Game Assistance System Using Asynchronous Save Data Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Single-player games often present challenges that exceed a player's skills, and conventional solutions like difficulty settings and online walkthroughs may not be satisfactory for overcoming specific obstacles, leaving players stuck.
Innovation Solution
A game assistance system allows a first player to request help from a friend by sending a specially formatted game save, enabling the friend to play through difficult sections and record their actions, which are then replayed for the first player to aid in overcoming the challenge while preserving their game state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a player uses conventional difficulty settings or walkthroughs to overcome game challenges, then they can progress through the game, but they cannot receive personalized real-time assistance from friends and the guidance may be unsatisfactory
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a copy of the first player's game state (save data) and transfers it to the second player's device. This copy allows the friend to access and interact with the exact same game situation without affecting the original player's progress, enabling personalized assistance while preserving the original game state.
Solution Approach 2:
The network server acts as an intermediary to facilitate the transfer of game state data between players. It receives the formatted save data from the first player, transmits it to the second player, and later receives the updated save data for redistribution, enabling asynchronous communication and collaboration without requiring both players to be online simultaneously.
2Loss of information
If a friend plays the first player's game to provide assistance, then personalized guidance can be provided, but the first player's game state may be altered or lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by creating a formatted copy of the game state before the friend plays. The save data is prepared in advance with proper formatting and transmitted to the friend's device, so that when the friend plays, they are working with a pre-prepared state that can be safely updated and returned without risking the original game state.
Solution Approach 2:
A copy of the game state is created and transferred to the friend, who plays on this copy rather than the original. Any changes made by the friend affect only the copied state, which is then updated and transferred back. This copying mechanism protects the original game state from unintended alterations while still allowing the friend to provide meaningful assistance.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system allows friends to play and provide assistance asynchronously, then players can receive help without real-time interaction, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameters of the save data by formatting it in a specific structure that includes metadata and game state information. This formatted structure enables the data to be transmitted across different devices and platforms while maintaining compatibility and allowing the receiving device to properly interpret and use the game state information.
Data Source
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Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
A method of assisting a first player of a videogame comprises the steps of making a game state of the first player accessible to a second player, the game state describing a state of the videogame as played by the first player, executing the videogame for the second player using the game state of the first player to define the initial state of the videogame for the second player, allowing the second player to play the videogame based upon the game state of the first player until a first predetermined criterion is met, and providing to the first player data for updating their game state in response to the play of the second player.