JP2000215325A - Method and device for processing image and recording medium recording program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily display a three-dimensional(3D) and real object from any visual point position by applying rendering processing to the inside surface of polygons composing the 3D object when transmitting a projection from one side concerning the polygons composing the 3D object. SOLUTION: In the image processing part of a game system, a geometry processing part 202 reads out polygon data stored in a data storage part 201, arranges polygons inside a virtual 3D space on the basis of the polygon data, performs view port processing for determining the area in the virtual 3D space to be displayed at a maximum and performs processing for mapping (transforming) the polygons arranged in the virtual 3D space to 2D plane. A rendering processing part 203 performs processing such as a painting-out, shading, importation of texture and color operation to the polygon provided by the geometry processing part 202.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game device and an image processing method for the game device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a game device for realizing a so-called interactive game or the like, a character (object) displayed on a screen of a display device is controlled according to an operation signal from an input device (controller pad or the like) operated by a player. You.

In recent years, with the improvement of hardware performance, a game image in which a character moves in a virtual three-dimensional space is provided by three-dimensional graphics.
The effect of the game is enhanced.

[0004] The three-dimensional graphics are sometimes referred to as a viewpoint position ("projection center position") in a virtual three-dimensional space based on three-dimensional data for expressing an object by a combination of polygons (polygons). ) To calculate the spatial positional relationship of the object in the line of sight, and further perform image processing such as rendering processing to render the object three-dimensionally (“Practical Computer Graphics”, published by Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun).

[0005] In general, the interest of a game often depends on the game image displayed on a display in addition to the content of the game. Therefore, in producing a game (game program), what kind of game video is provided to the player is a very important factor.

[0006]

Various effects have been added to game images in order to increase the interest in the game.

[0007] For example, in a racing game in which a racing car is operated to compete for its speed and technique,
There is provided an image in which smoke is generated from tires according to a slip of a racing car or the like.

[0008] Such a video image of a game is realized by attaching a texture to both the outer surface and the inner surface of a polygonal pyramid object using eight polygons.

However, since the texture is pasted on the outside of the object as in the prior art, there has been a problem that the player recognizes the shape of the object, thereby causing the image of the game to wake up.

[0010]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is specified as follows.

That is, the present invention provides an image in which a three-dimensional object is formed by arranging a virtual plane in a virtual three-dimensional space based on three-dimensional data, and a texture is applied to a virtual plane located inside the three-dimensional object. In the processing method, when the three-dimensional object is projected from a predetermined viewpoint position in the virtual three-dimensional space, a transmission process is performed on a virtual surface on which a virtual surface located outside the three-dimensional object is projected. Image processing method.

Further, the present invention provides a step of forming a three-dimensional object by arranging a plurality of polygons in a virtual three-dimensional space based on three-dimensional data; Extracting a polygon facing a predetermined viewpoint position in a three-dimensional space, and applying a texture to a surface of the polygon extracted in the step, which is an inner surface of the three-dimensional object. This is an image processing method.

Further, the invention of the above method can be understood as an invention of a product. More specifically, the present invention provides a geometry unit configured to form a three-dimensional object by arranging a virtual surface in a virtual three-dimensional space based on three-dimensional data, and applying a texture to a virtual surface located inside the three-dimensional object. An image processing apparatus comprising: a rendering unit configured to provide a virtual plane positioned outside the three-dimensional object when the three-dimensional object is projected from a predetermined viewpoint position in the virtual three-dimensional space. An image processing apparatus that performs a transmission process on a surface.

Further, the present invention provides a geometric means for forming a three-dimensional object by arranging a plurality of polygons in a virtual three-dimensional space based on three-dimensional data; Extracting means for extracting a polygon facing the predetermined viewpoint position, and rendering means for applying a texture to a surface of the polygon extracted by the extracting means, which becomes an inner surface of the three-dimensional object. An image processing device.

It is preferable that the texture expresses smoke, water droplets or dust.

Further, the present invention can be specified as a program for causing a computer to realize a predetermined function.

The recording medium includes, for example, a hard disk (HD), a DVD-RAM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-ROM, and the like, as well as a RAM and an RO.
M and other memories. The computer also includes, for example, a so-called microcomputer that performs a predetermined process by interpreting a program by a so-called central processing unit such as a CPU or an MPU.

[0018]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a game device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a game device according to the present invention includes a control unit 1 mainly including a CPU 101, an input device 2 for a user to input an operation signal to the control unit, and an operating system (hereinafter referred to as “OS”). ) And an application program (game program), and an external storage device 3 for inputting these programs to the control unit as necessary, a display device 4a and a speaker 4b for providing images and sounds to the user, and the like. And an output device 4 comprising: Further, a communication device 5 for transmitting and receiving data to and from another computer or game device via a telephone line or the like is provided. In addition,
The external storage device 3 is not limited to the illustrated CD-ROM or the like,
A recording medium or the like that can write and hold the data from the control unit 1 may be used.

When the power is turned on to start the game,
A boot program loader (not shown) loads a boot program (sometimes called an initial program) stored in the ROM 102 into the CPU 101, and the CPU 101 executes the boot program. CP
U101 operates according to the boot program.
The entire or necessary part of the OS stored in the OM or the like is loaded into the main memory 103 and the OS is executed.

Under the control of the OS, the CPU 101
Application programs stored in a D-ROM or the like (hereinafter, sometimes simply referred to as “programs”)
Is loaded into the main memory 103, and drawing data and image data stored in a CD-ROM or the like are stored in the graphic memory 1 as necessary.
04 and sound data into the sound memory 105.

The CPU 101 executes an application program stored in the main memory 103 under the control of the OS. Data accompanying the execution of the application program is stored in the main memory 103 or the backup memory 1.
06 is written and referenced whenever necessary. The backup memory 106 stores data in order to maintain the previous state even if the power is cut off due to interruption of the game or the like.

In this embodiment, the OS and the application programs are configured to be provided from a CD-ROM. For example, the OS and the application programs are configured to be supplied from another computer via a ROM or a network. May be.

A video display processor (VDP;
A Video Display Processor (107) reads out drawing data necessary for image display stored in the graphic memory 104, performs various information processing (image processing) based on commands and data from the CPU 101 by executing application programs, and performs image processing. Generate data. Various image processing includes, for example, texture mapping, light source processing,
There is a display priority process and the like. In order to display the generated image data on the display device 4a, the VDP 107 outputs the data to the encoder 108. Note that the generated image data may be written into, for example, a frame buffer memory or the like, and may be read from the frame buffer memory at a predetermined timing.

Sound Processor
109 reads out sound data stored in the sound memory 105 and performs various information processing (sound processing) based on commands and data from the CPU 101 by executing the application program. The various audio processes include, for example, an effect process, a mixing process, and the like. The sound data that has been subjected to various sound processing is converted into analog data by the D / A converter 110 and output to a speaker.

The bus arbiter 111 is
Control between units connected via a data transmission path (bus or the like) is performed. For example, the bus arbiter 111
In order to determine the unit that occupies the bus, the priority order among the units is determined, and the bus occupation time of the occupying unit is assigned.

In the game device according to the present invention configured as described above, the CPU executes a program read from an external recording medium such as a CD-ROM, thereby realizing predetermined functions according to the present invention. Hereinafter, the game device according to the present embodiment will be described functionally and will be described with reference to a functional block diagram configured by function realizing means.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the image processing unit in the game device according to the present embodiment. As shown in the drawing, the image processing unit of the game device according to the present embodiment includes a data storage unit 201, a geometry processing unit 202, and a rendering processing unit 203.

The data storage unit 201 stores polygon data for expressing an object three-dimensionally using a polygon (polygon; virtual surface). The polygon data includes vertex coordinate data (X, Y, Z) of the polygon, color data, texture coordinate data, normal vector data, data relating to a transmission mode, and the like.

The data relating to the transmission mode is data for designating whether or not the polygon is in the one-sided mode. The single-sided mode is a mode for displaying a polygon when a polygon is projected from one surface, and transmitting the polygon when a polygon is projected from the opposite surface. For example, when the single-sided mode is designated for each polygon constituting the three-dimensional object, the inner surface of the three-dimensional object is displayed through various image processing described later. If the one-sided mode is not specified, the polygon is displayed on the display regardless of the projection direction.

The geometry processing unit 202 reads the polygon data stored in the data storage unit 201, arranges the polygons in the virtual three-dimensional space based on the polygon data, and determines which region in the virtual three-dimensional space Perform viewport processing to determine whether to display
Processing for mapping (converting) a polygon arranged in the dimensional space to a two-dimensional plane is performed. It should be noted that the geometry processing unit 203 determines the direction of the polygon for which the one-sided mode has been designated, and omits the processing if it determines that the polygon is to be transmitted.

The rendering processing unit 203 performs processing such as painting, shading, texture addition, and color calculation on the polygon obtained by the geometry processing unit 202.

The image processing unit of the game device according to the present embodiment designates a single-sided mode for a polygon (virtual plane) to be arranged in a virtual three-dimensional space based on three-dimensional data, and is configured by the polygon. A texture is given to one surface (inner surface) of a polygon positioned inside the three-dimensional object to be processed. Accordingly, when the three-dimensional object is projected from outside the three-dimensional object, the polygon on which the other surface (outer surface) of the polygon located outside the three-dimensional object is projected is transmitted, and the one surface of the polygon is projected. The texture will be displayed.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram for explaining display or transmission of a virtual plane. FIG. 1 shows a state in which a virtual surface is arranged in a virtual three-dimensional space based on three-dimensional data, and one of the surfaces is given a texture. Note that, in the figure, the virtual surface is given a thickness for convenience.
Arrows (a) and (b) indicate a line-of-sight vector from a viewpoint position in the virtual three-dimensional space. Here, in the case of a line-of-sight vector (a) from one surface (the inner surface of the three-dimensional object) of the textured virtual surface to the other surface, image processing is performed so that the texture is displayed on the display. On the other hand, in the case of the line-of-sight vector (b), the texture of the virtual plane is not displayed, that is, the virtual plane is transmitted (ignored). This allows
Depending on the projection direction from the line of sight to the virtual surface, the texture of the virtual surface is displayed or transmitted. When a virtual plane is transmitted, if there is another virtual plane behind the virtual plane, display / transmission processing is similarly performed on the virtual plane.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the image processing section in the game device according to the present embodiment. First, when selecting the polygon data from the data storage unit 201 (STEP 401), the geometry processing unit 202 determines whether the single-sided mode is designated (STEP 401).
402). If the one-sided mode is designated, the normal vector of the polygon and the line-of-sight vector are compared to determine whether or not the polygon should be transmitted (STEP 403). If it is determined in STEP 403 that the polygon should be transmitted, the next polygon is selected to ignore the processing for that polygon. On the other hand, a polygon determined to be displayed is subjected to geometry processing such as arranging it in a virtual three-dimensional space based on its vertex coordinate data and mapping it to a two-dimensional plane (STEP 404). Then, the rendering processing unit 20
3 performs processing such as painting, shading, applying texture, and performing color calculation on the polygon subjected to the geometry processing (STEP 405). The image data on which the geometry processing and the rendering processing have been performed are transmitted to the video encoder 108, subjected to predetermined signal processing, and displayed on the display device 4a.

In the present embodiment, the geometry processing and the rendering processing are performed on the polygon determined to be displayed based on the relationship with the line-of-sight vector, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, after performing the geometry processing on all the polygons, the transparency processing may be performed on the polygons for which the one-sided mode is specified in the rendering processing.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a three-dimensional object is projected from a viewpoint position outside the three-dimensional object, the other surface (outer surface) of the polygon located outside the three-dimensional object is The projected polygon is transmitted, and the texture of one surface (inner surface) of another polygon disposed behind the polygon is displayed.

For example, a case will be described in which a three-dimensional polygonal pyramid object is formed using triangular polygons and a texture is provided inside the three-dimensional object. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the appearance of the texture of a three-dimensional object that is a polygonal pyramid. FIGS. 6A and 6B are projections from the bottom direction of the polygonal pyramid at different angles, respectively.
FIG. 3C shows the polygonal pyramid projected from a direction parallel to the bottom direction. Also, in FIGS.
On the left side of the arrow, a portion to which a texture is applied is indicated by oblique lines, and on the right side of the arrow, an actually displayed portion is indicated by oblique lines.

As described above, in the three-dimensional object for which the one-sided mode is designated, the polygons whose outer surfaces are projected are transmitted, and the textures of the polygons whose inner surfaces are projected are displayed.

Such a three-dimensional object can be used, for example, for smoke and splashes of a racing car in a racing game. 6 and 7
Shows a state in which smoke rising from a tire of a racing car is represented by a polygonal pyramid object. Such a smoke object is programmed to be displayed, for example, when the player performs a sudden start operation,
The position in the virtual three-dimensional space is calculated and displayed according to the projection direction from the viewpoint position at that time.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the texture is applied only to the inner surface of the three-dimensional object, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the player recognizes the shape of the three-dimensional object. it can.

In the above-described embodiment, the configuration is such that the polygon is transmitted. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the rendering process, the inside surface of a three-dimensional object composed of polygons is processed as if there is no polygon that does not face the projection from the viewpoint position, so that only the inside surface of the object is displayed. May be.

The selection of a polygon whose inner surface does not face the viewpoint position can be calculated based on a vector in the line-of-sight direction (projection direction from the viewpoint position) and a surface vector of a polygon constituting the object.

The surface vector of the polygon is obtained according to the supply order of the data of each vertex (vertex data).

[0045]

According to the present invention, the rendering process is performed on the inner surface of the polygon forming the three-dimensional object when the projection from one side of the polygon forming the three-dimensional object is transmitted. A three-dimensional and realistic object can be easily displayed from any viewpoint position.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a game device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of an image processing unit in the game device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram for explaining display or transmission of a virtual surface.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary view for explaining the operation of the image processing unit in the game device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary view for explaining a display example of a three-dimensional object according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a case where the three-dimensional object according to the embodiment is applied to a racing car.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary view when a three-dimensional object according to the embodiment is applied to a racing car;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Game apparatus main body 2 ... Input device 3 ... CD-ROM drive 4 ... Output device 101 ... CPU 102 ... ROM 103 ... Main memory 104 ... Graphic memory 105 ... Sound memory 106 ... Backup memory 107 ... VDP 108 ... Video encoder 109 ... Sound processor 110 ... D / A converter 111 ... Bus arbiter

Claims (8)

[Claims] An image processing method for forming a three-dimensional object by arranging a virtual surface in a virtual three-dimensional space based on three-dimensional data, and adding a texture to a virtual surface located inside the three-dimensional object. Image processing, wherein, when the three-dimensional object is projected from a predetermined viewpoint position in the virtual three-dimensional space, a transmission process is performed on a virtual surface on which a virtual surface located outside the three-dimensional object is projected. Method. 2. A step of forming a three-dimensional object by arranging a plurality of polygons in a virtual three-dimensional section based on three-dimensional data, wherein an inner surface of the polygon forming the three-dimensional object is located in the virtual three-dimensional space. An image processing method comprising: extracting a polygon facing a predetermined viewpoint position; and applying a texture to a surface of the polygon extracted in the step, which is an inner surface of the three-dimensional object. 3. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the texture represents smoke, water droplets, or dust. 4. A recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to implement the image processing method according to claim 2 or 3 is recorded. 5. Geometry means for forming a three-dimensional object by arranging a virtual surface in a virtual three-dimensional space based on three-dimensional data, and rendering means for giving a texture to a virtual surface located inside the three-dimensional object. An image processing apparatus comprising: a transparent process for projecting a virtual surface located outside the three-dimensional object when projecting the three-dimensional object from a predetermined viewpoint position in the virtual three-dimensional space; An image processing apparatus, comprising: 6. A geometric means for forming a three-dimensional object by arranging a plurality of polygons in a virtual three-dimensional space based on three-dimensional data, and an inner surface of the three-dimensional object having a predetermined viewpoint in the virtual three-dimensional space. An image processing apparatus comprising: an extraction unit that extracts a polygon facing a position; and a rendering unit that assigns a texture to a surface of the polygon extracted by the extraction unit that becomes an inner surface of the three-dimensional object. 7. The texture according to claim 4, wherein the texture represents smoke, water droplets or dust.
The image processing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. 8. A recording medium recording a program for realizing a predetermined function in a computer, the program comprising: a direction of a virtual surface to be arranged in a virtual three-dimensional space based on three-dimensional data; Means for determining whether or not to transmit the virtual surface based on a line-of-sight vector for the virtual surface from a predetermined viewpoint position in a three-dimensional space; and for the virtual surface determined not to be transmitted by the determining means. A program for arranging a virtual surface in a virtual three-dimensional space based on the three-dimensional data; and a device for applying a texture to a virtual surface to be positioned inside the three-dimensional object. The recording medium on which it was recorded.