US 11,960,860 B2Granted

Workflow for computer game development

AssigneeAbstract Software, Inc.

InventorJongSeok Won

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Methods, systems, and techniques for enhanced game development workflow between programmers and non-programmers are provided. Example embodiments provide an EGPIDE which provides an environment suitable for workflow collaboration for software programmers or those game developers that prefer to work in textual language versus non-programmer game designers that prefer to work in visual language. In one embodiment, the EGPIDE comprises an EGPIDE script programming parser and visualization engine, an EGPIDE node graph visual programming parser and visualization engine, EGPIDE translation management, EGPIDE autolayout support, and user interface support. These components provide automatic translation between visual programming specification and text based programming specification to enable real time bi-directional communication between these types of programming to expedite game development process.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A computing system for facilitating computer game development work flow to enhance collaboration between a software programmer and a non-programmer game developer (NPGD), comprising:

a processor;
a memory;
and
interactive software development environment code logic, stored in the memory and configured, when executed by the processor, to provide a visual programming user interface for software game development, the user interface displaying one or more visual programming tools manipulatable by the non-programmer game developer to create and define one or more node graphs without programming in a programming language and without programming in a scripting language, each node graph corresponding to a game object and associated game logic that is executable to produce game behavior, each node graph presenting one or more nodes that define states, attributes, and/or actions of the game object responsive to one or more events;
wherein the interactive software development environment is further configured, in response to receiving an indication of one or more nodes, to automatically generate corresponding executable code in at least one programming language or script language, the executable code, when executed by the processor, generating and presenting one or more corresponding game objects and game logic corresponding to the states, attributes and/or actions of the game objects corresponding to the indicated one or more nodes, the interactive software development environment structured such that the software programmer directly views and manipulates the generated code without use of the visual programming user interface;
and
wherein the interactive software development environment is further configured, in response to receiving a modification to the corresponding executable code, causing the presented node graphs to be automatically updated graphically to present modified node graphs in accordance with the received executable code modification.

4 more elements

A method in a computing system for implementing a user interface structured to facilitate computer game development workflow between a software programmer and a non-programmer game developer, comprising:

under control of the computing system,
presenting in a first display area a visual programming user interface having one or more visual programming tools manipulatable by the non-programmer game developer to create and define one or more node graphs without programming in a programming language and without programming in a scripting language, each node graph corresponding to a game object and associated game logic that is executable to produce game behavior, each node graph presenting one or more nodes that define states, attributes, and/or actions of the game object responsive to one or more events;
presenting in a separate and distinct second display area a computer code area configured to display programming language or programming script code executable by a gaming computer system to display game objects and present game flow;
wherein, responsive to receiving an indication in the first display area that a executable code has been received in the first display area, automatically translating the executable code to a corresponding node graph and presenting the corresponding node graph in the first display area;
and
wherein, responsive to receiving an indication in the second display area that a node graph has been received in the second display area, automatically translating the received node graph to corresponding executable code in a programming language or programming script, and presenting the corresponding executable code in the second display area.

3 more elements

A non-transitory storage medium storing computer instructions that, when executed, control a computer processor to present an interactive software development environment for facilitating workflow between a software programmer and a non-programmer game developer by performing a method comprising:

presenting in a first display area a visual programming user interface having one or more visual programming tools manipulatable by the non-programmer game developer to create and define one or more node graphs without programming in a programming language and without programming in a scripting language, each node graph corresponding to a game object and associated game logic that is executable to produce game behavior, each node graph presenting one or more nodes that define states, attributes, and/or actions of the game object responsive to one or more events;
presenting in a separate and distinct second display area a computer code area configured to display programming language or programming script code executable by a gaming computer system to display game objects and present game flow;
wherein, responsive to receiving an indication in the first display area that a executable code has been received in the first display area, automatically translating the executable code to a corresponding node graph and presenting the corresponding node graph in the first display area;
and
wherein, responsive to receiving an indication in the second display area that a node graph has been received in the second display area, automatically translating the received node graph to corresponding executable code in a programming language or programming script, and presenting the corresponding executable code in the second display area.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/829,150Filed 31 May 2022 · us provisional application
Priority: 6 Jan 2022
Published: US 2023/0214191 A16 Jul 2023
Granted: 16 Apr 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

G06F 8/20
Arrangements for software engineering: software design
G06F 8/34
Creation or generation of source code: graphical or visual programming
G06F 8/30
Arrangements for software engineering: creation or generation of source code
G06F 8/71
Software maintenance or management: version control ; Configuration management