Dynamic Direction Control for Game Input Smoothness
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing four-direction switch systems in game apparatuses face challenges in accurately controlling the movement of player characters, as they often struggle to precisely follow the intended direction input, leading to difficulties in player control and intended movement.
Innovation Solution
A direction control system that includes first input direction obtaining means, determination means, and direction setting means to adjust the rate of change of the control direction based on the input direction, with a reduced rate for diagonal inputs and an increased rate for direct inputs, allowing for more precise control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a virtual analog stick is defined and the direction is gradually changed over a predetermined time period, then the control becomes smoother, but the player cannot always move the player character as intended by the player
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the transition time dynamic rather than fixed. The control direction transition time is extended when the current control direction differs significantly from the input direction, and shortened when they are closely aligned. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to balance smoothness and precision adaptively, resolving the contradiction between gradual transition smoothness and directional accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of transition time based on the angular difference between current and input directions. By calculating the angle and adjusting the transition time accordingly, the system optimizes both smoothness and precision. Larger angles result in longer transition times for smoothness, while smaller angles result in shorter times for precision, effectively resolving the technical contradiction.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the control direction is changed to approach the input direction over a fixed predetermined time period, then the transition is predictable, but the responsiveness varies for different direction changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the transition time dynamic by calculating it based on the angular difference between current and input directions. This dynamic approach maintains predictability through systematic calculation while improving responsiveness by adjusting the transition speed according to the magnitude of direction change, resolving the contradiction between fixed predictability and variable responsiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the transition time parameter based on the calculated angle between directions. By using angle-based parameter adjustment, the system achieves both predictability (through consistent calculation methodology) and responsiveness (through adaptive time values), effectively resolving the contradiction between fixed and variable transition characteristics.
Data Source
AI summary
An example game apparatus determines, when an input has been made with a cross button, whether an input direction indicates a diagonal direction. When the input direction indicates a diagonal direction, a follow parameter is set such that a virtual stick vector is changed so as to slowly approach an input vector. When the input direction does not indicate a diagonal direction, the follow parameter is set such that the virtual stick vector is changed so as to approach the input vector fast. Further, the game apparatus calculates the follow parameter according to an inner product of the virtual stick vector and the input vector. The game apparatus updates the virtual stick vector based on the virtual stick vector having been most recently obtained, the input vector, and the follow parameter.