NFT Attribute Mapping for Off-Chain Game Progression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional NFTs pose challenges for traditional gaming by limiting the use case of 'game collectibles' backed on a blockchain, as players desire to retain game items even after game servers are shut down, and existing game progression models rely on upfront content sales or in-app purchases.
Innovation Solution
Implementing off-chain electronic games with blockchain-verified ownership of in-game assets using NFT attribute cards for attribute upgrades, decoupling game progression events from computational load by modifying capacity parameters instead of asset data, and leveraging smart contracts for authorization and usage management across games.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional NFTs are used to represent game collectibles on blockchain, then ownership verification and tradability are improved, but player retention of game items after server shutdown and game progression flexibility are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the NFT functionality into two distinct components: (1) an on-chain NFT that provides immutable ownership verification and certification, and (2) an off-chain game-specific data structure that stores mutable game state and progression information. This segmentation allows the ownership layer to remain reliable while the game progression layer remains flexible and adaptable to different game mechanics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mapping mechanism that connects the on-chain NFT to off-chain game assets. This intermediary layer (including mapping data structures and synchronization protocols) enables the NFT to represent game items without directly storing game-specific data, thus resolving the contradiction between blockchain reliability and game progression flexibility.
2Reliability
If game progression events are processed on-chain with full computational verification, then ownership security is improved, but computational load and transaction costs are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the computationally intensive game progression logic from the blockchain environment and relocates it to off-chain game servers. Only the essential ownership verification and state synchronization operations remain on-chain, dramatically reducing computational load while maintaining security through periodic verification and cryptographic proof-of-state mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of performing complete computational verification of all game progression events on-chain, the system performs partial verification through cryptographic signatures and state proofs. The blockchain validates only the essential ownership transfers and critical state changes, while trusting the off-chain system for detailed game logic execution.
3Stability of the object's composition
If NFT data is stored entirely on-chain, then data integrity and immutability are improved, but storage costs and resource footprint are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a mapping relationship where the on-chain NFT serves as a cryptographic copy or certificate of ownership, while the actual game asset data and detailed attributes are stored off-chain. This copying approach maintains data integrity through cryptographic verification while dramatically reducing on-chain storage requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves game asset data from the one-dimensional on-chain storage to a multi-dimensional architecture where: (1) minimal essential data resides on-chain for integrity, (2) detailed attributes are stored in off-chain databases, and (3) mapping relationships are maintained through cryptographic hashes. This dimensional distribution optimizes both integrity and storage efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer system operates an off-chain electronic game that includes in-game assets stored off of a blockchain. The off-chain electronic game is configured to incorporate on-chain cryptographic assets related to in-game leveling or progression. In some examples, the on-chain cryptographic assets are non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and the on-chain cryptographic assets define in-game attribute data and can include generic digital and visual art. The computer system obtains permission from an interoperability API of a gaming environment/platform to apply a given on-chain cryptographic asset to an in-game asset to modify attribute data of the in-game asset. The computer system applies the given on-chain cryptographic asset and provides an in-game visual indication of the application and modification of attribute data. The in-game visual indication includes a combination of game-specific digital art and the generic digital art of the given on-chain cryptographic asset.