Game Machine Operation Teaching System Using Reference Marks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing music game machines limit game variation and player engagement by not requesting concrete operations, as they primarily focus on reducing the distance between a note bar and a reference line, thereby restricting the types of operations players can perform.
Innovation Solution
A game machine with a display apparatus, input apparatus, and operation teach device that uses reference timing data to teach players both the reference timing and information related to the reference position, allowing for more complex operations by displaying marks along a time axis and instructing players to match these marks, thereby increasing game variation and engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If only the distance between the note bar and the reference line is reduced to teach operation timing, then the teaching method is simple, but the ability to teach concrete operation content such as operation amount and direction is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the one-dimensional note bar approach by introducing a two-dimensional teaching system. The reference mark is positioned not only at a specific time point (time axis) but also at a specific position (position axis), creating a two-dimensional teaching space. This allows the system to convey multiple pieces of operation information (timing, position, operation amount, direction) simultaneously without significantly increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The teaching information is segmented into distinct components: reference timing (when to operate), reference position (where to operate), operation amount (how much to operate), and operation direction (which direction to operate). Each component is represented by a specific visual element in the reference mark, allowing the system to teach concrete operation content clearly and systematically.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the operation teaching system only provides timing information through note bar movement, then the system is easy to operate, but game variation is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides preliminary teaching information through the reference mark that shows players exactly what operation to perform (amount and direction) before the operation is executed. This allows players to understand the required operation in advance, making complex operations easier to perform while enabling diverse game variations with different operation requirements.
3Loss of time
If the reference mark is displayed far from the current time mark, then future operation timing can be shown, but the teaching effect is reduced due to large distance
Solution Approach 1:
The reference mark dynamically adjusts its position relative to the current time mark based on the timing of the operation to be taught. For operations near the current time, the reference mark is displayed close to the current time mark for precise teaching. For future operations, the reference mark is displayed further away, maintaining an appropriate visual distance that allows players to prepare while preserving teaching effectiveness.
Data Source
AI summary
A game machine includes: a monitor (2) that displays and outputs a game screen (40R); a control panel (3) that includes volume controllers (9) operated so as to change a position of an outer circumferential portion (SP) of a knob portion (9T); a external storage device (20) that stores sequence data (30) in which a reference timing at which the volume controllers (9) are operated during a game is associated with a reference position at which the outer circumferential portion (SP) is to be positioned at the reference timing. And, the game machine teaches information of the reference timing and the reference position to a player, based on the sequence data (30).