JP5073520B2 - Program and computer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a program that causes a computer to function as an image processing device or a game device that performs three-dimensional image processing, and a computer that can execute the program.

  In recent years, with the development of computer graphics technology, in the field of video games, so-called 3D games, in which objects such as buildings and characters are placed in a three-dimensional virtual space and characters are moved and operated in the objects, are being developed. It has become mainstream. In such a 3D game, various types of image processing such as coordinate conversion for converting the three-dimensional coordinates of each object into two-dimensional coordinates are always performed. As a result of the image processing, the video in the three-dimensional virtual space viewed from the set viewpoint (virtual camera) is displayed on the display screen.

  By the way, in a 3D game, an object is usually formed three-dimensionally, and the number of vertices of polygons constituting the object inevitably increases. Therefore, the image processing described above is a heavy load on the computer constituting the game device. Yes. In addition, in order to enhance the sense of reality, the number of polygon vertices of an object has been increasing in recent years, and thus the load on the computer is increasing.

  In recent years, online games in which a plurality of terminal devices and server devices are connected via the Internet and the same game progress is simultaneously performed in each terminal device have become popular. In an online game, since the player character of each terminal device exists in a common three-dimensional virtual space, the speed of image processing is further required in each terminal device.

In order to reduce such a load, for example, it has been proposed to use a planar object as an object (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Non-Patent Document 1). This planar object is formed by a collection of polygons with no thickness, and the number of vertices of the polygon is smaller than that of a three-dimensional object (that is, the data amount is small). . Therefore, by using this, the load on the computer is reduced, and the speed of image processing can be increased.
JP 2000-2000361 A Edited by Ito Gavin, “Parappa Rapper Official Guide Book”, Futabasha, July 30, 1998, p. 4-13, p. 36-47,

  However, when a planar object is arranged in the three-dimensional virtual space, depending on the positional relationship between the virtual camera and the planar object, a situation may occur in which it is difficult for an observer to visually recognize the object. In particular, when viewing the 3D virtual space from above, if the axis connecting the viewpoint of the virtual camera to the object is perpendicular to the normal of the planar object, there is no theoretical thickness in the planar object. The object may disappear from the screen.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a program and a computer that can solve the above-described problems and suppress the occurrence of a situation in which an object in a virtual three-dimensional space is difficult to be visually recognized while suppressing an increase in processing load in image processing. There is to do.

In order to achieve the above object, a program according to the present invention is a program for realizing, by a computer, an image processing apparatus for displaying an image in a three-dimensional virtual space obtained through a virtual camera on a two-dimensional screen. And
The computer includes an object forming unit that forms a planar object, a layout unit that arranges the object in the three-dimensional virtual space, and a positional relationship in which the object and the virtual camera are set. And a position determination unit that determines whether the object is in a position, and a correction unit that corrects the orientation of the object when it is determined that the position determination unit has a set positional relationship.

  According to the above feature, when the positional relationship between the virtual camera and the planar object makes it difficult for the observer to visually recognize the object, the orientation of the object is corrected, and the positional relationship is corrected. According to the present invention, the use of a planar object reduces the processing load of image processing, and the occurrence of a situation in which the object becomes difficult to be visually recognized is suppressed.

  In the present invention, since the shape of the object is a plane, when a humanoid character is constituted by these objects, the clothes worn by the character are also a plane. Therefore, the creation and setting of the texture image constituting the clothing is easier than the case of clothing worn by a three-dimensional character.

  Further, in the program according to the present invention, the object forming unit forms the object by pasting a texture image on one surface of an assembly of planar polygons, and the position determining unit When the space is viewed from above, an angle formed between an axis connecting the viewpoint of the virtual camera to the object and a normal line of one surface of the polygon aggregate is specified, and the angle is set. It is good also as a mode (1st mode) which judges with it being in a set position relation when it is in a range.

  In the first aspect, the correction unit further changes the orientation of the object so that the amount of change in the normal angle when the three-dimensional virtual space is viewed from above becomes a set value. It is good to change. In this case, it is possible to ensure visual recognition of the object in the virtual three-dimensional space by the observer and to prevent the movement of the character from becoming unnatural.

  Furthermore, in the program according to the present invention, the object forming unit forms a second object having the same outer shape as the object, and the layout unit sets the object and the second object. It is good also as an aspect (2nd aspect) arrange | positioned so that both may be placed and it may become mutually parallel in a surface direction. According to the second aspect, one character can be formed by two planar objects, and a stereoscopic effect can be imparted to the character. Also, the stereoscopic effect is given without using a three-dimensional object, and the processing load does not increase.

  In the second aspect, the object forming unit forms the object and the second object by pasting a texture image on one surface of an assembly of planar polygons, and further includes a plurality of joints. A polygonal vertex coordinate of each of the object and the second object is set in advance so that the object and the second object operate simultaneously according to the operation of the skeleton model. Associated with the corresponding joint of the skeleton model, and the layout unit sets the positional relationship so that the object and the second object move together in the three-dimensional virtual space. It is preferable. In this case, the first object and the second object move at the same time or move together at the same time. For this reason, to the observer, it looks as if one character is moving or moving in the three-dimensional virtual space.

  In the second aspect, when the direction from the second object toward the object is the first direction, the object forming unit has a luminance of a surface on the first direction side of the second object. Preferably, the object and the second object are formed so as to be lower than the luminance of the surface on the first direction side of the object. In this case, the stereoscopic effect can be further enhanced and the stereoscopic effect can be further enhanced by displaying the first described object on the front side of the display screen rather than the second object.

  When the second object is formed, in the program according to the present invention, when the direction from the second object toward the object is the first direction, the object forming unit further has an outer shape of the object. Forming a third object having a surface on the first direction side that has the same outer shape as the object and having a lower luminance than the surface on the first direction side of the object; The third object may be arranged between the object and the second object so that the distance from the object becomes a set value in a state parallel to the object in the plane direction. good. In this case, due to the presence of the third object, the stereoscopic effect is more emphasized when the first described object is displayed on the near side of the display screen than the second object.

  When the third object is formed, in the program according to the present invention, when the direction opposite to the first direction is the second direction, the object forming unit further includes an outer shape of the object. And a fourth object having a surface on the second direction side that has a lower brightness than a surface on the second direction side of the second object, and the layout unit includes: With the fourth object parallel to the second object in the plane direction, the distance from the second object is set between the object and the third object. You may arrange in this way. In this case, due to the presence of the fourth object, the stereoscopic effect is more emphasized even when the second object is displayed closer to the display screen than the first described object.

  Further, when four objects are formed, the object forming unit pastes the texture image on one surface of the planar polygon aggregate to thereby form the object, the second object, and the third object. Forming an object and the fourth object, and further setting a skeleton model having a plurality of joints, and vertices of polygons of the object, the second object, the third object, and the fourth object, respectively Coordinates are associated in advance with the corresponding joints of the skeleton model so that the object, the second object, the third object, and the fourth object move simultaneously according to the movement of the skeleton model. The layout portion includes the object, the front Second object such that said third object and the fourth object moves within the three-dimensional virtual space together, preferably has set these positional relationships. By doing so, the four objects move at the same time at the same time or move together as a unit. For this reason, to the observer, it looks as if one character is moving or moving in the three-dimensional virtual space.

In order to achieve the above object, a computer according to the present invention includes a storage unit that stores the program of the present invention, a control unit that reads and executes the program from the storage unit,
Characterized in that it comprises a. Due to the above characteristics, if an image processing device or a game device is constructed using the computer according to the present invention, the image processing speed in these devices is improved, and at the same time, the occurrence of a situation in which an object in the virtual three-dimensional space becomes difficult to visually recognize occurs. Is suppressed.

  To achieve the above object, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention is an image processing apparatus for displaying an image in a three-dimensional virtual space obtained through a virtual camera on a two-dimensional screen, and forms a planar object. An object formation unit, a layout unit that arranges the object in the three-dimensional virtual space, a position determination unit that determines whether the positional relationship between the object and the virtual camera is a set positional relationship, A program comprising: a correction unit that corrects the orientation of the object when the position determination unit determines that the positional relationship is set.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image processing method according to the present invention is an image processing method for displaying a video in a three-dimensional virtual space obtained through a virtual camera on a two-dimensional screen. (B) the step of arranging the object in the three-dimensional virtual space, and (c) whether the positional relationship between the object and the virtual camera is a set positional relationship. And (d) correcting the orientation of the object when it is determined in the step (c) that it is in the set positional relationship.

  Furthermore, in order to achieve the above object, a computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention provides an image processing apparatus for displaying an image in a three-dimensional virtual space obtained through a virtual camera on a two-dimensional screen by a computer. A recording medium storing a program for realizing the program, wherein the program (a) forms a planar object in the computer, and (b) places the object in the three-dimensional virtual space. (C) determining whether the positional relationship between the object and the virtual camera is a set positional relationship; and (d) determining whether the positional relationship set in step (c) is A step of correcting the direction of the object when it is determined that the object is present.

  As described above, according to the program and the computer of the present invention, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a situation where it is difficult to visually recognize an object in the virtual three-dimensional space while suppressing an increase in processing load in image processing. .

(Embodiment)
Hereinafter, a program and a computer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The program in the present embodiment is a program that allows a computer to function as an image processing apparatus that performs three-dimensional image processing. The computer in this embodiment is a computer that can execute this program. First, the configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This image processing device constitutes a part of the game device. The program in this embodiment causes a computer to function as a game device.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing device and a game device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image processing apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 1 has a function of displaying an image in a three-dimensional virtual space (see FIG. 6) obtained through the virtual camera 23 (see FIG. 6) on a two-dimensional screen. In the present embodiment, the image processing apparatus 2 is provided in the game apparatus 1 and is used for displaying a game video.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the game apparatus 1 includes an input interface (I / F) 3, a control unit 4, a storage unit 5, and a reading device 6 in addition to the image processing device 2. The input interface 3 is connected to an input device (controller) 13 and receives an input of a signal output from the input device 13 in accordance with a player's operation. Specifically, the input interface 3 converts an analog signal output from the input device 13 into a digital signal, and outputs the obtained digital signal to the control unit 4.

  The storage unit 5 is a memory, a hard disk, or the like, and stores the program in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the program is provided in a state where it is recorded on a recording medium 12 such as a CD disk or a DVD disk. The control unit 4 operates the reading device 6 to read a program from the recording medium 12 and then stores it in the storage unit 5. Note that the program may be stored in the storage unit 5 via a network.

  The control unit 4 reads the program stored in the storage unit 5 and advances the game in accordance with the program instruction. Further, the control unit 4 calculates coordinates for movement and movement of the object in the three-dimensional virtual space based on the digital signal from the input interface 3. Examples of such coordinates include object coordinates (position information) in the three-dimensional virtual space, coordinates (vector information) indicating the moving direction, and the like.

  Further, when the object constitutes a character having a skeleton model (see FIG. 7), the control unit 4 also reads out motion information defined in advance in the program. In the motion information, the movement procedure of each joint constituting the skeleton model in the three-dimensional virtual space is defined, and the control unit 4 also calculates the coordinates of each joint based on the motion information. Furthermore, the control part 4 determines the contact between objects from the coordinate of each object.

  After performing various processes, the control unit 4 outputs information necessary for image processing by the image processing apparatus 2, for example, image data, position information, and vector information of the object to the image processing apparatus 2. In the present embodiment, the game apparatus 1 may not include the storage unit 5, and instead, the control unit 4 may read a program stored in a storage unit of an external computer.

  The image processing apparatus 2 includes an object forming unit 7, a layout unit 8, a position determination unit 9, a correction unit 10, and a calculation unit 11. The object forming unit 7 forms objects constituting various characters, buildings, items and the like. At this time, the object forming unit 7 can form various characters, buildings, items, and the like with planar objects instead of three-dimensional objects. In the present embodiment, anthropomorphized characters (for example, a character that becomes a player or a character that becomes a player of another game device connected online) are formed by planar objects.

  Object formation by the object forming unit 7 is performed based on data included in a program stored in the storage unit 5 or by processing this data. The layout unit 8 arranges each object formed by the object forming unit 7 at coordinates designated by the control unit 4 in a three-dimensional virtual space (game space: see FIG. 6) used in the game. Specific processing in the object forming unit 7 and the layout unit 8 will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  The position determination unit 9 determines whether the object formed by the object formation unit 7 and the virtual camera set in the game space are in the set positional relationship. In the present embodiment, the positional relationship that is the object of determination is set to a positional relationship that makes it difficult for an observer including the player to see the object.

  The positional relationship can be defined based on, for example, an angle formed between an axis connecting the viewpoint from the virtual camera to the object and the normal of the object when the three-dimensional virtual space is viewed from above. In addition, the positional relationship can be defined based on the ratio between the number of pixels of the texture image constituting the object and the number of pixels of the texture image displayed on the two-dimensional screen. Specific processing in the position determination unit 9 will be described later with reference to FIGS. 3, 7, and 8. In the present embodiment, the positional relationship defining method is not particularly limited.

  When the correction unit 10 determines that the position determination unit 9 has the set positional relationship, the correction unit 10 corrects the orientation of the object to be determined. In the present embodiment, the correction amount at this time is defined by the angle between the axis connecting the viewpoint of the virtual camera to the object and the normal of the object, and the ratio of the number of pixels of the texture image. Specific processing in the correction unit 10 will be described later with reference to FIGS. 3, 9, and 10.

  The calculation unit 11 performs rendering processing including coordinate conversion for converting the three-dimensional coordinates of each object into two-dimensional coordinates, clipping, hidden surface removal, and the like. As a result of the rendering process by the computing unit 11, a video (game video) of the game space obtained through the virtual camera (viewed from the set viewpoint) is obtained. When the arithmetic unit 11 outputs the image data of the game video to the external display device 11, the display device 11 displays the game video on the display screen.

  Next, processing performed in the game apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing performed in the game device according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, FIG. 1 is also taken into consideration as appropriate.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the start of the game is instructed from the player of the game apparatus 1, the control unit 4 first reads a game program stored in the storage unit 5 and sets a game space (step). S1). Subsequently, the control unit 4 sets the coordinates of each object arranged in the game space (step S2). Examples of the coordinates of the object at the beginning of the game include the coordinates at the end of the previous game, the initial coordinates set in the program, and the like.

  Next, the control unit 4 determines whether movement or movement is instructed for an object that can move or move (step S3). For example, the control unit 4 determines whether movement or movement is instructed from the input device 13 for the character object that is the player's alternation.

  As a result of the determination in step S3, if no instruction is given, the control unit 4 executes step S5. On the other hand, if an instruction is given as a result of the determination in step S3, the control unit 4 calculates the coordinates of the object in accordance with the instruction (step S4), and then executes step S5.

  In step S5, the control unit 4 performs various processes related to the game progress (game progress process). Examples of the game progress process include determination of contact between a character object and a building or figurine object, determination of overlap between a character object and an item object, and the like. Thereafter, the control unit 4 outputs image data, position information (coordinates), and the like of each object to the image processing apparatus 2.

  When various types of information are output from the control unit 4, the image processing apparatus 2 performs image processing based on the information (step S6), and generates image data of the game video. Subsequently, the image processing device 2 outputs the image data generated in step S6 to the display device 11 (step S7). The image processing in step S6 will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  Thereafter, the control unit 4 determines whether or not the player gives an instruction to end the game via the input device 13 (step S8). And the control part 3 will complete | finish a game, when the completion | finish of a game is instruct | indicated, and when step S3 is not instruct | indicated, it will perform step S3 and after again.

  Here, the process (step S6 shown in FIG. 2) performed by the image processing apparatus 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing performed in the image processing according to the embodiment of the present invention, and specifically shows the processing in step S6 shown in FIG. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing an example of an object used in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4A shows an object corresponding to the front of the character, and FIG. 4B corresponds to the back of the character. Indicates an object. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a skeleton model for moving the object shown in FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the object illustrated in FIG. 4 is arranged in the three-dimensional virtual space. FIG. 7 is a view of an object and a virtual camera having a set positional relationship as viewed from above. FIG. 8 is a view of the object shown in FIG. 7 as seen from the virtual camera. FIG. 9 is a view of the state of the object shown in FIG. 7 corrected from above. FIG. 10 is a view of the object shown in FIG. 9 as seen from the virtual camera.

  As shown in FIG. 3, first, when information is input from the control unit 4, the object forming unit 7 forms an object (step S11). At this time, in the present embodiment, the object forming unit 7 forms a planar object in order to create a personified character (see FIG. 6). Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the object forming unit 7 forms an object (front object) 15 corresponding to the front of the character and an object (back object) 16 corresponding to the back of the character.

  The front object 15 and the back object 16 are formed by forming an aggregate (polygon model) of polygons 15a (16a) having no thickness and pasting the texture image 15b (16b) on one surface of the polygon model. It has been broken. In FIG. 4, the texture image 15b (16b) is hatched. The part where the texture image is not pasted is actually transparent.

  In addition, an aggregate of polygons 15a and 16a (polygon model) and data of texture images 15b and 16b are included in the game program and read from the storage unit 5. Furthermore, the outer shape of the texture image 15b and the outer shape of the texture image 16b are set to be the same. In this specification, “the same outer shape” means that the shapes of the outer edges of the pasted texture images are the same. The same is not limited to the case where they are completely the same, but may be a range in which the game observer recognizes that they are the same.

  Further, in the present embodiment, in step S11, the object forming unit 7 sets one skeleton model 17 for the two objects of the front object 15 and the back object 16, as shown in FIG. The skeleton model 17 includes a joint 19 and a plurality of bones 18 that connect the joints 19. The skeleton model 17 is also formed by the object forming unit 7 reading data included in the game program from the storage unit 5.

  In addition, the vertex coordinates of the polygon of each object are associated in advance with the corresponding joint 19 of the skeleton model 17. Therefore, the object forming unit 7 deforms the shapes of the objects 15 and 16 in accordance with the coordinates of each joint calculated by the control unit 4 based on the motion information as described above. Further, since the vertex coordinates of the associated polygons are weighted in advance for each corresponding joint 19, the object forming unit 7 performs the above deformation in consideration of this weighting.

  As a result of such processing, the positions of the polygons (see FIG. 4) of the objects 15 and 16 change, and the objects 15 and 16 move (deform) at the same time. Looks like it works. In the present embodiment, the object forming unit 7 also forms objects other than the front object 15 and the back object 16 in response to an instruction from the control unit 4.

  Next, the layout part 8 arrange | positions the front object 15 and the back object 16 in the position instruct | indicated by the control part 4 (step S12). At this time, the layout unit 8 performs the arrangement so that the surfaces on which the texture images are pasted are in opposite directions and are parallel to each other in the respective surface directions.

  The layout unit 8 sets the distance between the two as close to zero as possible. When the front object 15 and the back object 16 are moved, the two move together at the same time. Here, “arrange so as to be parallel” means that the normal directions of the planar polygons of the two objects 15 and 16 are parallel to each other, and further, both are overlapped in this normal direction. As such, it is arranged. It should be noted that the arrangement of the two may be such that the character constituted by these does not cause a sense of incongruity. Therefore, even when the normal directions of the two are not completely parallel, or when the projection plane of one object does not completely coincide with the other object, it is allowed as long as a sense of incongruity does not occur.

  Through the processing in steps S11 and S12, as shown in FIG. 6, the character 21 constituted by the front object 15 and the back object 16 is arranged in the game space 20. Further, since the front object 15 and the back object 16 move and move together in the game space, the observer recognizes that one character 21 exists.

  In FIG. 6, reference numeral 23 denotes a virtual camera, and reference numeral 24 denotes a visual axis of the virtual camera. Reference numeral 22 denotes a cell set in the game space 20. In the game space 20, the character 21 is set to move in units of cells 22, and the character 21 can move in eight directions A to H. The “visual axis” is an axis that connects the gazing point set in the game space 20 and the viewpoint of the virtual camera 23 set at a certain distance from the gazing point. In the game shown in FIG. 6, the gazing point is generally set on the character serving as the player's alternation or in the peripheral area (the back side of the character as viewed from the virtual camera).

  Next, when Steps S11 and S12 are completed, the position determination unit 9 determines whether or not the front object 15 and the back object 16 and the virtual camera 23 are in the set positional relationship (Step S13). In the present embodiment, the position determination unit 9 first, when viewing the game space 20 from above, the axis connecting the viewpoint of the virtual camera 23 to the control point set for the object, the front object 15 and the back object An angle θ formed by 16 normal lines 25 is detected (see FIG. 7).

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the visual axis 24 and the normal 25 are orthogonal and the angle θ is 90 degrees (when the traveling direction is the direction B or the direction F), the position determination unit 9 It is determined that there is a set positional relationship. As shown in FIG. 8, when the visual axis 24 and the normal line 25 are orthogonal, most of the character 21 constituted by the planar front object 15 and the back object 16 cannot be seen from the observer side. Because it ends up.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the position determination unit 9 can determine that the set positional relationship exists even when the angle θ is other than 90 degrees. This is because even if the angle θ is around 90 degrees, it is difficult for the observer to see the character 21.

  In the present embodiment, since the character 21 moves, there are actually a plurality of types having different directions as normals of the front object 15 and the back object 16. For this reason, the position determination unit 9 assumes a state where the character is not moving, that is, a state where the aggregate of the polygons 15a (16a) constituting the objects 15 and 16 is a plane (see FIG. 4). The normal at this time can be determined as the normal 25.

  The position determination unit 9 can also specify a part where the movements of the objects 15 and 16 are not performed, and determine the normal line of the polygon of this part as the normal line 25. 7 and 8, the normal line 25 matches the normal line in the character's body. The specification of the normal line by the position determination unit 9 can be performed based on vector information given to the objects 15 and 16, for example.

  The position determination unit 9 can also specify the angle θ from the area a of the texture images 15b (16b) of the objects 15 and 16 projected on the two-dimensional screen. In this case, the position determination unit 9 further obtains the area A of the texture image 15b (16b) when the objects 15 and 16 are directly opposed to the visual axis (θ = 0 degrees), and these are obtained by trigonometry. Each θ is calculated from the ratio (a / A).

  In addition, the position determination unit 9 has the number of pixels p of the texture images of the objects 15 and 16 projected on the two-dimensional screen instead of the angle θ and the objects 15 and 16 face the visual axis (θ = 0 degree), the number of pixels P of the texture image may be obtained. In this case, the position determination unit 9 determines whether the ratio (p / P) between the two is a set value or within a set range.

  As a result of the determination in step S13, if the position determination unit 9 determines that there is no set positional relationship, step S15 is executed. On the other hand, when the position determination unit 9 determines that the set positional relationship exists, step S14 is executed.

  In step S14, as shown in FIG. 9, the correction unit 10 corrects the orientations of the front object 15 and the back object 16. Specifically, the correction unit 10 rotates the front object 15 and the back object 16 with an arbitrary axis extending along the height direction of the game space 20 (an axis perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 9) as a rotation axis. As a result of the correction, the direction of the normal 25 and the traveling direction of the character 21 do not coincide with each other, but the state shown in FIG. 10 is obtained, and the disappeared portion of the character 21 (see FIG. 8) is displayed.

  In the example of FIG. 9, the rotation for correction is performed such that the angle θ is smaller than 90 degrees when viewed from the virtual camera 23 side (front side), but is not limited to this. The correction may be performed so that the angle θ is larger than 90 degrees.

  The correction amount by the correction unit 10 is not particularly limited as long as it is set so that the observer can visually recognize the character 21 and the movement of the character does not become unnatural. For example, if α is the amount of change in the angle of the normal 25 when the game space 20 is viewed from above, α is set in consideration of the above points.

  Thereafter, the calculation unit 9 performs a rendering process (step S15). As a result, a two-dimensional game image is obtained, and the image processing device 2 outputs the image data to the display device 11 and ends the processing.

  As described above, when steps S11 to S15 shown in FIG. 3 are executed, the game space 20 shown in FIG. 6 is projected from the viewpoint of the virtual camera 23 on the game screen. And the situation shown in FIG.7 and FIG.8 is avoided, and generation | occurrence | production of the situation where the character 21 (front object 15 and back object 16) becomes difficult to visually recognize by an observer is suppressed. Further, since the objects 15 and 16 are not three-dimensional objects that place a heavy burden on the arithmetic unit 9, the processing speed of the computer can be improved. According to the present embodiment, the occurrence of unnatural video is suppressed while suppressing an increase in processing load in image processing.

  In the present embodiment, the position determination process in step S13 and the object direction correction process in step S14 may be performed on characters other than the character that is the substitute for the player of the game apparatus 1. Examples of such a character include a character of another player in an online game and a character operated by a computer.

  In the above example, the determination in the process of step S13 is performed using the visual axis 24 (see FIG. 7) connecting the gazing point from the viewpoint of the virtual camera, but this embodiment is particularly limited to this example. It is not a thing. In the present embodiment, the determination in step S13 may be performed using an axis connecting the viewpoint of the virtual camera and the character. For example, an axis connecting from the viewpoint of the virtual camera to the coordinates (position information) of the character in the three-dimensional virtual space may be used. In addition, an axis connecting the viewpoint and a representative point set to perform the main control at the center or the center of gravity of the character may be used.

  In addition, when the step S13 is executed for a character other than the player's character, the axis described above can be used as the axis used for the determination. Note that since the gazing point is normally set on the character or on the deep side of the character when viewed from the virtual camera, the visual axis 24 is an axis connecting the viewpoint and the character.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the character 21 is constituted by the two objects 15 and 16, but for example, if the game is a case where shooting from the back side of the character is not performed, the character is only the front object 15. It may be formed by. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the character may be composed of three or more objects. This point will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the structure of a character formed by four objects from the front side. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the structure of a character formed by four objects from the back side. FIG. 13 is a side view showing a character composed of the objects shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a character composed of the objects shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, FIG. 14 (a) shows the character when viewed from the front side, and FIG. 14 (b) shows the character. Shown when viewed from the back.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the object forming unit 7 forms objects 26 and 24 having the same outer shape as the front object 15 in addition to the front object 15 and the back object 16 in step S11. You can also. The object 26 is formed by pasting a texture image similar to this to an aggregate of polygons similar to the case of the front object 15 (see FIG. 4A). The object 27 is formed by pasting a texture image similar to this to an aggregate of polygons similar to the case of the back object 16 (see FIG. 4B).

  However, the brightness of the texture image of the object 26 is set lower than the brightness of the texture image 15b of the front object 15. The object 26 has a surface with lower brightness than the surface of the front object 15 on the front direction side on the direction (front direction) from the back object 16 toward the front object 15. Therefore, as will be described later, the object 26 can be a shadow of the front object 15 (hereinafter, the object 26 is referred to as a “front shadow object 26”).

  Similarly, the brightness of the texture image of the object 27 is set lower than the brightness of the texture image 16 b of the back object 16. The object 27 has a surface whose luminance is lower than the surface of the back object 16 on the back direction side on the side opposite to the front direction (back direction). Therefore, the object 27 can be a shadow of the back object 16 (hereinafter, the object 27 is referred to as a “back shadow object 27”).

  As will be described later, the side where the texture image is pasted in the front object 15 and the front shadow object 26 and the side where the texture image is pasted in the back object 16 and the back shadow object 27 are opposite to each other. Become. For this reason, in the state of FIG. 11, the observer cannot actually visually recognize the back object 16 and the back shadow object 27, and these are displayed by broken lines. Similarly, in FIG. 12, actually, the observer cannot visually recognize the front object 15 and the front shadow object 26, and these are displayed by broken lines.

  The vertex coordinates of the front shadow object 26 and the back shadow object 27 are also associated with the corresponding joints 26 of the skeleton model 17 (see FIGS. 5 and 13) in advance. Therefore, when the joint of the skeleton model 17 is moved, in addition to the objects 15 and 16, the objects 26 and 27 are simultaneously moved (deformed).

  When the objects 26 and 27 are formed, the layout unit 8 also executes the arrangement of the objects 26 and 27 in step S12. At this time, the layout unit 8 further arranges the front shadow object 26 between the front object 15 and the back object 16 so that the front shadow object 26 is parallel to the front object in the plane direction (see FIG. 5 and FIG. 6). Further, the layout unit 8 arranges the back shadow object 27 between the front object 15 and the front shadow object 26 so that the back shadow object 27 is parallel to the back object 16 in the plane direction (FIG. 11). And FIG. 12).

  Further, the layout unit 8 causes the surface on which the texture image of the front shadow object 26 is pasted to face the front object 15, and the surface on which the texture image of the back shadow object 27 is pasted faces the front shadow object 26. In addition, the arrangement of the front shadow object 26 and the back shadow object 27 is executed.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the layout unit 8 sets the values of the distance L1 between the front object 15 and the front shadow object 26 and the distance L2 between the back object 16 and the back shadow object 27 as set values. The settings of the distances L1 and L2 may be performed by the control unit 4, or the layout unit 8 may appropriately perform according to the positional relationship between the virtual camera and these objects. In the present embodiment, the distance L1 and the distance L2 only need to be set so that the character formed by these objects has a three-dimensional effect.

  Further, the distance L3 (see FIG. 8) between the front object 15 and the back shadow object 27 and the distance L4 between the back object 16 and the front shadow object 26 are preferably set to values as close to zero as possible. . This makes it difficult for unnaturalness to occur in the stereoscopic effect of the character when the positional relationship between the virtual camera and these objects changes in accordance with the movement of the character formed by these objects in the game space. Because. As shown in FIG. 13, the skeleton model 17 is arranged between the front shadow model 23 and the back shadow model 24.

  When such formation and arrangement of the four objects are executed, the character shown in FIG. 14 is constructed in the game space. The character shown in FIG. 14 appears to be a three-dimensional character having a thickness for an observer including a player of the game apparatus, even though the character is composed only of a planar object having no thickness. Further, the objects 15, 16, 26, and 27 are not three-dimensional objects that place a heavy burden on the arithmetic unit 9, and therefore do not increase the processing load on the computer.

  Note that only anthropomorphic characters are formed by a plurality of planar objects, but this embodiment is not limited to this. For example, the image processing apparatus 2 can also form various items, buildings, vehicles, and the like displayed during the game with a plurality of planar objects.

  Further, for example, if the game does not involve shooting from the back of the character, the character may be formed by only two objects, the front object 15 and the front shadow object 26. Furthermore, if the shooting from the back of the character is performed only for a short time, the character may be formed by three objects: the front object 15, the front shadow object 26, and the back object 16.

  Next, a program and a computer in this embodiment will be specifically described with reference to FIG. FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 15, a computer 30 in this embodiment includes a central processing unit (CPU) 31, a random access memory (RAM) 32, a read only memory (ROM) 33, a graphic board 34, a hard disk (HDD) 35, An interface circuit (I / F circuit) 36 and an optical disk drive 37 are provided.

  The program in the present embodiment is a game program that causes the computer 30 to implement steps S1 to S8 shown in FIG. 2 and steps S11 to S15 shown in FIG. This program is provided in a state stored in the recording medium (optical disk) 12 and is installed in the computer 30 via the optical disk drive 37. The program in the present embodiment may be an image processing program that causes the computer 30 to implement only steps S11 to S15 shown in FIG.

  When the program in the present embodiment is executed by the computer 30, the CPU 31 functions as the control unit 4, the object formation unit 7, the layout unit 8, the position determination unit 9, the correction unit 10, and the calculation unit 11, and steps S1 to S1. The process of S8 is executed. Further, if the graphic board 34 includes a CPU for image processing, the CPU of the graphic board 34 serves as the object forming unit 7, the layout unit 8, the position determination unit 9, the correction unit 10, and the calculation unit 11. Functions, and executes the processes of steps S6 (steps S11 to S15) and S7.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the RAM 32, ROM 33, and hard disk 35 of the computer 30 function as the storage unit 5 (see FIG. 1) of the game apparatus 1, and the optical disc drive 37 functions as the reading device 6 (see FIG. 1). . As described above, the game apparatus 1 and the image processing apparatus 2 in the present embodiment are realized by installing the program in the present embodiment on the computer 30 and executing the program.

  Further, the game apparatus 1 and the image processing apparatus 2 in the present embodiment are effective in an online game. This point will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an online game system using the game device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the plurality of game devices 1 are connected to a server device 39 via the Internet 38. In FIG. 16, the player A of the game apparatus 1 on the left side in the figure operates the character 40, and the player B of the game apparatus 1 on the right side in the figure operates the character 41.

  Each game device 1 transmits its own character ID, position information in the game space, vector information, and the like to the server device 39. The server device 39 transmits the received information to the game device 1 that needs it. For example, when a plurality of areas are set in the game space, the server device 39 identifies characters existing in the same area. Then, the server device 39 transmits information on the characters of the other game devices 1 to each game device 1 so that the information is shared between the game devices 1 of the identified characters.

  Due to the transmission of information by the server device 39, the same game progress is simultaneously performed in each game device 1 in the common game space. At this time, each game apparatus 1 needs to display all the characters shown in the video viewed from its own virtual camera based on the transmitted information.

  Therefore, in the online game system, if each player's character is formed by a three-dimensional object having a large amount of data, the amount of data to be processed by each game apparatus 1 is greatly increased. As a result, the processing load on the game apparatus 1 increases, and a large shift occurs between the time when the game apparatus 1 receives information from the server apparatus 39 and the time when the information is displayed, or the game apparatus 1 transmits information to the server apparatus 39. Will be delayed. If such a problem occurs, the game will be boring for the player.

  However, in this embodiment, as described above, each character is formed of an object having no thickness, and the load on the game apparatus 1 is reduced. According to the present embodiment, a situation where the game becomes boring due to a decrease in processing speed is avoided.

  In addition, since the game device 1 according to the present embodiment is used, the player character and the player character of the other game device 1 may disappear from the screen of each game device 1 or become difficult to see. Avoided.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a situation in which it is difficult for an observer to visually recognize an object in a virtual three-dimensional space while suppressing an increase in processing load in image processing. The program and computer of the invention have industrial applicability.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing device and a game device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing performed in the game device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing performed in the image processing according to the embodiment of the present invention, and specifically shows the processing in step S6 shown in FIG. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing an example of an object used in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4A shows an object corresponding to the front of the character, and FIG. 4B corresponds to the back of the character. Indicates an object. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a skeleton model for moving the object shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the object illustrated in FIG. 4 is arranged in the three-dimensional virtual space. FIG. 7 is a view of an object and a virtual camera having a set positional relationship as viewed from above. FIG. 8 is a view of the object shown in FIG. 7 as seen from the virtual camera. FIG. 9 is a view of the state of the object shown in FIG. 7 corrected from above. FIG. 10 is a view of the object shown in FIG. 9 as seen from the virtual camera. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the structure of a character formed by four objects from the front side. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the structure of a character formed by four objects from the back side. FIG. 13 is a side view showing a character composed of the objects shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a character composed of the objects shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, FIG. 14 (a) shows the character when viewed from the front side, and FIG. 14 (b) shows the character. Shown when viewed from the back. FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a computer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an online game system using the game device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Game device 2 Image processing device 3 Input interface 4 Control part 5 Memory | storage part 6 Reading apparatus 7 Object formation part 8 Layout part 9 Arithmetic part 10 Input apparatus 11 Display apparatus 12 Optical disk 15 Front object 15a Polygon 15b Texture image 16 Back surface object 16a Polygon 16b Texture image 17 Skeleton model 18 Bone 19 Joint 20 Game space 21 Character 22 Cell 23 Virtual camera 24 Visual axis 25 Normal 26 Front shadow object 27 Back shadow object 30 Computer 31 CPU
32 RAM
33 ROM
34 Graphic board 35 Hard disk 36 Interface circuit 37 Optical disk drive 38 Internet 39 Server device 40, 41 Character

Claims (9)

A program for realizing, by a computer, an image processing device for displaying a video in a three-dimensional virtual space obtained through a virtual camera on a two-dimensional screen,
The computer is connected to the image processing apparatus.
An object forming unit that forms a planar object by pasting a texture image on one surface of a collection of planar polygons ;
A layout unit for arranging the object in the three-dimensional virtual space;
When the three-dimensional virtual space is viewed from above, an angle formed between an axis connecting from the viewpoint of the virtual camera to the object and a normal of one surface of the polygon aggregate is determined, and the angle is A position determination unit that determines that the object and the virtual camera are in a set positional relationship when within the set range , and a determination that the position determination unit is in a set positional relationship A correction unit for correcting the orientation of the object,
A program characterized by functioning as The program according to claim 1 , wherein the correction unit changes the direction of the object such that a change amount of the normal angle when the three-dimensional virtual space is viewed from above becomes a set value. . The object forming unit forms a second object having the same outer shape as the object;
The program according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the layout unit arranges the object and the second object at a set distance so that they are parallel to each other in the plane direction. The object forming unit forms the object and the second object by pasting a texture image on one surface of a collection of planar polygons, and further sets a skeleton model having a plurality of joints. ,
The vertex coordinates of the polygons of the object and the second object are previously associated with the corresponding joints of the skeleton model so that the object and the second object operate simultaneously according to the operation of the skeleton model. And
The layout unit sets the positional relationship so that the object and the second object move together in the three-dimensional virtual space.
The program according to claim 3 . When the direction from the second object toward the object is the first direction,
The object forming unit
The object and the second object are formed such that the luminance of the surface on the first direction side of the second object is lower than the luminance of the surface on the first direction side of the object. Item 4. The program according to item 3 . When the direction from the second object toward the object is the first direction,
The object forming unit further includes a third surface on the first direction side whose outer shape is the same as the outer shape of the object and whose luminance is set lower than a surface of the object on the first direction side. Form an object of
The layout unit sets the third object to a value in which a distance from the object is set between the object and the second object in a state parallel to the object in the plane direction. The program according to claim 3 , wherein the program is arranged. When the direction opposite to the first direction is the second direction,
The object forming unit further has a surface whose outer shape is the same as the outer shape of the object and whose luminance is set lower than a surface of the second object on the second direction side in the second direction side. Forming a fourth object having,
The layout unit sets a distance from the second object between the object and the third object in a state where the fourth object is parallel to the second object in the plane direction. The program according to claim 6 , wherein the program is arranged so as to have a set value. The object forming unit forms the object, the second object, the third object, and the fourth object by pasting a texture image on one surface of a collection of planar polygons, and Set a skeleton model with multiple joints,
The vertex coordinates of the polygons of the object, the second object, the third object, and the fourth object are determined in advance in accordance with the operation of the skeleton model, the object, the second object, and the third object, respectively. Associated with the corresponding joint of the skeleton model such that the object and the fourth object operate simultaneously,
The layout unit sets the positional relationship so that the object, the second object, the third object, and the fourth object move together in the three-dimensional virtual space. Yes,
The program according to claim 7 . A storage unit storing the program according to any one of claims 1 to 8 ;
A control unit that reads and executes the program from the storage unit;
Computer, characterized in that it comprises a.

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