Game Apparatus Character Display Control for Multiplayer Distinction

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Solution Overview

Problem

In online multiplay games, when multiple players select the same character, it becomes difficult for individual players to distinguish their own character on the game screen, leading to a confusing gameplay experience.

Innovation Solution

The game system employs a processor-based solution where each game apparatus selects a player character for movement control based on player operations. If two players select the same character, the system ensures that only one character is displayed on each player's game screen, while maintaining the matching between game apparatuses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple players select the same character in online multiplay, then character selection freedom is improved, but character distinguishability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharacter selection freedomVSAvoidcharacter distinguishability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the problematic element (duplicate character displays) by having each game apparatus exclude displays of characters selected by other players when those characters are identical to characters already displayed on that apparatus. This allows players to freely select any character while ensuring that only unique character instances are displayed on each screen, resolving the contradiction between selection freedom and distinguishability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If the system excludes duplicate character displays to improve distinguishability, then character recognition is improved, but matching complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharacter recognitionVSAvoidmatching complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each game apparatus independently determines which characters to display based on its own character selection and the selections of other players. The system uses local judgment logic where each apparatus autonomously decides to exclude duplicate character displays, eliminating the need for complex centralized matching coordination and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining clear character recognition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If the system implements per-apparatus character display control, then character distinguishability is improved, but system coordination requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharacter distinguishabilityVSAvoidsystem coordination

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the character display control function into independent operations at each game apparatus. Each apparatus independently manages its own character display based on locally available information about other players' selections, eliminating the need for complex inter-apparatus coordination while ensuring consistent character distinguishability across all players.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250041722A1Computer-readable non-transitory storage medium having game program stored therein, game system, and game processing method

Publication Date: 2025.02.06 NINTENDO CO LTD

AI summary

A first game apparatus and a second game apparatus are matched via a network. A first player character to be operated by a player of the first game apparatus and a second player character to be operated by a player of the second game apparatus are selected from a character group including a plurality of characters different from each other. In a case where the selected characters are different characters, the first game apparatus and the second game apparatus both draw a game space including the first player character and the second player character. On the other hand, in a case where the selected characters are the same character, the first game apparatus draws a game space without drawing the second player character, and the second game apparatus draws a game space without drawing the first player character.