Legacy Game Snapshot Mini-Games for Shorter Play Sessions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Legacy video games often require long playtimes, and gamers seek shorter, familiar gaming experiences without the need for extensive playthroughs.

Innovation Solution

A method is devised to create mini-games from legacy games using snapshot techniques, identifying interesting starting locations and triggers to define endpoints, allowing for new gameplay experiences without reverse engineering the game code.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If gamers play the whole legacy game, then they experience the complete game content, but the playtime spans many hours which is too long

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveplaytimeVSAvoidtime spent playing
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the legacy game into discrete mini-games by identifying specific snapshots (starting locations) and triggers (ending conditions) within the game. Each mini-game represents a self-contained segment that can be played independently, transforming a continuous long-duration game into multiple short-duration playable units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts specific portions of the legacy game by taking snapshots at interesting starting locations and defining triggers that mark endpoints. This extraction process isolates valuable game content from the full game, creating standalone mini-games that capture essential gameplay moments without requiring the full game experience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Duration of action of moving object

If a mini-game is created from a legacy game, then the playtime is shortened, but the game structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveplaytimeVSAvoidgame structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates simplified copies of the legacy game by recording snapshots and triggers without reverse engineering the underlying code. The mini-game is a copy of the essential gameplay elements captured at specific moments, maintaining the original game's mechanics and feel while being structurally simpler and self-contained.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary analysis of the legacy game to identify interesting snapshots and triggers before creating the mini-game. This preliminary action involves playing through the legacy game, marking noteworthy locations and events, and preparing the snapshot data in advance, which simplifies the subsequent mini-game creation process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3881915B1Method for executing a mini-game
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
  • EP3881915B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3881915B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3881915B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A starting location for the mini-game is chosen in the legacy game state. A snapshot is generated of that location. Once the snapshot is taken, trigger events are identified. Triggers corresponding to the trigger events are identified. A mini-game script is generated using the snapshot and triggers. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.