Game Character Display State Indication for Communication Errors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional communication systems in game environments face challenges in indicating communication states without distracting players, leading to potential manipulation errors and reduced focus, as separate communication state indication areas require players to look away from the game and can confuse multiple character states.
Innovation Solution
A communication game system that changes the display state of characters controlled by other players when a communication error occurs, allowing players to monitor communication states without a dedicated indication area, thus maintaining focus on the game and efficiently using screen space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a separate communication state indication area is provided on the display screen, then communication state can be indicated, but the player needs to look away from the game which reduces concentration and may cause manipulation errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the communication state indication function with the existing character display area. Instead of providing a separate indication area that requires player attention diversion, the communication state is integrated into the character icons themselves through color coding and visual symbols, allowing players to monitor communication status without leaving the game action.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different visual properties (colors, symbols) to specific regions of the character display based on communication state. Each character icon locally displays communication status through color changes (e.g., green for good, yellow for degraded, red for poor) and symbols (e.g., smiley faces), enabling localized information presentation without affecting overall game display.
2Loss of information
If a separate communication state indication area is provided on the display screen, then communication state can be indicated, but display space for the game itself is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (character display and communication state indication) into a single display area. The character icons serve dual purposes: representing game characters and indicating communication status through visual modifiers, thereby eliminating the need for separate indication areas and preserving maximum game display space.
Solution Approach 2:
The character display area is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: displaying character positions, identities, and communication states. This multi-functional design allows the same screen real estate to provide both game information and communication status without requiring additional space.
3Loss of information
If a separate communication state indication area is provided on the display screen, then communication state can be indicated, but it is difficult to instantly determine which indications correspond to which players
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies distinct visual properties to each character icon based on its communication state, creating locally differentiated displays. Each character shows its unique identity through position, icon design, and color coding, making it immediately clear which communication state belongs to which player without requiring additional identification effort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses color changes as a visual encoding system to represent communication states for different characters. Each character icon changes color according to its communication quality (e.g., green for good, yellow for degraded, red for poor), providing instant visual differentiation and clear association between character and status.
4Reliability
If conventional communication state indication is used, then communication errors can be detected, but deterioration of communication state cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary visual warnings that indicate communication state deterioration before complete failure occurs. The system uses progressive color changes and symbol modifications to alert players to degrading communication quality, allowing them to take preventive action before total loss of communication occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent provides continuous visual feedback about communication state through dynamic updates of character icon colors and symbols. This real-time feedback mechanism allows players to monitor communication quality continuously and understand the current state without needing to interpret complex error codes or separate indication displays.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication game system controlling a development of a game by establishing communication between plural terminal apparatuses and displaying shared information at the terminal apparatuses is provided, the system enabling easy recognition of a communication state of a communication established between the terminal apparatuses. The system includes plural game apparatuses that are adapted to establish communication. The game apparatus includes a display unit, an operation unit, and a processing unit for conducting self-controlled character display control and other character display control. The self-controlled character display control includes displaying on the display unit a self-controlled character that is controlled by an operation of the operation unit of the game apparatus. The other character display control includes receiving information pertaining to another character that is controlled by another game apparatus, and displaying the other character on the display unit. Also, the other character display control includes changing the display state of the other character controlled by the other game apparatus when the communication state of the communication with the other game apparatus deteriorates.