User Input Method for Interactive Game Spectating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Videogame spectating is typically an isolated and passive activity, lacking the communal and interactive elements of real-world spectating, which makes it less engaging for users.
Innovation Solution
A user input method and apparatus that utilizes real-time user inputs, such as emotions, gestures, and utterances, to drive the behavior of virtual spectators and non-player characters within the game, enhancing the gaming experience by creating a more immersive and interactive environment, similar to real-world spectating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional videogame spectating is implemented, then the system is simple and easy to operate, but the spectating experience is isolated and passive
Solution Approach 1:
The system captures real-world spectator inputs (cheers, applause, reactions) through microphones and sensors, processes these inputs to determine spectator sentiment, and feeds this information back to modify virtual crowd behavior and game events. This creates an interactive loop where real spectators influence the virtual environment, transforming passive viewing into active participation while maintaining simple operation through automatic sentiment analysis.
2Adaptability or versatility
If real-time user inputs are processed to drive virtual spectator behavior, then the spectating experience becomes more interactive and communal, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically captures spectator inputs through microphones and sensors, performs sentiment analysis without requiring manual input from spectators, and autonomously modifies virtual crowd behavior based on detected emotions. This self-service approach allows complex interactive functionality to emerge without requiring spectators to manually control or configure the system, maintaining ease of operation while achieving rich interactivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces virtual crowd members as intermediaries between real spectators and game events. Real spectator inputs are translated into virtual crowd reactions, which then influence game outcomes. This intermediary layer simplifies the direct connection between spectator inputs and game modifications, managing system complexity through a buffer of virtual characters that mediate the interaction.
3Adaptability or versatility
If virtual crowd behavior is modified based on user sentiment, then the spectating atmosphere becomes more dynamic and immersive, but the processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system modifies the behavior of only the virtual crowd members who are notionally positioned near real spectators, rather than modifying all virtual characters in the environment. This partial action approach focuses processing energy on the most relevant elements (local virtual crowd reactions) while leaving other parts of the virtual environment unchanged, reducing overall processing requirements while maintaining immersive atmosphere where it matters most.
Data Source
AI summary
A user input method includes the steps of inputting real events arising from a user acting as a spectator of content, analysing the real events to estimate user sentiment, and modifying an aspect of computer-controlled character behaviour in response to estimated user sentiment.