RU2413998C1 - Method of shooting target in network computer game - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: information technology.

SUBSTANCE: method of shooting a target in a network computer game involves entering game parametres of a virtual projectile into a computer, determining the dynamics of its movement to the target, aiming and shooting the virtual projectile in the direction of the target. The method employs a game device which is configured to automatically communicate with a game server through an Internet protocol. The position of the game device in real space is automatically determined and its acceleration is automatically measured. To select a target, information on the position of all players in the game space and the height mark of their position is used, which is generated or tracked by the game server and displayed in form of marks on displays of game devices of players, where in order to launch the virtual projectile, the direction to the target and the distance to the target is determined using the game device.

EFFECT: high quality of virtual shooting by a player on the display of a game device depending on the reaction rate of entering data using an input device.

5 cl, 6 dwg

Description

The invention relates to computer games, more particularly to network computer games with the participation of many players, involving the movement of virtual objects in a three-dimensional game space and the action of some virtual objects on others, leading to the gain of some players and the loss of others (for example, games like 3D-Action) .

There is a method of firing at a target in a network computer game, for example, implemented in 3D-Action games (DOOM, DUKE NUKEM, QUAKE, HALF-LIFE), which reduces to the fact that each player controls a three-dimensional model of his game character in a three-dimensional game space and, using the weapons available in the game, fights with other characters representing other participants in the game, influencing them with the chosen type of weapon and using the type of defense chosen for himself, while the shot comes down to hovering over the target and pressing corresponding key on the computer keyboard or button (trigger) of your gaming device

There are single and online versions of games. In single games, there is a goal - to complete all game levels and complete some kind of mission. In online versions of the mentioned games, the game is played on points. The game makes a reservation (set in the game options) time limit or victory limit, upon reaching which the game session ends and the game results are issued. The above games, for all their relative popularity, have a number of drawbacks, the main of which is the dependence of the firing result on the speed of hovering over the target and pressing the corresponding button.

There is also a method of firing at a target in a network computer game, including entering into the computer that controls the game, the game parameters of the virtual projectile and parameters that determine the dynamics of its movement to the target, aiming and firing a virtual projectile in the direction of the target (see US 5964660, IPC A63F 9/22, 1999).

The disadvantage of this solution is the independence of the shooting quality from the player, since it is determined by software and is separated from the psychophysical conditions of the player himself, except for the reaction speed (does not depend on his individual characteristics of the game, eye, ability to quickly navigate in space).

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for firing at a target in a network computer game in which the quality of the shooting depends on the player.

The achieved result is that the game becomes more attractive from the point of view of the game procedure itself, since the quality of shooting requires, in addition to the speed of response, a preliminary assessment of the game situation by the player and the quality of his performance of certain actions in real space.

This result is achieved by the fact that the method of firing at a target in a network computer game, including entering into the computer that controls the game, the game parameters of the virtual projectile and parameters that determine the dynamics of its movement to the target, aiming and firing a virtual projectile in the direction of the target, differs in that use a gaming device configured to automatically exchange information with the game server, through the Internet Protocol, automatically determine its location in space and automatic measurement of acceleration during its movement, while to select a target for the shot, information is used about the location of all game participants in the game space and the altitude mark of their location, generated or monitored by the game server and displayed as marks on the displays of game devices of game participants, at the same time, to perform the throwing of a virtual shell, the direction to the target and the distance to it are determined using a gaming device, and the initial speed and initial a section of the virtual projectile’s path of movement is set by means of a gaming device, which is moved in real space in the direction of the target, simulating its throw at the target; in addition, the game server determines the remaining portion of the path of the virtual shell of the virtual projectile by calculation, using the information recorded by the gaming device, and information about the game parameters of the virtual projectile and the parameters that determine the dynamics of its movement to the target. In addition, plots of real earth’s surface covered by wireless global and / or local communication standards providing connection of a gaming device with a server are used as a gaming space. In addition, a virtual space formed by a computer is used as a gaming space. In addition, the fixed value of the initial velocity of the virtual projectile is subjected to multiplication or division in accordance with the decision of the player. In addition, iPhone 3Gs are used as a gaming device.

A comparison of the features of the claimed solution with the features of analogues and prototype indicates its compliance with the criterion of "novelty."

The features of the characterizing part of the claims solve the following functional tasks.

The signs "use a gaming device configured to automatically exchange information with the game server via the Internet protocol, automatically determine its location in real space and automatically measure acceleration when moving it" provide the possibility of implementing the claimed method while providing the ability to automatically transmit information about the initial section of the trajectory of the virtual projectile specified by the player, which determines the calculated inform tion of the movement path of the virtual projectile to the target, which is used for subsequent determination of the virtual places his fall on the playing area, and / or evaluate the possible deviation from the target, and / or evaluation of its defeat.

The signs “use the information about the location of all game participants in the game space and the altitude mark of their location, generated or monitored by the game server and displayed as marks on the displays of the game devices of the game participants, to select a target for a shot” provide the ability to select a target in the absence of direct visibility of game participants , and taking into account elevations allows you to more accurately "build" the trajectory of the projectile to the target.

The signs “to perform a virtual projectile throwing reveal the direction to the target and the distance to it using a gaming device” provide the ability to aim the virtual projectile at the target in the absence of direct visibility of the target.

The signs “the initial velocity and the initial section of the virtual projectile’s trajectory are set by means of a gaming device, which is moved in real space in the direction of the target, simulating its throw to the target” and the procedure is determined that ensures the player generates an array of information about the initial section of the virtual projectile’s trajectory, This ensures the speed of removing information about the initial section of the trajectory of the virtual projectile from the gaming device and the speed of its "transfer" on the game server, which in turn provides the possibility of implementing the game in a wide range of speeds of the virtual projectile, including the highest.

The signs “the game server determines the remaining portion of the trajectory of the virtual projectile’s movement by calculation, using the information recorded by the gaming device and information about the game parameters of the virtual projectile and the parameters that determine the dynamics of its movement to the target” provide the ability to build the trajectory of the virtual projectile in the game space in accordance with the given and measured parameters of the shot. This makes it possible to determine the place of impact of the virtual projectile and / or to assess a possible deviation from the target or to assess the degree of destruction of the target as a whole, and it is possible to implement the claimed method.

The signs of the second paragraph of the claims set the conditions that allow to fully demonstrate the advantages of the method as a means of realizing computer games on a global scale.

The features of the third claim allow to implement the claimed method in the framework of well-known game schemes, when the game space is a virtual product implemented by the game server.

The signs of the fourth claim point to a really existing technical device - a communicator / smartphone iPhone 3Gs, which can be used as a gaming device that implements the claimed method.

The features of the fifth claim provide an arbitrary "range" of a virtual projectile.

The claimed technical solution is illustrated by drawings, which show: in Fig. 1, a display image of a gaming device in the "overview of the gaming space" stage is shown; figure 2 shows the image on the display of the gaming device at the stage of "zoom out (zoom out)"; figure 3 shows the image on the display of the gaming device at the stage of visualization of the trajectory and direction of movement of the projectile; figure 4 shows a possible variant of the image on the display of the gaming device at the stage of visualization of the trajectory and direction of movement of the projectile, equipped with an icon illustrating the stage of the throw; figure 5 shows the image on the display of the gaming device at the stage of visualization of the point of incidence and the radius of the damaging effects of the virtual projectile; figure 6 shows a possible variant of the image on the display of the gaming device at the stage of visualization of the point of incidence and the radius of the impact of a virtual projectile, equipped with a pictogram illustrating the radius of the target’s hit by the projectile.

To implement the claimed method, it is necessary to use a server of known design and a gaming device containing electronic means of spatial orientation, an electronic three-dimensional accelerometer, a display configured to scale the image, means for inputting control information and means for communicating between the gaming device and the gaming server via the Internet protocol.

This functional set includes:

- three-dimensional electronic compass (magnetometer), for example, a known device such as ASAHI KASEI AK8973;

- three-dimensional accelerometer, for example, a known device of the type: MEMS motion sensor 3-axis LIS302DL;

- a navigation node, for example Assisted GPS (a-GPS);

- GSM module standard GSM / EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz);

- color LCD monitor;

- information input tools (keyboard).

Given the need to minimize the overall dimensions of the gaming device to ensure its use in simulating throwing movements, the last mentioned nodes should be minimized to parameters corresponding to the overall dimensions of the mobile phones. In fact, you can use an existing device as a gaming device - the iPhone 3Gs communicator (a mobile phone with advanced functionality comparable to a handheld personal computer).

Requirements for the game server - the presence of an Internet access channel with sufficient bandwidth and a powerful processor system to ensure comfortable operation of all connected clients.

When implementing a game based on the real space used to form the game space, the players must be on a plot of the real earth’s surface covered by wireless global and / or local communication standards that enable the game device to be connected to the game server via the Internet protocol. When using virtual reality generated by the managing server as a game space, there are no such restrictions.

When implementing the method, well-known procedures are used for registering participants, paying for playing time and / or game resources, admitting to and exiting from the game, designing the game space, implemented by software, using the corresponding known software solutions and approaches.

The claimed method is implemented as follows.

The drawings show the game space 1, label 2, showing the location of the player, an indicator of the current direction of the throw 3, marks of the other participants in the game 4 (opponents in the game), aiming point 5 in the marks of the player and participants in the game; trajectory and direction of movement of the 6th projectile, point 7 of the projectile fall, zone 8 of the projectile damage, pictograms 9 illustrating the stage of the game.

With the real basis of the playing space. Upon completion of the registration procedure for participants in a network computer game on a game server, the coordinates of each of them are automatically determined and transmitted by their gaming devices to the game server. The latter, in a known manner, programmatically processes the received information and forms an image of the game space on which the location of each of the players (the location of their gaming devices) is displayed as tags 2 or 4. In addition, in a known manner, for example, using known results databases topographic surveys of land, etc., reveal the elevations of the areas on which the gaming devices of the game participants are located. The tags are made with the possibility of visual identification (the color identification option is shown in the drawings), which is especially important with significant numbers of participants, mobile and placed close to each other. It is also advisable that the tags were equipped with markers - an indicator of the current direction of the throw 3 and the aiming point 5, which allows to increase the angular accuracy of aiming at them.

Thus, each of the players on the displays of their gaming devices displays information about the location of each of the participants in the game and shows the location of the player.

During the game: the player on the screen of his gaming device makes an overview of the game space, changing the scale and, if necessary, moving along the coordinate grid, he can examine any part on the surface of the globe used in the game space.

Next, the player selects the goal (any of the participants in the game). After choosing a goal, the player, using the information displayed on the display, orientates himself on a plot of real terrain, with his face facing the goal. At the same time, the player enters the game parameters of the virtual projectile used by him into his game device — the type of game actions he produces, their power (radius of destruction), the possibility of adjusting the trajectory of movement, etc. These parameters are set in advance in a known manner - by means of the corresponding program stored in the memory of the game server and / or gaming device. In this case, the participant in the game according to the rules adopted in the game can make this choice once or repeatedly. In addition, the game uses the ability to control gravity on the trajectory of the virtual projectile to the target, it is set similarly to the game parameters of the projectile.

Upon completion of the target orientation process, the player imitates the throw of the gaming device (see icon 9 in figure 4) towards the target (one of the marks 4), while the speed and direction of the path of the gaming device (in the process of simulating its throw) are automatically determined by the gaming device itself (using its three-dimensional electronic compass (magnetometer) and three-dimensional accelerometer) and automatically sent to the game server using its GSM module of the gaming device.

The game server uses the information received (as information about the parameters of the initial stage of the motion path 6 of the virtual projectile) in calculating the parameters of its movement to the target, together with the information set by the player on the parameters that determine the dynamics of the virtual projectile's movement to the target, and the elevations of the players' positioning sections. Since players can be at significant distances from each other, significantly exceeding the throwing distance performed by a person, in addition to the possibility of setting the sign and magnitude of gravity on the trajectory of the virtual projectile to the target, it is possible to change the parameters programmatically, for example, multiplying the acceleration value recorded at simulate the throw of a gaming device.

The results of the calculation by the game server of the trajectory of the virtual projectile to the target are automatically transmitted in real time to the gaming device of the player who made the throw of this virtual projectile. In addition, the results of the calculation by the game server of the trajectory 6 of the virtual projectile’s movement to the target are used by it to subsequently determine the virtual location of its fall 7 on the playing space and / or to assess the possible deviation from the target (see defeat zone 8 and / or pictogram 9 in Fig. 6 ) or assess the degree of destruction of the target (in the latter case, the game server additionally takes into account the parameters of the protective equipment of the target, for example, their explosion resistance, armor, etc.).

Thus, the game server receives data characterizing the movement of objects in the game space and their impact on other objects, leading to a change in their state, processes the received data and transmits updated data characterizing the updated state of the players 'virtual objects over the network to the gamers' devices.

In addition, virtual game characters placed on the playing space and controlled (including moving and / or throwing virtual shells) by the server’s control program are used as targets. Moreover, their marks 10 externally do not differ from those used to indicate opponents (opponents) of a player.

Throws of virtual shells by other participants in the game are performed as described above.

The processes and procedures of the game after fixing the hit of a virtual projectile at the target (updating the player’s “life”, his exit from the game, scoring points and bonuses) can be carried out in a known manner, using known means, in accordance with the specific rules of the game, which uses the declared technical decision.

With the virtual basis of the playing space, the claimed method is also used for throwing (shots). In this case, the game server programmatically generates information about the distances to the location of all the players participating in the game, and displays (generates) labels corresponding to the location of the players in the virtual space. In addition, the server generates an image of the axis oriented to the north on the display of the gaming device to enable aiming by the player firing the shot. The procedures for selecting a target, aiming and performing directly a “shot” correspond to the above.

As the gaming device, the above can be used, although its functional characteristics will slightly exceed the characteristics required for the game.

The above examples are used only to illustrate the possibility of carrying out the invention. They do not limit the scope of legal protection presented in the claims, while a person skilled in the art is relatively simple to implement other ways of carrying out the invention.

Claims (5)

1. A method of firing at a target in a network computer game, comprising inputting into the computer controlling the game, game parameters of a virtual projectile and parameters defining the dynamics of its movement to the target, aiming and firing a virtual projectile towards the target, characterized in that they use the game a device configured to automatically exchange information with a game server via the Internet protocol, automatically determine its location in real space and automatically about measuring the acceleration when moving it, while to select a target for shooting use information about the location of all participants in the game in the game space and the elevation of their location, generated or monitored by the game server and displayed in the form of marks on the displays of game devices of game participants, while throwing a virtual shell reveals the direction to the target and the distance to it using a gaming device, and the initial speed and the initial section of the virtual motion path of the projectile is set by the means of the gaming device, which is moved in real space in the direction of the target, simulating its throw at the target, in addition, the game server determines the remaining portion of the path of the virtual projectile’s movement by the calculation server using information recorded by the gaming device and information about the gaming virtual projectile parameters and parameters that determine the dynamics of its movement to the target. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that as the playing space using areas of the real earth's surface, covered by wireless global and / or local communication standards, providing a connection between the gaming device and the server. 3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the virtual space formed by the computer is used as the gaming space. 4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixed value of the initial velocity of the virtual projectile is subjected to multiplication or division in accordance with the decision of the player. 5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the communicator iPhone 3Gs is used as a gaming device.

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