Game Program Managing Cumulative Values for Strategic Depth

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional computer-based board games lack strategic depth due to limited types of pieces that can be placed on the field, leading to reduced player engagement and interest.

Innovation Solution

A game program that allows multiple types of arranged objects, enabling players to set and update cumulative values based on inputs and interactions, with evaluation and end conditions that enhance strategic gameplay by varying cumulative values and offering multiple tactical options.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If one type of piece is allocated to each player on a predefined field, then the game rules are simple and easy to understand, but the degree of freedom in piece placement is limited and the game lacks strategic depth

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of understanding game rulesVSAvoiddegree of freedom in piece placement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The game field is segmented into multiple regions, and players are assigned different types of pieces that can be placed in different regions. This segmentation allows each player to have specialized pieces with specific placement rules, increasing the variety of placement options while maintaining clear, region-specific rules that are easy to understand.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The game system is designed to support multiple types of pieces with different functions and placement rules. Rather than limiting players to a single piece type, the system provides universal rules that accommodate various piece types, each with its own characteristics and strategic value, thereby increasing placement freedom while keeping the overall rule structure simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple types of arranged objects are introduced with cumulative value management, then strategic depth and player engagement are enhanced, but the game system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestrategic depthVSAvoidgame system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Cumulative values for different types of arranged objects are predetermined and assigned to players before the game begins. These preliminary assignments establish the strategic framework without requiring complex real-time calculations during gameplay. Players strategically deploy their pre-assigned objects based on these cumulative values, enhancing strategic depth while avoiding the complexity of dynamic value assignment during the game.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8403747B2Storage medium storing game program for providing play-against-type game in which multiple players can participate, game device, and game system

Publication Date: 2013.03.26 NINTENDO CO LTD

AI summary

When a game is started, at least two types of pieces obtained based on random extraction from prepared types of pieces are set in advance for each player as his/her own assigned pieces (assigned objects). When the game ends as a prescribed condition is satisfied, an evaluation value of each player is calculated based on a cumulative value at that time point of the assigned pieces set for that player. The assigned piece defines the type of the piece to be evaluated for each player. Here, as a difference between a cumulative value of one assigned piece and a cumulative value of the other assigned piece is greater, a higher evaluation value is calculated. Typically, the difference (absolute value) between the cumulative values of the respective assigned pieces is calculated as the evaluation value.