Game Input Standardization Across Developers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face difficulties in seamlessly transitioning between games of the same genre developed by different developers due to variations in operation input assignments, leading to potential mistakes and reduced user experience.

Innovation Solution

A program and information processing apparatus that acquires game genre information and correspondence data between pre-defined operation members for different games, allowing for the conversion of operation inputs to standardize the input method across similar games, enabling users to play with a familiar input method.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If different games of the same genre use different operation input assignments, then each game can be optimized for its specific design, but users experience difficulty transitioning between games and may make mistakes due to unfamiliar controls

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegame design flexibilityVSAvoiduser operation consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal operation input interface that works across multiple games of the same genre. By defining genre-specific standard operation assignments (e.g., movement, attack, defense keys for action games), the system enables users to transfer their learned controls between different games, while still allowing individual game developers to optimize within that standardized framework

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adapts the operation input interface based on the detected game genre. When a user launches a game, the system automatically configures the appropriate standard operation assignments for that genre, transitioning between different control schemes seamlessly. This allows the interface to be static for consistency within a genre while being dynamic across different genres

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If a limited number of operation members are used, then device complexity is reduced, but the variety of actions available to users in each game is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation interface simplicityVSAvoidaction variety
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes each operation member universal within its genre context. A single set of physical controls (keyboard, mouse, gamepad) can perform multiple different actions depending on the game context, because the mapping between controls and actions is standardized by genre rather than being fixed to specific games. This allows limited hardware to support diverse game actions

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

Data Source

PatentEP3077069B1Program, recording medium, information processing apparatus, and control method
Publication Date: 2021.07.14 SQUARE ENIX HLDG CO LTD
  • EP3077069B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3077069B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3077069B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Upon receiving first operation information indicating a first operation member to which an operation input has been made, an information processing apparatus changes, based on correspondence information, the first operation information to second operation information indicating a second operation member associated with the first operation member indicated by the first operation information and outputs the second operation information to the processing for the game.