Position-Based Event Generation for Mobile Gaming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Role-playing games lack a mechanism to allow user intention to influence the generation of events in a virtual space, resulting in limited user engagement and unpredictability in acquiring virtual objects.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a terminal position-acquiring unit, a specified position-acquiring unit, an event-generating unit, and a transmitting unit that generates events based on user-specified positions, allowing users to place virtual objects in real-world locations, with a probability of object appearance less than 100%, creating uncertainty and engagement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If events are generated automatically without user input, then the system operation is simple, but user engagement and interaction are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem operation simplicityVSAvoiduser engagement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system allows users to pre-specify positions where events should be generated. This preliminary action enables the system to automatically generate events at these predetermined locations without requiring continuous user input, thus maintaining simple operation while significantly improving user engagement and interaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If objects appear with 100% probability at specified locations, then users can reliably acquire virtual objects, but game unpredictability and entertainment are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveobject acquisition reliabilityVSAvoidgame unpredictability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the probability parameter from a fixed 100% to a variable probability less than 100%. This allows the system to maintain reliable event generation at specified locations while introducing unpredictability through probabilistic outcomes, thereby enhancing game entertainment and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Speed

If the system monitors user position continuously to trigger events, then event generation responsiveness is high, but energy consumption and processing load increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevent generation responsivenessVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses preliminary user-specified positions to trigger events only when users approach these predetermined locations. This eliminates the need for continuous position monitoring, reducing energy consumption and processing load while maintaining high responsiveness through targeted position checks at specified points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8761800B2Information-processing device, server device, information-processing method, computer-readable storage medium, communication system, and communication method

Publication Date: 2014.06.24 NINTENDO CO LTD

AI summary

An exemplary information-processing device includes: a terminal position-acquiring unit configured to acquire a position of a portable terminal used by a user; a specified position-acquiring unit configured to acquire a position specified by the user; an event-generating unit configured to generate an event at a generation position, the position acquired by the specified position-acquiring unit being regarded as the generation position; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit information relating to the event to the portable terminal when the position acquired by the terminal position-acquiring unit and the generation position come to be in a predetermined positional relationship.