Distributed Video Game Instances for Local Multiplayer Scaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern video games, particularly multiplayer scenarios like couch co-op, place a heavy burden on hardware resources, often leading to restrictions on the number of players or absence of multiplayer integration due to insufficient processing power and memory.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where one or more instances of a video game are executed remotely by a network-connected device, allowing multiple users to interact with separate game instances through a local device, thereby reducing the resource burden on the local device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple instances of video game are executed locally on a single device, then multiplayer gaming experience is provided, but hardware resources (processing power, memory) are overwhelmed
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the game execution across multiple devices: one device runs the game engine and core logic, while another device handles rendering and display. This allows the local device to run a single instance while supporting multiple players through remote instance execution, dividing the computational burden and enabling multiplayer capability without overwhelming local hardware resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a network dimension by executing game instances on remote devices accessible over a network. Instead of confining all game instances to the local device, the system leverages remote computing resources, adding a spatial/network dimension to game execution. This enables multiple game instances to run simultaneously across different devices while maintaining local control and coordination.
2Adaptability or versatility
If more players are supported in a local multiplayer scenario, then gaming versatility improves, but hardware resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heavy memory-intensive game execution from the local device and places it on remote devices. The local device retains only coordination and control functions, while remote devices handle the memory-intensive game instance execution. This extraction allows supporting more players without proportionally increasing local memory consumption, as each additional player can be accommodated on remote devices.
3Ease of operation
If game quality and graphics are enhanced, then gaming experience improves, but resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the strengths of different devices: one device provides high-quality graphics rendering while another handles game logic and physics calculations. By combining the capabilities of multiple devices through network communication, the system achieves enhanced gaming experience quality with photo-realistic graphics and smooth gameplay without requiring a single device to have all the processing power.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus for executing a video game can include executing a first instance at a first processing device, receiving data from a second processing device over a network, the data corresponding to a second instance executed concurrently with the first instance, the second instance being instantiated by the second processing device in response to one or more events detected by the first processing device, providing inputs received from the first control device to the first instance of the video game, the first instance being responsive to inputs received from the first control device, transmitting inputs received from the second control device to the second processing device, the second instance being responsive to inputs received from the second control device, generating images for display based on the first instance and the second instance, and displaying the generated images.