Geographic Templates for Game Development

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Solution Overview

Problem

Computer game developers face significant challenges in obtaining and utilizing detailed geographic data to create realistic representations of real-world locations, which diverts resources away from other aspects of game development and can be costly and time-consuming, and they may also want to depict locations similar to actual ones to avoid data collection burdens and discrepancies.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that utilize a source geographic database to create a template database for computer game development, allowing the creation of imaginary locales similar to real ones by selecting geographic parameters and transforming actual database data to form a template with similar characteristics, enabling the use of this template for creating realistic yet non-actual geographic features in games.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If computer game developers collect detailed geographic data to depict real-world locations, then the realism and accuracy of geographic representations are improved, but the time consumption and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegeographic data accuracyVSAvoiddata collection time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates template databases that are copies or representations of real-world geographic data. These templates capture the essential characteristics of real locations without requiring developers to collect the actual detailed geographic data themselves. The templates serve as reusable models that can be applied to multiple game projects, eliminating the time-consuming data collection process while maintaining geographic realism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system transforms real-world geographic data into parameterized templates that can be dynamically adjusted. By changing parameters such as scale, density, and distribution patterns, the system can generate various geographic representations without re-collecting data. This allows the same template to serve multiple purposes across different games and locations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If computer game developers collect detailed geographic data, then the realism of geographic representations is improved, but the resources diverted from other game development aspects increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegeographic representation accuracyVSAvoidoverall game development efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The template databases are designed to be universal and multi-functional. A single template can be used across multiple different games and project types without requiring separate data collection for each. The templates serve both as geographic representation tools and as time-saving resources, allowing developers to focus on core game development tasks while still achieving realistic geographic portrayals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If computer game developers depict actual geographic locations, then the authenticity and player engagement are improved, but the risk of players finding discrepancies increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegeographic authenticityVSAvoidplayer discrepancy detection

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating templates that capture the essential characteristics of specific geographic regions while allowing for generalization. The templates maintain the authentic feel and patterns of real locations through carefully curated local features, while the overall representation remains flexible enough to avoid specific real-world identifiers that could be easily detected by players.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Ease of manufacture

If computer game developers create templates from real geographic data, then the ease of creating realistic locations is improved, but the complexity of the template creation process increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation creation easeVSAvoidtemplate database system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-processing and organizing real-world geographic data into standardized templates before they are needed for game development. This upfront work of data collection, cleaning, and template generation eliminates the need for developers to perform these complex tasks during their own projects. The templates are ready-to-use and can be directly applied to game assets and environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8562439B2Geographic area templates for computer games

Publication Date: 2013.10.22 HERE GLOBAL BV

AI summary

A system and method are disclosed for facilitating development of computer games that depict or represent actual, real world geographic areas as part of the play scenarios of the games. A source database contains data that represent geographic features in a region including roads in the region. The data in the source database includes attributes suitable for use for providing navigation-related functions. In addition to providing data from the source database for navigation-related functions, data from the source database are also used to form a template database, wherein the template database represents an imaginary locale. The template database is provided for computer game development.