JP2000339495A - Picture display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a picture display device which can display a state where an object moves in a virtual three-dimensional space with a comparatively less processing burden. SOLUTION: A viewpoint SP and an object OH constituted of plural polygons R1 to R4 are arranged in a world coordinate system. Textures T1 to T4 are stuck to the polygons R1 to R4. A processing for moving the object OH from an arranging position P1 to an arranging position P2 and arranging the object OH again to the arranging position P1 when the object OH reaches the arranging position P2 is repeated. Whenever the object OH is arranged in the arranging position P1, the textures stuck to the polygons R1 to R4 are sequentially updated to new textures continued to the patterns of the textures. Thus, the pattern of a background moving on a display screen is displayed by displaying the state of the movement of the object OH in the word coordinate system based on the viewpoint SP.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image display device mounted on a game machine such as a pachinko machine, a slot machine, a coin game machine or a video game machine, and more particularly to a moving state in a virtual three-dimensional space. Display technology.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a pachinko machine, which is a game machine equipped with this kind of image display device, a game state advantageous to a player who can obtain a large number of pachinko balls, and the player consumes pachinko balls. A game state disadvantageous to the player is generated, and a realistic display mode is displayed in accordance with each game state in order to make the player's fun last. As a display mode, for example, by gradually enlarging or reducing a background, which is a two-dimensional image drawn using perspective, etc., the player moves in the depth direction or the near side direction of the display screen. This realizes a display mode for making the user feel like. However, since the conventional pachinko machine uses a background drawn in perspective or the like, a display mode that is so realistic that the player can feel as if moving in the depth direction or the near side direction of the display screen. Cannot be realized.

Therefore, in recent years, an object which is three-dimensional information composed of polygons for displaying a background is arranged in a virtual three-dimensional space, and a viewpoint for displaying a state in the virtual three-dimensional space is arranged. Then, by moving the viewpoint in the virtual three-dimensional space, an attempt has been made to display a state of moving in the virtual three-dimensional space on a display screen. Thus, a display mode in which the background moves from the back side, for example, is displayed on the display screen, and the player can feel a sense of presence as if moving in the display screen in the back side direction. .

More specifically, as shown in FIG.
For example, a plurality of objects OBJ (or polygons) are arranged in a world coordinate system which is a three-dimensional coordinate system corresponding to a three-dimensional space, and a viewpoint SP for displaying a state in a virtual three-dimensional space is arranged. To each object OBJ arranged in the world coordinate system, a texture in which characters of “A”, “B”,... Which are images of the background pattern are drawn is pasted in order, and these “A” ,
The viewpoint SP is moved on each object OBJ so that the characters “B”,... Are sequentially displayed on the display screen (dotted arrow in the figure). As a result, FIG.
As shown in (c), “A”,
A state in which the background pattern of “B”,... Moves from the back side to the front side of the display screen 6a is displayed. As a result, on the display screen 6a, a display mode with a sense of reality, such as moving in a virtual three-dimensional space, is displayed.

[0005]

However, the above-mentioned conventional image display device has the following problems. The size of the world coordinate system described above and the number of objects that can be arranged in the world coordinate system are limited by the storage capacity of a storage unit such as a register or a buffer included in the image display device. Cannot move the viewpoint SP infinitely. Therefore, there is a problem that a background that moves infinitely on the display screen cannot be displayed. Also, if you increase the number of objects placed in the world coordinate system,
Although the range of the background pattern that can be moved on the display screen is widened, a problem arises in that the processing load such as geometry calculation processing performed by the image display device increases.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and is capable of displaying an image of moving in a virtual three-dimensional space by moving a background with a relatively small processing load. It is an object to provide a display device.

[0007]

The present invention has the following configuration in order to achieve the above object. A configuration of the present invention is an image display device that displays a state of moving in a virtual three-dimensional space on a display screen, and a background object that is three-dimensional information for displaying a background in the virtual three-dimensional space; Background object information storage means for storing a plurality of types of background textures which are image information constituting a continuous background pattern to be pasted on the background object; Moving arrangement means for arranging the background object repeatedly from the first arrangement position to the second arrangement position, arranged at a first arrangement position in a space; and moving the background object from the first arrangement position to the second arrangement position. Texture updating means for sequentially updating a background texture to be attached to the background object each time the object is moved; A display image generating unit configured to generate a display image indicating a state in the virtual three-dimensional space in which the background object to which the scenery texture is pasted moves; and a display unit configured to display the display image on a display screen. It is assumed that. When the configuration of the present invention is referred to as Configuration 1, the present invention can be further configured as follows.

In a second aspect, in the image display device according to the first aspect, the background object is composed of a plurality of polygons, and the plurality of types of background textures are image information of a pattern to be pasted on each of the polygons. Is an image display device. According to this configuration, the background object is composed of a plurality of polygons, and a plurality of types of background textures are attached to these polygons. As a result, more types of background textures can be pasted on the background object, so that the background pattern displayed on the display screen can be displayed more realistically. Further, the same effect as in the case of the configuration 1 can be obtained.

A third aspect is the image display device according to the first aspect, wherein the background object is a single polygon, and the plurality of types of background textures are image information of a pattern to be pasted on the polygon. Device. According to this configuration, the background object is a single polygon, and a plurality of types of background textures are attached to the polygon. As a result, it is only necessary to perform processing on a single polygon, so that the movement of the background pattern can be displayed on the display screen with a smaller processing load.
Further, the same effect as in the case of the configuration 1 can be obtained.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is the image display device according to the second or third aspect, wherein the polygon is a quadrilateral polygon composed of four vertices. According to this configuration, the polygon is a quadrilateral polygon composed of four vertices, and a plurality of types of background textures are attached to these quadrilateral polygons. As a result, even in the case of a quadrilateral polygon, the movement of the background pattern can be displayed on the display screen with less processing sharing.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is the image display device according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, wherein the moving arrangement means comprises:
Distance between the first arrangement position and the second arrangement position,
An image display apparatus for repeatedly moving the background object from the first arrangement position to the second arrangement position as a width of at least a single polygon constituting the background object. According to this configuration, the moving arrangement unit repeatedly moves the background object with the distance between the first arrangement position and the second arrangement position being at least the width of the polygon of the background object. As a result, the background pattern displayed on the display screen can be moved more smoothly, and the processing load can be reduced.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is the image display device according to any one of the second to fifth aspects, wherein the plurality of types of background textures are arranged so as to constitute the entire background displayed on the display screen, and Map data storing means for storing map data for associating a texture with a polygon of the background object, wherein the texture updating means includes a step of, whenever the background object is moved from the first arrangement position to the second arrangement position, The specific area on the map data set corresponding to the background object is sequentially moved for each of the background textures, and the background texture included in the moved specific area is pasted on each polygon of the background object. Update the background texture to be pasted on the background object. It is an image display device. According to this configuration, the texture updating unit configures the entire background displayed on the display screen and sets the specific area on the map data that associates the background texture with the polygon. Each time the background object is moved from the first arrangement position to the second arrangement position by the moving arrangement means, the specific area is moved in units of the background texture. Further, the background texture is sequentially updated by pasting the associated background texture on the map data included in the moved specific area to the polygon of the background object. Therefore, by using map data in which each polygon of the background object is associated with the background texture to be pasted to each polygon, the background texture to be pasted to each polygon of the background object can be sequentially updated by relatively simple processing. Can be. As a result, smoother movement of the background pattern on the display screen can be realized.

A seventh aspect of the present invention is the image display device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the symbol object is three-dimensional information for displaying a symbol in the virtual three-dimensional space, and the symbol object is attached to the symbol object. A pattern object information storage unit that stores a design texture that is image information of a design pattern, and a design object placement unit that places a design object read from the design object information storage unit in the virtual three-dimensional space. The display image generation unit is an image display device that generates a display image including the background object to which the background texture is pasted and the design object to which the design texture is pasted. According to this configuration, the symbol object arranging unit arranges the symbol object read from the symbol object information storage unit in the virtual three-dimensional space. The display image generation means generates a display image in which a design texture is pasted on a design object and a background texture is pasted on a background object. As a result, by displaying the design together with the moving background pattern on the display screen, it is possible to display a realistic display mode as if the design is moving in the virtual three-dimensional space.

Structure 8 is a gaming machine provided with the image display device according to any one of Structures 1 to 7. According to this gaming machine, the gaming state generated by the gaming state generating means is generated. Then, the image display device according to any one of the above-described configurations 1 to 7, by moving the background pattern on the display screen, provides a realistic display that moves in the virtual three-dimensional space according to the game state. Display the mode. As a result, the interest of the player playing the gaming machine can be maintained.

In a ninth aspect, the gaming machine according to the eighth aspect is a pachinko machine. The basic configuration of this pachinko machine is
An operation handle is provided, and a game ball is fired at a predetermined game area in accordance with the operation of the handle, and a display ball is required as a condition that the game ball wins an operating port arranged at a predetermined position in the game area. The change of the identification symbol and the auxiliary symbol starts. In addition, during the occurrence of a specific game state, a winning opening arranged at a predetermined position in the game area is opened in a predetermined manner so that a game ball can be won,
Valuable values (including not only prize balls, but also writing on magnetic cards, etc.) according to the winning number are given. As a result, the fun of the player playing the pachinko machine can be maintained.

[0016]

The operation of the present invention is as follows. The moving arrangement unit reads a background object, which is three-dimensional information, from the background object information storage unit, and arranges the background object at a first arrangement position in the virtual three-dimensional space. Then, the background object is repeatedly moved from the first arrangement position to the second arrangement position. Each time the background object is moved from the first arrangement position to the second arrangement position, the texture updating means sequentially updates the background texture attached to the background object. The display image generating means generates a display image indicating a state of movement of the background object to which the background texture has been pasted. The display means displays the display image on the display screen, thereby moving the background pattern on the display screen and thereby moving in the virtual three-dimensional space.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. A pachinko machine will be described as an example of a gaming machine having an image display device. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a pachinko machine according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control board and an image display device provided in the pachinko machine, and FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image processing unit of FIG.

The pachinko machine according to the present embodiment includes a game board 2 having a control board 1 (see FIG. 2) for controlling the entire pachinko machine, a frame 3 on which the game board 2 is mounted, and a game board 2.
And a rotating handle 5 to which a launching device (not shown) for projecting the pachinko balls stored in the upper tray 4 onto the surface of the game board 2 is connected. The lower tray 8 provided and the LCD monitor 6 which displays an identification symbol for identifying a game state by the player and an auxiliary symbol which is a symbol other than the identification symbol displayed for enhancing the effect of the game state. An image display device 7 (see FIG. 2) mounted so that the display screen 6a is arranged substantially at the center of the game board 2 is provided. The display screen 6a displays a change (movement, rotation, rotation) of one or more identification symbols and auxiliary symbols on a background on which a predetermined pattern is drawn.
(Deformation etc.) is displayed according to the gaming state of the gaming machine. The identification symbol is a so-called symbol number or an image of a symbol with a symbol number for allowing a player to recognize a jackpot or a reach in a pachinko machine, and an auxiliary symbol is for enhancing the effect of the effect in a jackpot or a reach. Is an image of a symbol other than the identification symbol displayed on the screen. Also,
The jackpot means a state advantageous to a player who can obtain a large number of pachinko balls, and the normal playing state means a state disadvantageous to a player consuming pachinko balls. Fluctuations in the identification symbols and the like displayed during the normal game state are called normal fluctuations, and are used to perform an effect as if a jackpot occurs (including the case where a jackpot occurs) regardless of whether a jackpot has occurred or not. Fluctuation is called reach. At the time of the big hit, a display mode for each round described later is displayed. further,
When a game is not played on the pachinko machine, a display such as a demonstration is displayed. The symbol according to the present invention is a concept including an identification symbol and an auxiliary symbol.

The game board 2 has a rail 2a for guiding the pachinko ball shot by the rotary handle 5 to the board surface,
A plurality of nails (not shown) for guiding a pachinko ball to an unspecified portion, a plurality of winning holes 2b for winning pachinko balls guided by the nail, and a pachinko ball guided substantially near the center of the game board 2. Is provided, and a large winning opening 2d through which a relatively large number of pachinko balls can be won at a time in a specific game state is provided. In each of the winning opening 2b, the starting opening 2c, and the big winning opening 2d, a winning detection sensor 11 for detecting the entry of a pachinko ball.
(See FIG. 2). When the winning detection sensor 11 detects the entry of a pachinko ball, a predetermined number of pachinko balls are supplied to the upper tray 4 by the control board 1 provided in the game board 2. A start start sensor 12 (see FIG. 2) is provided in the start port 2c. Further, an open / close solenoid 13 (see FIG. 2) is provided in the special winning opening 2d, and the operation of the open / close solenoid 13 allows the special winning opening 2d to be freely opened and closed. It should be noted that, in addition to the above, a holding lamp or the like for storing the number of pachinko balls that have entered the starting port 2c is provided, but the description thereof is omitted in this embodiment.

The upper receiving tray 4 has a receiving tray shape.
The pachinko balls supplied from the ball supply port 4a to which the pachinko balls are supplied are stored. Further, on the opposite side of the upper tray 4 in which the ball supply port 4a is arranged, a ball feed port (not shown) is provided which communicates with a launching device that launches a pachinko ball toward the rail 2a. Further, on the upper part of the upper receiving tray 4, a ball removing button 4b for transferring the stored pachinko balls to the lower receiving tray 8 is provided, and by pressing the ball removing button 4b, the pachinko balls stored in the upper receiving tray 4 are pressed. Can be transferred to the lower tray 8. The lower tray 8 has a tray shape and receives the pachinko balls transferred from the upper tray 4. The lower tray 8 is provided with a ball removal lever (not shown) for removing the pachinko balls stored therein.

A firing device for firing a pachinko ball toward the rail 2a is connected to the rotary handle 5. By rotating the rotary handle 5, the launching device launches a pachinko ball with a strength corresponding to the amount of rotation. In addition,
When the player holds the rotary handle 5 in a rotated state, the firing device fires the pachinko balls one by one at predetermined intervals.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control board 1 provided on the game board 2 outputs a main control section 16 which is a microcomputer composed of a memory, a CPU and the like, and a value for determining a game state in the game machine. A counter 14, a start-up start sensor 12 for detecting a pachinko ball entering at the starting port 2c (see FIG. 1), and a prize detecting sensor 11 for detecting pachinko ball entering at the prize opening 2b (see FIG. 1). , Grand Prize Winner 2
An open / close solenoid 13 that opens and closes d (see FIG. 1) and an I / F (interface) 15 that is connected to an I / F (interface) 17 of the image display device 7 so that information can be distributed.
It is configured with such as. The control base 1 executes various events such as supplying a predetermined amount of pachinko balls and operating lamps and speakers (not shown) based on the detection of the ball detection sensors at the winning opening 2b and the starting opening 2c. Things. Further, the control base 1 sends various commands for instructing a display mode according to the game state to the I / F.
15 to the image display device 7.

Specifically, the processing performed by the control board 1 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Step S1 (Detection of Incoming Ball) The player drives the pachinko ball into the gaming board 2 with the rotary handle 5, and starts the pachinko game. Gaming board 2
A portion of the pachinko balls hit inside are guided to near the center of the board and enter the starting port 2c. When the pachinko ball enters the start port 2c, the start start sensor 12 that detects the ball that has entered the start port 2c outputs a start start signal to the main control section 16c.
And the winning detection sensor 11 provided in the starting port 2c sends a winning signal to the main controller 16. In this embodiment, the start start sensor 12 and the winning detection sensor 1
1 is used together by the same sensor. Also, when a pachinko ball enters the winning opening 2b, each winning opening 2b
The winning detection sensor 11 sends a winning signal to the main control unit 16.

Step S2 (Pachinko ball supply) When the main control unit 16 detects a winning signal from the winning detection sensor 11, it activates a pachinko ball supply mechanism (not shown) to supply a predetermined number of pachinko balls to the ball supply port 4a. To the upper tray 4

Step S3 (Large Winning Lottery) When the main control section 16 detects the start start signal from the start start sensor 12, the main controller 16 reads the output value of the counter 14 and performs the big jackpot lottery. In the jackpot lottery, if the output value of the counter 14 is a predetermined value, a "big hit" is generated. On the other hand, if the output value of the counter 14 is other than the predetermined value, the normal game state of “losing” is continued.

Step S4 (Transmit Command) The main control unit 16 determines a display mode corresponding to a normal game state or a specific game state, and displays a command corresponding to the display mode via the I / F 15 in an image display. Transmit to the device 7.
The command is an instruction for causing the image display device 7 to execute a predetermined display program, and a display pattern corresponding to a game state is displayed on the display screen 6a by executing the display program. For example, in the case of a jackpot, the main control unit 16
Sends a command to start a given reach,
After a lapse of a predetermined time, a command indicating the type of the jackpot identification symbol to be stopped at the final stage of the reach is transmitted. Thereby, the display screen 6a of the image display device 7 includes
After the command displays the type of reach indicated,
Further, it is displayed so as to stop at the jackpot identification symbol of the type designated by the command. At this time, the main control unit 16
After the stop of the jackpot identification symbol is displayed on the display screen 6a, the opening signal is given to the open / close solenoid 13 to open the big winning opening 2d, so that the player can acquire a large number of pachinko balls. I do. Further, in this game state, the control base 1 has, for example, about 10 balls with a special winning opening 2.
The winning of d is regarded as one round, and each time the round ends, a command instructing the end of the round or the start of the next round is transmitted to the image display device 7.
Thereby, the display mode of a different pattern is displayed on the display screen 6a for each round. On the other hand, in the case of a loss, a command for instructing the type of the identification symbol of the loss to be stopped at the final stage of the reach, or a command for stopping the identification symbol fluctuating during the normal game state at the identification symbol of the loss. The image is transmitted to the image display device 7. As a result, the display screen 6a is displayed so as to stop at the lost symbol after the reach is displayed, or to stop at the lost symbol after the normal fluctuation.

Step S5 (New ball detection?) The main controller 16 waits until it detects the presence or absence of a new start signal from the start sensor 12 (new ball). If there is no new start start signal, this process is terminated and the process stands by until a new start start signal is detected. The control board 1 that executes the above-described steps S1 to S5 corresponds to a game state generating unit in the present invention. Note that the start start sensor 12 detects the entry of a pachinko ball during the change of the identification symbol (reach, normal variation, etc.), and stores the number of the entered pachinko balls, and the above-described holding lamp, which has not been described, lights up. If so, the lighting of the holding lamp is detected as a new start start signal. If there is a new start start signal, steps T2 to T4 are repeated.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image display device 7 has an I / F 1 for receiving a command sent from the control board 1.
7, a character storage unit 18 that stores an object that is three-dimensional information set in the world coordinate system based on the command, a texture that is image information of a pattern of the object, and a rearmost image. 3D image processing unit 1 that executes a program to set an object in the world coordinate system and generates a display image in which a texture is attached to the object.
9, an image storage unit 20 for temporarily storing a display image generated by the three-dimensional image processing unit 19, and a liquid crystal monitor 6 for displaying the display image. Note that the world coordinate system is a three-dimensional coordinate system corresponding to a virtual three-dimensional space. The object is set to the world coordinate system.
It is a three-dimensional virtual object and is three-dimensional information composed of a plurality of polygons. A polygon is a polygon plane defined by a plurality of vertices of three-dimensional coordinates. The texture is image information to be attached to each polygon of the object, and an image corresponding to the object, for example, an identification symbol, an auxiliary symbol, or a background is generated by attaching the texture to the object.

The I / F 17 is connected to the I / F 15 of the control board 1 so that information can be distributed, and receives a command sent from the control board 1. I / F17 is
The received commands are sequentially passed to the three-dimensional image processing unit 19.

The character storage unit 18 is a memory for storing an object which is three-dimensional information which is appropriately read from the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 and a texture which is two-dimensional image information of the object. In particular,
The character storage unit 18 stores the display screen 6 of the liquid crystal monitor 6.
A background displayed on a, for example, a plurality of types of background textures constituting a pattern of a coral reef on the sea floor, and a jackpot hit identification pattern, such as a pattern texture of a fish pattern, and a texture of a round display pattern indicating the number of rounds of a jackpot, Various textures such as a texture of an auxiliary symbol, for example, a sea turtle pattern, displayed for the effect in the round are stored. The character storage unit 18 also stores a background object, a design object, and the like, each of which is formed by one or a plurality of polygons to which each texture is pasted. Further, the character storage unit 18 includes:
A two-dimensional rearmost image to be displayed on the rearmost side of the display screen 6a is also stored. The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 appropriately reads out these objects, textures, and the rearmost image. The character storage unit 18 corresponds to a background object information storage unit and a design object information storage unit in the present invention.

The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that controls and manages the entire image display device,
It comprises a memory for appropriately storing the calculation result in U, an image data processor for generating an image to be output to the liquid crystal monitor 6, and the like. 3D image processing unit 19
Sets a viewpoint and various objects read from the character storage unit 18 in a world coordinate system, which is a three-dimensional virtual space, in order to realize a display mode according to a command, and moves the object, Is displaced. Furthermore, a so-called geometry calculation process is performed,
It generates projection information that is two-dimensional coordinate information obtained by projecting an object in the world coordinate system onto a projection plane based on the viewpoint. Based on the projection information, the position corresponding to the vertex of each polygon of each object in the frame buffer provided in the image storage unit 20, that is, the address in the frame buffer is obtained, and the texture read out from the character storage unit 18 is obtained. The object is deformed to match the vertices of each polygon, and the texture is drawn based on each address in the frame buffer. When the rendering of the texture on all objects is completed and a display image is generated in the frame buffer of the image storage unit 20, the display image is output to the liquid crystal monitor 6. In addition, 3
The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 includes a moving arrangement unit according to the present invention,
It corresponds to a texture updating unit, a symbol object arranging unit, and a display image generating unit.

More specifically, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 is configured as follows, for example. Hereinafter, an example of the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19
Denotes a CPU 21, a program ROM 22 storing a program executed by the CPU 21, and a work RAM storing data obtained by executing the program.
23, a DMA 24 for collectively transferring data stored in the work RAM 23 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 21,
I / F 25 for receiving data transferred by A24
A geometry operation processing unit 26 that performs coordinate operation processing based on the data received by the I / F 25;
Switching between a rendering processing unit 27 that generates a display image based on the data and the like received by F25, a palette processing unit 28 that provides color information to the rendering processing unit 27, and a plurality of frame buffers provided in the image storage unit 20 The liquid crystal monitor 6 includes a selector unit 29 and a video output unit 30 that outputs a display image to the liquid crystal monitor 6. Further, the above-described CPU 21, program ROM 22, work RAM 2
3, the DMA 24, and the I / F 25 are connected to the same data bus, and the character storage unit 18 that stores objects, textures, and the like stores the geometry operation processing unit 26 via a data bus that is independent of the above-described data bus.
And a rendering processing unit.

The program ROM 22 is a program to be executed first by the CPU 21 when the game machine is powered on, and a plurality of types of programs for performing display according to the type of command sent from the control board 1. And so on. For example, a program for performing display sets an object and a viewpoint in a world coordinate system in order to realize a display mode according to a command by referring to a table prepared in advance or performing arithmetic processing on the referenced data. This is to derive setting information for performing the setting. The display program includes not only a program that is executed independently but also a program that generates a task for performing display according to the type of command by combining a plurality of tasks, for example. Further, the setting information includes arrangement coordinate data indicating the arrangement position of the object set in the world coordinate system, posture data indicating the posture of the object, and arrangement coordinates indicating the arrangement position of the viewpoint set in the world coordinate system. One screen displayed on the display screen 6a together with data, rotation data for rotating the line of sight based on the viewpoint, data including objects and textures stored in the character storage unit 18, and storage addresses of the rearmost image. This is data for generating a display image of minutes. Furthermore, this program RO
M22 also stores map data indicating a background texture to be attached to a polygon constituting a background object arranged in the world coordinate system. As will be described in detail later, this map data constitutes the entire background displayed on the display screen 6a, for example, the entire pattern of the coral reef displayed on the display screen 6a with a plurality of types of background textures, and also constitutes a background object. This is data for instructing a background texture to be attached to a polygon. Note that the program ROM 22 corresponds to a map data storage unit in the present invention.

The CPU 21 is a central processing unit that manages and controls the entire image display device 2 by a control program stored in the program ROM 22. The CPU 21 mainly executes a program corresponding to a command sent from the control board 1. By executing the processing, processing such as setting an object and a viewpoint in the world coordinate system is performed so that the background displayed on the display screen 6a moves continuously. Specifically, the CPU 21 sequentially writes setting information obtained by executing a display program for performing a display corresponding to the command into the work RAM 23 in accordance with the type of the command received by the I / F 17, At every interruption interval (for example, 1/30 second or 1/60 second) of the work R
It instructs the DMA 24 to transfer the setting information in the AM 23.

The work RAM 23 temporarily stores setting information as an execution result obtained by the CPU 21. The DMA 24 is a so-called direct memory access controller that can transfer data stored in the work RAM 23 without going through the processing of the CPU 21. That is, the DMA 24 is
The setting information stored in the work RAM 23 is transferred to the I / F 25 in a lump based on the transfer start instruction.

The I / F 25 receives the setting information transferred by the DMA 24. The I / F 25 includes a storage address of the object stored in the character storage unit 18 included in the setting information, arrangement coordinate data for arranging the object on the world coordinate system, viewpoint data for setting a viewpoint, and Data to be subjected to coordinate calculation such as rotation data for rotating the line of sight based on the geometry calculation processing unit 26 and included in the setting information.
The rendering processing unit 27 is provided with data to be subjected to image drawing, such as a storage address of a texture or the like stored in the character storage unit 18. Further, the I / F 25 provides the palette processing unit 28 with color pallet data for specifying the color information of the texture included in the setting information.

The geometry operation processing unit 26 includes an I / F 25
Performs coordinate calculation processing associated with the movement or rotation of a three-dimensional coordinate point based on the data provided from the. Specifically, based on the storage address of the object stored in the character storage unit 18, the geometry calculation processing unit 26 reads out a plurality of polygon-structured objects arranged in the local coordinate system, and places the object in a posture. The coordinate data of each polygon of the object in the world coordinate system when the world coordinate system is set based on the data and the arrangement coordinate data is calculated. The local coordinate system is a coordinate system unique to an object in which an object having a reference posture is set. Further, coordinate data of each polygon of the object in the viewpoint coordinate system based on the viewpoint set based on the viewpoint data and the rotation data is calculated. Further, projection information which is two-dimensional coordinate data of each polygon of the object on the projection plane when the object is projected on a projection plane set perpendicular to the line of sight based on the viewpoint is calculated. Then, the geometry calculation processing unit 26 gives the projection information to the rendering processing unit 27.

The pallet processing unit 28 stores a pallet R (not shown) that holds a color pallet, which is a plurality of types of color information written in advance by the CPU 21 at initialization, for example.
An AM is provided, and a color palette corresponding to the color palette data provided from the I / F 25 is provided to the rendering processing unit 27. The color information is determined by a combination of red (R), green (G), and blue (B). Giving the color palette means giving the storage address of the color palette stored in the palette RAM to the rendering processing unit 27, for example.
When generating a display image, the rendering processing unit 27 refers to the color information stored at the storage address.

The rendering processing unit 27 first reads the rearmost image based on the storage address of the rearmost image in the character storage unit 18, and stores the rearmost image in a frame buffer provided in the image storage unit 20. Draw and develop each polygon of the object based on the projection information in the frame buffer. Further, the rendering processing unit 2
7 draws the texture read from the character storage unit 18 on an area corresponding to each polygon in the frame buffer, based on the texture storage address in the character storage unit 18 and the color pallet data. As a result, a display image having a predetermined aspect ratio, for example, an aspect ratio of 3: 4, in which the background pattern and various design patterns are drawn on the rearmost image is generated in the frame buffer. The above-described geometry calculation processing unit 26 and rendering processing unit 27 include a clipping process for determining a portion to be displayed on the screen, a hidden surface process for determining a portion that can be seen or not due to the context of polygons, and a light from a light source. Processing such as shading calculation processing for calculating the degree of hit and the state of reflection is also performed as appropriate.

The selector section 29 is for appropriately selecting a plurality of frame buffers. Specifically, when an image is drawn by the above-described rendering processing unit 27, the selector unit 29 includes a plurality of frame buffers provided in the image storage unit 20, for example, a first frame buffer or a second frame buffer. Select one of the frame buffers. In this case, a display image is generated in the selected frame buffer. On the other hand, the selector unit 29 reads a display image for which a display image has already been generated from the frame buffer on which drawing is not performed, and sends the display image to the video output unit 30. In addition,
The selector unit 29 includes a read-side frame buffer,
The frame buffer on the drawing side is sequentially switched. The video output unit 30 converts the display image sent from the selector unit 29 into a video signal and outputs the video signal to the liquid crystal monitor 6.

The image storage unit 20 includes the rendering processing unit 2
7 is a so-called video RAM that stores the display image generated by the video RAM 7. The image storage unit 20 constitutes a so-called double buffer in which a first frame buffer, which is a storage area for storing a display image for one screen, and a second frame buffer, for example. The image storage unit 20
Is not limited to two, and may be any number as long as it is one or more.

The liquid crystal monitor 6 has a screen 6 a for displaying a display image output from the video output unit 30, and is mounted so that the screen 6 a is exposed on the game board 2. The display screen 6a has, for example, an aspect ratio of 9: 1.
6, the liquid crystal monitor 6 adjusts the display image having an aspect ratio of 3: 4 output from the video output unit 30 to the display screen 6a according to the aspect ratio of the display screen 6a.
To display the display image. The liquid crystal monitor 6 corresponds to a display unit in the present invention. The display means for displaying the display image is not limited to the liquid crystal monitor, but may be, for example, a CRT monitor or a plasma display monitor. In addition, the liquid crystal monitor 6 has a function of displaying a display image having an aspect ratio of 3: 4 as it is, and appropriately changing the aspect ratio of the display image displayed on the display screen 6a according to the game state. Can also. The LCD monitor 6
Corresponds to the display means in the present invention.

Here, the present invention realizes a display mode in which a processing load on a gaming machine or an image display device is relatively reduced, and a player can feel a sense of presence as if moving in a virtual three-dimensional space. In order to perform the display, the background pattern is smoothly moved (scrolled) from the back side to the front side on the display screen 6a observed by the player, for example. Further, regardless of the hardware restrictions of the gaming machine or the image display device, it is possible to perform so-called infinite scrolling in which the background pattern displayed on the display screen 6a moves infinitely without a break. In order to facilitate the following understanding, first, the outline of the present invention will be described using simple examples.

As shown in FIGS. 5A to 5E, characters "A, B, C, D,...", Which are background patterns, sequentially appear on the display screen 6a from the back side, and move toward the front side. A display mode is displayed in which the user moves and passes by the outside of the display screen 6a. By observing the movement of such a background pattern, the player can feel a sense of reality as if he is moving backward in the virtual three-dimensional space. In order to realize such a display mode, the image display device 7 performs a process as shown in FIG.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), for example, a background object OH in which quadrangular polygons R1 to R4 are arranged in a line is placed at a position P1 in the world coordinate system.
And a viewpoint S for displaying a background object arranged in the world coordinate system on the display screen 6a.
P is arranged at a predetermined arrangement position. The texture T1 in which the character "A" is drawn in the polygon R1 of the background object OH, the texture T2 in which the character "B" is drawn in the polygon R2, and the texture T in which the character "C" is drawn in the polygon R3. A texture T4 in which the character "D" is drawn on the polygon R4 is attached to T3. The background object OH on which the textures T1 to T4 are pasted
Is moved from the arrangement position P1 to the arrangement position P2 as shown in FIG. By sequentially displaying the state of movement of the background object OH on the display screen 6a, FIG.
The display modes (a) to (c) are displayed. The arrangement position P1 corresponds to the first arrangement position in the present invention, and the arrangement position P2 corresponds to the second arrangement position in the present invention.

When the background object OH is moved to the arrangement position P2 as shown in FIG. 6C, the background object OH is arranged again at the arrangement position P1.
At this time, the texture T2 in which the character “B” is drawn on the polygon R1 of the background object OH is
2, a texture T3 in which the character "C" is drawn, a texture T4 in which the character "D" is drawn in the polygon R3, and a texture T5 in which the character "E" is drawn in the polygon R4.
Is attached. That is, the background object O
Update the background texture to be attached to H. Then, the background object O to which the textures T2 to T5 are pasted
H is moved from the arrangement position P1 to the arrangement position P2 again. Thereby, the display modes as shown in FIGS. 5C to 5E are displayed. 6A to 6C are repeated to obtain each polygon R1 of the background object OH.
To R4, the background pattern is smoothly moved (scrolled) from the back side to the front side, for example, by sequentially updating a plurality of types of background textures of the continuous pattern attached to R4. A so-called infinite scroll that moves infinitely without a break in the pattern can be displayed. Note that the distance between the arrangement position P1 and the arrangement position P2 is equal to the width of each polygon. this is,
Textures are pasted in polygon units, so
By moving the texture by the width of the polygon and then sequentially updating the texture to be attached to each polygon, a smooth display can be realized. Therefore, by moving the pattern at least by the width of the polygon, it is possible to display a state in which the background pattern moves smoothly and infinitely with a relatively light processing load.

Hereinafter, a display mode displayed by the image display device 7 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The display screen 6a of the liquid crystal monitor 6 described above.
Displays a display mode, for example, as shown in FIG. 7 based on the command sent from the control board 1. This display mode is one mode of a round display that is displayed after a jackpot has occurred in a pachinko machine. Hereinafter, this display mode will be described. In addition, the present invention is not limited to the display mode at the time of the round, and can be appropriately applied to the display mode at the time of the reach, the normal fluctuation, or the demonstration, for example.

As shown in FIGS. 7A to 7D, the display screen 6a, which is a wide screen having an aspect ratio of 9:16, includes a jackpot including an identification symbol Z1a, which is an eighth identification symbol at the time of a jackpot. An identification symbol Z1 and a round display symbol Z2 indicating the second round are displayed on the foreground. The identification symbol Z1a is an identification symbol when a jackpot is determined during a game, and the identification symbol Z1a is displayed as if the tail fin is waving in a stopped state. The round display symbol Z2 indicates the number of rounds due to the jackpot, and is displayed such that the number is added each time a round is repeated. An auxiliary symbol Z3 for enhancing the effect is displayed between the jackpot identification symbol Z1 and the round display symbol Z2, and the auxiliary symbol Z3 is moved up and down in a state where it is stopped almost at the center of the display screen 6a. It is a design with a pattern of a sea turtle swimming while moving. Further, a background H is displayed below the auxiliary symbol Z3 such that a continuous pattern of coral reefs on the seabed moves from the back side to the near side of the display screen 6a. Therefore, a display mode is displayed on the display screen 6a such that the sea turtle continues to swim near the seabed toward the depths of the sea. Although not shown in FIG. 7, the rearmost image having a color that makes the boundary of the background H of the coral reef difficult to see is displayed on the rear side of the background H. Further, in this embodiment, the case of moving in the depth direction of the display screen 6a will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Can also be applied.

Next, the processing performed by the image display device 7 to realize the display mode shown in FIG. 7 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

Step T 1 (Command Grasp) The I / F 17 sequentially receives commands sent from the control board 1 and sequentially passes the commands to the three-dimensional image processing unit 19. The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 stores the command in a command buffer (not shown) provided in the work RAM 23. Further, each time there is an interrupt process from the liquid crystal monitor 6, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 reads a command stored in the command buffer and executes a program in the program ROM 22 corresponding to the command. By executing the program, the following steps are executed in the three-dimensional image processing unit 19. The above-described interrupt processing is performed in synchronization with, for example, a vertical scanning signal every 1/30 second or 1/60 second of the liquid crystal monitor 6.

Step T2 (set viewpoint in world coordinate system) The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 sets a world coordinate system corresponding to a virtual three-dimensional space for arranging a plurality of objects. Next, a viewpoint for displaying the state in the world coordinate system on the display screen 6a of the liquid crystal monitor 6 is set in the world coordinate system. The viewpoint is a reference point of a coordinate system using a line of sight as the z-axis so as to face a predetermined direction in the world coordinate system, for example, the direction of the space in which the object is set. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19
Sets a viewpoint SP in which the line of sight is directed to, for example, each symbol object to be described later, based on coordinate values in the world coordinate system for arranging the viewpoint derived by the program and rotation data for determining the direction of the line of sight. . The state in the world coordinate system in the direction in which the line of sight from the viewpoint SP is directed is displayed on the display screen 6a of the liquid crystal monitor 6. In addition,
In this embodiment, the viewpoint SP fixed at a predetermined position in the world coordinate system will be described. However, the position and the line of sight of the viewpoint SP are determined based on the coordinate values and the rotation data whose values change at each interruption process. May be set such that is displaced.

Step T3 (arranging symbol objects) The three-dimensional image processing section 19 displays the symbol object OZ1 which is three-dimensional information for displaying the jackpot identification symbol Z1 on the display screen 6a and the round display symbol Z2. The symbol object OZ2, which is three-dimensional information, and the symbol object OZ3, which is three-dimensional information for displaying an auxiliary symbol Z3 of a sea turtle pattern swimming in the sea, are read from the character storage unit 18. Further, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 moves the symbol objects OZ1 and OZ2 to the arrangement positions based on the viewpoint SP such that the symbols Z1 to Z3 are displayed at the respective positions on the display screen 6a illustrated in FIG. The symbol object OZ3 is arranged at an arrangement position based on the origin of the world coordinate system. In addition, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 arranges each of the symbol objects OZ1 to OZ3 at the same arrangement position every time there is an interruption process, so that each of the symbols Z1 to ZZ is always at a predetermined position on the display screen 6a.
3 can be displayed. In addition, by sequentially updating the arrangement position of each symbol object OZ1 to OZ3,
Each of the symbols Z1 to Z3 can be displayed so as to move on the display screen 6a. Also, the design object OZ
The reason why 1, OZ2 is arranged with reference to the viewpoint SP is to display the OZ2 at a fixed position on the display screen 6a even when the viewpoint SP is displaced.

Further, the three-dimensional information processing section 19 changes the form of each of the symbol objects OZ1 and OZ3 for each interruption process. More specifically, the symbol object OZ1 of the jackpot identification symbol Z1 includes a symbol object on which the identification symbol Z1a is displayed. The body part object to be displayed and the tail fin object to display the tail fin of the fish are connected at a predetermined connection point. The three-dimensional image processing unit 19
Each part object of the symbol object of the identification symbol is displaced right and left around the connection point at each interruption process. This allows the display screen 6a to display an action of a fish swimming while stopped at a predetermined position. Also, the symbol object OZ3 of the auxiliary symbol Z3
Is composed of a torso object displaying a tortoise body and four limb objects each displaying a turtle limb connected to the torso object at a predetermined connection point. The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 vertically swings and displaces each limb object with respect to the torso object at each interruption process centering on each of these connection points.
This allows the display screen 6a to display an action of swimming in the sea while stopped at a predetermined position. Although each of the symbol objects OZ1 to OZ3 has a predetermined shape, the shape of each symbol object is illustrated as a spherical shape in FIG. 9 for convenience. Step T
Reference numeral 3 corresponds to the function of the symbol object arrangement means in the present invention.

Step T4 (Place a Background Object) The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 reads from the character storage unit 18 a background object OH composed of a plurality of polygons for displaying the pattern of the coral reef on the sea floor on the display screen 6a. Then, the background object OH is arranged at the arrangement position P1 in the world coordinate system (see FIG. 9). The background object OH is configured by, for example, nine square polygons arranged in a plane. Further, as shown in FIG.
The two-dimensional image processing unit 19 sequentially moves the background object OH from the arrangement position P1 to the arrangement position P2 for each interruption process, and when the background object OH reaches the arrangement position P2, moves the background object OH again to the arrangement position. The process of arranging at P1 is repeated. Step T4 corresponds to the function of the moving arrangement means in the present invention.

Step T5 (Deformation Correction of Viewpoint Coordinate System) The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 converts the world coordinate system into a viewpoint coordinate system using the viewpoint SP as a reference, that is, the origin. Thereby, the symbol object O arranged in the world coordinate system
When the coordinate values of Z1 to OZ3 and the background object OH are
It is converted into coordinate values in the viewpoint coordinate system. Here, since the aspect ratio of the display image generated in the frame buffer by the rendering processing unit 27 is 3: 4, when this display image is displayed on the display screen 6a having the aspect ratio of 9:16,
There is an adverse effect that the display image becomes an extended image.
Therefore, by modifying the viewpoint coordinate system in accordance with the aspect ratio of the display image and the aspect ratio of the display screen, each design or the like arranged in the viewpoint coordinate system is transformed.

Specifically, the three-dimensional image processing section 19 calculates deformation correction data for correcting the viewpoint coordinate system. The deformation correction data is a magnification value for enlarging or reducing the vertical width or the horizontal width of the background object OH and the design objects OZ1 to OZ3 (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as “design objects or the like”). The deformation correction data is
Assuming that the aspect ratio of the display screen 6a is A: B and the aspect ratio of the display image is a: b, it can be calculated by the following equation (1). It should be noted that the deformation correction data calculated by the following equation (1) is used for correcting the width of a design object or the like when the width is deformed according to the screen based on the vertical magnification of the display image. This is a magnification value, and is a magnification value for correcting the vertical width of a design object or the like when the vertical width is deformed in accordance with the screen based on the horizontal magnification of the display image.

(A × b) ÷ (a × B) (1)

The aspect ratio of the display image generated in the frame buffer is 3: 4, and the aspect ratio of the display screen 6a is 9: 4.
In the case of 16, the display image is displayed on the display screen 6a at an aspect ratio of 9:16, so that the width of the display image is 4/16.
It is displayed as if it were enlarged three times. At this time, the width of the design object or the like included in the display image is also 4 /
It is enlarged three times. Here, by substituting each value of the aspect ratio of the display image and the display screen 6a into the equation (1), the width of the design object or the like is increased to three quarters (hereinafter, “3/4 times”).
) Is calculated. Further, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 reduces the horizontal direction (x-axis direction) of the viewpoint coordinate system to ３ times based on the deformation correction data. As a result, the background object OH and each of the design objects OZ1 to OZ3 are reduced to 3/4 times in the x-axis direction of the viewpoint coordinate system.

Step T6 (Project on Projection Plane) The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 sets a projection plane perpendicular to the z-axis which is the line-of-sight direction of the viewpoint coordinate system between the viewpoint SP and the symbol objects OZ1 and OZ2. Set SC. The projection plane SC is perpendicular to the z-axis of the viewpoint coordinate system, and has a fixed z value.
It can be treated as a dimensional coordinate system. The projection plane SC has an area corresponding to a frame buffer provided in the image storage unit 20.

Further, the three-dimensional image processing section 19 projects the design object OZ1 and the design object OZ2 in parallel on the projection plane SC. Thereby, each vertex of each polygon constituting each of the symbol objects OZ1 and OZ2 is projected as it is so as to move in parallel to the projection plane SC, and the three-dimensional coordinate value of each vertex is set to 2 on the projection plane SC.
Converted to dimensional coordinate values. On the other hand, the three-dimensional image processing unit 1
Reference numeral 9 shows a perspective projection of the design object OZ3 and the background object OH on the projection plane SC. As a result, the vertices of each polygon constituting the symbol object OZ3 and the background object OH are projected so as to move in the direction of the viewpoint SP, and the three-dimensional coordinate values of each vertex are converted into the two-dimensional coordinate values on the projection plane SC. Is converted to The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 obtains projection information of each object in the world coordinate system when the projection of all objects ends. The reason why the symbol objects OZ1 and OZ2 are projected in parallel is to make it easier for the player to always recognize the jackpot identification symbol Z1 and the round display symbol Z2.

Step T7 (drawing of the rearmost image) The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 reads the rearmost image stored in the character storage unit 18 and stores the rearmost image in the frame buffer in the image storage unit 20. draw. The rearmost image is, for example, an image for making the color of the sea color less noticeable and a border line of a coral reef pattern described later.

Step T8 (Paste Background Texture) The three-dimensional image processing section 19 reads map data from the program ROM 22, and sets a specific area corresponding to the background object OH on the map data. Each time the background object OH is placed again from the placement position P2 to the placement position P1, the background texture indicated by the data is referred to by referring to the data in the specific area.
Paste on each polygon of the background object OH.

Here, the map data and the background texture will be described with reference to FIGS. On the display screen 6a, a pattern of a seabed coral reef moving from the back side to the front side is displayed. FIG. 11A shows a background texture constituting one of the coral reef patterns. FIG.
As shown in (a), one coral reef pattern is composed of four background textures Ta, Tb, Tc, and Td. Further, as shown in FIG. 11B, the map data corresponding to one coral reef pattern includes, for example, data of “0” indicating the pasting of the background texture Ta to the polygon and the pasting of the background texture Tb. For example, it is composed of data of “1”, data of, for example, “2” for instructing pasting of the background texture Tc, and data of, for example, “3” for instructing pasting of the background texture Td. Next, FIG. 12A shows the entire background texture TH of all the rotating coral reef patterns that are all the backgrounds displayed on the display screen 6a. This whole background texture TH is
It is composed of a plurality of background textures Ta to Td, and is configured so that upper, lower, left and right patterns are continuous. In addition, as shown in FIG. 12B, in the map data MD, data of “0” to “3” for designating each of the background textures Ta to Td are arranged in order to configure the entire background texture TH. It is a thing.

Specifically, first, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19
Represents a two-dimensional virtual coordinate point P3 of the viewpoint S on the plane by projecting the viewpoint SP arranged in the world coordinate system vertically onto the same plane on which the background object OH is arranged.
Ask for. Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 reads the map data MD from the program ROM 22, and sets the virtual coordinate point P3 on the map data MD. Then, the line of sight of the viewpoint SP (z
An offset value L corresponding to the (axis) direction is calculated, and a virtual center coordinate point P4 is set at a position separated from the virtual coordinate point P3 by the offset value L. The offset value L is calculated based on the line-of-sight rotation angle data. For example, in the case of rotation angle data in which the line of sight is directed to a position far from the viewpoint SP in the world coordinate system, the offset value L is increased while the line of sight is directed to a position close to the viewpoint SP in the world coordinate system. If the rotation angle data is appropriate, the offset value L is calculated as a value that decreases. Further, in the case where the line of sight rotates right and left, the virtual center coordinate point P4 is rotated about the virtual coordinate point P3 by an amount corresponding to the rotation of the line of sight left and right.

Next, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 sets a specific area TR (hatched area in the figure) including the same number of background textures as the polygons forming the background object OH, centering on the virtual center coordinate point P4. I do. Then, a background texture to be attached to each polygon of the background object OH is determined based on data included in the specific area TR on the map data MD.

Next, the address in the frame buffer of the image storage unit 20 corresponding to the coordinate value of each vertex of each polygon of the background object, that is, the position of each polygon of the background object in the frame buffer is obtained. Then, the background texture read out from the character storage unit 18 is attached to each polygon, that is, drawn. As a result, a display image in which the background H of the coral reef on the bottom of the sea is superimposed on the rearmost image is generated in the frame buffer.

As shown in FIGS. 13 (a) to 13 (c), every time the background object OH is rearranged from the arrangement position P2 to the arrangement position P1, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 Is moved by a data unit, for example, a single data. Then, the plurality of background textures indicated by the data included in the specific area TR centered on the virtual center coordinate point P4 separated by the offset value L from the virtual coordinate point P3 are transferred to the background again arranged at the arrangement position P1. Paste to each polygon of the object. In addition, as shown in FIG.
When R protrudes from the map data MD, it is set so that the protruding portion of the specific area TR goes around from the opposite side. Step T8 corresponds to the function of the texture updating means in the present invention.

Step T9 (Paste of Symbol Texture) The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 stores the symbol texture in the frame buffer of the image storage unit 20 corresponding to the coordinate values of each vertex of each polygon of each symbol object OZ1 to OZ3 included in the projection information. , That is, the positions of the polygons of the symbol objects OZ1 to OZ3 in the frame buffer. Then, the pattern texture read from the character storage unit 18 is drawn on each polygon. As a result, a display image in which the jackpot identification symbol Z1, the round display symbol Z2, and the auxiliary symbol Z3 are superimposed on the backmost image and the background H of the seabed coral reef pattern is generated in the frame buffer. Step T9 corresponds to the function of the display image generating means in the present invention.

Step T10 (Display) The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 outputs the display image generated in the frame buffer to the liquid crystal monitor 6 via the video output unit 30.
Output to The liquid crystal monitor 6 sequentially displays a display image having an aspect ratio of 3: 4 sent from the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 for each interruption process in accordance with a display screen 6a having an aspect ratio of 9:16. As a result, the display modes shown in FIGS. 7A to 7D are displayed.

According to the above-described embodiment, the background pattern displayed with a relatively small number of polygons can be smoothly moved, and the background state scrolling infinitely can be displayed. A realistic display mode can be realized.

In the above-described steps, the display screen 6
Although the description has been given of the case where the vehicle moves in the depth direction of the arrow a, the present invention is not limited to this.
The present invention can be applied to a background moving in each direction such as a vertical direction and an oblique direction. For example, an example in which the background moves in the horizontal direction will be described with reference to an actual display image of the gaming machine shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 14, the jackpot identification symbol Z1, the round display symbol Z2, the auxiliary symbol Z3, and the background H are displayed on the display screen 6a. FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 4 (a) to 4 (c), the auxiliary symbol Z3 is
A sea turtle seen from the side, with its limbs swinging up and down and swimming. At this time, the background H, which is a pattern of a coral reef on the seabed, is gradually moving from the left side to the right side of the display screen 6a. Three-dimensional image processing unit 1 in this display mode
Numeral 9 arranges a sea turtle design object in front of the viewpoint arranged in the world coordinate system, and changes the form at the arrangement position. Then, the display object in the above-described display mode is generated by repeatedly moving the background object so as to cross the line of sight of the viewpoint in a predetermined direction and appropriately updating the background texture of the background object. As a result, a realistic display mode in which the sea turtle swims underwater is displayed.

In the above-described embodiment, a single background object OH composed of a plurality of quadrangular polygons has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Can be similarly applied to the case where is arranged. Further, the background object OH may be constituted by a single polygon such as a quadrangle or a triangle.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the liquid crystal monitor has been described.
A T monitor or an LED monitor can be used.

In the above-described embodiments, the pachinko machine has been described as a gaming machine, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, slot machines, coin game machines, arcade game machines, home video game machines It can be implemented in various types of gaming machines such as a game machine.

[0076]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the background object arranged in the virtual three-dimensional space is repeatedly moved from the first arrangement position to the second arrangement position. While the background object moves from the first arrangement position to the second arrangement position, a smooth movement of the background pattern can be displayed on the display screen. In addition, since the background texture is sequentially updated, a continuous background pattern can be displayed on the display screen. Furthermore, the background pattern on the display screen is moved by sequentially updating the background texture of the continuous background pattern attached to the background object that repeatedly moves from the first arrangement position to the second arrangement position. It is possible to realize a display mode for displaying a state of moving in the virtual three-dimensional space with a small processing load.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing a schematic configuration of a pachinko machine according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the pachinko machine according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a three-dimensional image processing unit.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process performed by the control platform of the pachinko machine.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing one display mode on a display screen 6a.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a relationship between polygons and textures.

FIG. 7 is a view showing one display mode in the pachinko machine according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating processing in the image display device.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a relationship between a viewpoint in a world coordinate system and each object.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating movement of a background object.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a background texture and map data.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a background texture of the entire background and map data.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a relationship between map data and a specific area.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an actual display mode on a pachinko machine.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a relationship between a viewpoint in a world coordinate system and a background object in a conventional example.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a display mode in a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Control board 6 ... Liquid crystal monitor 6a ... Display screen 7 ... Image display device 18 ... Character storage unit 19 ... 3D image processing unit 20 ... Image storage unit OH ... Background object SP ... Viewpoint MD ... Map data TH ... Background texture

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C088 AA34 AA35 AA36 EB55 5B050 AA00 BA10 BA11 EA12 EA21 FA02 5C080 AA10 BB05 CC03 CC04 DD02 DD21 EE04 EE17 EE30 FF09 JJ02 JJ05 JJ06 JJ07 KK50 CA42 BA42 BA42CA42 BA27 CB01 CB05 DA53 DA87 MM04 MM05 MM10

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image display device for displaying a state of moving in a virtual three-dimensional space on a display screen, comprising: a background object that is three-dimensional information for displaying a background in the virtual three-dimensional space; Background object information storage means for storing a plurality of types of background textures which are image information constituting a continuous background pattern to be attached to a background object; and a background object read from the background object information storage means in the virtual three-dimensional space. Moving arrangement means for arranging the background object from the first arrangement position to the second arrangement position, wherein the background object is moved from the first arrangement position to the second arrangement position.
Texture updating means for sequentially updating a background texture to be attached to the background object each time the object is moved to the arrangement position; and a display image showing a state in the virtual three-dimensional space in which the background object to which the background texture is attached moves. An image display device, comprising: a display image generating unit that generates a display image; and a display unit that displays the display image on a display screen.