Spectator Control in Network Games via Rendering Server
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods of gamecasting in network gaming do not provide a unique viewing experience for spectators and fail to engage them, as they are limited to viewing game screens of players without any sense of participation or control.
Innovation Solution
A network game system that receives controller input from players and spectator input, allowing spectators to control aspects of the game without executing a game client, by generating a spectator game screen that provides a global view of the game space, distinct from the player's view, and allowing input through a display interface accessible via a website.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional gamecasting methods are used where spectators only view player screens, then the system is simple to implement, but spectators do not experience participation or engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a rendering server as an intermediary component between the game server and spectators. This rendering server receives game information from the game server, generates spectator game screens, and transmits them to spectators. This intermediary architecture enables spectator participation and control capabilities while maintaining system modularity and managing complexity through clear separation of concerns.
2Adaptability or versatility
If spectators are allowed to control game aspects, then spectator participation increases, but the game logic becomes more complex to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the game control functionality by introducing a dummy player that represents spectator control. The game logic is divided into player-controlled aspects and spectator-controlled aspects. The rendering server handles spectator input separately, generating spectator game screens and processing spectator controls independently from the main game logic, thereby managing complexity through functional segmentation.
3Loss of information
If a global view of game space is provided to spectators, then viewing experience is enhanced, but data transmission requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copied representation of the game state for spectators through the rendering server. Instead of transmitting raw game data directly to spectators, the rendering server generates spectator game screens that are visual copies of the game state tailored for spectator viewing. This copying approach provides complete viewing information while optimizing data transmission by converting game data into display-ready formats.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, devices, and media for controlling a network game in accordance with an input of at least one game spectator are provided. A network interface receives controller input information from at least one game player and game spectator input information based on the input of the game spectator. The network game is progressed in accordance with the controller input information received by the network interface from the game player, and an aspect of the network game is controlled in accordance with the game spectator input information received by the network interface. The game player executes a game client that establishes a connection with the game system for transmitting the controller input information to the network interface. The game spectator does not execute the game client.