GPS Seed for Dynamic Game World Generation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing video game technologies face challenges in generating extensive and varied game worlds efficiently, as manually specifying details is laborious and pseudo-random number generation may not provide sufficient randomness or flexibility for game developers.

Innovation Solution

The use of GPS location information from game devices to form a seed number for procedurally generating aspects of a game world, allowing for dynamic and location-dependent game content creation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If game developers manually specify each detail of a game world, then the game world can be created with extensive details and variations, but the development process becomes laborious and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequantity of game world detailsVSAvoiddevelopment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses GPS location data as a pre-determined seed value that automatically generates game world details before gameplay begins. This preliminary action replaces manual specification, allowing extensive game world creation without developer time investment during the development phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by allowing the game device to automatically generate its own game world details using the GPS-based seed number. The game world creates itself without requiring external developer input, reducing both manual labor and development time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If pseudo-randomly generated numbers are used to generate game world details, then the generation process becomes automated and faster, but the randomness may not be sufficient and developer control is constrained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegame world generation speedVSAvoidrandomness quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter used for random generation from a standard pseudo-random seed to a GPS-based seed number. This parameter change maintains automated generation speed while improving randomness quality by using location-specific data that varies between devices and locations, providing both speed and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Extent of automation

If pseudo-randomly generated numbers are used for procedural generation, then automation is achieved, but the ability of game developers to present desired content is unduly constrained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocedural generation automationVSAvoiddeveloper content control

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamics by making the seed number dependent on GPS location data rather than a fixed pseudo-random value. This allows the automated generation system to adapt to different locations, providing both high automation and flexibility for presenting location-appropriate content that developers can control through location-based parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12296271B2GPS seed for game play

Publication Date: 2025.05.13 ACTIVISION PUBLISHING INC

AI summary

A seed number for use in generating aspects of a game world may be formed using GPS location information of a game device. The game device may include GPS circuitry for providing the GPS location information.