Variable-Rate Animation Playback for Music-Synced Game Input

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing video games that focus on music require precise player input timing for animation synchronization, leading to delayed or missed animations if the input is not aligned with the music, resulting in a less engaging experience.

Innovation Solution

A variable rate animation playback system that dynamically adjusts animation playback rates during gameplay to synchronize with music, allowing animations to be responsive to player input while aligning with musical elements, using configurable parameters and runtime flexibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If animations are delayed until the right time in the music to synchronize with music, then music synchronization is improved, but player responsiveness and creativity are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemusic synchronizationVSAvoidplayer creativity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The animation playback rate is made dynamic and adjustable in real-time. The system allows the animation to start immediately upon player input while dynamically adjusting its playback speed to synchronize with music beats, rather than using a fixed delayed start approach

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the animation playback rate parameter dynamically during execution. By adjusting the playback rate from normal speed to variable speeds that align with music tempo, the system achieves synchronization without requiring precise player timing or delaying animation start

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If animations are delayed until the right time in the music, then music synchronization is improved, but animation responsiveness to player input is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemusic synchronizationVSAvoidanimation response time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The animation is prepared and queued immediately upon player input, but its actual playback is adjusted in real-time to match music beats. This preliminary preparation eliminates delay while the dynamic rate adjustment ensures synchronization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses dynamic playback rate adjustment to decouple animation start time from music beat timing. The animation can start immediately (improving response time) while its speed is dynamically adjusted to hit the correct beats (maintaining synchronization)

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If fixed animation playback rate is used, then simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to music rhythm is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanimation system simplicityVSAvoidmusic rhythm adaptation

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The animation playback rate parameter is made variable and controllable. The system allows developers to define how animations should adapt to music rhythm through configurable parameters, adding adaptability without requiring complex underlying mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces dynamic playback rate adjustment capability while maintaining a relatively simple overall architecture. The dynamic behavior is achieved through rate modulation rather than complex animation systems, balancing simplicity with adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20260054164A1Variable rate animation playback and associated systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media

Publication Date: 2026.02.26 BRAIN JAR GAMES INC

AI summary

A variable rate animation playback system that dynamically alters animation playback rates of video game animations. Animations may be triggered by player input, played without delay, and still synchronize with music being played in the video game. Video game development software and components may allow video game developers to create events associated with the music and configure the events. The variable rate animation playback system may synchronize the video game animations with the events by dynamically setting animation playback rates at runtime. The video game development software and components may also allow video game developers to configure how the variable rate animation playback system may dynamically set the animation playback rate of video game animations at runtime.