Game Character Movement via Dynamic Gravitational Direction Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current game technologies lack innovative methods for character movement in three-dimensional game fields, limiting entertainment value and gameplay variety.

Innovation Solution

A game control program that allows characters to move by changing the direction of gravitational force, enabling characters to fall and land on objects, and optionally causing surrounding objects to fall along with the character, using input devices to control movement and gravitational direction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional character movement methods (walking or riding vehicles) are used in game fields, then the character can move from one location to another, but the gameplay variety and entertainment value are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegameplay varietyVSAvoidmovement system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of gravitational force direction to enable novel character movement. By dynamically altering the direction in which gravitational force acts on the character, the system allows the character to fall toward different objects in the game field, creating diverse movement patterns without adding complex mechanical systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimension to character movement by utilizing the directional flexibility of gravitational force in three-dimensional space. Instead of conventional horizontal movement on fixed surfaces, the character can fall in any direction determined by the gravitational force vector, effectively using spatial dimensions for movement innovation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Speed

If the character falls in the changed gravitational direction, then the character can reach new positions quickly, but the player needs to predict the landing position accurately

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharacter movement speedVSAvoidlanding position prediction
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by calculating and displaying the marker at the predicted landing position before the character actually falls. This allows the player to see in advance where the character will land, enabling informed decision-making about which direction to change gravitational force while maintaining fast movement speeds.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides visual feedback by displaying a marker that indicates the predicted landing position. This feedback mechanism allows the player to understand the relationship between the current gravitational direction and the resulting landing position, enabling better control and prediction without reducing movement speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If only the character falls in the changed gravitational direction, then the movement mechanism is simple, but the interaction with surrounding objects is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement control simplicityVSAvoidobject interaction capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by making the gravitational force change affect not only the character but also surrounding objects within a predetermined range. This single mechanism serves multiple functions: it moves the character, it moves nearby objects, and it creates interactive physics-based gameplay, all through the same gravitational direction change operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Provides novel gameplay mechanics by allowing characters to move through three-dimensional spaces in a unique way, enhancing entertainment value and gameplay variety while maintaining intuitive player control.

Implementation Method 1

a module configured to change the direction of gravitational force exerted on the character in accordance with a command input from a player acknowledged by an input device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitational force: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP2478942B1Game device, game control method, and game control program for controlling game in which character is moved in three-dimensional space
Publication Date: 2020.12.16 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
  • EP2478942B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2478942B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2478942B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A game device (10) includes: a screen generation unit (66) configured to read data for a character and an object located in a three-dimensional game field from a storage device (62), generate images of the character and the object, and display the images on a displace device; a character control unit (41) configured to control the movement of the character landing on the object; a gravitational direction control unit (43) configured to change the direction of gravitational force exerted on the character in accordance with a command input from a player acknowledged by an input device (20); and a fall control unit (44) configured to cause the character to fall in the changed direction of the gravitational force. The gravitational direction control unit (43) displays a marker indicating a position where the character would land after falling.