JP2009011371A - Program for racing game device, recording medium storing the program, and racing game device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a racing game device full of unexpectedness, capable of developing a race peculiar to the virtual space and impossible in the real world. <P>SOLUTION: A game processing means of the racing game device includes means for setting courses including paths, part of which are composed of a plurality of parts, as running courses for a moving body within the virtual space; means for determining whether a special mode is put into effect to the running course composed of a plurality of parts based on a command from a control means for controlling the movable body; means for deleting a part of the plurality of parts when it is determined that the special mode is put into effect to the running course by the means for determination; and means for shortening the path deleted in the step of deletion. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a racing game apparatus program for competing a plurality of moving bodies including a moving body operated by an operator in a virtual space, a recording medium storing the program, and a racing game apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art A racing game device that competes by running a virtual host vehicle operated by a player and another vehicle in a virtual space is widely known. In such a racing game apparatus, it is a great pleasure to develop an incandescent attack and defense in which a moving body such as an automobile operated by a player and a moving body operated by a computer or other opponent are overtaken on the course. However, if too much emphasis is placed on pursuing reality, the aspect of entertaining the player with unexpected and unrealistic special actions and directing effects that can not be realized in the real world, which is unique to running in the virtual space, is thin. There is a problem of becoming. In response to these issues, in recent years, a fictitious vehicle is used as a moving body without using a model that faithfully simulates the shape and performance of an actual vehicle, such as an actual sports car or a racing car. There are racing games that run in a virtual space, but there is a need for more exhilaration, dynamics, and surprises.

  On the other hand, in such a racing game, without a specific handicap, beginners and experts could not enjoy it at the same time. In order to eliminate the handicap of beginners and skilled workers, there is already one that automatically increases the speed of the car for those with lower ranks. However, for beginners who cannot operate in the first place, even if the speed increases, there is an adverse effect that the game is developed at a speed exceeding the range of their own control, which is difficult.

  As a game apparatus that takes into account beginners and skilled persons, for example, a game apparatus is proposed in which the size of the player becomes smaller in order from the top each time a specific point is passed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). . In such a game apparatus, it is possible that the player becomes easier to operate as the player becomes smaller, but the player feels uncomfortable because the size is reduced. As another example, for example, there has been proposed one in which the moving speed of a character operated by a player (or a character operated by a CPU) is uniformly changed based on a positional relationship with a specific character ( For example, see Patent Document 2). In this game apparatus, the speed change occurs under the control of one's own consciousness, which causes a sense of incongruity, and is difficult for a beginner because it is difficult to control.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-081753 JP 2003-103048 A

  The present invention has been made in view of various problems of the conventional racing game apparatus as described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a unique race in a virtual space that is surprising and impossible in the real world. A racing game device program that can be developed and can change the course on which the moving body travels during the race without causing the player to feel uncomfortable or unfair, and the program stored therein The object is to provide a recording medium and a racing game apparatus.

  The present invention relates to a racing game device program, a recording medium storing the program, and a racing game device. With regard to the game program, the above object of the present invention is to monitor the operation means operated by the player and the image. A game apparatus comprising: an image display means for displaying a game processing step including image information generation processing for an image including a moving body that moves in a virtual space in response to an operation of the operation means; The game processing step includes a step of configuring a part of a path, which is a travel route of the moving body, by a plurality of parts and setting a course including the path in a virtual space; Determining whether or not the first condition is satisfied, and operating the moving body determined to satisfy the first condition In response to the activation instruction from the operation means, the step of determining whether or not the special mode has been activated for the traveling route portion composed of the plurality of parts, and the step of determining the activation are performed on the traveling route portion. If it is determined that the part has been activated, the method includes: deleting a part of the plurality of parts; and shortening the path deleted by the deleting step.

  Alternatively, the object of the present invention is to move a virtual machine in response to an operation of the operation means to a computer of a game apparatus having an operation means operated by a player and an image display means for displaying an image on a monitor. A game program for executing a game processing step including an image information generation process for an image including a moving body, wherein the game processing step includes a plurality of parts of a path serving as a travel route of the moving body. A step of setting a course including the path in a virtual space; a step of determining whether or not each moving body satisfies a first condition; and a moving body determined to satisfy the first condition Determining whether or not a special mode has been activated for the travel route portion composed of the plurality of parts, according to an activation instruction from the operation means for operating the vehicle, and determining the activation. A step of deleting a part of the plurality of parts and a new communication from the part deleted by the deleting step to the next travel route when it is determined that Enabling the movement of the moving body on a simple route and a route whose traveling distance is shortened.

  In addition, the object of the present invention is to further include the step of generating an event of causing a new path to appear when the part is deleted by the step of deleting a part of the plurality of parts. The step of deleting a part of the plurality of parts includes executing the deletion process for a space set around the moving body, and the game processing step includes weightlessness when the special mode is activated. The step of deleting a part of the plurality of parts is further effectively achieved by executing the deletion process in response to the occurrence of weightlessness.

  Regarding the information storage medium, the above object of the present invention is achieved by a configuration in which the above game program is stored.

  As for the game device, the object of the present invention is to provide an operation means operated by a player, an image display means for displaying an image on a monitor, and a movement that moves in a virtual space in response to the operation of the operation means. And a game processing means including image information generating means for a game image including a body, wherein the game processing means comprises a part of a path serving as a travel route of the moving body, comprising a plurality of parts. Means for setting a course including the path in a virtual space; means for determining whether or not each moving body satisfies a first condition; and a moving body determined to satisfy the first condition The travel route is determined by means for determining whether or not a special mode has been activated for the travel route portion composed of the plurality of parts in response to an activation instruction from the operation means. For the department If it is determined that the trigger has been, it is achieved by including means for deleting a portion of the multi-piece, and means for shortening the path that is removed by means of the deletion, the.

Alternatively, the object of the present invention is to provide a game image including an operation means operated by a player, an image display means for displaying an image on a monitor, and a moving body that moves in a virtual space in response to an operation of the operation means. A game processing means including a plurality of image information generating means, wherein the game processing means comprises a part of a path that is a travel route of the moving body, comprising a plurality of parts, and includes the path. Means for setting in the virtual space;
The special mode is determined by means for determining whether or not each moving body satisfies the first condition, and an activation instruction from the operating means for operating the moving body determined to satisfy the first condition. , Means for determining whether or not it has been activated with respect to the travel route section composed of the plurality of parts;
When it is determined by the means for determining the activation that it has been activated with respect to the travel route portion, a means for deleting a part of the plurality of parts and a travel route ahead of the part deleted by the means for deleting And a means for enabling the moving body to move along a new route leading to the section and a route in which the travel distance is shortened.

  According to the present invention, when a course in which a part of a travel route of a moving body is composed of a plurality of parts is set in the virtual space and the special mode is activated for the travel route, the parts of the travel route are deleted. I am doing so. For this reason, an event in which a part of the travel route disappears while the mobile body is traveling is rich in surprise, and a unique race in the virtual space can be developed. In addition, when a part of the travel route is deleted, the mode is reset so that the travel distance on the course of each moving body is automatically shortened by the activation of the special mode. It is possible to change the course on which the moving body travels during the race without feeling uncomfortable or unfair.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external view showing an example of a home game device to which the present invention is applied, and this game device shows an example of a general home game device. In FIG. 1, the game apparatus main body 1 (hereinafter referred to as “game machine main body”) is provided with operation signal input terminals (12a to 12d) and video and audio signal output terminals. An operation controller 2 operated by a person is connected via a connection cable 7, and a display device 3 for displaying a game image or the like is connected via a video / audio connection cable 6.

  Game software (game program and control data) for causing the computer to function as a game processing means is stored in the external storage medium 4 in this example, and the external storage medium 4 (DVD-ROM in this example) The game machine body 1 is loaded from the lid 14 provided on the game machine body 1. The display device 3 as the image display means is a television receiver in this example, and includes a display (image display device) 31, speakers 32a and 32b, and video / audio input terminals (video signal input terminal 33 and audio signal input terminal 34). , 35).

  The operation controller 2 is provided with a start button 21 for instructing the start of the game, analog joysticks 22 and 23, various operation buttons 24, and direction keys 25, and these input operation switches include a game. Various functions are assigned according to the game to be played. In this example, four operation controllers 2 can be connected to the game machine body 1, and a maximum of four players can participate in one game at the same time and enjoy the game.

  In such a configuration, the game device executes a game program based on the input operation information output from the operation controller 2, generates image data and audio data related to the game, and monitors the television receiver 3 ( A game image is displayed on the display 31), and sound effects and the like are generated from the speakers 32a and 32b.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the game apparatus illustrated in FIG. The game machine body 1 includes a control board 10 and a reading device 20 (in this example, a DVD-ROM reading device) for the external storage medium 4. For convenience of explanation, the entire information processing means for executing the processing of the racing game according to the present invention is defined as “game processing means”, and the image information generating means and the sound information generating means are part of the game processing means. This will be explained as a component requirement

  The control board 10 includes a main CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 as game processing means that operates according to a game program, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12 and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13 as main storage means, and a game program. As the input / output control means, the image processing circuit 14 generates a video signal to be output to the image display device 31, the audio processing circuit 15 generates an audio signal to be output to the speaker 32, and the input / output control means. An input / output device I / F (interface) circuit 16 and a communication I / F circuit 17 as communication control means are mounted, and these are connected via a bus 18.

  The ROM 12 stores basic software such as a game device activation program, and the RAM 13 temporarily stores movement information of a moving body obtained from the progress of the game, terrain information of the virtual space, and the like.

  The image processing circuit 14 includes a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) 14a that operates in response to an instruction from the CPU 11, a graphic memory 14b, and the like. Image information (3) generated according to a game program that causes the CPU 11 to function as image information generating means. Based on polygon object modeled in 3D virtual space, virtual light source, virtual camera, etc.) coordinate conversion processing from 3D coordinates to 2D coordinates and rendering processing (shading, texture mapping, rate racing method, radio) Image processing by a city method or the like), and processing for displaying a game image on the image display device 31 is performed. Note that in the case of a game device that does not include an auxiliary processor for three-dimensional graphics processing such as the GPU 14a or a rendering processor, the above-described coordinate conversion processing or rendering processing is executed by the game program.

  The sound processing circuit 15 includes an SPU (Sound Processing Unit) 15a, a sound memory 15b, and the like. The sound processing circuit 15 receives sound data such as sound effects based on sound information generated according to a game program that causes the CPU 11 to function as sound information generating means. A process of generating and outputting an audio signal is performed.

  In this example, the input / output device I / F circuit 16 includes an operation controller I / F circuit 16a, an image data output I / F circuit 16b, an audio data output I / F circuit 16c, and a DVD- An I / F circuit 16d for the ROM reader is provided. The communication I / F circuit 17 is communication control means used when playing an online game via the communication network 5 such as the Internet communication network.

  Note that the operation controller 2 as the moving body operating means for the operator to operate the moving body is not limited to the configuration of the operation controller 2 illustrated in FIG. 1, and detects the movement of the wireless operation controller or the controller body. Sensors (such as sensors that detect the position and direction of the controller with respect to the screen, the tilt of the controller, and acceleration in the X, Y, and Z axis directions) and those configured with pointing devices such as touch panels and digitizers, etc. Any information can be used as long as the information input by the player can be transmitted to the game apparatus. The external storage medium 4 for storing game software (game program and data) is not limited to a DVD-ROM, and any information storage medium readable by a computer can be used. Further, when the game software is downloaded to the RAM 13 or other internal storage medium in the game machine body 1 via the network, the external storage medium 4 and the reading device 20 are not necessary.

  Next, an outline of the computer game according to the present embodiment will be described.

  The present invention is suitably applied to a computer game (referred to as a “racing game”) in which a plurality of moving bodies including a moving body that moves in response to a player's operation is competed in a virtual three-dimensional space. Hereinafter, a case where the present invention is applied to a racing game will be described as an example.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the basic configuration of a course (running path) 50 set in the virtual space. The racing game according to this embodiment is operated by an operator (hereinafter referred to as “player”). This is a game in which a plurality of moving bodies 60 including a body run and compete on a course 50 having a three-dimensional shape set in a virtual space. In the example of the course 50 of FIG. 3, each moving body 60 operated by the player or the CPU starts from the start point ST and goes around the circular course 50 a predetermined number of times, and finishes at the goal point (point ST or other point). Victory or defeat is decided in the order of reaching. A travel route NP along arrows R1 to R5 in FIG. 3 is a first path used during normal travel (hereinafter referred to as “normal path”), and in addition to this, it is used only when a special mode (described later) is activated. A second path (hereinafter referred to as “special path”) is set as a special travel route that can be performed.

  In this example, the moving body 60 traveling on the course 50 is a virtual vehicle 62 on which a character (virtual player) 61 as shown in FIGS. The virtual vehicle 62a shown in FIG. 4 (A) forms a layer of air with the ground using the force of air (air), and slides like a snowboard or surfboard on it. It is a fictitious vehicle called "Air Ride". The virtual vehicle 62b shown in FIG. 4 (B) is a motorcycle type vehicle that travels in contact with the ground, and the virtual vehicle 62c shown in FIG. 4 (C) is a virtual sea layer between the ground and the ground. Is a fictitious vehicle 62a called a “wheel yacht” that is configured to slide like a high-speed boat.

  The player operates such an operation of the moving body 60 with the operation controller. For example, when the operation controller 2 illustrated in FIG. 1 is used, acceleration or deceleration of the virtual vehicle 62 is operated by pressing the operation button 24. Further, when it is desired to move the center of gravity of the moving body 60 by tilting the posture of the character 61 left and right, or when moving the virtual vehicle 62 up and down and left and right, the direction is operated by tilting the analog joystick 22 or 23. Also, when it is desired to change the direction of physical gravity (G) when a special mode (described later) is activated, the direction of gravity is designated and changed by tilting the analog joystick 22 or 23.

  These virtual vehicles 62 are assigned different driving performances such as acceleration performance, deceleration performance, cornering performance, maximum speed, jumping force, turning ability, fuel consumption, etc. Parts that change the driving performance of the virtual vehicle 62 are also available Has been. The player selects his / her favorite virtual vehicle 62 from various virtual vehicles 62 according to the course location and participates in the race. Also, a plurality of types of characters 61 on which the virtual vehicle 62 rides are set, and the user's favorite character 61 can be selected. The initial vehicle 62 is set in advance as a vehicle 62a (air ride) in FIG. 4A, for example. After that, you can purchase your favorite vehicle using the points you saved during the race. It is also possible to customize the vehicle by purchasing parts.

  Here, the type of the character 61 will be described.

  There are multiple types of character 61 types, such as speed type, fly type, and power type. Characteristic abilities (character-specific personality and technology) possessed by each type of character during the race By demonstrating, it is set to be able to take a specific action according to its ability.

  The speed-type character is a character who has the ability to access the virtual vehicle 62 to a path (called a railway) formed by a rail-like long travel route. A fly-type character is a character that has the ability to fly a virtual vehicle by passing over a dedicated gimmick installed on the course. For example, the fly-type character can glide through the air by passing over a jump table installed on the course. A power-type character is a character that has the ability to destroy obstacles (those that obstruct the movement of the moving body 60) installed on the travel route, and that ability is used to show obstacles ahead. It is possible to drive a virtual vehicle without avoiding obstacles by destroying the vehicle and the like.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of a game image in which the moving body 60 is traveling on the normal path NP. As shown in FIG. 5, for example, an image obtained by capturing the moving body 60 with a virtual camera is displayed on the screen G1. The course map G2 is synthesized and displayed at a predetermined position on the screen G1. As the course map G2, for example, a reduced scale G2a of the entire course and a symbol image G2b indicating the current traveling position are displayed. On the screen G1, information such as the current lap time, the traveling speed, the number of laps, and the like are displayed as information indicating the traveling state. The ring-shaped item 65 in FIG. 5 is an item in which points are accumulated by the moving body 60 passing through the ring portion and earning. The point in this example is virtual money, which is used to purchase vehicles and parts.

  Next, a game processing mode in the special mode according to the present invention will be described.

  Since the racing game according to the present embodiment is a racing game that runs in a virtual space rather than running on a road that is generally provided, a unique race in the virtual space is developed. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a special mode capable of gravity operation is provided, and various events are generated by a special operation (gravity operation) unique to the virtual space.

  In the first processing mode, for example, when the special mode is activated, the surrounding gravity energy is absorbed to generate a weightless state, and a part of the course is destroyed due to the influence of the weightlessness (a part of the course is scattered). Event that disappears). Furthermore, when the running portion disappears due to the above event, the course with the shortened course length in the running direction is automatically reset without interrupting the race. In addition, an event that causes a new path (normal path or special path) to appear is generated by the above event.

  In the second processing mode, traveling paths such as ceilings and walls that are physically impossible due to the action of gravity in the real world are provided as special paths, and when the special mode is activated, the special paths can be operated by operating gravity. It is said.

  In addition, a plurality of types of switch objects for generating various events are set in the course, and gravity (+ G in the second processing mode is caused by the action of weightlessness (-G) in the first processing mode. The switch is activated by the action of (), and various events are generated, such as activating an action corresponding to the attribute of the switch.

  Although the said 1st and 2nd processing form is good also as an independent processing form, it is also possible to set it as the processing form which combined both processing forms. For convenience of explanation, the game processing step in the first processing mode is referred to as “course shortening control step”, and the game processing step in the second processing mode is referred to as “special pass control step”.

  First, gravity (G) control according to the present invention will be described.

  Gravity acting on the moving body 60 is a resultant force of universal gravitational force and centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the celestial body (Earth) in the real world, and acts in a direction substantially perpendicular to the XZ plane (horizontal plane) of the three-dimensional coordinate system. In the virtual world on the computer game according to the present invention, the direction in which the gravity acts can be changed by the operation of the operation controller 2. In other words, instead of making the physical gravity in the real world zero, it generates fictitious gravity that can be controlled by the player (called “virtual gravity”). In the present invention, “physical gravity” means gravity that works in the same direction as the real world in a three-dimensional virtual space. On the other hand, “virtual gravity” as used in the present invention refers to gravity that can be operated by a player. Specifically, the direction of physical gravity is changed to the direction designated by the operation of the operation controller 2 in the special mode. It means the gravity acting in the changed direction, and the gravity that can be operated by the player. Hereinafter, for the convenience of explanation, “virtual gravity” will be described using the term “gravity” unless the meanings of both are likely to be confused.

  In the following, modes that allow gravity operation are defined as “special modes”, and gravity operations in special modes (physical gravity direction change operation, virtual gravity energy charge operation, virtual gravity energy release operation, etc.) Is defined as “gravity control”.

  Gravity control refers to the generation of weightlessness by charging virtual gravity in a form that absorbs physical gravity around the moving body 60 and releasing the charged gravity (virtual gravity energy) in a specified direction. The action of dropping the moving body 60 and surrounding objects in that direction (giving a speed named gravity). As the player's operation, for example, the special mode button 24 is pressed to instruct special mode activation (gravity control activation), and the analog joystick 23 is tilted (or the direction key 25 is operated). Instruct. The instruction to release the charged gravity is performed by pressing the specific operation button 24. Gravity is ejected in the direction by the release of the gravity. In this embodiment, the speed given to the moving body 60 by gravity varies depending on the duration of the weightless state (that is, the amount of gravity charge), and the speed of the moving body 60 increases as the amount of gravity charge increases. Gravity energy is converted into speed according to the charge amount, and the speed is added to the moving body 60.

  In the racing game according to the present invention, by the gravity operation as described above, in the course shortening control step, the course shape is deformed so that the course is shortened during the race, or a new path appears. ing. In the special path control step, the moving body 60 can travel on a special path such as a tunnel ceiling having a traveling surface that is physically impossible due to the action of gravity in the real world.

  Next, the action range of gravity generated in the special mode will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the special mode is activated, the CPU 11 operating in accordance with the game program (hereinafter referred to as “game processing means 11”) sets a surrounding three-dimensional space centered on the moving body 60 as a range in which the gravity G acts. For example, in FIG. 6, when the moving body 60 is about 1.5 m, the inside of the spherical space having a radius R = maximum of about 20 m centered on the position is set as the special gravity space GS (the working range of the gravity G). .

  In the game processing means 11, the gravity in the special gravity space GS is made zero-gravity and the amount of gravity energy is added as time elapses after the special mode is activated until the gravity is instructed. Then, the added value is stored in the RAM 3 as a gravitational charge amount. Then, when a gravity release command is input from the operation controller, the gravity G is applied in the direction specified by the operation of the operation controller. The game processing means 11 causes the gravity G to act on other objects 80 (objects having an influence of gravity) in the special gravity space GS in the same manner, and the direction and the size of the gravity G are changed. The movement of the object 80 may be controlled based on the gravity information shown. For example, if the object 80 is an object (such as a hidden route door) for enabling the use of a special path route set in the course 50, the object 80 is moved to the gravity G according to the attribute information of the object. The door may be blown in the direction of, or destroyed and disappeared, or the door of the hidden path (the door that does not rotate in the normal gravity direction but rotates with a force in a predetermined direction) may be opened.

  The object of the moving body 60 is converted to a speed named gravity, and is instantaneously accelerated by running the moving body 60 at that speed (or an added value of that speed and the current running speed). . Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, the traveling speed vector A1 and the gravity speed vector G when the special mode is activated are combined, and the moving direction and speed of the moving body 60 are determined based on the information of the combined speed vector A2. It may be determined.

  Further, in the process of absorbing the surrounding energy and making it zero gravity, another object 80 existing in the special gravity space GS floats, or contrary to the influence of the gravity, the object 80 is caused by the influence of weightlessness. Destroy and disappear, open hidden route doors, disappear walls and cause new routes to appear as normal or special paths, etc. Is preferred.

  In the present embodiment, when the gravitational energy is released, the movement of the other object 80 as described above is not controlled, and the influence of the non-gravity state is given to the other object 80 when it is generated. This is a form that generates a special event.

  In the present embodiment, the range of the special gravity space is a preset range, but the type of the virtual vehicle 62 (and the type of parts for customization) and the type of the character 61 riding on the virtual vehicle 62 are different. Accordingly, the game processing means 11 may be variable.

  Next, an operation example of the game device according to the present invention will be described. First, the entire flow of the racing game according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the game is started by pressing the start button 21 of the player, the game processing means 11 displays a menu screen showing selectable courses and moving bodies 60 (the character 61 and the virtual vehicle 62) on the display 31, A player selects a course or a moving body 60 by clicking on the menu screen (step S1).

  Subsequently, the game processing means 11 sets each moving body object including the moving body 60 participating in the race at the start position of the course selected by the player, and images of the images obtained by capturing each moving body from the virtual camera. The image information is generated and displayed on the display 31, and the race is started when the countdown display becomes 0 (step S2). When the race is started, the game processing means 11 sequentially determines the current position and direction in the three-dimensional virtual space of each moving body (moving body operated by each player or CPU 11) traveling on the normal path NP of the course 50. The storage information such as the current position of the mobile object is calculated and updated (step S3). Then, the image information representing the current traveling state obtained by synthesizing the object of the moving body 60 captured from the virtual camera and the background object such as the terrain or the structure is sequentially generated and stored in the graphic memory 14b, as illustrated in FIG. Such a game image is displayed on the display 31 via the image processing circuit 14 (step S4).

  Subsequently, the game processing means 11 performs predetermined processing according to the operation of the moving body 60 such as a point addition process at the time of acquiring a specific item by passing the moving body 60 (step S5), and each moving body 60 Then, it is determined whether or not a condition for activating the special mode (referred to as “first condition”) is satisfied. Here, the “first condition” refers to, for example, that there is energy for running the moving body 60, that the moving body 60 operated by the player has not reached the goal point, and that the moving body 60 is spinning. Such as not being in a running state, not restricting activation to display a specific effect image, moving body 60 not running backward on the course, possessing an item for activation, etc. Any one or more. In other words, in the present embodiment, the special mode can be activated basically at any timing during the game as long as the energy for running the moving body 60 is sufficient. Note that, as the activation condition (and condition), the point value updated in step S5 may be compared with a predetermined set value, and a point value exceeding the set value may be added (step S6). .

  Subsequently, the game processing means 11 monitors the presence / absence of a special mode activation start instruction (input of a special mode activation command from the operation controller 2) by a player who operates the moving body 60 that satisfies the first condition. If it is determined that a special mode activation command has been input (step S7), input of gravity operation information from the operation controller 2 is received, and gravity control processing is executed (step S100). The gravity control process will be described later with a specific example.

  When the gravity control process in step S100 ends, the game processing means 11 determines whether or not all the moving bodies have reached the goal position (step S8). The process proceeds to S3, and the process is repeated. If it is determined in step S8 that all the moving bodies have reached the goal position, the game end process is performed to end the racing game on the course.

  Next, the gravity control process in step S100 will be described with a specific example.

  First, the process in the course shortening control step will be described. Here, the entire process related to the course shortening control including the process of step S100 will be described.

  In the course shortening control step executed by the game processing means 11, as described above, a part of the course (for example, part of the road surface or wall) is destroyed and lost due to the influence of weightlessness generated in the special mode. An event is generated. In response to the event, for example, an event in which the course length is reduced in a form in which the travel distance of the moving body on the course is shortened or an event in which a new route appears is generated.

  Hereinafter, the details of the process in the course shortening control step will be described along the flow of the flowchart of FIG.

  In the course shortening control step, first, a part of a path serving as a travel route of the moving body in the virtual space is constituted by a plurality of parts, and a course including the path is set in the virtual space. “Course” as used herein means a running path, and “pass” means a traveling path within the course (for example, each traveling path where the course is separated by a separation zone). In the course shortening process, “course” and “pass” are synonymous.

  As parts for forming a course, for example, as shown in FIGS. 9A to 9C, a cubic part 51a (hereinafter referred to as a “single block”), a rectangular parallelepiped steel part 51b (hereinafter referred to as a “solid block”). There is a rectangular parallelepiped guardrail part 51c (hereinafter referred to as "single guardrail"). In this example, these parts 51 used as components of the course are created by an object composed of a three-dimensional polygon model. Then, a course is formed by combining parts 51 of the same type or different types, and a course 50 as illustrated in FIG. 3 is set in the virtual space.

  In the present embodiment, the part object (an object having an attribute related to the influence of gravity described later) of the course that is the target of the course shortening control step is described as an example of the block-shaped part 51. It is not limited. For example, in the case of a beam-like path, a path is formed by connecting beam-like objects (or by one beam-like object). In this case, since the beam-like route disappears by satisfying the condition such as contact with the object, an event that the course length is reduced naturally can be generated.

  Here, the course formed by the combination of the components 51 will be described with a specific example.

  FIGS. 10A and 10B show a part of a course formed by a combination of parts 51, and FIG. 10A shows an example of a straight traveling path 52 that constitutes a part of the course. FIG. 10B is a perspective view showing a roof 53 on a tunnel installed on the straight traveling path 52 in FIG. The straight traveling path 52 shown in FIG. 10 (A) has a straight road surface formed by a combination of a single block 51a and a single steel frame 51b, and a guard rail formed by a combination of a single guard rail 51c is provided on one side of the road surface. It is configured. On the other hand, the roof 53 shown in FIG. 10B is a roof formed by combining the single blocks 51a into a dome shape (hereinafter referred to as “dome roof”).

  FIG. 11 is a plan view showing an example of a course set in the virtual space, and shows a course formed by using the straight traveling path 52 and the dome-shaped roof 53. The course 50A shown in FIG. 11 has two linear travel paths 52 (for example, a straight travel path assuming a length of 750 m and a width of 36 m) arranged in parallel with a predetermined interval W, and guard rails at both ends thereof. The parts 51c for use are arranged. Further, dome-shaped roofs 53 and 53 </ b> A are disposed on the respective linear traveling paths 52. This course 50A is a course used in a racing game in which each moving body circulates and competes, and will be described below using an example of the course 50A.

  In the course shortening control step, the course 50A formed as described above is set in the virtual space (step S11). Then, attribute information of each part object constituting the course 50A is set and stored in the storage medium, read out at the start of the game, and stored in the RAM 13. Here, main attribute information used in the course shortening control step will be described. In the present embodiment, in order to generate an event that destroys and disappears a part of the course due to the influence of weightlessness, for example, the following information is set as the attribute information of the part object constituting the course.

  The attribute information indicated by “1” to “8” in FIG. 11 is a block that is affected by weightlessness from the Nth week onward, where N is the numerical value. Means that the block disappears. The other blocks mean blocks that are affected by gravity. Note that the dome-shaped roof 53A is configured by a wall object in which the wall on the space 54 side is combined with a single guardrail. For example, by setting the attribute information of the wall object as “With weightless influence” or “Make special path appear”, the wall (a specific wall such as a guardrail wall or a shoulder) is destroyed due to the influence of weightlessness. It is good also as a form which makes it disappear, and a new path (For example, the special path which passes between the two linear driving paths 52 appears, or a form where the special path set beforehand is displayed. Course shortening control In the step, the attribute information as described above is set and stored in the storage medium (step S12).

  Next, processing during the game related to the course shortening control will be described.

  Prior to the description, the operation of the moving body traveling on the course 50A will be described. In this course 50A, the moving body starts from the start point ST in FIG. 11, travels to the right in the upper straight traveling path 52 in the drawing, and the right end (arrow) of the straight traveling path 52 in the drawing. When it comes to R1), gravity control (gravity heavy operation in the direction of arrow G1 in the figure: details are described in the processing of the special path control step described later), and the straight line shape in the drawing below. Move to the travel path 52. Thereafter, the moving body travels on the lower straight traveling path 52 toward the left side, and when it reaches the left end portion (the portion indicated by the arrow R2) of the linear traveling path 52, gravity control (gravity operation in the direction of the arrow G2). ) To return to the upper straight traveling path 52 in the drawing and repeat the same traveling. At that time, every time the start point ST is reached, the game processing means 11 determines the lap.

  In the present embodiment, when the above gravity control is performed, the single block 51a on which the numerical value is written scatters under the influence of weightlessness, and the course itself is shortened each time the lap is repeated. The game processing means 11 (the CPU 11 executing the course shortening control step) automatically shortens the course 50. Hereinafter, processing during the game related to the course shortening control will be described.

  The game processing means 11 sequentially calculates the current position and direction in the three-dimensional virtual space of each moving body (moving body operated by each player or CPU 11) traveling on the normal path NP of the course 50, and The storage information such as the position is updated (step S13).

  Then, the image information representing the current traveling state obtained by synthesizing the object of the moving body 60 captured from the virtual camera and the background object such as the terrain or the structure is sequentially generated and stored in the graphic memory 14b, as illustrated in FIG. Such a game image is displayed on the display 31 via the image processing circuit 14 (step S14).

  Subsequently, the game processing means 11 executes predetermined processing according to the operation of the moving body 60 such as a point addition process at the time of acquiring a specific item by passing the moving body 60, and each moving body 60 performs a special mode. It is determined whether or not a condition for activation (first condition) is satisfied. The “first condition” referred to here is the first condition described in step S5 and will not be described (step S15). Subsequently, the game processing means 11 monitors the presence or absence of a special mode activation start instruction (input of a special mode activation command from the operation controller 2) by a player who operates the moving body 60 that satisfies the first condition. If it is determined that the special mode activation command is input, it is determined whether or not the special mode is activated (step S16).

  If it is determined that the special mode is not being activated, the process returns to step S13 to repeat the process. If it is determined that the special mode is being activated, until the information indicating the gravity release instruction is input, The subsequent processing from step S17 to step S23 is executed.

  During the period from when the special mode is activated until the gravity is instructed, the game processing means 11 is in the special gravity space GS shown in FIG. 6 (in this example, the surrounding virtual space centered on the moving body 60). The gravity energy in the inside) is absorbed, and the gravity in the special gravity space GS is made zero-gravity as time passes, and the amount of gravity energy is added to the RAM 3 as the amount of gravity charge. Store (step S17).

  The game processing means 11 generates a weightless state by the process of step S17, and stores attribute information of the part object for the part object (object of each part 51) existing in the special gravity space GS. Reading from (RAM 13) (step S18). Based on the attribute information of each component 51, it is determined whether or not there is a component 51 for which the attribute “with weightless influence” is set (step S19).

  In step S19, when it is determined that the part 51 having the attribute “with influence of weightlessness” is present in the special gravity space GS, the game processing means 11 shows that the part 51 is broken and scattered. Image information of the effect image is generated, and the effect image is displayed on the display 31 (step S20).

  In the example of the course 50A, the parts 51 from “1” to “8” in FIG. 11 are the road surface of the traveling road, and if the attribute of “There is an influence of weightlessness” in the above step S20, the part 51 Is not necessarily destroyed. In this example, based on the attribute information of the number N of laps, the form is destroyed according to the number of laps. In step S20, when the attribute of “with no gravity” is set as the attribute information of the single guardrail 51c, an effect image indicating that the portion of the single guardrail 51c is destroyed is displayed. In addition to the fact that the attribute of the component 51 existing in the special gravity space GS is “the effect of weightlessness”, the condition for destroying the component 51 is the condition of the number of laps (the progress of the game as described above). One or more conditions may be added.

  The game processing means 11 executes the process of step S20 and determines whether or not to generate an event that shortens the course (step S21).

  In addition, as a form of generating an event for shortening the course, for example, in the travel route portion that is affected by the weightlessness by the special mode being activated, the destruction of the parts 51 of the travel route portion (disappearance of the road surface) is one. A form that is generated even in the case of only the part 51, a form that is generated when the part 51 is destroyed over the entire width direction of the course (when a situation occurs in which the course is cut), and a predetermined number of parts 51 There is a form that occurs when it is destroyed. Any of these forms may be used, and the form may be changed according to the race situation.

  If it is determined in step S21 that an event for shortening the course is to be generated, the game processing means 11 deletes the part 51 of the travel route portion destroyed by the influence of weightlessness and travels without interrupting the race. Automatically reset the course with a shortened course length. In other words, a course with a reduced course length is formed in such a way that the traveling distance of the moving body on the course is shortened, and a process for automatically switching the course immediately before the traveling route portion is destroyed to the reduced course is executed. .

  At this time, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, for example, the part object of the rear traveling route unit 50S of the moving body 60 in which the special mode is activated is deleted, and the course for the size L in FIG. I try to shorten it. In the example of FIG. 12, the course is formed in such a manner that the rear part (not disappeared) of the moving body 60 is shifted in the direction of the arrow M in the figure and the cut portions of the course are connected. In that case, when shortening in the inclined traveling route part, you may make it change an inclination angle. Moreover, when shortening in the travel route part of a curve, you may make it change a curvature. Moreover, when shortening in the traveling route part to raise or process, you may make it change the angle and curvature of the road surface of a running direction. Note that in the process of switching to the shortened course, the moving body located in the portion where the travel path portion is destroyed is not affected by the destruction and is normally run (step S22).

  Subsequently, the game processing means 11 resets the shortened course in the virtual space, returns to step S13, and continues the race (step S23).

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the reduction of the course that cannot be made in the real world is generated by a special operation (gravity operation) unique to the virtual space. Therefore, it is rich in surprise and can develop a unique race in the virtual space. Moreover, since the travel distance on the course of each moving body is uniformly shortened, the player does not feel uncomfortable or unfair.

  Next, processing in the special path control step will be described.

  First, the special path that can be used in the special mode will be described.

  FIG. 13 shows an example of a course 50 in which a special path is set. In this example, two special paths SP branched from the normal path NP are set. The special path SP includes a wall or ceiling of a structure (a guard rail, a building, etc.). The type of the special path SP will be described later with a specific example. In such a course 50, for example, the player activates the special mode immediately before the moving body reaches the branch point SPa to the special path SP, charges the surrounding gravity to make it zero gravity, and the direction of gravity. Is moved in the direction of the special path SP to move the moving body 60 to the special path SP side. At that time, the travel route of the moving body 60 is changed to the special path SP side starting from the branch point SPa, and the mobile body 60 travels along the route of the special path SP. Then, the vehicle 60 joins the normal path NP at the junction SPb, and the moving body 60 travels on the original normal path NP.

As processing forms when returning to the ground on the global axis (confluence point SPb to the normal path NP) from the topography (travel path of the special path SP) such as a wall or ceiling, for example, there are the following forms.
(T1) A processing form in which a device (jump table or the like) for separating the moving body 60 from the ground is prepared and returned to the ground by forcibly dropping it from the terrain.
(T2) A processing mode in which the angle of the terrain is gradually changed to return to the negative direction of the Y axis indicating the height direction on the global axis in a continuous manner.
(T3) A processing mode for returning to the ground according to the player's gravity operation using the G control as in the case of moving to the wall or ceiling.

  In the processing modes (T1) and (T2), the special mode is automatically released at the junction SPb set at the end of the special path NP. For example, in the processing mode (T3), the player When the special mode activation is canceled (terminated) by the operation, or when all of the gravity charge amount is consumed before the junction SPb, the special mode is canceled in the middle of the special path, and the original gravity direction is restored. Gravity will return. In that case, a merge point is set when the activation of the special mode is completed, and the moving body traveling on the special path merges with the normal path at the merge point.

  In the present embodiment, the special mode is a mode that can be activated only on the condition that a gravity operation instruction has been given, but the points obtained by acquiring a specific item, the running time, the number of laps, the running rank, It is good also as a form which can be activated when a specific condition is satisfy | filled by using the distance between moving bodies as an element. The special path SP may set a path that cannot be used unless a specific switch object is operated, in addition to a path that can always be used if the direction of gravity operation is correct. For example, when it is possible to access a route that cannot be normally traveled by gravity control, a subsequent mobile body (or a mobile body operated by a player) that is traveling on a general route installed only on a route that cannot normally travel It is possible to arrange a switch that can affect itself or a moving body preceding the moving body operated by the player. By arranging such switches, you will not only run the route that can not normally run, but also actively search for the switch provided on the route that can not normally run, advance the game more advantageous It becomes possible to make it. For example, when the preceding player's moving body steps on the switch, the hidden route is exposed, and the succeeding player's moving body also proceeds advantageously. Such an event occurs when the switch is actuated by a form that is generated when the moving body steps on the switch, an action of weightlessness (-G) in the special mode, or an action of gravity (+ G) by an operation in the direction of gravity. There is a form to generate.

  Further, as the special path SP, a branch point SPa and a junction point SPb are fixedly set at both ends of the travel route, and a branch point when the moving body 60 moves from the normal path NP to the special path SP. There is a form in which SPa is set, and the junction point SPb is set when the moving body 60 returns from the special path SP to the normal path NP. For example, the branch point SPa to the special path SP that appears due to the opening of the hidden door is fixed, but in the case of the special path SP in the space that moves through the space in a weightless state, to the special path SP The branch point SPa is a variable that is set when the special mode is activated. Further, as described above, the junction point SPb is a variable that is automatically set when, for example, the activation of the special mode is terminated by an instruction from the player. In that case, for example, the intersection of the straight line in the direction of gravity passing through the center of the moving body and the road surface of the normal path is set as a confluence.

  Next, the action of gravity when the special mode is activated will be described with a specific example of a special path.

  FIG. 14A shows a state in which the moving body 60 is traveling in the traveling direction A on the normal path NP. In FIG. 14A, if the road surface of the normal path NP is assumed to be a horizontal plane, the gravity G perpendicular to the road surface acts on the normal path NP. In the present embodiment, as a course used for the racing game, in addition to the normal path NP, a special path SP (as shown in FIGS. 14B to 14D) that can be used only when the special mode is activated. SP1 to SP3) are set in advance or dynamically set during a race, and by operating gravity G, it is possible to travel on a special path SP that cannot normally travel due to the action of gravity. The example in FIG. 14B is an example in which the wall surface is set as the special path SP1, and the example in FIG. 14C is an example in which the ceiling surface is set as the path SP2. A special path SP3 shown in FIG. 14D is a path that cannot be seen with the naked eye, and is a path on the ground formed by gravity control by the player (dropping the ground space in the G direction (the space by the force pulling in the G direction). Path to move in). Specifically, the special path SP3 moves in the space by the newly designated G direction as the gravity direction, the moving body is pulled in that direction, and the attractive force or the attraction and the inertial force of the moving body at the time of moving to the special path SP. It is a path of progression when the body is in a state of progressing.

  For example, when the player activates the special mode immediately before the right-angle corner of the normal course NP in FIG. 14D, the gravity at the normal time becomes zero and the moving body 60 floats from the road surface. In this state, by generating gravity in the direction of arrow G in FIG. 14D, a special path SP3 due to free fall in the G direction due to gravity is formed, and the mobile body 60 falls through the special path SP3 (through the space). Running).

  As described above, in the present embodiment, it is possible to control gravity that is impossible in the real world. Then, the player (or CPU) operates the direction of gravity to enable traveling using a special path such as an unreal and surprising ceiling or wall surface. For example, a player can use the special path and gravity energy to overtake other moving objects, travel undisturbed by moving objects that are delayed in laps, or drift on sharp curves and right-angled corners. It is possible to run at a higher speed than in the limit grip running.

  Next, the gravity control processing in step S100 will be described along the flow of the flowchart of FIG.

  If the game processing means 11 determines that the condition for activating the special mode is satisfied, the game processing means 11 first starts the image effect expression of the space in which the gravity is made non-gravity. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to the schematic diagram of FIG. 16 and FIG. 17 showing an operation example of the virtual camera. FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing an image of gravity control when the special mode is activated in a normal path NP having a sharp curve as exemplified in FIG. 14D, for example. FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the operation example of a virtual camera. And Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd in FIG. 17 has shown the position of the mobile bodies 60a, 60b, 60c, 60d in FIG.

  When the game processing means 11 detects that the gravity control (G control) is activated by the information input of the pressing operation of the operation button 24a, the game processing means 11 starts the image effect expression of the space in which the gravity is made zero (step S101). The object to be controlled by the processing means 11 is shifted from the moving body 60 (hereinafter, the moving body operated by the player is referred to as “player character”) to the virtual camera 70. Specifically, the posture (traveling direction) of the player character 60 is normally operated, but the position of the virtual camera 70 is operated around the player character 60 during the G control (step S102).

  The game processing means 11 executes a process of gradually reducing the speed of the player character 60 to a predetermined speed (for example, about 50 km / h) as a process of the player character 60 before the weightlessness, and the speed at which the speed is reduced. In proportion to the movement of the virtual camera 70 being operated (lot change of the virtual camera 70) is executed. The “lot” of the virtual camera 70 here refers to ROTATE (rotation), and in this embodiment, the player character 60 is set to the origin in the direction specified by the direction key when the gazing point of the virtual camera 70 is designated. As a movement that moves around. This circumferential movement has a step change between the initial speed and the latter half speed, and the game processing means 11 controls the camera work of the virtual camera 70 so that the acceleration increases in the second half and moves slightly faster.

  In the image example of FIG. 16, the player character 60a is moved from the position of the player character 60a in FIG. 16 to the position of the player character 60b while being reduced in speed. In accordance with the movement action of the player character, the position of the virtual camera 70 is moved from the position Pa in FIG. 17 to the position Pd, and the direction of the virtual camera 70 is changed to a circle as shown by the arrow in FIG. Move around. Meanwhile, the process of charging the surrounding gravity is executed from the time when the gravity control (special mode) is activated, and the stored value of the charge amount of gravity is sequentially added. Further, the movement amount while speeding down from the player character 60a to the position of the player character 60b may be varied according to the order. In this case, since the distance between the moving bodies is shortened without being noticed by the player, it is possible to develop a more intense race.

  The game processing means 11 executes the above-described processing, detects an object in a certain area (in the above-described special gravity space GS) (step S103), and executes processing for making the detected object zero gravity. At that time, for each object in the special gravity space GS including the background object, in the transition process from the gravitational space to the weightless space by image processing such as changing the shape of the polygon by changing the vertex coordinates of the polygon of each object. Gravity change is expressed as a distortion of space (space-time structure). On the image, for example, the image is expressed as if the air flow has changed. In the image example of FIG. 16, the state of the player character 60b in FIG. 16 is changed to the state of the player character 60c while gradually changing the posture of the player character and the height from the ground in the distorted space. ing. For the objects (player character and detection object) in the special gravity space GS at that time, a process of adding a force that rises to a height within a certain range to float from the ground (the position of the object on the Y axis) Execute processing to move to a certain range. Note that the floating range at that time is not fixed in the present embodiment, but is varied somewhat with a random value. In the course shortening control step described above, an image showing a state in which blocks affected by weightlessness are scattered in the air is displayed. In the course shortening process, the shortened course is reset, and a modified course map (course map G2 in FIG. 5) is displayed (step S104).

  As shown in FIG. 17, the player designates the direction of gravity by tilting the analog joystick 23 while watching the effect image of the weightless space (step S105), and determines the timing of releasing the gravity control. Then, a command to release gravity control is given (in this example, a command to release the charged gravity).

  Until the game processing means 11 inputs an instruction to cancel the gravity control, for example, as shown by a player character 60d in FIG. 16, the face of the character is in the traveling direction and the abdomen is twisted in the direction of the virtual camera 70. As described above, the movement of the head and abdomen of the character on the virtual vehicle is controlled according to the player's operation and the camera position, respectively, according to the player's operation and camera position. Further, as described above, the position of the virtual camera 70 is moved in accordance with the movement action of the player character 60, and the gaze point of the virtual camera 70 is moved circumferentially with the player character 60 as the origin to release gravity. Find out.

  When the game processing means 11 detects an instruction to cancel the gravity control, the game processing means 11 ends the processing of the image effect expression in the weightless space (step S106), and shifts the control target from the virtual camera 70 to the player character 60 (step S107). Then, the player character 60 and the detected object in the special gravity space GS are ejected in the direction of gravity (G) designated by the tilting operation of the analog joystick 23. The injection direction at that time (the direction to release the charged gravity) is the direction designated by the player, and the injection speed is, for example, the duration of the weightless state as described above (from the point of time when the gravity control activation instruction is issued) The speed (the maximum speed is 200 km / h, for example) according to the gravitational charge amount up to the time). When injecting the player character 60, the game processing means 11 widens the angle of view of the virtual camera 70, captures and captures the player character 60 that instantaneously accelerates at the above speed, as shown in FIG. As shown in the player character 60e, for example, a ring-shaped effect line is drawn around the player character 60e as an effect image, and a blurred image is displayed as a screen effect. By such image processing, the state where the gravitational energy is released and the player character 60e is instantaneously accelerated is expressed (step S108).

In the preferred embodiment, the following two types of patterns PT1 and PT2 are prepared for the gravity control as described above.
(PT1) As shown in the image example of FIG. 15, when the energy of the virtual gravity is released in the specified direction during normal running, the gravity change for the purpose of the player character 60 turning a sharp curve (corner) by the gravity control. The pattern to wake up.
(PT2) When the virtual gravitational energy is released in the specified direction after triggering using the kicker etc. installed in the course, the 3D route such as the wall or ceiling set as a special path is selected by the gravity control A pattern that causes a change in gravity to be done.

  In the above two patterns, the game processing means 11 makes no differentiation at all on the behavior of the player character 60 itself or the influence on the surrounding objects. However, only in the case of the pattern PT2, after the player character 60 is ejected. , A ground path (that is, a special path such as a wall or a ceiling) set other than the ground set in the virtual three-dimensional space is detected. The processing pattern is divided for the purpose of clearly communicating the rules for moving to the three-dimensional route to the player and reducing the processing load (frequency) of the path detection by the game processing means 11. Yes. Note that a system in which only the gravity control of the processing pattern of PT2 is used may be employed.

  As another embodiment, when shifting from the normal path to the special path in the pattern PT2, the energy of the virtual gravity is directed toward the special path in the state of floating without weight without using kicker or the like. It is good also as a form which opens and makes it transfer to a special path by it. Even in that case, the same image processing is performed to display the state change of each object in the process of transition from the normal gravity space to the weightless space, and the state of the player character 60 that accelerates on the special path by releasing the gravity. You may make it do. For example, in the case of the wall surface special path SP1 illustrated in FIG. 14B, as shown in FIG. 18, an image 60a showing the state of the player character 60 (in the example of FIG. 18, using the kicker, the wall surface special path). In the image example of jumping to SP1 and moving), an image showing a state of floating due to weightlessness is displayed, and when the energy of virtual gravity is released toward the wall surface, the image of the player character 60a moved to the wall surface May be displayed and then changed to an image 60c via an image 60b showing a state of instantaneously accelerating in the traveling direction of the special path SP1 while being moved to the wall surface.

  Subsequent to the process of step S108, the game processing means 11 determines whether or not the player character 60 running in the special pass satisfies the special pass running end condition (referred to as "second condition"). judge. The “second condition” here refers to, for example, accepting a special mode activation end instruction (input of a special mode activation end command from the operation controller 2) by a player, or a special path end point (normally This is that the player character 60 has reached the meeting point (step S109).

  If it is determined in step S109 that the second condition is satisfied, the game processing means 11 is in a state where the player character 60 moves on the special path (in this example, the player character 60 passes the special path in space G And a gravitational direction (XYZ axis +/− direction) of the terrain that is the landing position of the player character 60e (a junction from the special path to the normal path) is confirmed (step S110). ) While changing the posture of the player character 60 from the G direction (injection direction) to the normal gravity direction, the player character 60 is landed at the landing position and joined to the normal path (step S111). Then, the game processing means 11 releases the special mode and ends the gravity control process.

  In addition, as a processing form which returns the player character 60 to the ground in the said step S110, S111, as mentioned above, (T1) the form which forcibly falls to the landing position, (T2) The angle of the terrain is gradually changed, There is a form of returning to the ground in a continuous manner, and (T3) a form of returning to the ground according to the player's gravity operation, as in the case of moving to a special path. In the case of the form (T3) described above, the player designates the direction of gravity on the terrain side, and the player ejects by looking at the image showing the player character 60e moving on the special path and the terrain ahead. The gravity direction of the terrain in the direction is predicted, and the player character 60e is landed while changing the posture of the character 61 by operating the operation controller 2 to join the normal path. In the game processing means 11, based on the operation information from the operation controller 2, the terrain information of the normal path, and the position information of the moving body, a process of joining the player character moving on the special path to the normal path is executed. Image information of the effect image is generated and displayed on the display 31.

  Next, image processing and music change processing during gravity operation in the special mode will be described. First, image processing at the time of gravity operation will be described along the flow of the flowchart of FIG.

  The game processing means 11 determines whether or not the game has ended by determining whether or not all the moving bodies 60 (player characters 60 in a single-running game) have reached the goal position (step S31). When it is determined that the game has ended, the racing game end process (results such as the ranking of the player character 60 and the evaluation value related to the player's maneuvering technique) is performed, and the game on the course ends.

  If it is determined in step S11 that the game has not ended, the image information generation means generates image information based on the current position information and terrain information of the player character 60, and the generated image information is displayed in the graphic memory. 14b is recorded in real time (step S32). And the game image after performing a coordinate transformation process and a rendering process is displayed on the display 31. FIG.

  Subsequently, the game processing means 11 determines whether or not the player's operation is a gravity operation in the special mode (step S33). If it is not the gravity operation, the process returns to step S11 and repeats the process to determine that the operation is a gravity operation. Saves the image information of the object (three-dimensional polygon model) in the special gravity space to the frame buffer (step S34), and processes the image data of the object by the image information generation means using the saved image information as a texture. . At this time, for example, in a three-dimensional coordinate system, the shape of a normal object without distortion (three-dimensional polygon model) is gradually deformed by a morphing process from the shape of an object that has been distorted according to a change in gravity. By performing image processing, the state change of the object accompanying the weightlessness and the state change of the object accompanying the change of the gravity direction are expressed. Further, in the process of injecting the object in the direction of gravity in response to the gravity release instruction, as described in step S108, image processing such as blurring the texture image or synthesizing the effect image Is used to express a state in which gravity is released and acceleration occurs instantaneously (step S35).

  Then, the texture image of the morphed 3D polygon model is pasted to the screen coordinate system size model while changing the shape of the object from the normal shape without distortion to the shape with distortion (step S36). An image obtained by combining the image of the object in the gravity space and the image outside the special gravity space is displayed (step S37), the process proceeds to step S31, and the image processing is repeated until it is determined in step S31 that the game is over.

  Next, the music change process in the special mode will be described along the flow of the flowchart of FIG.

  The game processing unit 11 determines whether or not the game has ended (step S41). If the game has not ended, the game processing unit 11 determines whether the BGM or the like is based on the normal audio information generated by the audio information generation unit. Audio data is generated via the audio processing circuit 15, and sound output by normal music data is repeated (step S42). If it is determined that the gravity operation is started during the process of step S42, the music data in the special mode (for example, music having a unique sound effect expressing a change in gravity or a distortion in space) is obtained from the music data in the normal time. Data) (steps S43 and S44), and the sound output by the music data after switching is repeated (step S45). When it is determined that the gravity operation is finished (step S46), the music data in the special mode is switched from the music data in the normal mode (step S47), and the process proceeds to step S41 to repeat the process. Then, when the game processing means 11 determines in step S41 that the game is over, the sound processing during the race is ended. It should be noted that a plurality of normal music data may be prepared, and each time the gravity operation is performed, the music data may be switched to another music data different from the previous normal travel in step S47.

  In the above-described embodiment, the gravity effect after the gravity control is performed does not depend on the attribute of the moving object. However, the attribute of the moving object (the type of the character riding on the virtual vehicle, the type of the virtual vehicle, the parts) It is also possible to adopt a form in which a difference in the effect of gravity is caused according to the virtual vehicle form after customization by mounting of the vehicle.

  For example, as a first example, in the course shortening control step, the amount of component objects that can be skipped during gravity control is changed according to the character type. For example, when the character running at the head is speed type or fly type, when the power type runs at the head, the amount of part objects to be skipped increases, so the route is likely to be shortened accordingly. The amount of the part object affected by weightlessness is changed according to the type.

  As a second example, in the special pass control step, speed type characters are standard, and fly type characters tend to accumulate points for the activation of gravity control, but the activation time after actual activation is short. On the other hand, for power type characters, it is difficult to collect points for activating gravity control, but the activation time and activation time of gravity control are adjusted according to the character type, such as the activation time after actual activation is short It is set as the form to do.

  As a third example, in the special path control step, access to the special path during gravity control is limited according to the character type. For example, when the special path is set on the ground, wall, and ceiling, the speed type and power type can only run on the ground or wall for a short time during gravity control, but only the fly type can run on the ceiling for a long time. Form.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, regarding the process of the course shortening control step, the form of automatically resetting the course shortened by deleting the part of the travel route part has been described, but the form of deleting the part is The present invention is not limited to the form in which the part object is actually deleted, and includes a form in which the part object is virtually deleted by reducing the object.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a home game device has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to a home game device, and is a general game device having a business game device or a game function. It can also be applied to a mobile phone.

It is an external view which shows an example of the home game device to which this invention is applied. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of the household game device illustrated in FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the basic composition of the course which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of the moving body which concerns on this invention. It is a figure showing an example of a picture of a racing game concerning the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the action range of the gravity in the special mode which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the whole flow of the racing game which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the detail of the process in the course shortening control step which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of the component of the course which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of the site | part of the course formed combining the component of FIG. It is a top view which shows an example of the course which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the shortening process of the course which concerns on this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the special path | pass which concerns on this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the traveling state of the mobile body in the special path | pass which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process of the gravity control which concerns on this invention. It is a 1st schematic diagram which shows the image of the gravity control which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the operation example of the virtual camera in the special mode which concerns on this invention. It is a 2nd schematic diagram which shows the image of the gravity control which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the image processing at the time of gravity operation which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the audio | voice process at the time of gravity operation which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Game machine body 2 Operation controller 3 Television receiver 4 External storage medium 5 Communication network 10 Control board 11 CPU
12 ROM
13 RAM
14 Image processing circuit 14a GPU
14b Graphic memory 15 Audio processing circuit 15a SPU
15b Sound memory 16 I / F circuit for input / output device 16a I / F circuit for operation controller 16b I / F circuit for image data output 16c I / F circuit for audio data output 16d I / F circuit for DVD-ROM reader 17 Communication I / F circuit 18 Bus 20 External storage medium reader 50 Course 51 Course forming parts (course components)
51a Single block 51b Single steel object 51c Single guard rail 52 Straight running path 53 Domed roof 54 Space part 60 Moving body 61 Character (virtual player)
62 Virtual vehicle 63 Building object 63a Wall (wall surface)
63b Roof (ceiling part)
63c Tunnel-shaped passage 63d Gate (opening / closing door)
63e Elevated 63f Track side wall (wall surface)
63g Building 64a Kicker (Jump stand)
64b Staircase 64c Turbulence 65 Item 66 General vehicle object 66a Taxi 66b Train 70 Virtual camera NP Normal path SP Special path SPa Branch point SPb Junction point

Claims (9)

Image information of an image including a moving body that moves in a virtual space in response to an operation of the operation means on a computer of a game apparatus having an operation means operated by a player and an image display means for displaying an image on a monitor A game program for executing a game processing step including a generation process,
The game processing step includes
Configuring a course including the path in a virtual space by configuring a part of a path serving as a travel route of the mobile body with a plurality of parts; and
Determining whether each moving body satisfies the first condition; and
Whether or not the special mode is activated for the travel route portion composed of the plurality of parts according to the activation instruction from the operation means for operating the moving body determined to satisfy the first condition. A determining step;
A step of deleting a part of the plurality of parts when it is determined by the step of determining the activation that it has been activated for the travel route part;
Shortening the path deleted by the deleting step;
The game program characterized by including. Image information of an image including a moving body that moves in a virtual space in response to an operation of the operation means on a computer of a game apparatus having an operation means operated by a player and an image display means for displaying an image on a monitor A game program for executing a game processing step including a generation process,
The game processing step includes
Configuring a course including the path in a virtual space by configuring a part of a path serving as a travel route of the mobile body with a plurality of parts; and
Determining whether each moving body satisfies the first condition; and
Whether or not the special mode is activated for the travel route portion composed of the plurality of parts according to the activation instruction from the operation means for operating the moving body determined to satisfy the first condition. A determining step;
A step of deleting a part of the plurality of parts when it is determined by the step of determining the activation that it has been activated for the travel route part;
Enabling the movement of the moving body by a new route that leads from the portion deleted by the deleting step to the travel route portion ahead and a route that shortens the travel distance;
The game program characterized by including.   The game processing step further includes a step of generating an event of causing a new path to appear when a part is deleted by the step of deleting a part of the plurality of parts. Game program.   4. The game according to claim 1, wherein in the step of deleting a part of the plurality of parts, the deletion process is executed in a space set around the moving body. 5. program.   The game program according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the special mode is a mode in which gravity can be operated by operating the operation means.   The game processing step further includes a step of generating a weightless state when the special mode is activated, and the step of deleting a part of the plurality of parts includes the deletion process according to the occurrence of the weightlessness. The game program according to claim 5, wherein the game program is executed.   A computer-readable information storage medium that stores the game program according to claim 1. Game processing including operation means operated by a player, image display means for displaying an image on a monitor, and image information generation means for a game image including a moving body that moves in a virtual space in response to the operation of the operation means A game device comprising means,
The game processing means includes
Means for configuring a part of a path serving as a travel route of the mobile body with a plurality of parts and setting a course including the path in a virtual space;
Means for determining whether or not each moving body satisfies the first condition;
Whether or not the special mode is activated for the travel route portion composed of the plurality of parts according to the activation instruction from the operation means for operating the moving body determined to satisfy the first condition. Means for determining;
Means for deleting a part of the plurality of parts when it is determined by the means for determining the activation that the movement route portion is activated;
Means for shortening the path deleted by the means for deleting;
A game apparatus comprising: Game processing including operation means operated by a player, image display means for displaying an image on a monitor, and image information generation means for a game image including a moving body that moves in a virtual space in response to the operation of the operation means A game device comprising means,
The game processing means includes
Means for configuring a part of a path serving as a travel route of the mobile body with a plurality of parts and setting a course including the path in a virtual space;
Means for determining whether or not each moving body satisfies the first condition;
Whether or not the special mode is activated for the travel route portion composed of the plurality of parts according to the activation instruction from the operation means for operating the moving body determined to satisfy the first condition. Means for determining;
Means for deleting a part of the plurality of parts when it is determined by the means for determining the activation that the movement route portion is activated;
Means for enabling the moving body to move along a route that is a new route that leads from the part deleted by the means to be deleted to the travel route portion ahead, and a travel distance is shortened;
A game apparatus comprising: