Interesting Patents | Thursday, March 9, 2023
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) grants hundreds of new patents every week, showcasing developments in technology and innovation. In our Interesting Patents series, we highlight exciting US patent applications and patents recently issued by the USPTO. The patent system enables the protection of innovative ideas, and newly published patent applications provide a glimpse into the future of technology and innovation.
In this edition of #InterestingPatents, we look at Nintendo’s new application for Storage Medium, Information Processing Apparatus, Information Processing System, and Game Processing Method.
The world of video gaming has evolved rapidly over the years, and advancements in technology continue to push the boundaries of what is possible. Nintendo recently published a patent application that aims to enhance the hit detection process for video game characters, thereby improving the gaming experience. The process involves defining and expanding the hit detection area for a character’s action, taking into account the player’s perspective and the character’s depth of field. The patent application also suggests ways to modify the hit detection area and update it over time, allowing for dynamic and accurate hit detection. By expanding the hit detection area in response to player actions, developers can create immersive and engaging experiences that accurately reflect the user’s or game character’s actions.
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Storage Medium, Information Processing Apparatus, Information Processing System, and Game Processing Method
APPLICANT: NINTENDO
US PAT. APPL. NO. 17/858,595
Invention Overview:
Nintendo has had a patent application published, improving the hit detection process for video game characters. The player camera may show a first perspective of the virtual space. When a character performs an action in the virtual world, the process can determine the appropriate hit detection area that would align with that action. Utilizing the user’s view, the process determines the character’s depth of field to analyze other possible interactions with the environment. This process can enhance the game’s realism by expanding the area where users can perform actions like hitting opponents
For example, if the player character is swinging a sword, the hit detection area will be defined and expanded accordingly, considering the swing’s range and trajectory. Similarly, if the player character is throwing a punch, the hit detection area can be defined and expanded based on the range and direction of the punch. Overall, the process described in this patent application aims to provide a more dynamic and immersive gaming experience by allowing players to interact with the game environment more realistically.
The Hit Detection Area
In addition to the basic process, the patent application outlines further details on the hit detection area. One interesting aspect is the different shapes that can be used to analyze the hit detection area. The patent application suggests that the hit detection area go beyond simple shapes and utilize any suitable shape for the given application. There are also other ways to modify the hit detection area. For example, the hit detection area can be modified by adding, moving, or deforming portions of the region. For example, if a game character holds a sword, the hit detection area can include the blade.
Similarly, if the character crouches or jumps, the hit detection area can be adjusted to reflect their current position. The hit detection area over time can also be updated throughout the game. This can be useful for applications where the character’s shape or position changes dynamically, such as in a game where the character can morph or transform. By continuously updating the hit detection area, the system can accurately detect when the character’s attacks hit an opponent, regardless of their current form.
The patent application highlights the importance of precise and accurate hit detection in virtual games. Using a flexible and dynamic hit detection area, developers can create immersive and engaging experiences that accurately reflect the user’s or game character’s actions. The processing described in this patent application is designed to efficiently expand the hit detection area in response to action instructions provided by the player. The is optimized based on the virtual environment. For example, if the action is a jump, the hit detection area will be expanded vertically to ensure the player character can hit objects or enemies above them. Similarly, if the action is a sword attack, the hit detection area will be expanded in the direction of the sword swing to increase the chances of hitting the intended target.
Overall, the information processing system described in this patent application can enable efficient hit detection and accurate player control in a virtual game environment. By expanding the hit detection area in response to player actions, this system enhances the player experience and makes the game more immersive and engaging.
Patent Abstract:
An example of an information processing system controls an action by a player character object in a virtual space in response to an action instruction based on an operation input. When the player character object performs the action, the information processing system defines a hit detection area used for defining whether the action has hit another object other than the player character object at a position that is determined based on the position and the orientation of the player character object in the virtual space, and expands the hit detection area in the depth direction of a virtual camera. If the expanded hit detection area is in contact with the other object, the information processing system performs a process based on the action against the other object.
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