Video Game Integrating User Location via GPS Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional video games lack the ability to incorporate a user's physical location as part of the game environment, limiting the immersive and personalized gaming experience.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that receive and map user-determined location information into a video game environment, allowing users to experience objects and locations from their selected physical location while playing, using GPS and mapping technologies like Google Maps to integrate real-world locations into the game.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional video games use predetermined locations, then the game development is simple and consistent, but the user experience lacks personalization and immersion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces GPS receivers and mapping services as intermediary components between the user and the video game. These intermediaries capture real-world location data and translate it into game-compatible coordinate systems, enabling personalized locations without requiring complex game development infrastructure. The mapping service acts as a mediator that converts GPS coordinates into in-game location data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables users to self-determine their own game locations using their mobile devices' built-in GPS receivers. Instead of requiring developers to predefine all possible locations, the system allows users to autonomously select and save their own locations of interest, reducing the burden on game developers while increasing personalization.
2Reliability
If video games incorporate real-world location data, then user immersion and engagement increase, but the technical infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the universal GPS receiver technology already present in most mobile devices for navigation purposes and repurposes it for video game location determination. This multi-functional use of existing hardware eliminates the need for specialized gaming equipment while maintaining reliable location data collection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs mapping services as intermediaries that handle the complex task of converting real-world geographic coordinates into game-compatible location data. This intermediary layer abstracts the technical complexity from both the user and the game developer, making the integration of real-world locations accessible without requiring deep expertise in geospatial technologies.
3Ease of operation
If users can save and reuse location information, then gameplay continuity and convenience improve, but data management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically captures, stores, and manages location data in the game's memory without requiring manual user intervention. When a user visits a location of interest, the system self-service saves the GPS coordinates and associates them with the game session, enabling automatic reuse in future sessions without complex data management protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, apparatus and computer program product for a video game including user determined location information is presented. Location information (e.g. GPS, Google Maps, an entered address or the like) determined by a user of a video game is acquired. Then user determined location information relating to a physical location determined by the user is mapped to a video game environment wherein the user of the video game experiences objects from the users entered location while playing the video game.