JP2024041359A - Game programs and game devices - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] Improving the sense of immersion through sound effects in a virtual space. [Solution] A game progression unit (561) moves a character in a virtual space in response to a user's operation. A sound source that outputs a sound signal exists in the virtual space. A detection unit (563) detects whether or not there is an object that intersects with each of a plurality of virtual straight lines that are extended in different directions from a predetermined reference point in the virtual space. An audio processing unit (562) reproduces an audio signal according to the sound signal output by the sound source, and in the reproduction, the closer the distance between the object detected by the detection unit and the reference point, the lower the volume of the late reverberation sound in the direction from the object toward the reference point. [Selected Figure] Figure 1

Description

The present disclosure relates to a game program and a game device.

Some game programs play sound effects in a virtual space (for example, see Patent Document 1). In the example of Patent Document 1, in a shooting game, gunshot sounds and the like are played during the game.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-156589

In games, the sense of immersion is influenced by sound effects.

An object of the present disclosure is to improve the sense of immersion through sound effects in a virtual space.

The first aspect is to make the computer function as a game progress section, a sound processing section, and a detection section,
The game progression unit causes the character to move in the virtual space in response to a user's operation,
A sound source that outputs a sound signal exists in the virtual space,
The detection unit detects whether or not an object intersects each of a plurality of virtual straight lines extending in different directions from a predetermined reference point in the virtual space,
The sound processing section includes:
reproducing an audio signal according to the sounding signal output by the sound source;
In the playback, the closer the distance between the object detected by the detection unit and the reference point, the lower the volume of the late reverberation sound in the direction from the object to the reference point.

In the first aspect,
The detection unit may define a plurality of points evenly distributed on a spherical surface, and define a plurality of virtual straight lines by connecting these points and the reference point.

In the above aspect,
The sound processing unit may reproduce a sound simulating firing a firearm as the sound of the game medium.

A second aspect includes a storage unit storing the program according to the aspect;
a control unit that executes the program;
It is a game device equipped with.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to improve the sense of immersion through sound effects in a virtual space.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a game device.

[Embodiment]
Hereinafter, embodiments of a game program and a game device will be described.

A game based on this game program is played in a virtual space (three-dimensional). There are no restrictions on the type of game. For example, the game can be a competitive action game in which the player character attacks and defeats enemy characters.

《Game device configuration》
<Hardware configuration>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the game device 5. As shown in FIG. The game device 5 executes a predetermined game based on a user's operation. A display 61, a speaker 62, and a controller 63 are externally connected or built into the game device 5.

As the game device 5, commercially available devices such as a personal computer, PlayStation (registered trademark), XBox (registered trademark), PlayStation Vita (registered trademark), and Nintendo Switch (registered trademark) can be used.

In the game device 5, the game progresses based on the installed game program and game data. The game devices 5 can also perform data communication with each other using a communication network (not shown) or a short-range wireless communication device (not shown).

The game device 5 includes a network interface 51, a graphic processing section 52, an audio processing section 53, an operation section 54, a storage section 55, and a control section 56. The network interface 51, the graphic processing section 52, the audio processing section 53, the operation section 54, and the storage section 55 are electrically connected to the control section 56 via a bus 59.

The network interface 51 is communicably connected to the communication network in order to transmit and receive various data with, for example, other game devices 5 and an external server device (not shown).

The graphic processing unit 52 draws a game image including a player character and various objects in the virtual space in a moving image format according to the game image information output from the control unit 56. The graphic processing unit 52 is connected to a display 61 (for example, a liquid crystal display). The game image drawn in a moving image format is displayed on the display 61 as a game screen.

In this game program, a virtual camera (hereinafter referred to as virtual camera C) is set in the virtual space as the user's (player's) viewpoint. The graphic processing unit 52 composes a 3D video (moving image) and displays it on the display 61 as if the inside of the virtual space was photographed by the virtual camera C. The direction, magnification rate, etc. of the virtual camera C can be set by the user via the controller 63.

The audio processing section 53 is connected to the speaker 62. The audio processing unit 53 reproduces digital game audio according to instructions from the control unit 56. Specifically, the audio processing unit 53 converts the audio data output by the control unit 56 into an analog signal and outputs it to the speaker 62.

The audio processing unit 53 is configured to output multi-channel audio in order to reproduce three-dimensional sound. Accordingly, a plurality of speakers 62 are connected to the game device 5. These speakers 62 may be placed on the left, right, front, back, or above the listener (for example, a game player) so that three-dimensional sound can be reproduced.

The operation unit 54 is connected to the controller 63. The operation unit 54 transmits and receives signals to and from the controller 63. A game player inputs signals (commands, data, etc.) to the game device 5 by operating various operators such as buttons on the controller 63.

The storage unit 55 includes an HDD, SSD, RAM, ROM, and the like. The storage unit 55 stores game data, various programs including game programs, and the like. Examples of game data include game media and user account information.

The control unit 56 controls the operation of the game device 5. The control unit 56 includes a CPU (microcomputer) and a semiconductor memory. The semiconductor memory stores programs, data, etc. for operating the CPU.

<Functional configuration of control unit 56>
The control unit 56 functions as a game progression unit 561, a sound processing unit 562, and a detection unit 563 by executing a game program (see FIG. 1).

-Game progress section 561-
The game progression unit 561 causes the player character to move in the virtual space in response to operations by the user (here, the game player). The game progression unit 561 also causes non-player characters and predetermined objects (for example, vehicles, etc.) to operate in the virtual space.

The game progress unit 561 controls the actions of non-player characters and predetermined objects using, for example, AI (artificial intelligence). The game progression unit 561 advances the game according to the actions of the player character and the non-player character.

In this game program, a character such as a player character may possess game media within a game screen. "Possession" here means, for example, that the character and the game medium are displayed together on the display 61. Depending on the game, this "possession" may be expressed as "equipment."

In this game, the game medium owned by the character can serve as a virtual sound source in a virtual space. In other words, in this game, audio is played back as sound emitted by the game medium. Hereinafter, the fact that a sound is played as a sound emitted by the game medium may be expressed as "the game medium makes a sound."

An example of the game medium owned by the character is a weapon. In the following, it is assumed that the player character is in possession of a firearm (for example, a shotgun) as a game medium.

In this game, a firearm may make a gunshot sound (more precisely, a sound that simulates a gunshot sound may be played). For example, in this game program, a user can instruct firing of a firearm owned by a player character by operating an operator on the controller 63. The game progression unit 561 outputs a signal (hereinafter referred to as a sound generation signal) indicating that the game medium (firearm) emits a sound to the sound processing unit 562 in response to the user's firing instruction.

-Detection section 563-
In this game program, objects that reflect sound are provided in the virtual space. For example, objects representing walls of buildings, walls of caves, etc. are treated as objects that reflect sound. Sound absorption coefficients are set for objects that reflect sound (such as walls).

The detection unit 563 detects objects (walls, etc.) in the virtual space in a predetermined direction. Specifically, the detection unit 563 detects objects in a predetermined direction using a raycast method. The basic principle of the raycast method is to extend a virtual straight line (ray) from a predetermined reference point (starting point) in a predetermined direction and check whether there is an object that intersects with that straight line. be.

In object detection, the detection unit 563 detects whether or not an object intersects each of a plurality of virtual straight lines extending in different directions from the position (starting point) of the virtual camera C.

In the detection, the detection unit 563 defines a plurality of points evenly distributed on a spherical surface. More specifically, the detection unit 563 arranges a plurality of points in a Fibonacci sphere in real time during the game. The detection unit 563 connects these points and the virtual camera C to define a plurality of virtual straight lines.

The detection unit 563 divides these defined points into a plurality of point groups based on directions with respect to the virtual camera C (for example, front, rear, left, and right of the virtual camera C). The number of divisions, boundary settings for division, and the number of points forming the point group may be arbitrarily determined by the developer of the game program.

-Sound processing section 562-
In this game program, various audio data are prepared in advance. For example, a game program includes audio data for a shotgun.

The audio processing unit 562 reproduces audio data according to the progress of the game. Specifically, the audio processing unit 562 selects audio data according to the progress of the game, and outputs the selected audio data to the audio processing unit 53.

When outputting audio data, the audio processing unit 562 instructs the audio processing unit 53 about the volume. The audio processing unit 53 converts the audio data output by the audio processing unit 562 into an analog signal of a specified volume, and outputs it to the speaker 62.

The sound processing unit 562 has a function (first function) of reproducing sound including a direct sound, early reflection sound, and late reverberation sound as the sound of the game medium (firearm, etc.) according to the sound generation signal. In this embodiment, a direct sound, an early reflected sound, and a late reverberant sound are prepared in advance as data for each object to be emitted. For example, for a firearm object, the direct sound, early reflection sound, and late reverberation sound related to the firing sound are prepared in advance as data.

The sound processing section 562 has a function (second function) of performing sound image localization during the reproduction. The acoustic processing unit 562 sets a virtual sound receiving point (hereinafter referred to as a virtual microphone L) at which audio is heard in the virtual space in order to perform sound image localization. In this example, the virtual microphone L is set near the virtual camera C. The virtual microphone L has directivity. The virtual microphone L moves as the virtual camera C moves (or the player character moves).

In this game, an acoustic presentation is performed to make the sound appear to be coming from a virtual sound source existing in a virtual space. The sound processing unit 562 outputs the sound emitted from a virtual sound source (such as a weapon owned by the player character) to the speaker 62 in an acoustic representation as if the sound was collected by the virtual microphone L. The virtual microphone L is a virtual listener and is a reference point for sound image localization by the acoustic processing unit 562.

For example, suppose a person fires a firearm near a wall in a room in the real world. In this case, the person in the room hearing the gunfire hears the early reflections in addition to the direct sound. Although late reverberation is also occurring, it is thought that those who hear the gunshot sound cannot hear much of the late reverberation from the direction of the wall.

In this game program, in order to express such late reverberation sound, the sound processing section 562 performs the following processing.

(1) The acoustic processing unit 562 derives the average value, minimum value, and maximum value of the distance between the object detected by the detection unit 563 and the virtual camera C for each point group (in other words, for each direction). Furthermore, the acoustic processing unit 562 derives the average value, minimum value, and maximum value of the sound absorption coefficient of the object.

(2) The acoustic processing unit 562 determines the volume attenuation of the late reverberant sound for each point group (direction) based on the derived value. For example, the closer the distance between the object detected by the detection unit 563 and the virtual camera C, the sound processing unit 562 reduces the volume of the late reverberation sound in the direction from the object to the virtual camera C.

《Operation example》
When the game starts, the game progression unit 561 causes the player character to move in the virtual space in response to the operation of the controller 63 by the user (here, the game player). The game progression unit 561 also causes objects such as non-player characters to operate in the virtual space as necessary.

The detection unit 563 executes raycasting in real time using the position of the virtual camera C as a reference point (starting point) to detect an object.

Assume that the game progresses and the player character encounters an enemy character in a predetermined room (referred to as room A). At this time, it is assumed that the player character has his back facing the wall. It is assumed that the virtual camera C faces the player character from behind the player character.

Here, it is assumed that the user instructs the player character to fire a firearm owned by the player character. Thereby, the game progression section 561 outputs the sound generation signal to the sound processing section 562.

Upon receiving the sound generation signal, the acoustic processing section 562 performs the following processing.

(1) For each point group, derive the average value, minimum value, and maximum value of the distance between the object detected by the detection unit 563 and the virtual camera C, and the average value, minimum value, and maximum value of the sound absorption coefficient.

(2) Based on the derived values, determine the volume attenuation of late reverberation and other sounds for each point group.

For example, the closer the distance between the object (for example, a wall) detected by the detection unit 563 and the virtual camera C, the smaller the sound processing unit 562 determines the volume of the late reverberation sound in the direction from the object to the virtual camera C. do. In this example, the volume of the late reverberation sound is determined to be smaller for the point group on the player character's back side than for the other point groups.

(3) Selection of audio data to be reproduced The sound processing unit 562 selects audio data corresponding to the game medium to be played. For example, when the user instructs to fire a shotgun owned by the player character, the shotgun audio data is selected.

(4) Instructing the audio processing unit 53 to reproduce the audio data The audio processing unit 562 instructs the audio processing unit 53 to reproduce the selected audio data while specifying the determined volume.

As a result, the speaker 62 reproduces the gunfire sound in room A (direct sound and reverberant sound in room A). Reverberant sound includes early reflected sound and late reverberant sound. Late reverberation sound coming from the direction of the wall toward which the player character's back is facing has a lower volume than late reverberation sound coming from other directions.

To summarize the above, in the present aspect, the computer functions as a game progress section 561, a sound processing section 562, and a detection section 563, and the game progress section 561 causes a character to move in a virtual space in response to a user's operation. , a sound source that outputs a sound signal exists in the virtual space, and the detection unit 563 detects intersecting objects for each of a plurality of virtual straight lines extending in different directions from a predetermined reference point in the virtual space. The sound processing unit 562 reproduces the audio signal according to the sound generation signal output from the sound source, and in the reproduction, detects whether the object detected by the detection unit and the reference point are connected. This is a game program that reduces the volume of late reverberation sound in the direction from the object to the reference point as the distance is shorter.

《Effects of this embodiment》
In this game, for example, if a firearm is fired near a wall in room A, the volume of late reverberation from that wall is suppressed. This enables acoustically realistic production. According to this embodiment, it is possible to improve the sense of immersion through sound effects in a virtual space.

[Other embodiments]
Items to be pronounced are not limited to firearms.

The starting point of the raycast does not have to be the position of the virtual camera C. For example, the starting point of the raycast may be the position of the virtual microphone L.

The audio data does not necessarily need to be prepared in advance. They may be synthesized or generated each time based on some data or information.

Processing by this program may be performed by the server device to which the user device (game device 5) is connected, or may be shared between the user device and the server device. This form is a form assumed when this program is implemented as a game program for online games.

Even when these other embodiments are adopted, the effects of this aspect can be achieved. Moreover, it is also possible to combine this embodiment with other embodiments, or with other embodiments, as appropriate.

5 gaming device
55 Storage section
56 Control unit (computer)
561 Game progress department
562 Sound processing section
563 Detection part
C Virtual camera (reference point)

Claims (4)

The computer functions as a game progress section, sound processing section, and detection section,
The game progression unit causes the character to move in the virtual space in response to a user's operation,
A sound source that outputs a sound signal exists in the virtual space,
The detection unit detects whether or not an object intersects each of a plurality of virtual straight lines extending in different directions from a predetermined reference point in the virtual space,
The sound processing section includes:
reproducing an audio signal according to the sounding signal output by the sound source;
In the playback, the closer the distance between the object detected by the detection unit and the reference point, the lower the volume of late reverberation sound in the direction from the object to the reference point. The game program according to claim 1,
The detection unit defines a plurality of points evenly distributed on a spherical surface, and connects these points with the reference point to define a plurality of virtual straight lines. In the game program according to claim 1 or claim 2,
The sound processing unit reproduces a sound simulating firing a firearm as the sound produced by the sound source. A storage unit storing the program according to claim 1 or claim 2;
a control unit that executes the program;
A game device equipped with