Dynamic Camouflage Texture Matching for Game Character Rendering

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Solution Overview

Problem

In action games, changing a character's camouflage outfit disrupts gameplay by requiring players to suspend play and navigate menus, and developers must create and store numerous graphics data, leading to inefficiencies and increased storage needs.

Innovation Solution

A video image generating device and method that automatically changes a character's appearance by matching the camouflage texture and material properties to the background environment, allowing seamless integration without suspending gameplay and reducing the need for multiple graphics data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the player selects a new camouflage outfit through a menu screen, then the character's appearance can be changed, but gameplay is suspended and rhythm is broken

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharacter appearance change capabilityVSAvoidgameplay continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically changes the character's camouflage outfit based on the background environment without requiring player intervention. The determination unit detects the background, and the appearance changing unit automatically selects and applies the appropriate camouflage pattern, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring manual player control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The camouflage outfit changes dynamically in real-time based on the detected background environment. The system continuously monitors the background and automatically adjusts the character's appearance accordingly, making the adaptation dynamic rather than static

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple graphics data for different camouflage outfits are prepared, then the character can be changed to match different backgrounds, but storage volume is expended and development time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecamouflage matching capabilityVSAvoidgraphics data storage volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of storing multiple complete graphics data sets for different camouflage outfits, the system stores a single base character model and changes the camouflage pattern parameters dynamically. The appearance changing unit modifies the texture parameters of the existing graphics data to match different backgrounds, rather than loading entirely different graphics data sets

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

A single set of character graphics data serves multiple functions by being able to display different camouflage patterns. The base character model is universal and can be adapted to match any background through parameter changes, eliminating the need for separate graphics data for each camouflage type

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2000189B1Video image generating device, character appearance changing method, information recording medium, and program
Publication Date: 2012.05.23 KONAMI DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT CO LTD
  • EP2000189B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2000189B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2000189B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

An object storage unit (220) stores object information, including that of a main character who wears a camouflage outfit. More specifically, the object storage unit (220) stores a standard texture (222) showing a standard camouflage pattern, an additional texture (223) showing a replaceable camouflage pattern, as well as a material properties parameter (224) that determines the material properties of the camouflage outfit. When the main character stops, a background specifying unit (232) specifies the object serving as the background of the main character by referring to a position information storage unit (240). In addition, a clothing changing unit (233) appropriate selects a combination of an additional texture (223) and a material properties parameter (224) according to the texture or other features of the specified object, thereby changing the appearance of the main character's camouflage outfit.