Method and system for simulations of dynamic motion and position

Abstract

Methods and systems for simulating dynamic motion and position. The methods and systems are particularly well-suited for use in sports simulation video games (e.g., a basketball simulation) and gaming systems. Using a simplified model of mass and structure and a physics engine, realistic movement can be mimicked by simulation/game entities. For each entity a sense of balance may be measured that affects the entities ability to achieve objectives. The entities are projected onto an n-dimensional space, the properties of which affect the probability that an entity will succeed with respect to a given objective. The methods and systems may be used to generate a visual representation of simulation, such as in a video game.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A system for calculating game events, comprising:
 an input module configured to receive game entity information;   a storage module configured to store constants related to at least one game entity;   a physics module connected to apply game physics rules to information received in said input module and said constants;   a balance simulation module connected to control stability and movement of game entities using values from said physics module;   an interaction handler module which combines input module outputs and balance simulation module outputs with game entity interaction rules to generate game entity events;   an artificial intelligence module which determines actions of system controlled entities by combining game entity event information from said modules with game entity threat information; and   a game entity event output module for outputting game event simulation values.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said input module can receive said game entity information from said artificial intelligence module and/or from user input. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein balance simulation module comprises a stability meter module and a movement module. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said movement module contains information defining game entity movement capability. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said stability meter module measures a sense of balance for said at least one game entity. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said artificial intelligence module comprises a threat assessor module which models said game entity threat information onto an n-dimensional space and outputs artificial intelligence game entity instructions based on information related to said n-dimensional space, said threat assessor module accepting inputs from said balance simulation module and said interaction handler. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said threat assessor module determines said artificial intelligence game entity instruction output by performing a gradient search on said continuous n-dimensional space around a game entity for a preferred event instruction. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a graphics engine module connected to render said game event simulation values for display.