Real-Time Item Composition in Video Game Apparatus

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Solution Overview

Problem

In video games, composing items and battle items for the player character is a complex and burdensome process that requires frequent controller operations and often disrupts the game scenario, especially when done at an item composition base or during battles.

Innovation Solution

A game apparatus that allows immediate composition of items and battle items at any point on the field by using an active state judger, material item storage, composed item storage, and a composition instruction judger to produce composed items in real-time, including battle items for the player character's arms, without the need to return to a composition base.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the player character is moved to an item composition base to compose items, then items can be composed using material items, but the scenario flow is stopped and player interest is damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveitem composition capabilityVSAvoidscenario progression time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The item composition function is segmented from the dedicated item composition base and distributed to multiple locations on the field where composition can occur. This allows the composition capability to be separated from a single fixed location, enabling players to compose items at various points without returning to a base, thus maintaining scenario flow while preserving item composition functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically manages item composition by detecting material items in the player's inventory and automatically composing appropriate items without requiring manual intervention to access composition interfaces. This self-service approach eliminates the need to stop and manually compose items, allowing continuous scenario progression while items are automatically created when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of manufacture

If the player frequently operates controller keys to select material items and arms for composing battle items, then battle items can be composed for equipped arms, but player burden increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattle item composition capabilityVSAvoidcontroller operation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects which arms the player character is equipped with and which material items are available in the inventory, then automatically composes appropriate battle items without requiring the player to manually select components. This self-service mechanism eliminates complex controller operations while maintaining the ability to compose battle items for equipped arms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the player's inventory contents and equipped arms, providing automatic feedback about what battle items can be composed. This feedback mechanism allows the system to make intelligent composition decisions based on current game state, eliminating the need for players to manually check and select items while ensuring appropriate battle items are created.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If the player returns to an item composition base during battle progress to compose items, then item composition is possible, but the previous scenario flow is interrupted and player interest is damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveitem composition flexibilityVSAvoidscenario progression speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple locations on the field are given the universal capability to perform item composition, not just the dedicated composition base. This multi-functionality allows the same composition operation to be performed at various locations including during battle sequences, eliminating the need to return to a single base and maintaining scenario flow while preserving composition flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares and pre-positions material items in the player's inventory before battles occur, and automatically composes battle items during battle sequences without interruption. This preliminary preparation and automatic execution allows item composition to be completed in advance or during action sequences, maintaining scenario progression speed while preserving composition adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10155169B2Video game apparatus for active state composition of items and game program for same
Publication Date: 2018.12.18 SQUARE ENIX NEWCO LTD
  • US10155169B2 patent drawing
  • US10155169B2 patent drawing
  • US10155169B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A game apparatus has a section that judges whether a player character is in an active state, a storage that stores obtained material items, a storage that stores combinations of material items for composing a composed item, and a section that read the combination of the material items for composing the composed item when an instruction of composing the composed item is outputted, producing the composed item with the stored material items and provide the player character with the composed item that is able to use, whereby the composed item is produced in a state the player character is in an active state.