Dynamic Storyline Adaptation via Player Location

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing virtual worlds lack the ability to significantly impact gameplay with a player's real-world location, resulting in static or predictably branching storylines that fail to provide a unique and engaging experience.

Innovation Solution

The storyline of a virtual world changes based on a player's real-world location, influencing gameplay elements such as available virtual characters, plot nodes, settings, and aesthetics, by detecting and correlating geographic location data to modify the game environment and narrative.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the storyline is made static or uses predictable branching methods, then the game development complexity is reduced and easier to manage, but the player engagement and uniqueness of experience deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegame development complexityVSAvoidplayer engagement and experience uniqueness
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic storyline generation that adapts to player location in real-time. The system continuously monitors player geographic position and dynamically modifies storyline elements, character interactions, and game events without requiring pre-scripted branching paths. This creates an ever-changing narrative experience that is both complex to experience but manageable in development through procedural generation techniques.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes storyline parameters based on player location data. By modifying narrative parameters, character behavior parameters, and event parameters according to geographic coordinates, the game achieves high adaptability without creating entirely new storylines. This parameter-based approach allows flexible storytelling while maintaining manageable development complexity through reusable narrative templates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the storyline is made to change based on player location, then the player engagement and uniqueness of experience are improved, but the system complexity and data processing requirements worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestoryline adaptability to player locationVSAvoidsystem complexity and data processing
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces location data as an intermediary between the player and the storyline system. Geographic location serves as a mediator that triggers appropriate storyline modifications without requiring direct complex interactions between all game elements. This intermediary approach simplifies the system architecture by using location as a central control point for narrative adaptation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses generic location profiles that can be copied and applied to different geographic areas. Instead of creating unique storyline logic for each location, the patent employs reusable location templates and profile copies that can be instantiated across multiple places, significantly reducing system complexity while maintaining high storyline adaptability to player location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Ease of manufacture

If generic location profiles are used for different places, then the development effort is reduced and easier to implement, but the specificity and authenticity of location-based storytelling worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevelopment effortVSAvoidlocation-specific storytelling accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments location profiles into hierarchical levels: generic templates for broad categories and specific modifiers for particular places. This segmentation allows developers to create reusable generic profiles while adding location-specific details only where necessary, balancing development efficiency with storytelling authenticity. Generic profiles handle common patterns, while specific modifiers provide local flavor and accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-defining generic location profiles with common storytelling patterns and elements. These pre-prepared templates contain location-agnostic narrative structures that can be quickly deployed. Specific location details are then layered on top during implementation, allowing efficient development while maintaining the ability to achieve location-specific authenticity when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8668592B2Systems and methods of changing storyline based on player location
Publication Date: 2014.03.11 IMAGINE AR INC
  • US8668592B2 patent drawing
  • US8668592B2 patent drawing
  • US8668592B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method is provided for enabling virtual gameplay with a character in a game environment. A game environment is provided in which a player can play a game via a character. The player's geographic location is detected and stored. In response to the detected geographic location, a storyline is retrieved for the character to interact with. The retrieved storyline is related to the geographic location of the player.