Cursor Sound Feedback for Terrain Height Recognition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing game systems fail to effectively help users recognize the position of a cursor on a terrain with height differences, making it difficult for players to accurately navigate and interact with virtual objects.

Innovation Solution

A game program that outputs different cursor sounds based on the height of the terrain, using variations in pitch, loudness, or timbre, allowing players to easily identify the cursor's position by changing sounds accordingly as the cursor moves across terrain with varying heights.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If visual cursor display is used on terrain with height differences, then cursor position can be shown, but user recognition of cursor position becomes difficult due to terrain complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecursor position recognitionVSAvoiduser recognition difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces sound as an intermediary medium to convey cursor position information. Instead of relying solely on visual display which is obscured by complex terrain, the system uses cursor sound that changes according to terrain height to mediate the communication between the cursor and the user, making position recognition easier.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the visual mechanical display system with an acoustic information system. By substituting visual cursor indicators with height-dependent sounds, the system overcomes the limitation of visual recognition on complex terrains and provides more effective position feedback.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If uniform cursor sound is used regardless of terrain height, then system is simple, but user cannot distinguish cursor position on varying terrain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound system complexityVSAvoidterrain height information

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making cursor sound properties (pitch, loudness, or timbre) dependent on the local terrain height where the cursor is positioned. Different regions of the terrain produce different sound characteristics, allowing users to infer cursor position and terrain height simultaneously from the sound variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes sound parameters (pitch, loudness, or timbre) based on terrain height. By dynamically adjusting these acoustic parameters according to the cursor's position on varying terrain, the system encodes height information into the sound, enabling users to distinguish different terrain levels without increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20230086484A1Non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein game program, information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method

Publication Date: 2023.03.23 NINTENDO CO LTD

AI summary

A game program according to an exemplary embodiment causes a computer to, based on an operation input provided by the player, move a cursor object indicating a position on a terrain object having a difference in height in a three-dimensional virtual space, and when the cursor object moves, output different cursor sounds in accordance with a height of the terrain object indicated by the cursor object.