JP2000149040A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize dynamic video of a character by storing shape data of an approximately circular shaped structural part so as to constitute the character and coordinate data for every content of action of the character. SOLUTION: The contents of the action of a character 5 for 60 frames per second are registered beforehand in a prescribed recording medium by preparing plural patterns and defining mutual positions of respective parts to constitute the character 5 as the coordinate data for the respective contents of action. Relative coordinates for the respective parts are determined, by defining the coordinate of a part 65 as (0, 0) and size of the respective parts is determined by adjusting major and minor axes of an ellipse. The major axis coincides with the horizontal directions, and the minor axis is coincides with the vertical directions of the parts. Thus, an image processing becomes easy, and the load on a CPU is relieved by constituting, the character of plural parts and registering the contents of action beforehand. Namely, complicated operations like modeling conversion, visual field conversion, etc., are disposed with, and memory quantity is also reduced only by storage of the shape data and the respective contents of action.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a computer image processing technique, and more particularly to a technique for drawing a character displayed on a screen.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a drawing technique of three-dimensional graphics has been used also in a computer game against the background of an improvement in processing speed by a CPU. In this technique, a display object (object) such as a character, a plant, a building, an animal, or a terrain appearing on a game screen is represented by a polygon (vertexes and edges defined by a body coordinate system). Dimensional graphics), which are converted to modeling in the world coordinate system, field-of-view conversion to a predetermined camera viewpoint, three-dimensional clipping processing, hidden line processing, texture mapping processing, shading processing, display priority processing, etc. it's shown.

[0003]

However, when a character or the like is drawn by three-dimensional graphics technology, the amount of calculation for image processing becomes enormous, and the processing load on the CPU increases. In addition, as a result of the increase in the required memory amount, it is necessary to improve the transfer speed of the data bus. Therefore, a certain amount of hardware resources is required to realize a comfortable operation environment. In consideration of such circumstances, it is preferable to draw a character or the like by simpler image processing in order to realize simple image processing with a simple program without requiring advanced image processing.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and an information recording medium for drawing a character by a simpler method.

In a conventional computer game, a game is generally developed by a player (player) operating a character (player character) by an input operation of a control pad or the like. For this reason, instead of the player character acting by the operation of the player, the player character itself determines the action to be taken by the surrounding environment or the mental or physical state of the player by his / her own judgment, and based on this determination, Thus, a new image processing device that has never existed can be provided.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus in which a player character determines an action to be taken by his / her own judgment regardless of a player's operation, and acts based on the determination. I do.

[0007]

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention is an image processing apparatus which draws a character on a screen as a dynamic image. In the image processing apparatus, the constituent parts of the character are stored as substantially circular shape data. A storage unit for storing coordinate data representing a positional relationship between components, and an image for reading out shape data and coordinate data from the storage unit every predetermined unit time to generate a character image and drawing this on a screen Generating means. Preferably, the storage unit stores coordinate data for each predetermined unit time for each motion pattern that the character can take.

By configuring the image processing apparatus in this manner, the shape data of the substantially circular components constituting the character and the positional relationship between the components, that is, the coordinate data, are stored for each action of the character. By doing so, it is possible to realize a dynamic image of the character, so that image processing is simplified.

An image processing method according to the present invention is directed to an image processing method for drawing a character on a screen as a dynamic image.
A first step of storing component parts constituting a character as substantially circular shape data and storing coordinate data representing a positional relationship between the component parts in a storage unit; and storing the shape data and the coordinate data from the storage unit. A second step of generating an image of the character by reading it out at a predetermined unit time and drawing the image on the screen. Preferably, in the first step, coordinate data for each predetermined unit time is stored for each motion pattern that can be taken by the character.

The information recording medium of the present invention is a computer-readable information recording medium in which program data for causing a computer to execute the image processing method of the present invention is recorded. Here, the information recording medium is a medium on which information, mainly digital data, a program, and the like are recorded by some physical means, and can realize desired functions such as a computer and a dedicated processor. Say. Therefore, any device may be used as long as it can be downloaded to the computer by some means to realize a desired function. For example, a flexible disk (FD), a hard disk (HD), a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a DVD-ROM,
Includes DVD-RAM, DVD-R, PD disk, MD disk, MO disk and the like. Also, the case where data is transferred from a host computer via a wired or wireless communication line (public line, data line, satellite line, etc.) is included. For example, a case where data is transferred from a database of a server via IrDA infrared communication or the Internet is also included.

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention is an image processing apparatus for displaying, on a screen, a character acting in a virtual space in which a plurality of objects are arranged. A storage unit for storing a value of a parameter representing a relationship with the character; a determination unit for determining whether an object exists within the recognition range of the character; If the object exists, based on the value of the parameter,
There is provided a selection means for selecting a motion pattern that can be taken by the character from the storage means, and an image generation means for reading the motion pattern selected by the selection means from the storage means and generating a moving image of the character.

With such a configuration, the character takes an appropriate action on the object arranged in the virtual space in accordance with the value of the parameter set in advance for this object. It is possible to provide an image processing device that acts with the intention of the user.

Preferably, when there are a plurality of objects within the recognition range of the character, the selection means selects a motion pattern that the character can take according to the parameter having the greatest influence among the parameters of the object. The configuration is as follows.

For example, an object is a cursor operated by a player. A parameter indicating the relationship between the cursor and the character is set, and the behavior of the character with respect to the cursor changes with a change in the value of the parameter. Further, the value of the parameter may be set to change for each event that occurs in the virtual space. Further, the image generation means may be configured to generate an image of excrement after a lapse of a predetermined time from the time when the character has eaten in the virtual space. With this configuration, natural excretion timing can be secured,
The realism of the game can be enhanced. This predetermined time is determined by the value of the parameter set for the character (for example,
Health value). The image generation means may set the value of the parameter set for the character (for example,
The color of the excrement may be changed according to the health value).

In the image processing apparatus, one or more objects may form a circulating environment and have a correlation with each other. With this configuration,
Since the form of the object can be changed by an event occurring between the objects, for example, even when feeding the character, the fertilizer is made by giving water to the excrement of the character, and the fertilizer is applied to the grass. To produce fruit and feed (fruit).

The value of the parameter may be changed for each event that occurs in the virtual space. An event is
An event that causes a change in the value of a parameter. For example, when a player feeds a character, the value of a confidence parameter increases (details will be described later). In this case, “feeding” is used. An act corresponds to an event. Various events are set in the event, and the parameters include the mental state of the character,
Various things indicating a physical state and the like are set. Preferably, the image generating means of the image processing apparatus draws a character by the image processing method of the present invention.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, the image processing device of the present invention is applied to a game device. Of course, not limited to games, the image processing technology of the present invention can be used for any purpose.

(Configuration of Game Apparatus) The configuration of the game apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. The game device 1 has a CP
A U block 2, a video block 3, and a sound block 4 are provided. The CPU block 2 includes a CPU 21, a main memory 22, a ROM 23, and a CD-ROM drive 2.
4 and a bus controller 25 and a keyboard 26.

The bus controller 25 is configured to control transmission and reception of data by allocating bus occupation rights to devices connected to each other via a bus. The keyboard 26 is used to operate a cursor displayed on the screen or to input a command such as start / end of the game program when executing the game program, and corresponds to an operation situation such as a key operation of the player. The operation signal is output to the bus of the CPU block 2.

However, a pointing device such as a joypad, a control pad, a mouse, or a gun-type controller may be used as an input device of the operation signal in addition to the keyboard. In addition, two or more of these input devices may be connected so that a plurality of players can play a game at the same time.

The CPU 21 has a main memory 22, a ROM
23, a CD-ROM drive 24, a video block 3 and a sound block 4. The CPU 21 executes an initial program (initial execution program) stored in the ROM 23 when the power is turned on, initializes the entire apparatus, and sets the CD-ROM drive 2
4 detects that a CD-ROM is loaded,
-The game program and image data stored in the ROM are transferred to the main memory 22 and executed. Further, the CPU 21 converts the image data into a VRA
M (video RAM) 32 and audio data can be transferred to the sound memory 42. The processing by the program data executed by the CPU 21 is mainly the interpretation of the input of the operation signal from the keyboard 26, and the image processing performed by the video block 3 and the sound processing performed by the sound block 4 based on the interpretation.

The main memory 22 can mainly provide operating system program data and application program data, and also provide a work area for storing static variables, dynamic variables, and the like. R
The OM 23 is a storage area for the initial program loader. Further, the main memory 22 is a storage area for setting data including settings such as the progress of the game occurring during the game, the result of the game, the operation method, and the like, which are transferred from the CPU 21. These setting data function not only as backup data for restarting the game from the state immediately before the power shutdown when the power is turned off, but also for reflecting the operation state of another game apparatus as it is by replacing the backup memory. Data.

The CD-ROM has program data for causing the game apparatus to execute the image processing method of the present invention,
Image data for image display, audio data for audio output, and the like are stored. CD-ROM drive 24
Has a removable CD-ROM and a CD-RO
When the M is mounted, the data is output to the CPU 21 and the data can be transferred under the control of the CPU 21. The recording medium is not limited to CD-ROM,
Various other recording media, for example, flexible disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-R, DVD-ROM, DVD-R
An AM, PD, MD, ROM cartridge, RAM memory cartridge with battery backup, etc. may be configured to be readable. Further, a configuration may be adopted in which a data group stored in a CD-ROM from a host computer (not shown) is transferred to each memory. With this setting, data can be transferred from a fixed disk or the like of a remote server.

The video block 3 includes a display controller 31, a VRAM 32, an LCD (liquid crystal display) driver 33, and an LCD 34. V
In the RAM 32, RGB corresponding to each pixel of the LCD 34 is stored.
Data is stored in a bitmap format. The display controller 31 outputs a control signal for displaying an image on the LCD 34 to the LCD drive driver 33 based on the image data written in the VRAM 32. The LCD drive driver 33 includes a TFT disposed in each pixel of the LCD.
A vertical drive driver and a horizontal drive driver for driving the device are provided, and an image is displayed by outputting a desired signal to a source electrode and a gate electrode.

The sound block 4 includes a sound controller 41, a sound memory 42, and a D / A converter 43.
And a speaker 44. The sound memory 42 stores the sound data read from the CD-ROM as described above. Sound controller 41
Reads audio data such as waveform data stored in the sound memory 42 based on command data supplied from the CPU 21 and performs various effect processing based on the DSP function. And D / A
The converter 43 converts the audio data generated by the sound controller 41 into an analog signal,
4.

(Outline of Game) As shown in FIG. 2, in a computer game provided by the present game apparatus, a character 5 corresponding to the hero is a virtual world, for example,
A story is set about traveling in the underground space on the earth. In the present game, the player guides the character 5 by moving the cursor 6 displayed on the screen, and ends the game by arriving at the goal. In this case, the character 5 does not operate the player, but determines an action based on its own judgment, and performs an action based on the determination. This will be described with reference to FIG. The figure summarizes the outline of this game in a flowchart.
When the game starts, the character acts by self-determination (S401). “To act by self-determination” means that a parameter for an object existing in a virtual space is set in advance for a character, and the CPU sets a parameter value for an object close to the character (within a recognition range of the character). , The action content of the character is appropriately selected, and the action is performed in accordance with the action content. This parameter is a parameter representing the physical state of the character itself (physical strength value, sleep value, hungry degree, etc.) or a parameter representing the mental state, such as the cursor 6 or another object (for example, the pond 7 shown in FIG. 2). , A tree 8, a flower 9, etc.) are set. When a plurality of objects exist within the recognition range of the character, the action content is determined according to the most influential parameter among the parameters of the object. If the character 5 can be guided to the goal point in this way (S402: YES), the game ends.

Therefore, the player needs to establish a trust relationship with the character 5 in order to guide the character 5 to the goal. This trust relationship is defined by trust parameters. The trust parameter is an index indicating the relationship between the cursor and the character. When the cursor takes a good action on the character, the value of the trust parameter increases,
Bad behavior decreases the value of the confidence parameter. The action pattern of the character with respect to the cursor changes depending on the value of the trust parameter. For example, the player operates the cursor 6 to stroke the character 5, give food, cause the tree 8 to make the flower 9 bloom,...
You can build trust with them. The stronger the trust relationship, the more the character 5 reacts to the cursor 6, and approaches the cursor 6 without the player calling. On the other hand, when the cursor 6 is the character 5
If the character 5 is unfavorable, such as bullying, hitting, kicking, etc. the character 5, the relationship of trust is weakened, and the character 5 does not respond to the player's call and also hits the cursor 6. Or avoid it.

The character of the present game is that the player proceeds with the game while building a good relationship of trust with the character 5 because the character 5 takes an action by self-determination as described above.

(Character Drawing Method) Next, a character drawing method according to the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the character 5 is composed of 35 circular or elliptical parts. FIG. 7A is a front view of the character 5, and FIG. 7B is an exploded view of the character 5. The head of the character 5 is based on a part 66, and the parts 51, 52, and 53 are attached to form a left eye. Similarly, the right eye is formed by the parts 54, 55 and 56. Part 63 constitutes the lower half of the face, and part 57,
The nose and mouth are formed at 58, 59, 60, 61 and 62. The left ear is formed by parts 67 and 68, and the right ear is formed by parts 69 and 70. The body is basically composed of parts 71 and 63. A left arm is formed by bonding parts 72 and 73 to the body, and a right arm is formed by bonding parts 74 and 75. The right foot is formed by parts 78 and 79, and the left foot is formed by parts 76 and 77. The tail is formed by parts 80, 81, 82 and 83. Parts 65
Constitutes the shadow of the character 5.

As described above, the character drawing method of the present invention does not display an image by performing texture mapping or the like on polygons as in the recent image processing, but forms the character 5 by a plurality of two-dimensional parts. Is used to draw an image. In such a drawing method, it is necessary to determine the positional relationship (coordinate relationship) between each part and the size of each part based on predetermined parts. Therefore, in the present invention, a plurality of patterns (for example, 2000 patterns) of the action contents of the character 5 are prepared in advance, and the position between the parts constituting the character 5 for each action content is determined as coordinate data for 60 frames per second. Recording medium, for example, a CD-ROM
Register in. FIG. 8 is a data list in which the positional relationship (relative coordinates) and the size between the parts constituting the character 5 are predetermined. The relative coordinates of each part are
The coordinates of 5 are defined as (0, 0), and this part 65 is determined with reference to the parts 65. The size of each part is determined by defining the major axis and the minor axis of the ellipse. The major axis corresponds to the horizontal direction of the part, and the minor axis corresponds to the vertical direction of the part. In the lower three lines of the data list, parts other than the parts constituting the character 5 (invisible parts) are listed, and their roles are as follows. EFFECT0 is
For example, when the character 5 performs an operation (effect) such as crying, the character 5 is used to substitute an effect part in order to enhance the effect. DUMM
Y is used to determine the position of the object 5 when the character 5 performs an action such as hitting and falling on some object. MOVE is used, for example, when the character 5 eats a bait in the virtual space, to substitute the parameters of the bait into the MOVE. In addition, color data and the like of each part can be registered in a data list. Further, the data list shown in the figure corresponds to data per frame. Accordingly, in order to display a series of actions of the character 5 on the screen, it is necessary to register such a data list in advance for many frames.

The game apparatus 1 stores data (shape data) such as the shape, size, and color of each part constituting the character 5 together with the game program and data (coordinate data) representing the positional relationship between the parts in the main memory. When the character 5 performs a predetermined operation, image data (RGB data) of the character 5 is written to a predetermined address of the VRAM 32 based on coordinate data corresponding to the operation. An animation corresponding to the place is prepared in advance on the background of the game screen, and the display controller 31 combines the background with the character 5 based on a predetermined priority and displays this on the LCD 34.

As described above, the character is composed of a plurality of parts, and the action content is registered in advance, so that the image processing is simplified and the load on the CPU is reduced. That is, there is no need to perform complicated calculations such as modeling conversion, view conversion, and texture mapping. Also, the required amount of memory can be reduced since coordinate data for each action content may be stored in addition to the shape data. In addition, since the parts are composed of circles, the entire character can be rounded, and a three-dimensional image can be dynamically expressed.

When the character is enlarged or reduced, the character can be enlarged or reduced by changing only the value of the shape data, for example, the radius of the circle. Also, the color of each part is white,
Although a color such as black or gray is set, a predetermined parameter changes according to the state of the character 5, for example, a health state and the like, and when this exceeds a reference value, a predetermined flag is set and each part is set. Can be changed to, for example, red, green, or the like. With this setting, the mental and physical state of the character can be expressed on the screen.

Further, by replacing the shape data with the shape data of another character (sub character) while keeping the coordinate data as it is, the sub character can be displayed. Therefore, secondary use of the coordinate data is possible, and it is not necessary to set the coordinate data for each character.

(Character Action Determination Algorithm and Parameters) Next, the action determination algorithm of the character 5 and the parameters serving as the basis for this action determination will be described. As described above, in this game, the character 5 acts with his own will regardless of the player's will. FIG. 5 summarizes this action determination algorithm in a flowchart, and corresponds to the processing step of S401 in FIG. When the game starts, the character 5 determines whether or not an object or sub character exists within its own recognition range (S501). The recognition range refers to a range in which the character 5 can recognize the presence of an object or the like, and is 160 dots in distance and 100 degrees in front of the angle. When an object or the like exists within the recognition range (S501: YES)
The CPU reads the comfort value of the object (S502). A comfort value is set in advance as one of the parameters for all objects and the like existing in the virtual space. If the comfort value is high (the preference is high), the character 5 tends to take a favorable action on the object or the like. On the other hand, low comfort value (low likability)
Then, the tendency of the character 5 to take an unfavorable action on the object or the like increases. This relationship is similar to the trust relationship with the player described above. Next, the CPU reads the state value of the character 5 (S503). If there is no object or the like within the recognition range of the character 5 in S501 (S501: NO), the process proceeds to S503. The state value refers to each value of a parameter set for the character 5, and specifically, a physical strength value, a hunger level, a sleep value, a reliability, an emotion value, and the like are used as parameters. Initial values of these parameters are set in advance, and the values of the parameters are adjusted each time when the character 5 performs various actions and experiences during the progress of the game or when an event occurs. Is programmed to

For example, the reliability will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in the figure, the initial value j = 0 at the start of the game.
Is set (S601). When the player acts on the character 5 by giving food or the like (S60)
2), the CPU determines whether this action is a favorable action for the character 5 (S603). In the game program, what kind of action is favorable to the character 5 is set in a data format in advance, and the CPU refers to the corresponding data. If it is determined that the action is favorable (S603: YES), the value of j is incremented (increased) (S604). On the other hand, when it is determined that the action is unfavorable (S603: NO),
The value of j is decremented (decreased) (S605). The increment (increase) or decrement (decrease) of the value of j is set in advance for each parameter. In this way, the value j of the reliability parameter is adjusted according to the content of the action of the player acting on the character.

As for the physical fitness value, for example, the initial value is 5000, the upper limit value is 10000, the lower limit value is 0, and 1
The physical strength value is decremented by 8 per operation, and the physical strength value is increased by 1000 when eating food. At this time, the physical strength value is 600
When the value is 0 or more, the character 5 is in a healthy state and eats food in a good state. When the physical strength value is 3000 or less, the character 5 becomes unhealthy, and eats food in a bad state. In addition, the emotion value is determined according to an event that occurs around the character 5 (for example, an event such as a thunder, a tornado, or a geyser, or an action content of the sub-character with respect to the character 5). Is set, and the emotion value changes according to this event. If the emotion value is high, the character 5 tends to take a positive action,
If the emotion value is low, the character 5 takes a negative action. A reference value (for example, 0) is set as the emotion value, and is set so as to gradually return to the reference value as time passes even if the emotion value changes in response to an event. However, when another event occurs in the process of returning the emotion value to the reference value, the emotion value corresponding to the event is increased or decreased, and returns to the reference value again. Hunger degree, sleep value, reliability, etc. are similarly set for the initial value, upper limit,
The lower limit, the amount of increase, and the like may be set as appropriate.

The CPU determines the action to be taken next by the character 5 based on the values of these parameters (S50).
4). For example, when the sleep value falls below a predetermined value,
The main memory 22 selects actions such as putting the character 5 to sleep, eating food when the hungry degree becomes a predetermined value or more, and escaping from the place when the comfort value of the object recognized by the character 5 is low. The coordinate data of the corresponding action content is read, and the image data is written on the VRAM 32, and is displayed on the LCD 34 (S50).
5). After displaying the behavior of the character 5 for a predetermined time (S506), the process returns to the steps after S501. By executing such steps, it is possible to display an image as if the character 5 acts based on his or her own will. That is, according to the present game device, a new type of game different from the conventional game can be provided.

In this image processing, the action taken by the character 5 is determined by the plurality of parameters, but the action tendency (action pattern) that the character 5 can take is determined in advance for each stage. Can also. FIG. 9 is a data list of the behavior patterns of the character 5 when the parameters of the character 5 indicate good mood values. In the figure, "Subject ANIM
“20003000” means that the unique number of the motion animation of the character 5 currently displaying an image is 2000000. Character 5
When the unique number of the theme animation of the animation currently displayed on the image is 20003000, the probability of the next possible action content (action animation) in Stage 1 is the unique number 2
340000% of the operation of 030000 (walking motion), 30% of the operation of the unique number 20001000 (operation that stops and hurts, that is, idling operation), and 100% operation of the unique number (clockwise operation)
Is 10%, the operation of the unique number 101000 (the operation of turning in the counterclockwise direction) is 10%, the operation of the unique number 200000 (the operation of turning the back from all fours) is 0%,
..., the operation of the unique number 513000 (the operation of farting) is 2%, which is 100% in total. Thus, when character 5 is in Stage 1, unique number 2030
Although the probability of performing the motion of 000 (walking motion) is the highest, what kind of behavior is ultimately determined by the parameter group described above. In this way, by preliminarily determining the action pattern of the character 5 for each stage, the parameter control of the character 5 is facilitated, and the character 5 is adjusted according to the individuality of each scene (stage).
Action patterns can be set. For example, in the field, character 5 tends to be more active,
In a cave, the tendency to act cautiously increases, and so on.

(Objects Forming a Circulating Environment) Another feature of the game is that objects existing in a virtual space are related to each other to form a kind of a circulating environment. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, when rain 13 falls from the cloud 12, water 14 accumulates. When the water 14 is given to the fruit 10, the grass 11 grows. When fertilizer 16 is applied to this grass 11, fruit 10 is produced. This fertilizer 16 is a character 5
It can be obtained by eating 0, excrement 15 and giving water 14 thereto. As described above, in the present game, since the objects are related to each other and form a circulation environment, for example, even when feeding the character 5, not only feeding directly but also changing the form of the food through the circulation environment is performed. While feeding can be provided indirectly. For this reason, according to the present game, it is possible to provide a game environment of a new idea that has not been provided before.

In addition to this, a circulating environment can be appropriately created, for example, when a bomb is filled with water, the fire is extinguished and a ball is formed, and when a ball is lit, a bomb is formed.

(Character Having Internal Organs) As another feature of the game, the character 5 has internal organs, that is, a stomach and an intestine. While food is in the stomach for a certain period of time, character 5 is determined to be full. After a certain period of time, the food is sent to the intestines and the appetite reappears. After a certain period of time, food that has been in the intestine goes out as excrement. In this way, by digesting food in stages, an appropriate digestion time can be made, and a natural diet and timing of excretion can be made. At this time, by changing the color of the excrement in three stages according to the health state of the character 5, the health state of the character 5 can be grasped.

[0043]

According to the present invention, the shape data of the substantially circular components constituting the character and the positional relationship between the components, that is, the coordinate data, are stored for each action of the character. Since it is possible to realize a dynamic image of a character, image processing is simplified.

Further, according to the present invention, the character takes an appropriate action on the object arranged in the virtual space each time according to the value of the parameter set in advance for this object. It is possible to provide an image processing apparatus as if acting on its own intention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the game device.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the present game scene.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of drawing of a character.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of the game.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a character action determination algorithm.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of increasing / decreasing a reliability parameter.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an object forming a circulation environment.

FIG. 8 is a list of part data.

FIG. 9 is a list of behavior pattern data.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 game device 2 CPU block 3 video block 4 sound block 5 character 6 cursor 7 pond 8 tree 9 flower 10 fruit 11 grass 12 cloud 13 rain 14 water 15 excrement 16 fertilizer

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus for drawing a moving image of a character on a screen, comprising: storing component parts constituting the character as substantially circular shape data; and storing coordinate data representing a positional relationship between the component parts. An image processing apparatus comprising: a storage unit for storing; and an image generating unit for reading the shape data and the coordinate data from the storage unit at predetermined unit times to generate an image of the character and drawing the image on the screen. . 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores the coordinate data for each predetermined unit time for each motion pattern that can be taken by the character. 3. An image processing method for drawing a moving image of a character on a screen, comprising: storing component parts constituting the character as substantially circular shape data; and storing coordinate data representing a positional relationship between the component parts. A first step of storing the shape data and the coordinate data in the storage unit at predetermined unit times to generate an image of the character, and drawing the image on the screen; An image processing method comprising: 4. The image processing method according to claim 3, wherein, in the first step, the coordinate data for each of the predetermined unit times is stored for each motion pattern that the character can take. 5. A computer-readable information recording medium on which program data for causing a computer to execute the image processing method according to claim 3 or 4 is recorded. 6. An image processing apparatus for displaying, on a screen, a character acting in a virtual space where one or more objects are arranged, wherein a motion pattern that can be taken by the character is stored in advance, and a character pattern is stored for each object. Storage means for storing a value of a parameter representing the relationship of: a determination means for determining whether or not the object exists within the recognition range of the character; and a recognition range of the character based on a determination result of the determination means. When the object exists in the storage means, based on the value of the parameter, selecting from the storage means a motion pattern that can be taken by the character; and selecting the motion pattern selected by the selection means from the storage means. Image generating means for reading and generating a moving image of the character. Apparatus. 7. When there are a plurality of objects within a character recognition range, the selection means selects a motion pattern that can be taken by the character according to a parameter having the greatest influence among parameters of the object. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the object is a cursor operated by a player. 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a value of the parameter increases or decreases according to a correlation between the character and a cursor. 10. The parameter value changes for each event that occurs in the virtual space.
The image processing device according to claim 1. 11. The image generating device according to claim 6, wherein the image generating means generates an image of excrement after a predetermined time has elapsed from the time when the character has eaten in the virtual space. The image processing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. 12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined time is adjusted by a value of a parameter set for a character. 13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a color of the excrement changes according to a value of a parameter set for the character. 14. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the one or more objects form a circulating environment and have a correlation with each other. 15. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said image generating means draws said character by using the image processing method according to claim 3 or 4. .