Game Panel Placement with Connection State Evaluation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional player-versus-player games lack strategic depth as they do not consider the state of connection between pieces, limiting the game to forming predetermined shapes or lines, and do not allow players to select panels arbitrarily, making them more suited for one-player puzzle games rather than strategic multiplayer interactions.
Innovation Solution
A game program and apparatus that enable players to place panels with connecting portions on a game field, allowing for the formation of combined states, with features like panel selection, placement, and evaluation based on the connection state, introducing a common panel and changing connecting portion positions to enhance strategic gameplay.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If players place pieces to form predetermined shapes or lines without considering connection state, then the game is simple to play, but the strategic depth is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new parameter - connection state - to the existing game framework. Panels are evaluated not only by their position and shape formation but also by their connection relationships with other panels. This parameter change transforms the game from simple shape formation to strategic connection-based gameplay, resolving the contradiction between ease of play and strategic depth.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the game evaluation into multiple independent aspects: shape formation (predetermined patterns) and connection state (relationships between panels). This segmentation allows players to focus on one aspect while the other provides strategic complexity, maintaining ease of operation while enhancing strategic depth through the interaction of segmented evaluation criteria.
2Adaptability or versatility
If panels are provided in advance on the game field or appear randomly from edges, then the game is suitable for one-player puzzle solving, but player-versus-player strategic interaction is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic panel selection where players can choose from multiple available panels and place them at various positions on the game field, rather than following fixed predetermined positions or random appearances. This dynamic approach enables players to adapt their strategies in real-time based on the current game state, transforming the game into a strategic player-versus-player interaction while maintaining puzzle-solving elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the panel placement system universal by allowing panels to be placed at any vacant position on the game field, regardless of predetermined patterns or edge appearances. This multi-functional placement capability serves both one-player puzzle solving and player-versus-player strategic interaction, resolving the contradiction between game type suitability and strategic interaction.
3Productivity
If only predetermined shapes or consecutive blocks are considered for win/loss conditions, then the evaluation is simple, but the game lacks strategic complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary evaluation of connection states during the panel placement process itself, rather than waiting for the game to end or requiring separate complex evaluation steps. The system continuously monitors and evaluates connection relationships as panels are placed, enabling simple and fast win/loss determination while maintaining strategic complexity through the connection-based evaluation criteria.
Data Source
AI summary
Displayed on a screen are: a game field having a plurality of squares; and panels which are respectively associated with a plurality of players and each of which is provided with one or more connecting portions for forming a combined state with another panel. A panel is selected in accordance with an operation performed by each player. In accordance with the operation performed by each player, square selection selects, from the game field, a square on which the panel is to be placed. Panel placing places, on the square selected by the square selection, the panel selected by the panel selection. Combined state determination determines whether or not panels, associated with a same player, among a plurality of panels placed on the game field have formed a predetermined combined state via the connecting portions. Evaluation evaluates the predetermined combined state which the combined state determination has determined to have been formed.