AMERICA LLC

AI summary

In a method for collecting at least one resource in a game, a first set of resource collection virtual units of a user in the virtual scene is generated at a first location in a virtual scene. Each resource collection virtual unit of the first set of resource collection virtual units is configured to automatically collect the at least one resource associated with the first location. The at least one resource collected by the first set of resource collection virtual units is accumulated for the user based on a number of resource collection virtual units in the first set of resource collection virtual units and resource collection rates of the resource collection virtual units in the first set of resource collection virtual units.