Game System Virtual Camera Orientation Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional game systems fail to ensure that stored game images are displayed in an appropriate orientation when shown on different devices, leading to suboptimal viewing experiences.

Innovation Solution

A game system that includes object control, virtual camera control, image generation, and image storage processing means, allowing for the control of a virtual camera's orientation based on player operations, storage of generated images with rotation information, and switching between game and imaging modes to capture and store images with desired orientations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If game images are stored without rotation information, then the storage process is simple, but the images cannot be displayed in appropriate orientation on different devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage storage processVSAvoidimage display compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by automatically determining and storing rotation information at the time of image capture. The image storage processing means stores both the game image and its associated rotation information together, so that when the image is later displayed on any device, the appropriate rotation can be applied automatically without requiring manual intervention or complex processing at display time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If rotation information is stored with images, then images can be displayed in correct orientation on various devices, but the storage process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage display compatibilityVSAvoidimage storage process
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the image storage process with rotation information storage into a single integrated operation. The image storage processing means simultaneously stores both the game image data and its corresponding rotation information together in the storage medium, eliminating the need for separate rotation information storage steps and reducing overall system complexity despite adding the rotation metadata.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the virtual camera orientation is controlled based on player operations, then the image capture flexibility is improved, but the control system becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage capture flexibilityVSAvoidvirtual camera control system
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies self-service by automatically determining the virtual camera's orientation based on player operations without requiring separate manual orientation input. The virtual camera control means automatically adjusts the camera orientation according to player actions, and the image storage processing means automatically captures and stores the rotation information, eliminating the need for additional complex control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3449986B1Game system, game program, game apparatus, and game processing method
Publication Date: 2023.09.20 NINTENDO CO LTD
  • EP3449986B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3449986B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3449986B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In an example of a game system, switching to an imaging mode is performed according to an operation performed by a player while a game is being performed. In the imaging mode, a virtual camera in a virtual space is rotated in a roll direction according to an operation performed by the player. In the game system, when rotation of the virtual camera in the roll direction represents a value greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, information indicating that 90 degrees rotation is to be performed is stored as rotation information of an image. In the game system, according to an instruction from the player, an image displayed on a screen at a time of the instruction, and the rotation information of the image are stored in a storage medium.