Game Board Segmentation for Match-Three Complexity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Designing computer-implemented games that maintain user engagement and control over difficulty, especially on devices with limited display resources, such as smartphones and tablets, is challenging, particularly in match-three games where introducing complexity while ensuring rewarding gameplay and feedback mechanisms is difficult.
Innovation Solution
A computer device and method that includes a processor to detect user input, determine game element characteristics, and associate locations on the game board with specific effects, allowing for dynamic game element swapping and replenishment, which can trigger various effects like line blasting or spreading, enhancing gameplay complexity and engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If game complexity is increased to improve user engagement, then user engagement is improved, but device resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the game board into multiple zones (first zone and second zone) with different rule sets. The first zone uses traditional match-three mechanics while the second zone implements cascade mechanics with different matching rules. This segmentation allows complex gameplay in the second zone without requiring the entire game board to be complex, thus improving user engagement while managing device resources efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension to the game by implementing cascade mechanics where matches in the first zone can trigger additional matches in the second zone. This creates a multi-layered gameplay experience where actions in one zone propagate to another, adding strategic depth without increasing the spatial complexity of individual zones, thereby enhancing engagement while controlling processing requirements.
2Ease of operation
If game rules are simplified to improve ease of operation, then ease of operation is improved, but user engagement decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different rule qualities to different zones of the game board. The first zone maintains simple traditional match-three rules for ease of operation, while the second zone implements more complex cascade mechanics for enhanced engagement. This local differentiation allows players to experience both simplicity and complexity depending on which zone they are interacting with, balancing ease of operation with user engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The game board functions universally as both a traditional match-three zone and a cascade mechanics zone. The same basic matching logic applies in both zones, but the second zone extends this logic to create chain reactions. This multi-functionality allows the game to provide both simple and complex gameplay experiences within a unified system, maintaining ease of operation while enhancing user engagement.
3Device complexity
If display resources are limited to reduce device requirements, then device requirements are reduced, but game visual quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the visual display into two distinct zones with different visual characteristics. The first zone uses traditional match-three visual elements while the second zone displays cascade effects with different visual patterns. This segmentation allows the game to provide rich visual feedback for complex mechanics in the second zone without requiring the entire display to be visually intensive, thus maintaining visual quality while reducing overall display resource requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A game board is displayed on a display of a computer device. When a user engages with one or more game elements in a move, at least one processor of the computer device determines a first characteristic of a game element associated with the triggering of a first game element, a first direction associated with the triggering and a first set of locations along the first direction. The at least one processor is configured to associate each location of the determined first set of locations with a game element having the determined first characteristic.