Game System Guest Character Substitution for Cooperative Play
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication game systems restrict players to playing together only with pre-matched colleagues and do not allow for cooperative play with other players, limiting the number of participants in a game session.
Innovation Solution
A communication game system that enables a host player to progress a game with guest players by allowing their characters to temporarily participate in the game, with guest characters substituting for host characters, facilitating cooperative play among multiple players.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If players are matched in a lobby space and play together until the game is ended, then the game can be played with pre-matched colleagues, but more players cannot play the game in cooperation with one another
Solution Approach 1:
The game session is segmented into multiple games within a single communication connection. Players can participate in different games sequentially or simultaneously through character substitution, allowing the same group to expand their cooperative activities beyond a single fixed game mode
Solution Approach 2:
The communication connection established in the lobby space serves multiple functions: it maintains the original matched gameplay and simultaneously enables guest character participation in additional games, making the same connection versatile for different cooperative scenarios
2Adaptability or versatility
If portable game apparatuses are directly connected through ad-hoc communication, then communication is enabled between adjacent devices, but persons other than colleagues already acquainted with one another cannot play together
Solution Approach 1:
The host terminal apparatus acts as an intermediary that manages communication connections between multiple guest terminals. This intermediary structure allows players who are not directly acquainted to connect through the host, enabling cooperative play beyond pre-existing social circles
Solution Approach 2:
Guest characters are created as virtual copies that represent real players in the host's game environment. These character copies enable players to interact and cooperate without requiring direct device-to-device connection or prior acquaintance
3Ease of operation
If host characters are set to operate according to guidance from the host player, then the host player can control game progression, but the system cannot easily accommodate additional guest players for cooperative play
Solution Approach 1:
The character control system is made dynamic by allowing the host player to switch between controlling original host characters and controlling guest characters. This dynamic flexibility enables the host to adapt control to different gameplay situations and accommodate guest participation without losing operational simplicity
Data Source
AI summary
A game system which enables a host player to progress a game in collaboration with guest players is provided. The host player progresses the game by moving a party, including a plurality of player characters, on a field. When the party arrives at a predetermined point on a predetermined field, a battle with an enemy character is started. When a player character of the party becomes inoperative in the battle, a player character of a guest player may be substituted for the inoperative player character by sending a support request to the guest player. Although there is a time limit that the player character of the guest player may participate in the battle, the time limit may be extended when the corresponding player character achieves a predetermined condition in the battle.