Golf Shot Power Gauge With Risk Area for Distance-Accuracy Tradeoff

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing golf games reduce player interest when suitable timing for power determination and impact position operations are memorized, leading to predictable ball trajectories and decreased engagement.

Innovation Solution

A game program that determines a ball object's movement start direction based on game progress and user operation, advances a power index along a gauge, randomly sets a deviation index, and adjusts movement distance and direction based on a risk area, incorporating features like a slanted gauge, risk area, and trajectory prediction images to enhance strategic complexity and visibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a power gauge with fixed operation timing is used in a golf game, then the operation interface is simple and easy to understand, but player interest declines when the suitable timing is memorized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation interface simplicityVSAvoidplayer engagement持续性
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The gauge is designed to dynamically change its characteristics based on the shot situation. The risk area ratio increases as the ball travels farther, and the deviation index position is determined randomly within the risk area. This dynamic adaptation prevents players from memorizing fixed operation timings while maintaining an intuitive interface, directly resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and sustained player engagement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of the gauge's risk area ratio based on the ball's travel distance. As the ball travels farther, the risk area ratio increases, making the operation more challenging and unpredictable. This parameter change ensures that the game remains engaging without sacrificing interface simplicity, addressing both aspects of the contradiction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Length of moving object

If the movement distance of the ball object is increased, then the shot power is higher, but the deviation from the target direction becomes more significant

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveball movement distanceVSAvoiddirectional accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a risk area within the gauge that has different characteristics from the rest of the gauge. The risk area ratio increases with ball travel distance, meaning that longer shots have a higher probability of directional deviation. This local differentiation allows the system to realistically simulate the trade-off between shot distance and directional precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides feedback by determining the deviation index position randomly within the risk area after the player stops the power gauge. This random determination within the risk area creates a feedback mechanism where players can see the relationship between shot distance, risk area size, and actual directional outcome, helping them understand and manage the distance-accuracy trade-off

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4011466B1Game program, game apparatus and game control method
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 NINTENDO CO LTD
  • EP4011466B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4011466B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4011466B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A game system includes a processor incorporated in a main body apparatus, and the processor makes a player character hit a ball according to an operation of a player. A movement gauge is displayed in a parameter determination screen, and the movement gauge includes a belt-shaped basic area and a risk area outside the basic area. A first index image is moved inside the basic area, and a hitting power is determined at a position that the movement is stopped by an operation of the player. The hitting power affects a flight distance of a ball. After the hitting power is determined, a position of a deviation indication image displayed along the first index image is determined at random. A deviation amount is made larger as the deviation indication image is moved away from the center of the first index image. The risk area is enlarged toward an upper end of the movement gauge. That is, if the flight distance of the ball is made longer, the deviation amount may become larger. The player plays a golf game in consideration of whether the flight distance of the ball is prioritized or the directionality is prioritized.