JP2002324244A - Object data preparing method and object image display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an object data preparing method and an object image display device capable of preventing the joints of objects continuously arranged in an object space from being made conspicuous. SOLUTION: At the time of preparing object data related with objects 18 continuously arranged in an object space, the object data are prepared so that common normal vectors 34 can be set at vertexes 23 of polygons being the connected parts of those objects 18 with the other objects.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for creating object data and an object image display device, and more particularly to a technique for creating object data of an object connected and arranged in an object space.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art By applying computer graphics technology, an object such as a game character or a game stage composed of polygons is arranged in an object space, and is moved from a moving viewpoint following the game character or a fixed viewpoint that desires the game stage. A so-called three-dimensional game system, which displays a visible state of the object space on a display, is widely used not only in arcade game systems but also in home game systems.

[0003] In such a game system, when rendering an image, so-called smooth shading is often performed to make joints of polygons constituting each object inconspicuous.

[0004] Among smooth shading, Gouraud shading (Gouraud) often used in game systems is used.
Shading), in the object data, a vertex of each polygon is provided with a normal vector, and at the time of rendering, based on the normal vector of each vertex and light source data (including light source color data and light source position data). The color data of each vertex is calculated. Then, the color of an arbitrary point inside the polygon is calculated by interpolating the color data of each vertex.

[0005] Also, Phong Shad
ing), as in Gouraud shading, the vertex of each polygon has a normal vector in the object data, and the normal vector of each point inside the polygon is replaced with the normal vector of each vertex during rendering. The calculation is performed by interpolation. Then, the color data of each point is calculated based on the normal vector of the point and the light source data.

According to these smooth shadings, the common vertices of adjacent polygons (vertexes arranged at the same position of adjacent polygons) have the same normal vector, so that the joints of those polygons are connected. Can be made less noticeable.

[0007]

In the conventional method, when creating object data, the common vertices of the polygons constituting the object are given the same normal vector so that the joints of the polygons are made inconspicuous. However, when different objects or the same object are connected and arranged in the object space, it is difficult to assume in advance a common vertex between the objects, and no contrivance has been made to make the joints inconspicuous.

For this reason, for example, when a plurality of terrain block objects having a finite area are connected and arranged in the object space and an image is generated by viewing them from the viewpoint of the sky in the object space, the brightness of the joint between the terrain block objects is increased. There is a problem that a difference is generated and the terrain is unnaturally expressed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide an object data creating method and an object image display device that can make joints of objects connected and arranged in an object space inconspicuous. Is to do.

[0010]

In order to solve the above problems, an object data creating method according to the present invention is an object data creating method for creating object data relating to a plurality of objects connected and arranged in an object space. The object data is generated such that a common normal vector is set at a vertex of a polygon corresponding to a connecting portion of the plurality of objects.

Further, the object image display device according to the present invention is an object image display device for displaying a plurality of objects connected and arranged in an object space based on object data relating to the plurality of objects. And an object data storage means for storing object data in which a common normal vector is set at a vertex of a polygon corresponding to a connecting portion of the polygon.

According to the present invention, since a common normal vector is set to the vertices of a polygon corresponding to a joint portion of an object, the joint of the objects can be made inconspicuous by performing smooth shading. Note that a common normal vector may be set at the vertices of the polygon corresponding to the connecting portion of the object, regardless of, for example, the surface direction (original normal direction) of the polygon.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

A method for creating object data according to an embodiment of the present invention is, for example, as shown in FIG.
This is performed using a known personal computer system having Here, for example, the CD-
Known three-dimensional modeling software is installed on an information storage medium such as a ROM (trademark). With this software, a user can create object data of an arbitrary three-dimensional object using the mouse 14 and the keyboard 16. The object data is supplied to the same three-dimensional modeling software or a known game machine. Then, the created three-dimensional object is arranged in the object space, and the appearance viewed from the viewpoint set at an arbitrary position is displayed on the display 10, a monitor connected to the game machine, a home television receiver, or the like. Can be done.

Here, a method of creating object data of a terrain block object used in a game of navigating an aircraft in an object space will be described. In this game, a terrain block object installed in an object space can be viewed from a viewpoint following an aircraft. Many terrain block objects are prepared, and are laid out and arranged on a plane corresponding to the ground in the object space. Then, the ground in the object space is represented by these many terrain block objects.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the procedure of an object data creation method according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, when creating a terrain block object, first, a large number of terrain block objects are provisionally created by known three-dimensional modeling software or the like (S1001).

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views showing examples of the terrain block object temporarily created in S1001. As shown in these figures, the tentatively created terrain block objects 18 and 26 are placed in, for example, a square ground area so as to be easily connected to other terrain block objects such as the terrain block objects 18 and 26, respectively. Has been created for it. The terrain block object 18 includes mountain polygons 20 and 22, and the terrain block object 26 includes mountain polygons 28 and 30. And these mountain polygons 20, 22, 2
Since polygons constituting the slopes 8 and 30 have different slopes, when terrain block objects are temporarily created by well-known three-dimensional modeling software or the like, normal vectors set at vertices of those polygons are set. Is, for example, the actual normal direction of each polygon. For this reason, the normal vector 24 of the direction of the dispersal is set at the polygon vertex 23 on the block periphery of the terrain block object 18. Similarly, the polygon vertex 31 on the block periphery of the terrain block object 26
In this case, the normal vector 32 of the direction of the disparity is set. For this reason, even if the tentatively created terrain block objects 18 and 26 are connected and arranged on the plane of the object space to generate an image on which smooth shading such as Gouraud shading is performed, the terrain block objects 18 and 26 are generated. There is a difference in brightness at the connection part of.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, a polygon vertex 2 which is a connecting portion with another terrain block object is used.
3, 31 are selected (S1002), and a common normal vector is set there (S1003). That is, for example, the terrain block objects 18 and 26 are displayed on the display 10 by the three-dimensional modeling software, and markers (for example, Softimage (trademark) which is three-dimensional modeling software) ), Which is a function of), and a normal vector having the same value (a common normal vector) is set for the polygon vertices 23 and 31 in which the markers are set. For example, a vector having a vertical direction (upward) with respect to the ground surface may be adopted as the common normal vector.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are views showing a state where a common normal vector 34 is set to the polygon vertices 23 and 31 of the terrain block objects 18 and 26. The common normal vector 34 is set in the terrain block objects 18 and 26 instead of the normal vectors 24 and 32.
That is, in S1003, the normal vectors 24 and 32 of the tentatively created terrain block objects 18 and 26 are edited, and the polygon vertices 23 and 31 on the block periphery are changed to the common normal vectors 34.

Thereafter, the object data representing the terrain block objects 18 and 26 having the common normal vector 34 at the periphery of the block is output from the three-dimensional modeling software (S1004), and the operation is completed. The object data includes, for example, vertex coordinates (local coordinates) of each polygon constituting the terrain block object, a normal vector set for each vertex, texture coordinates of each vertex, and the like. The output object data is included in software such as a game such that the terrain block objects 18, 26 and the like are laid on the ground surface and arranged in the object space. Then, by executing the software, a computer such as a game machine functioning as an image display device displays images of the terrain block objects 18 and 26 spread on the ground surface.

In this manner, the polygon vertices 2 corresponding to the connected portions of the terrain block objects 18, 26, etc.
Since the common normal vector 34 is set to 3, 31, by applying smooth shading such as Gouraud shading, the joint between the objects can be made inconspicuous. The ground surface can be suitably represented.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since a common normal vector is set for the vertices of the polygons corresponding to the connecting portions of the objects, the joints of the objects can be made inconspicuous by performing smooth shading.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a computer system that executes an object data creation method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an object data creation method according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an object provisionally created by an object data creation method according to an embodiment of the present invention and a normal vector set to a connected vertex of the object.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an object provisionally created by the object data creation method according to the embodiment of the present invention and a normal vector set to a connected vertex of the object.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an object created by the object data creation method according to the embodiment of the present invention, and a normal vector set to a connected vertex of the object.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an object created by the object data creating method according to the embodiment of the present invention and a normal vector set to a connected vertex of the object.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 display, 12 CPU (central processing unit),
14 Mouse, 16 keyboard, 18, 26 Terrain block object, 20, 22, 28, 30 mountain polygon, 23, 31 polygon vertex, 24, 32 temporary normal vector, 34 common normal vector.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B050 BA06 BA07 BA09 BA09 EA15 FA02 5B080 AA13 GA00

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An object data creation method for creating object data relating to a plurality of objects connected and arranged in an object space, wherein a common normal vector is set to a vertex of a polygon corresponding to a connection portion of the plurality of objects. And generating the object data as described above. 2. An object image display device for displaying an image of a plurality of objects connected and arranged in an object space based on object data relating to the plurality of objects, wherein a common vertex of a polygon corresponding to a connection portion of the plurality of objects is provided. An object image display device comprising object data storage means for storing object data in which a normal vector is set.