MODIFYING A SIMULATED CHARACTER BY DIRECT MANIPULATION

• US 20160030839A1
• Filed: 03/31/2015
• Published: 02/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronic Arts Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Electronic Arts Incorporated
• Inventors: Nair, Srikumar M.B., Rheinfrank, Steven Ray, Song, Glenn Shayn, Wrotek, Pawel Piotr
• Granted Patent: US 9,940,757 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/63 by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/825 Fostering virtual characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/10 Constructive solid geometry [CSG] using solid primitives, e.g. cylinders, cubes
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/20 Editing of 3D images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/2012 Colour editing, changing, or manipulating; Use of colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/2021 Shape modification

Abstract

A portion of a simulated element of a graphical simulation available for modification is identified in view of a cursor location associated with a user input device. The identified portion of the simulated element is selected for modification. The selected portion of the simulated element is then modified according to a direct manipulation of a display of the selected portion of the simulated element by a user using the user input device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying, by a processing device, a portion of a simulated character of a video game available for modification in view of a cursor location associated with a user input device;

selecting, by the processing device, the identified portion of the simulated character for modification; and

modifying, by the processing device, the selected portion of the simulated character according to a direct manipulation of a display of the selected portion of the simulated character by a user using the user input device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the portion of the simulated character available for modification comprises:

determining the cursor location associated with the user input device;

identifying a hotspot area associated with the cursor location, wherein the hotspot area comprises an area of the simulated character that can be modified; and

displaying a visual indicator for the hotspot area to indicate that the hotspot area may be selected.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein identifying the hotspot area comprises:

determining a region identifier of the simulated character in view of the cursor location, wherein the region identifier identifies a selectable area of the simulated character;

determining a mode identifier associated with a zoom distance of the simulated character presented by the user interface;

determining a view angle identifier associated with a viewable angle of the simulated character presented by the user interface;

identifying a hotpot resource data structure in view of the region identifier, mode identifier, and view angle identifier; and

identifying a highlight texture to be displayed as the visual indicator for the hotspot area using the hotspot resource data structure.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein determining the region identifier comprises:

identifying an image associated with the simulated character, wherein the image comprises information describing selectable areas of the simulated character;

determining a location in the image using the cursor location;

identifying a selectable area of the simulated character from the location in the image; and

assigning the region identifier in view of the identified selectable area from the image.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein selecting the identified portion of the simulated character comprises:

receiving input from input device to select the hotspot area of the simulated character available for modification;

determining a modifier action for the hotspot area of the simulated character according to the hotspot resource data structure, wherein the modifier action comprises the changes that may be made to the geometry of the hotspot area;

mapping the modifier action to a change in the cursor location, wherein the change in the cursor location invokes the associated modifier action;

determining a cursor display type according to the hotspot resource in view of the associated modifier action; and

modifying the cursor in view of the cursor display type.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein modifying the selected portion of the simulated character comprises:

receiving a change in the cursor location while the hotspot area of the simulated character has been selected; and

modifying the hotspot area of the simulated character by invoking the associated modifier action in view of the change in cursor location.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining a maximum displacement value that may be applied to the hotspot area;

determining that the change in the cursor location in relation to the maximum displacement value while the hotspot area has been selected meets a predetermined threshold;

sending an indicator to the user interface that the predetermined threshold has been met; and

slowing the display of additional change in the cursor position as the cursor position approaches the maximum displacement value.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving additional input from the input device to further modify the hotspot area of the simulated character, wherein the additional input does not change the cursor location

9. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory to store instructions; and

a processing device, operatively coupled to the memory, to execute the instructions, wherein the processing device is to;

identify, by the processing device, a portion of a simulated element of a graphical simulation available for modification in view of a cursor location associated with a user input device;

select, by the processing device, the identified portion of the simulated element for modification; and

modify, by the processing device, the selected portion of the simulated element according to a direct manipulation of a display of the selected portion of the simulated character by a user using the user input device.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein to identify the portion of the simulated element available for modification, the processing device is to:

determine the cursor location associated with the user input device;

identify a hotspot area associated with the cursor location, wherein the hotspot area comprises an area of the simulated element that can be modified; and

display a visual indicator for the hotspot area to indicate that the hotspot area may be selected.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein to identify the hotspot area, the processing device is to:

determine a region identifier of the simulated element in view of the cursor location, wherein the region identifier identifies a selectable area of the simulated element;

determine a mode identifier associated with a zoom distance of the simulated element presented by the user interface;

determine a view angle identifier associated with a viewable angle of the simulated element presented by the user interface;

identify a hotpot resource data structure in view of the region identifier, mode identifier, and view angle identifier; and

identify a highlight texture to be displayed as the visual indicator for the hotspot area using the hotspot resource data structure.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein to determine the region identifier, the processing device is to:

identify an image associated with the simulated element, wherein the image comprises information describing selectable areas of the simulated element;

determine a location in the image using the cursor location;

identify a selectable area of the simulated element from the location in the image; and

assign the region identifier in view of the identified selectable area from the image.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein to select the identified portion of the simulated element, the processing device is to:

receive input from input device to select the hotspot area of the simulated element available for modification;

determine a modifier action for the hotspot area of the simulated element according to the hotspot resource data structure, wherein the modifier action comprises the changes that may be made to the geometry of the hotspot area;

map the modifier action to a change in the cursor location, wherein the change in the cursor location invokes the associated modifier action;

determine a cursor display type according to the hotspot resource in view of the associated modifier action; and

modify the cursor in view of the cursor display type.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein to modify the selected portion of the simulated element, the processing device is to:

receive a change in the cursor location while the hotspot area of the simulated element has been selected;

modify the hotspot area of the simulated element by invoking the associated modifier action in view of the change in cursor location;

determine a maximum displacement value that may be applied to the hotspot area;

determine that the change in the cursor location in relation to the maximum displacement value while the hotspot area has been selected meets a predetermined threshold;

send an indicator to the user interface that the predetermined threshold has been met; and

slow the display of additional change in the cursor position as the cursor position approaches the maximum displacement value.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, having instructions stored therein, which when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to:

identify, by the processing device, a portion of a simulated element of a graphical simulation available for modification in view of a cursor location associated with a user input device;

select, by the processing device, the identified portion of the simulated element for modification; and

modify, by the processing device, the selected portion of the simulated element according to a direct manipulation of a display of the selected portion of the simulated element by a user using the user input device.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein to identify the portion of the simulated element available for modification, the processing device is to:

determine the cursor location associated with the user input device;

identify a hotspot area associated with the cursor location, wherein the hotspot area comprises an area of the simulated element that can be modified; and

display a visual indicator for the hotspot area to indicate that the hotspot area may be selected.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein to identify the hotspot area, the processing device is to:

determine a region identifier of the simulated element in view of the cursor location, wherein the region identifier identifies a selectable area of the simulated element;

determine a mode identifier associated with a zoom distance of the simulated element presented by the user interface;

determine a view angle identifier associated with a viewable angle of the simulated element presented by the user interface;

identify a hotpot resource data structure in view of the region identifier, mode identifier, and view angle identifier; and

identify a highlight texture to be displayed as the visual indicator for the hotspot area using the hotspot resource data structure.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein to determine the region identifier, the processing device is to:

identify an image associated with the simulated element, wherein the image comprises information describing selectable areas of the simulated element;

determine a location in the image using the cursor location;

identify a selectable area of the simulated element from the location in the image; and

assign the region identifier in view of the identified selectable area from the image.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein to select the identified portion of the simulated element, the processing device is to:

receive input from input device to select the hotspot area of the simulated element available for modification;

determine a modifier action for the hotspot area of the simulated element according to the hotspot resource data structure, wherein the modifier action comprises the changes that may be made to the geometry of the hotspot area;

map the modifier action to a change in the cursor location, wherein the change in the cursor location invokes the associated modifier action;

determine a cursor display type according to the hotspot resource in view of the associated modifier action; and

modify the cursor in view of the cursor display type.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein to modify the selected portion of the simulated element, the processing device is to:

receive a change in the cursor location while the hotspot area of the simulated element has been selected;

modify the hotspot area of the simulated element by invoking the associated modifier action in view of the change in cursor location;

determine a maximum displacement value that may be applied to the hotspot area;

determine that the change in the cursor location in relation to the maximum displacement value while the hotspot area has been selected meets a predetermined threshold;

send an indicator to the user interface that the predetermined threshold has been met; and

slow the display of additional change in the cursor position as the cursor position approaches the maximum displacement value.