Game System Character Switching for Simultaneous Multiplayer Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing game systems do not allow multiple players to simultaneously play games using a single apparatus, limiting collaborative gameplay experiences.

Innovation Solution

A game system that includes circuitry to read shared data, generate a virtual space, and control player characters, allowing players to switch between main and sub-character roles, enabling simultaneous gameplay with shared behaviors and equipment management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single game apparatus is shared by multiple players, then device cost and space utilization are improved, but the ability to simultaneously perform games is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice sharing capabilityVSAvoidsimultaneous gameplay capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The game system segments player control by designating one player as the main player who controls the camera and primary actions, while other players are sub-players who control additional characters. This segmentation allows multiple players to simultaneously interact with the game world through divided control responsibilities, resolving the contradiction between device sharing and simultaneous gameplay capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The single game apparatus is designed to handle multiple player inputs and process them differently based on player role (main or sub). The system universally processes game logic for all players while applying different control schemes, enabling the single device to support simultaneous multiplayer gameplay without requiring additional hardware

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple player characters are controlled in a single virtual space, then collaborative gameplay is improved, but control complexity and coordination difficulty are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollaborative gameplay capabilityVSAvoidcharacter control ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different control qualities to different players: the main player receives full control including camera manipulation and primary character actions, while sub-players receive limited control focused on their specific characters. This local differentiation of control quality simplifies the operation experience for each player while enabling collaborative gameplay

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of giving each player equal control over all characters (which would create confusion), the system inverts the approach by assigning each player control over specific characters with clearly defined roles. The main player controls the viewpoint character while sub-players control supporting characters, making control easier through role specialization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS11224808B2Game system, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein game program, information processing apparatus, and game processing method

Publication Date: 2022.01.18 NINTENDO CO LTD

AI summary

In an example of a game system, based on saved data of a plurality of players, a plurality of player characters are generated, and based on an operation on each of a plurality of operation devices, one of the player characters corresponding to the operation device is controlled in a virtual space. The game system can set any of the plurality of player characters as a main character, set the other player character as a sub characters, switch the main character and the sub character. Then, the game system controls a field of view of the game so that at least the main character is included in the field of view. The game system generates a game image based on the field of view to be displayed on a display device.