NCSoft filed 3 patents this quarter across 2 categories: UI/UX (2) and Graphics (1).
The UI/UX applications cover an automated action bar system that executes player skills and items on configurable timers, along with a 3D sphere interface that enables directional scanning in mobile games through pan gestures on a globe-shaped button. The Graphics patent describes a system for blending character postures during mount and vehicle transitions to create smooth animations.
NCSoft's 2 UI/UX patents aim to streamline player interactions through automation and spatial controls. The action bar system lets players configure slots to automatically trigger skills or items on repeating timers, with merge functionality that combines multiple actions into a single coordinated interface. Meanwhile, the 3D scanning mechanic translates simple swipes across a spherical button into directional scan vectors in virtual space, using the gesture's planar position and hold duration to determine both horizontal aim and vertical depth while displaying real-time visual feedback through overlays and changing icons.
A single Graphics patent tackles the challenge of making character mounting look natural rather than jarring. The system determines when to start the transition based on proximity, then blends the player's posture with the vehicle's anchor points (specific body locations on both models) using time-based interpolation that accounts for the character's current movement state, creating seamless animations as riders climb aboard their mounts.
All data sourced from USPTO patent filings. Google Patents may take several weeks to index recent publications. If a link is unavailable, search for the patent number at USPTO Patent Public Search.