Game Element Generation from Captured Image RGB Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing video game technologies limit player engagement by relying on pre-defined environmental data, leading to unintended game progression and lack of variety, as players seek personalized experiences.

Innovation Solution

A game machine that captures images based on player instructions, analyzes the data to generate game elements, allowing players to select and use these elements dynamically, thereby increasing game variety and control over progression.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If environmental data is acquired from outside the virtual space to generate game characters, then the variety of game content is increased, but the game may progress against the player's intention

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegame content varietyVSAvoidgame progression control
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an image capture device and image analysis system as intermediaries between the external environment and the game system. Instead of directly using environmental data (which could cause unintended game progression), the system captures images, analyzes them to extract features, and then uses these features to generate game elements. This intermediary processing chain allows the game to adapt to external inputs while maintaining player control over how the data is interpreted and applied.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If pre-defined environmental data is used to generate game elements, then the game development process is simplified, but the player engagement and personalized experience are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegame development simplicityVSAvoidplayer engagement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the game system to automatically capture images from the external environment, analyze the image data to extract features, and generate game elements without requiring manual pre-definition by developers. The system serves itself by converting real-world inputs into game content dynamically, thereby simplifying the development process while simultaneously increasing player engagement through personalized, context-aware game elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Quantity of substance

If the game system automatically generates game elements from captured images, then the content variety is increased, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent varietyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the complex task of generating game elements from captured images into distinct modular components: an image capture module, an image analysis module that extracts features, and a game element generation module. This segmentation allows each component to be developed and optimized independently, managing system complexity while still achieving diverse content generation through the coordinated work of these specialized subsystems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS7819731B2Method for generating game element from photographed image
Publication Date: 2010.10.26 SQUARE ENIX HLDG CO LTD
  • US7819731B2 patent drawing
  • US7819731B2 patent drawing
  • US7819731B2 patent drawing

AI summary

When a player character has a raw stone material, a player can carry out material conversion at an arbitrary timing. In the material conversion, the player captures an arbitrary image in a real space or a virtual 3D space. RGB data of predetermined pixels are extracted from the captured image data, and average values for R, G, and B are acquired separately. A material of a type corresponding to the calculated average values of the RGB data is generated. When the player equips the player character with the material generated by the material conversion, magic corresponding to the equipped material can be used.