Real-Time Expert Matching for In-Game Navigation Help
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users often struggle with navigating complex video games due to the vast number of available options and difficulty levels, leading to frustration and abandonment of the game.
Innovation Solution
A system that connects players to experts in real-time or via recorded sessions for assistance during gameplay, utilizing game context data to match players with suitable experts based on their current game state and preferences, allowing for guidance through text, voice, or video, and enabling expert control of the player's game if necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If video games include more options and become more expansive, then the game content and complexity increase, but users find it increasingly difficult to navigate and complete the game
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system (help session controller, matching engine) that connects players with expert players who can guide them through complex game sections. This mediator resolves the contradiction by providing navigational assistance without reducing the game's content complexity.
2Loss of time
If users spend more time trying to pass through difficult gateways, then they may eventually find the solution, but frustration increases and they may quit the game
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by proactively offering help before players give up completely. The help session controller detects when players are stuck on difficult sections and automatically connects them with experts, preventing game abandonment before it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by monitoring player progress and detecting when they are stuck on difficult sections. This feedback loop enables the system to intervene appropriately by connecting players with help, thereby maintaining game completion rates.
3Productivity
If the system provides real-time expert assistance, then players can overcome challenges more quickly, but the system complexity and resources required increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs self-service by using automated matching algorithms and AI-driven connection logic rather than requiring manual intervention. The help session controller automatically matches players with appropriate experts based on game context, reducing the need for complex manual system management.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A method for gaming assistance. Information relating to game plays of player for a gaming application is received at a back-end server. A current game context of a first game play of a first player is determined from the information. Historical expert game contexts of expert game plays of experts that have played the gaming application are determined from the information. An assistance query related to the first game play is received. The current game context of the first player is compared to the historical expert game contexts to determine at least one expert having a corresponding historical expert game context that matches the first game context. A first expert is assigned to the first player for obtaining assistance. A communication session is generated between a device of the first expert and a device of the first player to enable the first expert to render assistance to the first player.