Game Editor Auto-Completion for Non-Technical Level Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge lies in creating user-friendly video game development tools that allow non-technical users to design engaging and functional game levels without requiring extensive technical expertise, as modern game development is complex and time-consuming, often resulting in frustrating experiences due to navigation and functionality issues.

Innovation Solution

An easy-to-use game editor with an 'auto completion' feature that automatically connects and arranges chosen game elements, ensuring navigable and functional virtual structures, allowing users to create game levels with minimal effort and high ease of use, while preventing undesired interactions between structures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If traditional game development tools are used, then game developers can create sophisticated video games with photorealistic graphics, but the technical complexity and time required for development increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegame qualityVSAvoiddevelopment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intelligent game editor as an intermediary tool between the user and the complex game development environment. This editor automatically handles technical complexities such as code generation, asset management, and game logic implementation, allowing users to create sophisticated games through simplified interfaces without needing to understand the underlying technical complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The game editor implements self-service mechanisms by automatically performing tasks that would otherwise require expert knowledge. The system autonomously generates code, manages game assets, handles collision detection, and optimizes game performance, freeing users from needing to master complex development techniques

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If traditional game development tools are used, then comprehensive game features can be achieved, but the ease of operation decreases for non-technical users

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegame functionalityVSAvoiduser friendliness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts complex technical operations from the user interface and handles them automatically in the background. Users interact with simple, intuitive controls while the editor extracts and manages complex functions such as physics calculations, AI behavior, and rendering optimization, maintaining full game functionality while dramatically improving ease of operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically adjusts technical parameters based on user selections and game context. The editor monitors game state and dynamically optimizes parameters such as frame rate, memory allocation, and asset loading without requiring user intervention, thereby maintaining versatility while simplifying operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If users manually create game structures, then precise control over game elements is achieved, but the time and effort required increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure precisionVSAvoiddevelopment time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by providing pre-configured game templates, assets, and structures that are ready to use. The editor includes pre-built level designs, character models, and game mechanics that users can select and customize, eliminating the need to create everything from scratch while maintaining precise control over final game structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables users to copy and reuse game structures, assets, and configurations across multiple projects. The editor provides templates and reusable components that can be instantiated and modified, significantly reducing development time while maintaining precision through consistent, proven designs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

4Ease of operation

If simple authoring tools are used, then ease of use is improved, but the navigability and functionality of created game structures may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthoring easeVSAvoidstructure functionality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements comprehensive feedback mechanisms that monitor game structure creation in real-time. The editor provides automatic validation, collision detection testing, and playability analysis, alerting users to potential functionality issues before they affect the final game. This feedback loop ensures that simple authoring operations produce reliable, functional game structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies preliminary anti-action by preventing users from creating structurally flawed game elements. The editor includes constraint systems that automatically enforce proper spacing, connectivity, and physical properties during the creation process, blocking invalid configurations before they can compromise game functionality while maintaining ease of use

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentUS8328610B2Intelligent game editing system and method with autocomplete and other functions that facilitate game authoring by non-expert end users
Publication Date: 2012.12.11 COVE TECHNOLOGY CONSULTING LLC
  • US8328610B2 patent drawing
  • US8328610B2 patent drawing
  • US8328610B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A new user-friendly game editor allows game players with little or no experience to create new games or game levels. Game element structures can be “drawn” using an “auto completion” feature that automatically functionally connects and/or arranges chosen game elements to provide a visually pleasing environment that is easily navigated by game characters. Such technology can allow an end user game player with little or no technical background to easily develop game levels that are fun to play and do not suffer from any significant defects or other problems that would decrease ease of navigation, functionality or amount of fun. The user may share the authored game with other users via a network so other users can retrieve the game and play it on their own game playing devices. Users can provide feedback concerning the fun and functionality of the game. Good feedback can entitle the game author to recognition including for example bonus points. Bonus points can be redeemed for items listed in an online catalog, which in turn can be used to author ever more interesting game play levels.