JP2002358538A - Device and method for compositing three-dimensional picture, information storage medium and device and method for distributing program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To generate the image of an object which receives lights from multiple directions to have sufficient quality by a comparatively light processing load. SOLUTION: An irregular light source orbit 41 based on a random number is set in the circumference of the breast part of a game character object 42 where a dynamic light source 40 is moved. A value within a range which is suitable as the color of a frame is set in color information of the dynamic light source 40 based on the random number. A distance between the game character object 42 and flame objects 44a-44c are calculated and a static light source 43 is set inside the flame object 44 which is closest to the game character object 42. A value within the range which is suitable as the color of the flame is also set in color information of the static light source 43 based on the random number.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a three-dimensional image synthesizing apparatus and method, an information storage medium, a program distribution apparatus and method, and more particularly to a technique for performing shading and shadowing on a three-dimensional object with a light processing load.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a three-dimensional image synthesizing process, a light source is set in an object space (virtual three-dimensional space) and light rays are virtually emitted from the light source, thereby shading or shadowing the object. In this way, the object can be displayed three-dimensionally even on a two-dimensional screen.

[0003]

However, image processing using a light source such as shading or shadowing requires a large amount of calculation, and when a large number of light sources are set in the object space or when the reflection surface is complicated, It is difficult to generate a display image in real time. For example, drawing objects illuminated by multiple light sources, such as the face of a person standing in a fire scene, or objects illuminated by reflected light from various directions, such as a person's face receiving reflected light from a wavy water surface Draws a large amount of calculation.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to generate an image of an object which has received light from various directions with a relatively light processing load with sufficient quality. An object of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensional image synthesizing apparatus and method, an information storage medium, a program distribution apparatus and method.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a three-dimensional image synthesizing apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a light source coordinate candidate storing means for storing a plurality of light source coordinate candidates; Distance calculating means for calculating a distance between the light source and the object to be illuminated; light source coordinate selecting means for selecting at least one of the plurality of light source coordinate candidates based on the calculated distance; Light source setting means for setting a light source to light source coordinates selected by the means, and display image forming means for forming a display image related to the object to be illuminated based on the light source set by the light source setting means. Features.

Further, in the three-dimensional image synthesizing method according to the present invention, a step of calculating a distance between a plurality of light source coordinate candidates and an object to be illuminated, and the plurality of light source coordinate candidates based on the calculated distance. Selecting at least one of the following: setting a light source at the selected light source coordinates; and forming a display image related to the object to be illuminated based on the set light source. And

Further, the information storage medium according to the present invention includes a step of calculating a distance between a plurality of light source coordinate candidates and an object to be illuminated; Selecting at least one of the following: setting a light source at the selected light source coordinates; and forming a display image of the illuminated object based on the set light source. It stores the program.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program distribution apparatus, comprising: calculating a distance between a plurality of light source coordinate candidates and an object to be illuminated; Selecting at least one of the following: setting a light source at the selected light source coordinates; and forming a display image of the illuminated object based on the set light source. Distribute the program.

Further, in the program distribution method according to the present invention, a step of calculating a distance between a plurality of light source coordinate candidates and an object to be illuminated, and, among the plurality of light source coordinate candidates, based on the calculated distance. Selecting at least one of the following: setting a light source at the selected light source coordinates; and forming a display image of the illuminated object based on the set light source. Distribute the program.

According to the present invention, at least one of a plurality of light source coordinate candidates is selected. Then, a light source is set at the selected light source coordinates, and a display image related to the illuminated object, that is, a display image representing at least a part of the illuminated object, is generated based on the set light source. This makes it possible to select one of the plurality of light source coordinates that has a large influence on the object to be illuminated, and omit the processing such as shading and shadowing for other light source coordinate candidates.

According to the present invention, the apparatus further comprises a distance calculating means for calculating a distance between each of the candidates for the light source coordinates and the object to be illuminated, and the light source coordinate selecting means comprises: At least one of the plurality of light source coordinates is selected. In this way, it is possible to select the light source that has the greatest influence on the object to be illuminated.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a game device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Game device 10 shown in FIG.
Is an embodiment of a three-dimensional image synthesizing apparatus according to the present invention, and is configured by mounting a DVD 25 as an information storage medium to a consumer game machine 11 connected to a monitor 18 and a speaker 22. . Here, the DVD 25 is used to supply the game program and the game data to the consumer game machine 11, but any other information storage medium such as a CD-ROM or a ROM card can be used. In addition, as described later, a game program and game data can be supplied to the consumer game device 11 from a remote place via a communication network. Hereinafter, the three-dimensional image synthesizing apparatus, the three-dimensional image synthesizing method, and the information storage medium according to the present invention will be described through the description of the game apparatus 10.

In the home game machine 11, a microprocessor 14, an image processing unit 16, a main memory 26, and an input / output processing unit 30 are connected by a bus 12 so as to be able to communicate with each other.
Further, the input / output processing unit 30 is connected to the controller 32, the audio processing unit 20, and the DVD reproducing unit 24. Each component of the consumer game machine 11 other than the controller 32 is housed in a housing. For the monitor 18, for example, a home television receiver is used, and for the speaker 22, for example, its built-in speaker is used.

The microprocessor 14 has an R (not shown).
Operating system and DVD2 stored in OM
Based on the game program read from the control unit 5, each unit of the consumer game machine 11 is controlled. The bus 12 is used for exchanging addresses and data between the units of the consumer game machine 11. The main memory 26 has a DVD 25
The game program and the game data read from are written as necessary. The image processing unit 16 is a VRAM
Receives the image data sent from the microprocessor 14, draws the game screen on the VRAM, converts the content into a predetermined video signal, and outputs it to the monitor 18 at a predetermined timing. That is, the image processing unit 16 sends the vertex coordinates (X, Y, Z), vertex color information (R, G, B), and texture coordinates (VX, V) of each polygon in the viewpoint coordinate system from the microprocessor 14.
Y) and an alpha value. Then, the color information, the Z value, the alpha value, and the like of each pixel constituting the display image are drawn on the VRAM using the information. At this time, Gouraud shading is performed, for example, by interpolating and using vertex color information in pixel units. This display image is output to the monitor 18 at a predetermined timing.

The input / output processing unit 30 is an interface for relaying data communication between the microprocessor 32 and the controller 32, the audio processing unit 20, and the DVD reproducing unit 24. The controller 32 is input means for the player to perform a game operation. The input / output processing unit 30 scans the operation states of various buttons of the controller 32 at regular intervals (for example, every 1/60 second), and passes an operation signal representing the scan result to the microprocessor 14 via the bus 12. The microprocessor 14 determines a game operation of the player based on the operation signal. The audio processing unit 20 includes a sound buffer,
Data such as music and game sound effects read from the DVD 25 and stored in the sound buffer is reproduced and output from the speaker 22. The DVD reproducing unit 24 reads a game program and game data recorded on the DVD 25 according to an instruction from the microprocessor 14.

Hereinafter, the game device 10 having such a configuration will be described.
A technique for shading and shadowing a game character standing at a fire site using the following will be described.

FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of a game image displayed on the monitor 18 of the game apparatus 10. As shown in FIG. As shown in the drawing, a floor surface is set in the game space (object space), and a game character object 42 is set thereon. The game character object 42 is displayed at the center of the screen so as to face the front side, and behind it, flame objects 44a to 44c are arranged.
A light source trajectory 41 is set around the game character object 42, and the dynamic light source 40 moves on the light source trajectory 41. The light source trajectory 41 is based on, for example, an elliptical trajectory, which is distorted by random numbers. That is, a three-dimensional vector determined by random numbers is added to the coordinates on the elliptical orbit, and the dynamic light source 40 is added thereto.
Is arranged. Thus, the light source trajectory 41 can be made irregular. In the dynamic light source 40, color information (color, light intensity) is set by random numbers. For example, color information is set by random numbers so as to fluctuate between yellow and red.

Further, a static light source 43 is set inside any of the flame objects 44a to 44c. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a setting process of the static light source 43. In the game apparatus 10, the microprocessor 14 uses the game program to determine the coordinates of the game character object 42 (for example, the coordinates of the face portion) and the flame objects 44a to 44a.
The distances La to Lc with respect to the coordinates of 4c are calculated, and the static light source 43 is set inside the flame object 44 having the shortest distance. In the static light source 43, color information (color, light intensity) is set by random numbers. For example, color information is set by random numbers so as to fluctuate between yellow and red.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a game process executed by the game apparatus 10. As shown in FIG.
First, game environment processing is performed based on the game program and game data read from the VD 25 (S10).
1). In the game environment processing, the positions and orientations of all static and dynamic objects in the virtual three-dimensional space are calculated. The static object is the flame object 44
The position does not change even if the game progresses, such as a to 44c. On the other hand, the dynamic object changes its position and orientation as the game progresses like the game character object 42. The position and orientation of the dynamic object change according to a game program or an operation signal input from the controller 32. In the game environment processing, a viewpoint and a visual field range are also calculated.
Then, the objects that are separated from the visual field range are excluded from the targets of the subsequent game processing.

Next, the microprocessor 14 performs a light source setting process (S102). In the light source setting process, the dynamic light source 40 is set around the game character object 42, and the static light source 43 is set inside any of the flame objects 44a to 44c.

Further, the microprocessor 14 performs a geometry process (S103). In the geometry processing, coordinate conversion from the world coordinate system to the viewpoint coordinate system is performed. Also,
The color information of the vertices of each polygon constituting the object is corrected based on the light source information (color and position of the light source). The light source information used here is the dynamic light source 4 set in S102.
In addition to those relating to 0 and the static light source 43, those relating to a light source preset by game data are also included.
In the geometry processing, clipping processing is further performed.

Thereafter, the microprocessor 14 sends the vertex coordinates, vertex color information, texture coordinates and alpha value of each polygon belonging to the visual field range to the image processing unit 16, and the image processing unit 16 stores the coordinates in the VRAM based on the information. A display image is formed in a display buffer provided in
04). The image formed in the display buffer is read at a predetermined timing and displayed on the monitor 18. The image displayed on the monitor 18 is a dynamic light source 40 or a static light source 4.
3 is shaded and shadowed.

Here, the light source setting process in S102 (FIG. 4) will be described in more detail. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the light source setting processing. In the light source setting process, first, the microprocessor 14 acquires the chest coordinates of the game character object 42 (S201). This coordinate is S
This is set in the game environment processing 101 (FIG. 4). Next, the microprocessor 14 generates a random number by a known technique (S202). Then, the dynamic light source 40 is set near the chest of the character (S203). Specifically, the position of the dynamic light source 40 is determined by adding a vector representing an elliptical trajectory to the chest coordinates of the game character object 42 and further adding a vector based on a random number. Here, an elliptical trajectory is used, but any procedure may be adopted as long as the dynamic light source 40 is set at a position based on random numbers around the game character object 42. At this time, the color information of the dynamic light source 40 is set using a random number. The color may be changed in a predetermined cycle without using a random number. The color information of the dynamic light source 40 is set to a range suitable for the color of the flame.

Further, the microprocessor 14 calculates distances La to Lc between the chest coordinates of the game character object 42 and the coordinates of the flame objects 44a to 44c (S204). Then, the static light source 43 is set to one of the flame objects 44a to 44c arranged at the position closest to the chest coordinates of the game character object 42 (S205). The color information of the static light source 43 is also set using random numbers. The color of the static light source 43 may be changed at a predetermined cycle without using a random number. The color information of the static light source 43 is also set in a range appropriate for the color of the flame.

According to the game device 10 described above, the coordinates of the flame objects 44a to 44c are candidates for the position of the static light source 43. As the game character object 42 moves in the object space, the nearest one is set. Is actually selected as the position of the static light source 43. Therefore, only the light source that has a large effect on the rendering of the game character object 42 is actually used,
Other light sources having little influence can be omitted. In addition, since the color information of the static light source 43 is changed by a random number, it is possible to suitably produce a state in which the light of the flame fluctuates.

Further, in the above-described game apparatus 10, the dynamic light source 40 is arranged so that the dynamic light source 40 moves randomly around the chest of the game character object 42. Light to be emitted from other flame objects 44 can be taken over by the dynamic light source 40. Thus, the appearance of the color of the flame on the face of the game character object 42 can be suitably produced with a small number of light sources. Further, since the color information of the dynamic light source 40 is changed by a random number, it is possible to suitably produce a state in which the light of the flame fluctuates.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

For example, in the above description, the technique of displaying the image of the situation where the game character object 42 is standing at the fire site has been described. The same can be applied to the case where the above is performed. In this case, the color information of the light source is set in an appropriate range as the reflected light on the water surface.

Although the above description is of an example in which the present invention is implemented using the consumer game machine 11, the present invention is similarly applicable to arcade game machines. In this case, it is desirable to use a higher-speed storage device instead of the DVD 25 and the DVD reproducing unit 24, and to integrally form the monitor 18 and the speaker 22.

In the above description, the DVD 25 storing the game program and the game data is used in the home game machine 11, but the information storage medium storing the game program and the game data, such as a personal computer, is read. Any computer capable of performing information processing based on the read content can be used.

The present invention is applicable not only to image processing relating to a game but also to any three-dimensional image processing. For example, the present invention is applicable to a three-dimensional CG animation, a flight simulator, a drive simulator, and the like.

Further, in the above description, the game program and the game data are supplied from the DVD 25 as the information storage medium to the home game machine 11, but the game program and the game data are distributed to the home or the like via the communication network. You can also. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a game program distribution system using a communication network. The program distribution device and method according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the game program distribution system 100 includes a game database 102, a server 104, a communication network 10
6. Personal computer 108, home game console 110, PDA
(Portable information terminal) 112. Among them, the game database 102 and the server 104 constitute a game program distribution device 114. The communication network 106 is, for example, the Internet or a cable television network. In this system, the game database 102 stores game programs and game data similar to the storage contents of the DVD 25. And
PC 108, home game console 110 or PDA 11
When the consumer makes a game distribution request using the communication network 106, the request is sent to the server 10 via the communication network 106.
It is conveyed to 4. Then, the server 104 reads the game program and the game data from the game database 102 in response to the game distribution request, and
8. Transmit to the game distribution request source such as the home game machine 110 or PDA 112. Here, the game distribution is performed in response to the game distribution request, but the server 104 may unilaterally transmit the game. In addition, it is not always necessary to distribute all the game programs and game data necessary for realizing the game at once, and a necessary portion may be distributed according to the game phase. By distributing the game via the communication network 106 in this way, the consumer can easily obtain the game program and the game data.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a game device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a game screen.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the concept of a light source setting process.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a game device according to the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a two-dimensional image synthesis process.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a light source setting process in the game device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a game program distribution system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 game device, 11,110 home game machine, 1
2 buses, 14 microprocessors, 16 image processing units, 18 monitors, 20 audio processing units, 22 speakers,
24 DVD playback unit, 25 DVD, 26 main memory, 3
0 input / output processing unit, 32 controller, 40 dynamic light source, 41 light source trajectory, 42 game character object, 43 static light source, 44a to 44c flame object, 100 game program distribution system, 102
Game database, 104 server, 106 communication network, 108 personal computer, 112 PDA, 114
Game program distribution device.

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Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. Light source coordinate candidate storage means for storing a plurality of light source coordinate candidates; distance calculation means for calculating a distance between each of the light source coordinate candidates and an object to be illuminated; Light source coordinate selecting means for selecting at least one of the plurality of light source coordinate candidates based on the light source; light source setting means for setting a light source to the light source coordinates selected by the light source coordinate selecting means; setting by the light source setting means And a display image forming means for forming a display image related to the object to be illuminated based on the light source to be illuminated. Calculating a distance between a plurality of light source coordinate candidates and an object to be illuminated; selecting at least one of the plurality of light source coordinate candidates based on the calculated distance; A three-dimensional image synthesizing method, comprising: setting a light source at a selected light source coordinate; and forming a display image of the object to be illuminated based on the set light source. Calculating a distance between a plurality of light source coordinate candidates and an object to be illuminated; selecting at least one of the plurality of light source coordinate candidates based on the calculated distance; An information storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute: a step of setting a light source at a selected light source coordinate; and a step of forming a display image of the object to be illuminated based on the set light source. Calculating a distance between a plurality of light source coordinate candidates and an object to be illuminated; selecting at least one of the plurality of light source coordinate candidates based on the calculated distance; A program distribution device that distributes a program for causing a computer to execute: a step of setting a light source at a selected light source coordinate; and a step of forming a display image of the object to be illuminated based on the set light source. Calculating a distance between a plurality of light source coordinate candidates and an object to be illuminated; selecting at least one of the plurality of light source coordinate candidates based on the calculated distance; A program distribution method for distributing a program for causing a computer to execute: a step of setting a light source at a selected light source coordinate; and a step of forming a display image of the object to be illuminated based on the set light source.