Dynamic Multiplayer Map Configuration for Single-Player Storylines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing video games struggle to seamlessly integrate single player and multiplayer modes, as multiplayer maps often do not support the completion of single player storyline objectives, leading to disjointed gameplay experiences.

Innovation Solution

A computer system dynamically selects and configures multiplayer maps and mechanics to accommodate both players' single player storyline objectives, ensuring compatibility and progression, using constraints and compatibility databases to ensure in-game mechanics allow for objective completion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiplayer maps are designed for general multiplayer objectives, then multiplayer mode is accessible to all players, but single player storyline objectives cannot be completed in these maps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemultiplayer map compatibilityVSAvoidsingle player objective completion

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically configures multiplayer maps by adding or modifying in-game elements based on players' single player storyline objectives. The map configuration is not static but adapts in real-time to accommodate different objective combinations, allowing the same base map to support both general multiplayer gameplay and specific single player storyline completions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Multiplayer maps are designed to serve dual purposes: supporting general multiplayer objectives and accommodating single player storyline objectives. By making maps multi-functional and allowing flexible configuration of in-game elements, the system enables a single map to fulfill multiple roles depending on the players' needs and storyline progress.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the system dynamically configures maps to support individual single player objectives, then storyline completion is enabled, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveobjective accommodation capabilityVSAvoidmap configuration system

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-establishes a library of in-game elements and template configurations that can be quickly assembled to support different single player objectives. Rather than creating configurations from scratch, the system uses pre-prepared building blocks and templates, reducing the computational complexity and time required for dynamic map configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The map configuration system is divided into independent, modular components or in-game elements that can be individually added, removed, or modified. This segmentation allows the system to make localized changes to support specific objectives without reconfiguring the entire map, thereby managing complexity through modularity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If players are assigned different single player objectives in multiplayer mode, then individual progression is maintained, but finding compatible players becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindividual storyline progressionVSAvoidmultiplayer matchmaking efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameters used for matchmaking by incorporating single player storyline progress and objective compatibility into the matching criteria. Instead of matching players based solely on skill level or availability, the system considers storyline-related parameters to ensure players are paired with compatible objectives, thereby maintaining individual progression while improving matchmaking efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary matching layer that translates between individual player objectives and compatible multiplayer pairings. This intermediary component analyzes objective compatibility and facilitates matches between players whose storyline objectives can be simultaneously supported in a shared multiplayer map, bridging the gap between individual progression needs and multiplayer compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12427428B2Dynamic modifications of single player and multiplayer mode in a video game

Publication Date: 2025.09.30 ELECTRONIC ARTS INC

AI summary

A video game includes a single player mode where completion of storyline objectives advances the single player storyline. The video game also includes a multiplayer mode where a plurality of players can play on an instance of a multiplayer map. Storyline objectives from the single player mode are selected and made available for completion to players in the multiplayer mode, and the single player storylines can be advanced by players completing respective storyline objectives while playing in the multiplayer mode. Combinations of storyline objectives are selected from pending storyline objectives for players connecting to a multiplayer game for compatibility with multiplayer maps. Constraints can be used to determine compatibility.