State-Based Game Scrolling for Reachable Items
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional game systems display unnatural scrolling when a player object moves back to a position where an object has disappeared due to a change in game state, leading to unnecessary screen adjustments and reduced playability.
Innovation Solution
A game apparatus that differentiates between first and second scrolling based on the player's actions, ensuring that scrolling only occurs when a predetermined action is performed on a contact object, thereby preventing the display of unreachable items and reducing screen shake.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If scrolling is performed based on player object position coordinates, then the player can see items that were previously hidden, but unnatural scrolling occurs when the player moves back to positions where objects have disappeared due to game state changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter for determining scroll behavior from solely player position coordinates to a composite condition that includes both position and game state (whether the contact object still exists). This parameter change resolves the contradiction by preventing scrolling when the target object is no longer available, while maintaining scrolling when the object is accessible.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces feedback by checking the current game state (whether the contact object still exists) before allowing scrolling to the position where the object was previously located. This feedback mechanism ensures that scrolling only occurs when the target object is actually accessible, preventing unnatural screen displays.
2Productivity
If the screen is scrolled when the player object moves to a position where an object previously existed, then the display shows the player's movement, but the screen is largely affected by scrolling when the player moves without intending to scroll
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the scrolling trigger parameters from automatic position-based scrolling to conditional scrolling that requires both position achievement and valid game state (object existence). This prevents excessive scrolling during casual player movement while maintaining responsive scrolling when the player intentionally interacts with contact objects.
3Loss of information
If scrolling is performed every time the player object reaches a predetermined position, then the display screen updates frequently, but unreachable items are scroll-displayed after background state changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the game state (object existence) and using this information to validate whether scrolling should occur when the player reaches a predetermined position. This feedback loop ensures that display information remains fresh and accurate, preventing the display of unreachable items.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter for determining scroll eligibility from simple position coordination to a composite assessment that includes both position and object existence status. This parameter change ensures that only reachable items are displayed, maintaining information accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A game apparatus CPU turns on a scroll operating flag when it detects that a player object exists at a predetermined position, that is, within a scroll operating range while performing a predetermined action on a contact object. If the scroll operating flag is turned on, first scrolling is performed, and a screen display position is gradually moved so as to be close to a scroll target value. If the operating flag is not turned on, normal adjustment of a screen display position is performed as necessary. After disappearance of the contact object, the first scrolling is not performed, therefore preventing unnatural scroll display (e.g., displaying an item that it is no longer possible to reach due to change of state).