JP3964884B2 - GAME PROGRAM AND GAME DEVICE - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a game program and a game apparatus capable of displaying an animation generated by rendering an object using a polygon model in real time.

  In this specification, “game software” is a concept including the program itself and various data associated with the program as necessary. However, “game software” does not necessarily have to be associated with data, but a program always exists. The “various data associated with each other” may be stored in a memory means such as a ROM disk together with a program, and further stored in an external memory means so as to be readable via communication mediating means such as the Internet. It may be.

    Conventionally, an animation using a polygon model used in a game is reproduced and displayed at a predetermined point in a game scenario using animation data obtained by rendering a single-frame / one-frame object in advance. It was.

    However, the amount of animation data is enormous, and in order to store it in a ROM disk with a limited capacity, the data capacity of animation used in the game must be limited. Therefore, a method for generating an animation by rendering an object using a polygon model in real time in a game can be considered.

    If such a technique is used, it will not only generate animation, but if it can be used effectively in the development of game scenarios, it will give new possibilities to game software and game devices. It becomes.

In view of the above-described circumstances, the present invention provides a game program and a game apparatus that can effectively use a technique for generating an animation by rendering an object using a polygon model in real time in a game scenario. It is intended to do.

The invention of claim 1 provides a computer,
An operation character that can be operated by a player via a controller in a three-dimensional virtual space and a computer character that cannot be operated by the player and whose behavior is controlled by a computer CPU based on a character action program are modeled from a plurality of polygons. Character placement means for placing as a placed object ,
Scenario development means for developing a predetermined scenario by a character composed of the operation character and the computer character,
Computer character action control means for controlling the action of the computer character in a field in a three-dimensional virtual space based on an action action command stored in the action program;
Operation character control means for causing the operation character to act on the field in accordance with the operation of the controller;
An operation character operation prohibiting means for disabling operation of the operation character via the controller by the player for a predetermined time when the scenario developed by the scenario development means reaches a specific time in the scenario;
Is a game program to function as
The game program further includes a computer in a state where the operation of the operation character via the controller is disabled by the operation character operation prohibiting unit.
For the operation character, an operation character action program created for the operation character in advance is read, and the action character's action on the field is controlled based on the operation character action action command defined in the action program. Operation character action control means,
The operation character operated based on the operation program for the operation character, and event execution means for executing a predetermined event on the field by the computer character,
Virtual camera setting means for setting the position of the virtual camera (33) for acquiring images of the operation character and the computer character object to a first position (ST) away from the operation character in the three-dimensional virtual space ;
Image acquisition and display means for rendering an object of the operation character and the computer character with a virtual camera and displaying a series of images including the operation character and the computer character on a monitor;
Means for outputting a specific action execution signal when the operation character performs a specific action based on the action character action program;
Monitoring means for monitoring by the specific action execution signal whether or not the operation character has performed the specific action;
Viewpoint switching permission means for permitting input of a viewpoint switching signal from the controller when the specific action execution signal is output and it is determined that the operation character has performed the specific action;
When a viewpoint switching signal is input from the controller, the position of the virtual camera is switched from the first position (ST) to a second position (VP) corresponding to the viewpoint position of the operation character. , Viewpoint position changing means,
Action end determination means for determining whether or not the specific action by the operation character has ended;
Viewpoint switching prohibiting means for disabling viewpoint switching by the controller when it is determined that the specific action by the operation character has been completed;
Camera position return means for forcibly returning the position of the virtual camera to the first position at the time when the viewpoint switching by the controller becomes impossible;
Is configured as a game program.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the game program further includes the computer.
When the position of the virtual camera is switched from the first position to the second position, the focal length (f) of the virtual camera is larger than the first position, and the viewing angles (α, β) Virtual camera lens switching means, which is set to be smaller than the first position ,
It is configured to function as .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an operation character that can be operated by a player via a controller in a three-dimensional virtual space, and a computer character that cannot be operated by the player, and that the CPU of the computer controls the action based on a character action program. Character placement means for placing as a modeled object from a plurality of polygons,
Scenario development means for developing a predetermined scenario by a character composed of the operation character and the computer character,
Computer character action control means for controlling the action of the computer character in a field in a three-dimensional virtual space based on an action action command stored in the action program;
Operation character control means for causing the operation character to act on the field in accordance with the operation of the controller;
An operation character operation prohibiting means for disabling operation of the operation character via the controller by the player for a predetermined time when the scenario developed by the scenario development means reaches a specific time in the scenario;
In a state where the operation character operation prohibiting means disables operation of the operation character via the controller, the operation character action program created in advance for the operation character is read out for the operation character, and the action program is stored in the action program. An operation character action control means for controlling an action on the field of the operation character based on a specified action action command for the operation character;
The operation character operated by the operation character operation program for the operation character and the computer character in a state in which the operation character operation prohibition unit has disabled the operation of the operation character via the controller. Event execution means to be executed above,
The position of the virtual camera that acquires the image of the object of the operation character and the computer character in the state in which the operation character operation prohibition unit is disabled by the operation character operation prohibiting unit in the three-dimensional virtual space. Virtual camera setting means for setting a first position away from the operation character;
A series of images composed of an operation character and a computer character by rendering the operation character and the computer character object with a virtual camera in a state in which the operation character operation cannot be operated via the controller by the operation character operation prohibiting unit. Image acquisition and display means for displaying on a monitor,
A specific action is executed when the operation character performs a specific action based on the action character action program in a state in which the operation character operation prohibition unit cannot operate the operation character via the controller. Means for outputting a signal;
Monitoring means for monitoring, by the specific action execution signal, whether or not the operation character has performed the specific action in a state where the operation of the operation character via the controller is disabled by the operation character operation prohibiting means. ,
When it is determined by the operation character operation prohibiting means that the specific action execution signal is output in a state in which the operation of the operation character via the controller is disabled, and the operation character has performed the specific action A viewpoint switching permission means for allowing input of a viewpoint switching signal from the controller,
The position of the virtual camera is changed to the first position when a viewpoint switching signal is input from the controller in a state in which the operation character operation prohibition unit cannot operate the operation character via the controller. A viewpoint position changing means for switching to a second position corresponding to the viewpoint position of the operation character.
An action end determination means for determining whether or not the specific action by the operation character has ended in a state where the operation of the operation character via the controller is disabled by the operation character operation prohibiting means;
When the operation character operation prohibiting means determines that the specific action by the operation character has been completed in a state where the operation of the operation character via the controller is disabled, the viewpoint cannot be switched by the controller. Viewpoint switching prohibition means,
The position of the virtual camera is changed to the position of the first virtual camera when the controller cannot change the viewpoint while the operation character operation prohibiting unit cannot operate the operation character via the controller. Camera position return means for forcibly returning to the position of
It is comprised as a game device characterized by having .

According to the first and third aspects of the present invention, when a viewpoint switching signal is input from the controller during movie control in which the operation of the operation character by the player is disabled, the operation character is moved from the first position away from the operation character. Since the image is switched to the second position corresponding to the viewpoint position, the images (IMG1M, IMG2) acquired in real time by the virtual camera (33) can be switched freely between the objective viewpoint and the subjective viewpoint by the player. Become.

    Thus, even when the object of the operation character (30A) and the computer character (30B) is rendered by the virtual camera (33) in real time to generate an animation, the viewpoint of the virtual camera (33) is objectively determined by the player's will. Since it is possible to switch between the viewpoint and the subjective viewpoint, such a viewpoint switching operation can be effectively used in the game scenario.

    According to the second aspect of the invention, since the lens of the virtual camera at the subjective viewpoint is switched to the telephoto lens, the player can easily recognize that it is the subjective viewpoint by acquiring an enlarged image of the object. Production is possible.

Furthermore, the inventions of claims 1 and 3 can correspond to the specific action of the operating character during movie control and the switching of the viewpoint, so that the player switches the viewpoint when the operating character performs the specific action. Thus, the player can obtain a feeling as if he / she is watching the game world with his / her eyes through the operation character, and can easily give a sense of unity between the player and the operation character.

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

  FIG. 1 is a control block diagram showing an example of a game machine to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of viewpoint positions of characters and virtual cameras on the field, and FIG. 3 is an image acquired from an objective viewpoint. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image acquired from a subjective viewpoint, and FIG. 5 is a control flowchart illustrating an example of viewpoint switching control.

    As shown in FIG. 1, the game apparatus 20 executes a predetermined game according to a game program such as an adventure game recorded on a ROM disk 15 as a recording medium. The game device 20 includes a CPU 1 mainly composed of a microprocessor, a ROM 2 and a RAM 3 as main storage devices for the CPU 1, an image processing device 4 and a sound processing device 6, and buffers 5 and 7 for these devices. And a ROM disk reader 8. In the ROM 2, an operating system is written as a program necessary for overall operation control of the game machine. In the RAM 3, a game program and data read from the ROM disk 15 as a storage medium are written as necessary. The image processing device 4 receives the image data from the CPU 1 and draws the game screen on the frame buffer 5, converts the drawn image data into a predetermined video reproduction signal, and outputs it to the monitor 9 at a predetermined timing. . The sound processing device 6 reproduces data such as voice and musical sound, sound source data, etc. read from the ROM disk 15 and recorded in the sound buffer 7 and outputs them from the speaker 10. The ROM disk reader 8 reads a program or data recorded on the ROM disk 15 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 1 and outputs a signal corresponding to the read content. The ROM disk 15 stores programs and data necessary for game execution. The monitor 9 generally uses a home television receiver, and the speaker 10 generally uses a built-in speaker of the television receiver.

    Further, a communication control device 11 is connected to the CPU 1 via a bus 14, and a controller 12 and an auxiliary storage device 13 as input devices are detachably connected to the device 11 via appropriate connection ports. The controller 12 functions as an input device, and is provided with operation members such as operation keys for accepting operations by the player. The communication control device 11 scans the operation state of the controller 12 at a constant cycle (for example, 1/60 seconds), and outputs a signal corresponding to the scanning result to the CPU 1. The CPU 1 determines the operation state of the controller 12 based on the signal. A plurality of controllers 12 and auxiliary storage devices 13 can be connected to the communication control device 11 in parallel.

    In the above configuration, the other components excluding the monitor 9, the speaker 10, the controller 12, the ROM disk 15, and the auxiliary storage device 13 are integrally accommodated in a predetermined housing to constitute the game machine body 16. The game machine body 16 functions as a computer.

    Stored on the ROM disk 15 is game software GPR such as an action game, a role-playing game, or an adventure game, in which the game progresses according to a predetermined scenario.

    In the game apparatus 20, when a predetermined initialization operation (for example, a power-on operation) is performed, the CPU 1 first executes a predetermined initialization process according to the program in the ROM 2. When the initialization is completed, the CPU 1 starts reading the game software GPR stored on the ROM disk 15, and starts the game process according to the program. When the player performs a predetermined game start operation on the controller 12 which is an input device, the CPU 1 starts various processes necessary for executing the game according to the procedure of the game program GPR based on the instruction.

    Thereafter, the game apparatus 20 performs a predetermined process according to the read game software GPR, performs display control of an image displayed on the monitor 9, and performs progress control of a predetermined scenario.

    In the game device 20 having the above-described configuration, games of various genres can be played on the screen of the display 9 by loading the program recorded on the ROM disk 15 into the RAM 3 and executing it by the CPU 1.

  Note that, as an example of the computer that causes the game software according to the present invention to function, the game apparatus 20 as a home game machine has been described as an example. However, the game apparatus 20 may be a so-called portable game machine. In addition to a device dedicated to a game, it may be a device capable of playing back general music and video recording media, and is not limited to this, and as a computer, for example, a personal computer, a mobile phone, etc., that is, game software Any device may be used as long as it can function.

  As long as various programs and various data constituting the game software GPR are freely readable by the program function of the game software GPR, the storage mode is arbitrary, as in this embodiment. In addition to being stored in the ROM disk 15 together with the game software GPR program, the game software GPR is stored in an external memory means such as a server independent of the game machine 1 and is read by a read program provided in the game software GPR. Alternatively, the information may be downloaded to a memory such as the RAM 3 via communication mediating means such as the Internet.

    As shown in FIG. 2, the game by the game software GPR is operated by the player via the controller 12 on the field FLD set in the three-dimensional virtual space 31 generated by the CPU 1 in the RAM 3 by the game software GPR. It is set as a so-called adventure game in which a free character 30 moves and searches for various items to solve a mystery. The character 30 is composed of a three-dimensional polygon model composed of a large number of polygons.

    In the game software GPR shown in FIG. 1, only software elements related to the present invention constituting the game software GPR are described, and the game software GPR describes in FIG. In addition to the above, various programs and data necessary for executing a game using the game software GPR are stored.

    The game scenario is developed based on the scenario development program SDP of the game software GPR. The character 30 on the field FLD includes an operation character 30A that can be operated and acted by the player via the controller 12, and a player. The computer character 30B is set in which the computer (CPU1) controls the action based on the character action program CAP constituting the game software GPR. These characters are arranged on the field FLD set in the three-dimensional virtual space 31 via the CPU 1 by the character arrangement program CDP constituting the game software GPR based on an instruction from the scenario development program SDP. The computer character 30B is controlled by the character action program CAP to perform a predetermined action on the field FLD via the CPU 1 based on an instruction from the scenario development program SDP.

    For example, in the field FLD in the three-dimensional virtual space 31 generated in the RAM 3 shown in FIG. 2, the operation character 30A that the player operates via the controller 12 is arranged on the left side in the figure, On the right side of the figure, a computer character 30B whose action is controlled via the CPU 1 by a character action program CAP constituting the game software GPR is arranged. The character action program CAP stores an action action command for the computer character 30B, and the action action on the field FLD of the computer character is controlled based on the action action command. Reference numeral 32 denotes a tree or grass tree object composed of polygons.

    During the game, the scenario development program SDP develops a predetermined scenario via the CPU 1, but at a specific point in the scenario, the computer character 30B is used to smoothly and effectively produce the scenario. Not only the operation character 30A that can be operated by the player via the controller 12, but also the operation by the operation character action program OCP prepared and set in advance in the game software GPR is prohibited. May control behavior. Then, by rendering the object of the character 30 in such a state with a virtual camera, a series of images composed of the operation character 30A and the computer character 30B can be represented on the monitor 9 as if it were a movie. is there. Hereinafter, such control in the game by the scenario development program SDP is referred to as “movie control” in this specification.

    As already described, during the movie control, the operation control command for the operation character 30A from the player through the controller 12 is ignored by the command from the scenario development program SDP, and the operation character 30A is ignored. The operation is controlled to be impossible. Further, during movie control, the action character 30A on the field FLD is game software created for the operation character 30A in advance for the movie control via the CPU 1 in accordance with a command from the scenario development program SDP. The action character action program OCP constituting the wear GPR is read, and the action of the operation character 30A on the field FLD is controlled based on the action action command defined in the action character action program OCP (FIG. 5). Step S1).

    Therefore, during the movie control, the action on the field FLD of the three-dimensional virtual space 31 of the operation character 30A and the other computer character 30B are both controlled via the CPU 1 by the action character action program OCP and the character action program CAP. Then, as shown in FIG. 2A, the operation character 30A and the computer character 30B can obtain a predetermined action program by acquiring an image with the virtual camera 33 arranged at a predetermined position in the three-dimensional virtual space 31. An animation in which the behavior is controlled by OCP and CAP can be displayed on the monitor 9.

    As a result, the scenario can be smoothly developed, and an effective presentation can be achieved without storing large-capacity animation image data in the ROM disk 15 or the like in advance.

    During the movie control by the scenario development program SDP, the virtual camera 33 is operated by the scenario development program SDP via the CPU 1, for example, as shown in FIG. It is arranged at the reference position ST set in the direction. In this case, the front clipping plane 33a and the projection plane 33c are arranged behind the operation character 30A, and the rear clipping plane 33b is set to the right side of the computer character 30B in the drawing, for example. In this state, the image projected on the projection surface 33c and displayed on the monitor 9, that is, the reference image IMG1 is as shown in FIG. 3, and the back surface of the operation character 30A is large, and the computer character 30B is far away. The image is displayed small. The reference image IMG1 is an image acquired from a so-called objective viewpoint that is different from the viewpoint that the operation character 30A is viewing on the field FLD (step S2 in FIG. 5).

    During the movie control, the scenario development program SDP reads the caption data LD corresponding to the currently generated reference image IMG1 from the caption file LTF constituting the game software GPR, and uses the caption data LD as a sprite or the like. It is mapped to a plate polygon and displayed as subtitles 35 at the bottom of the screen.

    The action character action program OCP that regulates and controls the action of the operation character 30A on the field FLD during the movie control includes, for example, looking into the binoculars 30a possessed by the operation character 30A and controlling the movement at a distance. The computer character 30 </ b> B may be prescribed to perform an action for monitoring.

    When the action character action program OCP executes a command to cause the operation character 30A to perform a specific action such as an action of looking through the binoculars 30a via the CPU 1, the action character action program OCP via the CPU 1 A specific action execution signal for notifying that the operating character has performed a specific action is output to the scenario development program SDP. The specific action is not limited to the action of looking through the binoculars 30a, but may be any action defined by the action character action program OCP for the action character 30A.

    On the other hand, the scenario development program SDP monitors whether or not the operation character 30A has executed a specific action by using a specific action execution signal (step S3 in FIG. 5), and the specific action execution signal is input to the scenario development program SDP. Then, the scenario development program SDP displays the viewpoint switching display VES at an appropriate position of the reference image IMG1 displayed on the monitor 9 during movie control via the CPU 1 and the image processing apparatus 4, and the viewpoint is displayed to the player. Is switched (step S4 in FIG. 5). That is, the input of a viewpoint switching command from the player to the CPU 1 via the controller 12 is permitted. This viewpoint switching display VES informs the player that the viewpoint of the virtual camera 33 can be switched, and as shown in FIG. 3, the viewpoint of the current virtual camera 33 is the scenario development program. The default value by SDP, that is, “OFF” indicating that the objective viewpoint that is the reference position ST is set is displayed.

    When the viewpoint switching display VES is displayed on the monitor 9, the player is not the reference image IMG1 currently displayed on the monitor 9, but an image from another predetermined viewpoint defined in the scenario development program SDP, in this case, When it is desired to view the viewpoint of the operation character 30A, that is, the specific viewpoint image that the operation character 30A is viewing from the binoculars 30a, the controller 12 is operated to output a predetermined viewpoint switching signal to the CPU 1. When a viewpoint switching signal is input from the controller 12 (Yes in step S5 in FIG. 5), the scenario development program SDP has an objective in which the viewpoint of the virtual camera 33 is placed at the reference position ST so far via the CPU 1. From the viewpoint, the viewpoint position VP of the operation character 30A on the field FLD is switched to the subjective viewpoint, that is, the subjective viewpoint, and the Z-axis of the viewpoint coordinate is further viewed by the operation character 30A with the binoculars 30a by the operation character action program OCP (Step S6 in FIG. 5).

    At the same time, the viewing angle of the virtual camera 33 is set to an angle β smaller than the angle α when the reference image IMG1 is acquired for both the horizontal viewing angle and the vertical viewing angle (only the vertical viewing angle is displayed in FIG. Similarly, the distance between the projection surface 33c and the virtual camera 33, that is, the focal length f is increased, and the lens of the virtual camera 33 is changed to a telephoto lens rather than the lens when the reference image IMG1 is acquired (see FIG. 5 step S7). In FIG. 2B, since the drawing becomes complicated, the virtual camera 33 is not shown, but is set to a position corresponding to the viewpoint position VP of the operation character 30A (a position that matches the viewpoint of the operation character 30A). ing.

    Thus, when the viewpoint of the virtual camera 33 is moved from the objective viewpoint of the reference position ST to the subjective viewpoint of the viewpoint position VP of the operation character 30A, the scenario development program SDP displays an image in the Z-axis direction of the viewpoint coordinates from the viewpoint position VP. Is projected onto the projection surface 33c to obtain an image to be displayed on the monitor 9, that is, a specific viewpoint image (step S8 in FIG. 5). Since this image is a telephoto lens with the focal length f of the virtual camera 33 being increased, the object of the distant computer character 30B is acquired as an enlarged enlarged image IMG2 as shown in FIG. The At the same time, the scenario development program SDP changes the viewpoint switching display VES displayed on the monitor 9 from “OFF” indicating image acquisition from the objective viewpoint to “ON” indicating image acquisition from the subjective viewpoint. "Is displayed.

    The scenario development program SDP reads the subtitle 35 corresponding to the scenario development from the subtitle file LTF and displays it even if the viewpoint is changed from the objective viewpoint to the subjective viewpoint. On the field FLD, the operation character 30A and the computer character 30B are controlled by the predetermined operation character action program OCP and the character action program CAP to behave through the CPU 1 regardless of the viewpoint change of the virtual camera 33. Therefore, the display content of the subtitle 35 does not become inappropriate content due to a change in viewpoint.

    It should be noted that while the viewpoint switching display VES is displayed on the monitor 9, the viewpoint of the virtual camera 33 can be switched by the scenario development program SDP. Therefore, as shown in FIG. When the virtual camera 33 is acquiring the image IMG2 and wants to view the image IMG1 from the reference position ST again, the controller 12 is operated to output a predetermined viewpoint switching signal to the CPU1. When a viewpoint switching signal is input from the controller 12 (Yes in step S9 in FIG. 5), the scenario development program SDP places the viewpoint of the virtual camera 33 at the viewpoint position VP of the operation character 30A until then through the CPU 1. From the determined subjective viewpoint, a reference position ST arranged behind the operation character 30A on the field FLD, that is, an objective viewpoint is set, and the Z axis of the viewpoint coordinates is set in a direction preset by the scenario development program SDP. Calculation to be set is performed (step S10 in FIG. 5).

    At the same time, the viewing angle of the virtual camera 33 is set to an angle α larger than the angle β when the enlarged image IMG2 is acquired for both the horizontal viewing angle and the vertical viewing angle (only the vertical viewing angle is displayed in FIG. Similarly, the distance between the projection surface 33c and the virtual camera 33, that is, the focal length f is reduced as shown in FIG. 2A, and the lens of the virtual camera 33 is used to obtain the enlarged image IMG2. The lens is changed to a standard (or wide angle) lens (step S11 in FIG. 5).

    Then, as shown in FIG. 2A, the virtual camera 33 is disposed at the reference position ST set behind the operation character 30A, that is, on the left side in the drawing, and the front clipping surface 33a and the projection surface 33c are operated. Arranged behind character 30A, rear clipping surface 33b is set to the right of computer character 30B in the figure. In this state, by acquiring an image on the projection surface 33c, the image displayed on the monitor 9 becomes a standard image IMG1 as shown in FIG. 3, the back of the operation character 30A is large, and the computer character is far away. 30B is a small displayed image.

    At this time, the scenario development program SDP displays the viewpoint switching display VES displayed on the monitor 9 via the CPU 1 from “ON” indicating image acquisition from the subjective viewpoint until then, from the objective viewpoint. The display is switched to “OFF”.

    In this way, with respect to the operation character 30A and the computer character 30B in a state where the control command for instructing the operation character 30A from the player via the controller 12 is ignored, that is, the operation of the operation character 30A by the player is prohibited. The object executes an action defined by the action character action program OCP and the character action program CAP on the field FLD of the three-dimensional virtual space 31. Thus, movie control for a predetermined time is performed, a predetermined event is executed on the field FLD, and a predetermined scenario is developed.

    During the movie control, when the operating character 30A takes an eye off the binoculars 30a and moves to the next action, the CPU 1 from the action program for the operating character OCP when the operating character 30A takes an eye off the binoculars 30a. The output of the specific action execution signal that has been output via is stopped, and the end of the specific action by the operation character 30A is output to the scenario development program SDP. In response, the scenario development program SDP determines that the specific action of the operation character 30A has been completed via the CPU 1 (Yes in step S12 in FIG. 5), and switches the viewpoint that has been displayed on the monitor 9 until then. The display VES is stopped, and the player is notified that the viewpoint cannot be changed by the player (step S13 in FIG. 5).

    When the viewpoint switching display VES is no longer displayed, the scenario development program SDP assumes that the virtual camera 33 has been placed via the CPU 1 until the virtual camera 33 has been placed in either the subjective viewpoint or the objective viewpoint. In addition, control is performed so that the reference position ST is forcibly returned to the objective viewpoint and only the operation of acquiring the reference image IMG1 is performed from the position. Thus, by forcibly moving the placement position of the virtual camera 33 from the subjective viewpoint to the objective viewpoint, the image acquired by the virtual camera 33 becomes an objective video including the object of the operation character 30A. .

    Thus, even if the operating character 30A is moved on the field FLD by the operating character action program OCP, the player can see the moving state of the operating character 30A from an objective viewpoint outside the operating character 30A as a video. It is possible to avoid a state that is extremely unnatural in terms of the operation feeling of the game, in which the operation character 30A with the viewpoint is controlled to move by the operation character action program OCP regardless of the player's will. Thereby, it is possible to smoothly start the operation character 30 </ b> A in accordance with the command of the operation character action program OCP, which is not operated by the player.

    In the above embodiment, the CPU 1 constitutes a game control device, and various means of the game control device are constituted by a combination of the CPU 1 and specific software. At least a part of these means is a logic circuit. It may be replaced. The present invention is not limited to a home game system, and may be configured as a game system of various scales.

    The present invention can be used as an electronic game device using a computer and entertainment software to be executed by the computer.

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram showing an example of a game machine to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a character on a field and a viewpoint position of a virtual camera. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image acquired from an objective viewpoint. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image acquired from a subjective viewpoint. FIG. 5 is a control flowchart illustrating an example of viewpoint switching control.

Explanation of symbols

1 …… CPU
3. Memory (RAM)
16 Computer 20 Game device 30 A Operation character 30 B Computer character 31 Three-dimensional virtual space 33 Virtual camera ST First position (reference position)
VP …… Second position (viewpoint position)
α, β: Viewing angle f: Focal length IMG1, IMG2: Image OCP, CAP: Action program

Claims (3)

Computer
An operation character that can be operated by a player via a controller in a three-dimensional virtual space and a computer character that cannot be operated by the player and whose behavior is controlled by a computer CPU based on a character action program are modeled from a plurality of polygons. Character placement means for placing as a placed object ,
Scenario development means for developing a predetermined scenario by a character composed of the operation character and the computer character,
Computer character action control means for controlling the action of the computer character in a field in a three-dimensional virtual space based on an action action command stored in the action program;
Operation character control means for causing the operation character to act on the field in accordance with the operation of the controller;
An operation character operation prohibiting means for disabling operation of the operation character via the controller by the player for a predetermined time when the scenario developed by the scenario development means reaches a specific time in the scenario;
Is a game program to function as
The game program further includes a computer in a state where the operation of the operation character via the controller is disabled by the operation character operation prohibiting unit.
For the operation character, an operation character action program created for the operation character in advance is read, and the action character's action on the field is controlled based on the operation character action action command defined in the action program. Operation character action control means,
The operation character operated based on the operation program for the operation character, and event execution means for executing a predetermined event on the field by the computer character,
Virtual camera setting means for setting a position of a virtual camera for acquiring images of the object of the operation character and the computer character to a first position away from the operation character in the three-dimensional virtual space;
Image acquisition and display means for rendering an object of the operation character and the computer character with a virtual camera and displaying a series of images including the operation character and the computer character on a monitor;
Means for outputting a specific action execution signal when the operation character performs a specific action based on the action character action program;
Monitoring means for monitoring by the specific action execution signal whether or not the operation character has performed the specific action;
Viewpoint switching permission means for permitting input of a viewpoint switching signal from the controller when the specific action execution signal is output and it is determined that the operation character has performed the specific action;
Viewpoint position changing means for switching the position of the virtual camera from the first position to a second position corresponding to the viewpoint position of the operation character when a viewpoint switching signal is input from the controller ;
Action end determination means for determining whether or not the specific action by the operation character has ended;
Viewpoint switching prohibiting means for disabling viewpoint switching by the controller when it is determined that the specific action by the operation character has been completed;
Camera position return means for forcibly returning the position of the virtual camera to the first position at the time when the viewpoint switching by the controller becomes impossible;
Game program to function as . The game program further includes the computer,
When the position of the virtual camera is switched from the first position to the second position, the focal length of the virtual camera is larger than the first position, and the viewing angle is larger than the first position. Virtual camera lens switching means, which is set to be small
The game program according to claim 1 for functioning as: An operation character that can be operated by a player via a controller in a three-dimensional virtual space and a computer character that cannot be operated by the player and whose behavior is controlled by a computer CPU based on a character action program are modeled from a plurality of polygons. Character placement means for placing as a placed object,
Scenario development means for developing a predetermined scenario by a character composed of the operation character and the computer character,
Computer character action control means for controlling the action of the computer character in a field in a three-dimensional virtual space based on an action action command stored in the action program;
Operation character control means for causing the operation character to act on the field in accordance with the operation of the controller;
An operation character operation prohibiting means for disabling operation of the operation character via the controller by the player for a predetermined time when the scenario developed by the scenario development means reaches a specific time in the scenario;
In a state where the operation character operation prohibiting means disables operation of the operation character via the controller, the operation character action program created in advance for the operation character is read out for the operation character, and the action program is stored in the action program. An operation character action control means for controlling an action on the field of the operation character based on a specified action action command for the operation character;
The operation character operated by the operation character operation program for the operation character and the computer character in a state in which the operation character operation prohibition unit has disabled the operation of the operation character via the controller. Event execution means to be executed above,
The position of the virtual camera that acquires the image of the object of the operation character and the computer character in the state in which the operation character operation prohibition unit is disabled by the operation character operation prohibiting unit in the three-dimensional virtual space. Virtual camera setting means for setting a first position away from the operation character;
A series of images composed of an operation character and a computer character by rendering the operation character and the computer character object with a virtual camera in a state in which the operation character operation cannot be operated via the controller by the operation character operation prohibiting unit. Image acquisition and display means for displaying on a monitor,
A specific action is executed when the operation character performs a specific action based on the action character action program in a state in which the operation character operation prohibition unit cannot operate the operation character via the controller. Means for outputting a signal;
Monitoring means for monitoring, by the specific action execution signal, whether or not the operation character has performed the specific action in a state where the operation of the operation character via the controller is disabled by the operation character operation prohibiting means. ,
When it is determined by the operation character operation prohibiting means that the specific action execution signal is output in a state in which the operation of the operation character via the controller is disabled, and the operation character has performed the specific action A viewpoint switching permission means for allowing input of a viewpoint switching signal from the controller,
The position of the virtual camera is changed to the first position when a viewpoint switching signal is input from the controller in a state in which the operation character operation prohibition unit cannot operate the operation character via the controller. A viewpoint position changing means for switching to a second position corresponding to the viewpoint position of the operation character.
An action end determination means for determining whether or not the specific action by the operation character has ended in a state where the operation of the operation character via the controller is disabled by the operation character operation prohibiting means;
When the operation character operation prohibiting means determines that the specific action by the operation character has been completed in a state where the operation of the operation character via the controller is disabled, the viewpoint cannot be switched by the controller. Viewpoint switching prohibition means,
The position of the virtual camera is changed to the position of the first virtual camera when the controller cannot change the viewpoint while the operation character operation prohibiting unit cannot operate the operation character via the controller. Camera position return means for forcibly returning to the position of
Game device characterized by having

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