This month's User Interface & Experience category includes 4 filed patents from Ncsoft (1), NetEase (1), Nintendo (1), and Sony (1).
Sony's filing covers an NPC interaction system that identifies which virtual character a player is looking at to prevent unintended interactions in crowded scenes. Nintendo's patent describes camera controls that transition between first-person and third-person perspectives when entering and exiting vehicles, synchronizing the character's orientation with the camera view. The remaining patents address a 3D weapon collection display system for showcasing arsenals in shooting games and a rotating mini-map designed for navigating multi-level environments with altitude indicators.
Sony received 1 patent addressing the problem of selecting the correct character when multiple NPCs occupy the same space. The system analyzes where the player is looking and combines that gaze information with distance calculations to determine which virtual character the player intends to interact with, removing the need for additional button presses or selection inputs that would otherwise be required in crowded environments.
NetEase filed 1 patent for a weapon showcase system that turns basic inventory screens into detailed 3D exhibition spaces. The technology generates rich contextual information for each weapon, tracking its ownership history along with previous players' skill levels, recording every battle the item participated in and how many times it was retrieved through insurance mechanics, then compiling this data into multi-dimensional scores displayed alongside visual badges that communicate each weapon's story and importance beyond standard damage statistics.
Nintendo's patent covers a camera system designed for games where players alternate between walking and riding vehicles. When a player dismounts, the character automatically rotates to face the same direction the camera was pointing, preventing the disorientation that typically occurs when camera perspective shifts abruptly. The system also allows players to examine objects in the environment while still seated on their mount and intelligently determines which direction the vehicle should face when the player climbs aboard based on what inputs were active at that moment.
Ncsoft received 1 patent for a mini-map that handles navigation in game worlds with multiple vertical layers. Rather than limiting players to a flat overhead view, the technology rotates the map into 3D perspectives and places markers at varying heights above the map surface to represent objects on different floors or elevations, incorporating visualization bars that show object density and filtering options that let players focus on specific altitude ranges within complex architectural spaces.