Emulator Snapshot Generation for Mini-Game Development

Solution Overview

Problem

Game designers face time-consuming and costly processes when creating mini-games from legacy games, requiring reverse engineering and recoding to start games at specific conditions, which limits the efficiency of producing mini-games in large quantities.

Innovation Solution

The method involves generating snapshots of emulated games to serve as starting points for mini-games, using triggers to provide new experiences, allowing game designers to create mini-games without digging into the underlying code, by delivering game inputs to an emulator, suspending the game at a steady state, and recording the game state as a snapshot for future use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If game designers reverse engineer and rewrite code to create mini-games with specific starting conditions, then mini-games can start at specific game states (e.g., near end of level, boss fight), but the process becomes time-consuming and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to start mini-games at specific game statesVSAvoidtime required to reverse engineer and rewrite code

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates snapshots (copies) of the emulated game state at specific points in time. These snapshots capture the complete state of the game including memory, registers, and processor state, allowing mini-games to start at specific conditions without reverse engineering the original code. The snapshot serves as a reusable copy that can be loaded repeatedly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically generating snapshots at predetermined game states (such as boss fights or level endings) during the emulation process. These snapshots are created in advance and stored for later use, eliminating the need for designers to manually reverse engineer code for each mini-game starting condition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If game designers manually reverse engineer and recode legacy games for each mini-game, then specific game scenarios can be used as starting points, but the cost increases requiring multiple engineers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to create varied mini-game scenariosVSAvoidcost and complexity of production process

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates snapshots (copies) of the emulated game state at specific points in time. These snapshots capture the complete state of the game including memory, registers, and processor state, allowing mini-games to start at specific conditions without reverse engineering the original code. The snapshot serves as a reusable copy that can be loaded repeatedly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The emulation system automatically performs the work of capturing and storing game states at predetermined points without requiring manual intervention from engineers. The system self-services by monitoring game events, detecting when specific conditions are met (such as boss appearances), and automatically creating snapshots, thereby reducing the need for multiple engineers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If traditional code rewriting methods are used to create mini-games, then games can start at specific conditions, but productivity decreases limiting the quantity of mini-games that can be produced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequantity of mini-games producedVSAvoidtime required per mini-game development

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates snapshots (copies) of the emulated game state at specific points in time. These snapshots capture the complete state of the game including memory, registers, and processor state, allowing mini-games to start at specific conditions without reverse engineering the original code. The snapshot serves as a reusable copy that can be loaded repeatedly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically generating snapshots at predetermined game states (such as boss fights or level endings) during the emulation process. These snapshots are created in advance and stored for later use, eliminating the need for designers to manually reverse engineer code for each mini-game starting condition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11724205B2Suspending state of cloud-based legacy applications

Publication Date: 2023.08.15 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC

AI summary

A snapshot of a game may be generated by a client. At some point, a suspension request is delivered to a computer system. Once the suspension request is received, the computer system will suspend the emulated title. The computer system generates a snapshot of the game by recording the current state of all devices being emulated. The snapshot is then delivered to the client. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.