JP2003199972A - View point control method of pseudo camera in 3d video game and 3d video game device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable an image from a view point of a pseudo camera to follow the free movement of the player. <P>SOLUTION: A 3D video game device is provided with a monitor 11 on a prescribed height position of a game machine case 10 for displaying the image, a game control part 100 for controlling a game progress and a plotting control part 110 for preparing a 3-dimensional image from the view point of the pseudo camera and displaying a game image on the screen of the monitor 11. The horizontal direction and height position in a space of the head part of the player positioned in a play area in front of the screen of the monitor 11 is detected on the basis of one ultrasonic wave transmitter 31 and two ultrasonic wave receivers 32 and 33 and the view point of the pseudo camera is moved so as to follow the change of the direction and change amount of the detected position of the player head part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a monitor for displaying an image provided at a predetermined height position of a game machine housing, a game control section for controlling the progress of a game, and a pseudo three-dimensional view from the viewpoint of a pseudo camera. The present invention relates to a technique related to a 3D video game device including a display control unit that creates an image and displays the image on the monitor screen.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a role-playing competitive game in which a player character, an enemy character, etc. are displayed on a monitor screen, the movement of the player's feet is detected, and the player character on the monitor screen is displayed in correspondence with the detected movement. A game that works is proposed. In addition, a pseudo three-dimensional car race image is displayed on the monitor screen arranged in front of the player seated on the car seat, and the camera viewpoint is preset according to the leaning posture of the player's upper body to the left and right, and the forward bending posture. A viewpoint changing technique has been proposed in which the position is changed.

[0003]

The latter viewpoint changing technique is premised on the movement of the upper half of the body of the player sitting on the seat.
That is, even a change in the preset viewpoint can bring about a smooth change of the image, and for example, the tilt of the player's upper body to the left and right is reflected in the image rotation.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and makes it possible to positively present an image from the viewpoint intended by the player by making the viewpoint of the pseudo camera follow the free movement of the player. An object of the present invention is to provide a pseudo camera viewpoint movement control method and a video game device in a video game.

[0005]

The invention according to claim 1 is
A monitor that displays an image provided at a predetermined height position on the game machine housing, a game control unit that controls the progress of the game, and a display that creates a three-dimensional image from the viewpoint of the pseudo camera and displays it on the monitor screen. In a 3D video game device including a control unit, a head detecting unit for detecting the position of the head of the player, which is located in the play area in front of the monitor screen, in at least one-dimensional direction in space, and detected. And a viewpoint changing means for moving the viewpoint of the pseudo camera so as to follow the direction and amount of change in the position of the head.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, a monitor for displaying an image provided at a predetermined height position of the game machine housing, a game control section for controlling the progress of the game, and a pseudo camera from the viewpoint of the pseudo camera. A pseudo camera viewpoint movement control method in a 3D video game, comprising: a display control unit for creating a three-dimensional image and displaying it on the monitor screen, wherein the player's head is located in a play area in front of the monitor screen. The position information of the head is obtained by repeatedly performing the detecting operation by the head detecting means for detecting the position in at least one-dimensional direction in the space, and the obtained head position change direction and change amount are tracked. In the 3D video game, the viewpoint of the pseudo camera is moved as described above.

According to this structure, the position of the head is repetitively detected by repeatedly detecting the position of the player's head located in the play area in front of the monitor screen in the space. Information is obtained, the viewpoint of the pseudo camera is moved so as to correspond to the obtained head position, that is, to follow the obtained change direction and change amount of the head position, and a pseudo three-dimensional image is displayed on the monitor. Is drawn.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an operation section that can be operated externally is provided, and the game control section reflects the operation content from the operation section on the progress of the game. By operating the operation unit in association with the movement, it is possible to make the game progress interesting.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the head detecting means includes a sheet-like pressure sensor for detecting the positions of both feet in at least one direction on a horizontal plane, and the head part of the head with respect to the detected position information of both feet. Head position determining means for determining a position in at least one direction on the horizontal plane is provided. According to this configuration, the position of the head in at least one direction on the horizontal plane is determined from the positions of both feet of the player. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the head detecting means further includes a distance measuring sensor for remotely detecting the height position of the head. The height position is detected.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the pressure sensor is an analog sensor, and the head position determining means calculates the barycentric position for both feet from the detected level for each foot detected and the position of the barycenter obtained. The position of the head in at least one direction on the horizontal plane is determined using the information and the position information of both feet. According to this configuration, the load from the foot is detected at an analog level by the pressure sensor, so that the barycentric position of both feet can be calculated. If at least the barycentric position information is used, the head position of the player can be calculated. It becomes possible to decide.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the head detecting means includes a distance measuring sensor for remotely detecting at least one of the height of the head and the position in the left-right direction. For example, the head position can be detected without hindering the movement of the player.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the distance measuring sensor is provided at one propagation medium transmitter and at two positions in the left and right direction of the monitor screen with the propagation medium transmitter as a center. A first and a second propagation medium receivers for respectively receiving the propagation mediums transmitted from the transmitter and reflected by the head of the player, wherein the head detecting means includes the first and second propagation mediums from the transmission time point. A head position determining means for determining the position of the player's head from the time elapsed until reception by the propagation medium receiver is provided. According to this configuration, the position of the player's head can be detected by using one propagation medium transmitter and two propagation medium receivers and utilizing the propagation velocity of the propagation medium in space. As the propagation medium, ultrasonic waves, sound waves, light, especially infrared light, etc. are applied.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the head detecting means includes a position detecting sensor for detecting a three-dimensional position of the head,
The position detection sensors are one propagation medium transmitter, and at least three propagation medium transmitters are arranged at different positions on the horizontal plane with the propagation medium transmitter as a center. Each of the propagation medium receivers receives the reflected propagation medium, and determines the position of the player's head in the three-dimensional space from the elapsed time from the transmission time to the reception by each propagation medium receiver. The head position determining means is provided. According to this configuration, the position of the player's head in the three-dimensional space can be detected using one propagation medium transmitter and three or more propagation medium receivers.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the distance measuring means comprises a plurality of transmission medium transmitters / receivers arranged above the play area in at least one-dimensional direction on a horizontal plane and arranged downward. The head detecting means includes head position determining means for determining the position and height of the player's head in the one-dimensional direction from the elapsed time from transmission to reception in each transmission medium transceiver. According to the configuration, the position and height of the player's head in the one-dimensional direction,
That is, the head position on the vertical plane can be determined. As the propagation medium, ultrasonic waves, sound waves, light, especially infrared light, etc. are applied.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the head detecting means includes an optical imaging means and a head extracting means for extracting the head of the player from the imaged image. According to the above, the head position of the player can be determined from the captured image of the player.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, a member having a background removal surface is arranged on the side facing the image pickup means across the play area. According to this configuration, the silhouette is extracted from the image captured by the player. Will be easier.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the head detecting means is based on an infrared camera, an infrared emitting member attached to the head of the player, and an image obtained by receiving infrared light from the infrared emitting member. According to this configuration, the head position of the player is detected from the image of the infrared light received from the infrared light emitting member that the player is wearing. It becomes possible to decide.

According to the thirteenth and fourteenth aspects of the present invention, a member having an infrared light absorbing surface or a member having an infrared light reflecting surface is arranged on the side facing the infrared camera across the play area. According to these configurations, since the brightness difference between the player silhouette area and the other areas is emphasized, it becomes easy to detect the head position.

[0020]

1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a pseudo three-dimensional (3D) video game device according to the present invention. The present game apparatus includes a game machine main body 10, an operation housing unit 20 integrally or detachably provided on the front portion of the game machine unit 20, and a head detecting unit 30. The area in front of 20 is a play area where the player is positioned to play the game.

The game machine main body 10 is a console box having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and displays a game image at a substantially center of the front surface, preferably at a height position such that the head is substantially at the center of the screen in the normal posture state of the player during the game. A monitor 11 of a predetermined size is provided for this purpose. As the monitor 11, a CRT, an LCD, a plasma display, a liquid crystal projector, or the like can be adopted. Speakers 12, 12 for producing a sound effect are arranged on the upper part of the game machine body 10, preferably on the left and right sides, and a panel or the like showing a game name or the like is provided between them. Inside is provided a circuit board and the like on which a control unit and the like necessary for controlling game operations are mounted. Further, a quadrangular frame member 13 extending in an eaves-like shape is provided on the upper side, and a supporting arm is provided between the proper positions of the frame piece portions on the left and right sides and the side surface of the operation housing unit 20. 13a is provided. Frame material 13
A predetermined number of light source portions 14 for illumination directed to the game machine body side, for example, three for each of the three primary colors are arranged on the front frame piece.

The frame member 13 functions as a support structure for the head detecting section 30, and the head detecting section 30 is provided above the play area, that is, above the player's head.
The head detecting unit 30 is a frame piece portion on the front side of the frame member 13, and an ultrasonic transmitter 31 for transmitting sound waves and ultrasonic waves as a propagation medium at the center portion in the left-right direction is provided as a propagation medium at the left-right symmetrical position. Ultrasonic receivers 32 and 33 for receiving the ultrasonic waves are provided. Alternatively, light, particularly infrared light, may be used as the propagation medium. Ultrasonic transmitter 31, receivers 32, 33
Each is composed of a piezoelectric element or the like. The ultrasonic transmitter 31 has a directivity width that covers the play area and has a predetermined period, for example, every 1/60 seconds or a time period that allows the positional displacement of the player's head to be tracked with a required resolution.
An ultrasonic pulse having a predetermined width is transmitted. The ultrasonic receivers 32 and 33 have the same structure, and have a directivity width sufficient to receive the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the ultrasonic transmitter 31 and reflected by the head of the player located in the play area. It is a thing. As shown in FIG. 2, a sensor drive unit 34 that supplies a drive signal (a periodical excitation pulse signal) to the ultrasonic transmitter 31, a sensor drive unit 34, and A position calculation unit 35 is provided that is connected to the two ultrasonic receivers 32 and 33 and that calculates the position of the player's head in the space described below. The sensor drive unit 34 and the position calculation unit 35 may be provided in the game machine body 10.

The operation casing 20 is set at a height lower than that of the monitor 11, and a speaker for producing a sound effect is provided at the center of the upper surface part slightly inclined to the front, that is, at a position closer to the player side with respect to the speaker 12. 21 is provided, and a gun unit 22, which serves as a game controller, is provided in a suitable place in the vicinity thereof through a cord 23 which also serves as a transmission line for control signals and the like. When not in use, the gun unit 22 is stored in the storage box 20a as shown in the figure, and is held by the player during use, that is, during the game, and is used for shooting operation of the enemy character displayed on the monitor screen as described later. It In addition, a start switch 24, a coin slot 25, etc. are provided on the front surface of the operation housing section. A coin switch 25a (see FIG. 2) for detecting the presence or absence of an inserted coin is provided in the middle of the coin passage communicating with the coin slot 25.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a 3D video game device. A game control unit 100, a drawing control unit 110, and a voice control unit 1 are provided on a circuit board in the game machine body 10.
20 are installed.

It should be noted that this game is, for example, a battle game, and assumes a gun battle between one or a plurality of enemy characters having a gun displayed on the monitor screen and the player. The enemy character displayed on the monitor screen is controlled by the game control unit 100 so as to aim and shoot at the viewpoint of the pseudo camera. On the other hand, the player avoids the attack from the enemy character and moves to the enemy character on the monitor 11. This is a game in which the gun unit 22 shoots.

The game control unit 100 is, for example, a microcomputer (hereinafter, C) for controlling the process of game progress.
ROM as a recording medium including a game program for this game, such as a shooting battle
102 is connected, and in addition to the head detecting unit 30, required units are also connected. Other recording media, R
It may be an OM cassette, an optical disc, a flexible disc, or the like.

The drawing processing unit 110 has a coordinate position of each character (enemy character, various buildings and other object characters arranged in the game space, etc.) viewed from the viewpoint of the pseudo camera in the pseudo three-dimensional space. Calculation, light source calculation processing, calculation for conversion from the calculated coordinate position in the pseudo three-dimensional space to the coordinate position in the two-dimensional space, and the RAM 1
A process of locating polygons forming an image to be drawn in 11 display areas and a texture mapping process for each polygon are performed. As the viewpoint information of the pseudo camera in the coordinate position calculation of the character, position information transmitted from the head detecting unit 30 is used as described later. Therefore, the viewpoint of the pseudo camera substantially matches the eyes of the player, and the character corresponding to the player is not displayed on the screen of the monitor 11.

The voice control unit 120 includes the sound source data storage unit 1
The sound source data set on the game program according to the game scene is read from the speaker 21, and the speakers 12 and 21 are read.
The sound is output from either of the. As sound source data, in addition to BGM, various effect sounds, shooting sounds as sound effects related to shooting, hitting sound, wind noise that tears air when disengaged, obstacles displayed in front of the viewpoint Disengagement sound is prepared. The sound source data is stored, for example, in the form of PCM data, and after being read out, subjected to D / A conversion processing, filter processing, and amplification processing, and output to the speakers 12 and 21 as sound.

In connection with the voice control unit 120, the CP
U101 includes a functional unit that executes trajectory calculation processing. With this functional unit, the trajectory of the bullet in the shooting performed by the enemy character displayed on the monitor screen to the player by the shooting processing control of the CPU 101 is set at the firing position and The drawing control unit 110 sequentially calculates from the information on the shooting direction, and the drawing control unit 110 performs a process of sequentially drawing the bullets on the monitor screen based on the result of the sequential calculation (or in a mode in which the bullets are not drawn only by the effect image at the time of shooting) Good). In addition, as described later, the voice control unit 120 determines the speaker 1 according to the calculated distance between the trajectory of the bullet and the viewpoint of the pseudo camera.
It has a functional unit for selectively switching between No. 2 and 21 to perform sound generation processing.

In this game, the CPU 101
Has a function of determining whether or not a sniper from an enemy character hits the player. This determination is based on whether or not there is an obstacle between the enemy character and the viewpoint position of the pseudo camera and the distance. It may be performed depending on whether it is far or not, and the probability of hitting is set randomly, and the probability of hitting may be appropriately changed according to the progress of the game, or the probability of hitting may be changed by the life gauge of the player. . Further, the CPU 101 has a function of decreasing the life gauge by a predetermined amount when the player is hit, and a function of determining whether or not the life gauge has decreased to zero.

Here, the structure and operation of the gun unit 22 will be described. In this embodiment, the gun unit 22
Known structures and operating principles are adopted.
That is, the gun unit 22 has the same external shape as the gun, and detects the operation of pulling the trigger urged by the urging means toward the initial position side by interlocking with the movement of the movable piece of the switch, and the shooting instruction signal Is led to the game control unit 100 via the code 23. The gun unit 22 incorporates a light receiving sensor so that the muzzle has a narrow directivity. Then, when the shooting instruction signal is guided to the game control unit 100, the CPU 101 functioning as a shooting position detection unit of the game control unit 100 causes the monitor 11 to operate.
The drawing process is interrupted with respect to
The bright spots are swept in the (horizontal) and V (vertical) directions, and the time from the start of the sweep of the light receiving sensor in the gun unit to the time of receiving the bright spots is measured.
Since the sweep time for one frame is known from the sweep method used, the coordinate position of the bright spot on the screen of the monitor 11 is calculated back from this clock time, and the gun unit 22 is located at the calculated coordinate position. I was supposed to treat it as if it had been pointed out, that is, a shooting had taken place. Alternatively,
While installing an infrared CCD camera in the muzzle, monitor 1
One or two infrared point light sources are arranged at a fixed position in the vicinity of one, and the direction in which the camera is pointed to depends on the image pickup coordinates of the point light source in the image captured by the CCD camera when the trigger is pulled. That is, a method of detecting the position to which the gun unit 22 is directed may be used.

Then, the CPU 101 sequentially executes the trajectory calculation in the game space of the monitor 11 screen for the bullet shot by the player, and preferably displays the bullet in the screen each time the calculation is performed, and the displayed bullet is displayed on the screen. It is determined whether or not the enemy character is hit. The determination as to whether or not the hit is made is made based on the coincidence or substantial coincidence of the coordinates from the result of the successive trajectory calculation and the position coordinates of the enemy character.

Next, the principle of detection in the position calculating section 35 of the head detecting section 30 will be described with reference to FIG. The wide-directivity ultrasonic pulse transmitted from the ultrasonic transmitter 31 is reflected by the player's body below and a part of the ultrasonic pulse is received by the ultrasonic receivers 32 and 33. Since the head is located at the highest position in the player's normal play operation, it can be said that the pulse signals received by the ultrasonic receivers 32 and 33 are all return waves reflected from the player's head. The position calculation unit 35 determines that the ultrasonic receiver 3
The distance data obtained by measuring the time up to the rising time of the pulse signal received at 2 and 33 respectively, and converting both measured times from the airborne sound velocity, the ultrasonic transmitter 31, the receiver 32, and the transmitter 31. A geometrical calculation process is executed using each distance and height information of the receiver 33, and the position of the player's head in the height direction and the left-right direction is calculated. That is, the timekeeping time on the ultrasonic receiver 32 side determines an elliptical sphere having the ultrasonic transmitter 31 and the receiver 32 as the focal points. Similarly, the timekeeping time on the ultrasonic receiver 33 side determines another elliptic sphere having the ultrasonic transmitter 31 and the receiver 33 as the focal points. Since the positions of the ultrasonic transmitters 31 are the same, it is possible to calculate the lowest intersection point of the two ellipsoids (intersection calculation process 351), and the ultrasonic transmitter 31 and the receiver 32. , 3
It is possible to determine the position in the height direction and the horizontal direction in the space by using the height information of 3 (position determination process 352).
In order to simplify the calculation, the player's head may be considered to be directly under the ultrasonic transmitter 31, the receivers 32 and 33, that is, the intersection may be calculated only by elliptic calculation. Further, a mode may be used in which the relationship between both time counts (that is, both distance data) and the position of the head is calculated in advance and stored in the form of a table (LUT). The position calculation unit 35 transmits the height position and the left-right position in the space of the player's head thus obtained to the game control unit 100 as the viewpoint information of the pseudo camera. Therefore, according to the head position of the player,
In other words, the viewpoint of the pseudo camera is changed and moved so as to follow the change amount and change direction of the head position.

FIGS. 4A to 4D are views showing an example of the viewpoint change of the monitor display image when the player's head moves in the vertical direction, and FIG. 5 is for explaining the player's play situation. It is an image figure. (A) to (d) are diagrams corresponding to the passage of time, in which the player stands in front of the game machine main body 10 from a middle waist posture (see FIG. 5) to gradually rise to a substantially vertical posture as shown by an arrow. That is, four scenes are shown when the player's head (eyes) is displaced from the lower position to the upper position. In (a), there is an obstacle B such as a desk right in front of the viewpoint, the player is making a situation hidden behind this obstacle B, and the enemy character AC1 holding a gun behind it Only part of the head is visible.
From this state, the screen with the player's head slightly lifted is shown in (b), and only the player's eyes have the obstacle B.
The situation that matches the upper surface of the enemy character A
The chest of C1 is visible, and the heads of two other enemy characters AC2 and AC3 are newly visible behind it. Next, the screen in the state where the player has further stretched his back and lifted his head is (c), and the height of the player's eyes is the upper surface B of the obstacle B.
The situation is slightly more exposed than s, and the upper half of the three enemy characters AC1 to AC3 are visible,
The upper surface Bs of the obstacle B is also slightly visible. The screen in the state where the player stands up is (d), which creates a situation in which the player's neck is exposed from the obstacle B.
The upper surface Bs is further visible. It can be seen that as the player's eyes rise, the upper surface of the obstacle is sequentially lowered as shown in (a) to (d).

FIGS. 6A to 6D are views showing an example of the viewpoint change of the monitor display image when the player's head moves to the left and right, and FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the player's play situation. It is an image figure. (A) to (d) are diagrams corresponding to the passage of time, in which the player moves from the right side (see FIG. 7) of the game machine body 10 in the direction indicated by the arrow to the left side,
That is, it shows four scenes when the player's head (eye) is displaced from right to left. In (a), there is an obstacle B such as a door or a wall on the right side just before the viewpoint, the player is creating a situation hidden behind this obstacle B, and an enemy character holding a gun behind it. Part of the arm of AC1 is visible. From this state, the screen in which the player has moved his / her head slightly to the left is (b), and only the player's eyes produce a situation where the obstacle B is slightly exposed from the left end of the enemy character AC1. The face and chest can be seen. Next, the screen in the state where the player further moves his / her head to the left is (c), and the player's head is slightly exposed from the left end of the obstacle B, and the upper body of the enemy character AC1 is While being visible, another enemy character AC2 is behind it.
A part of is newly visible. The screen in which the upper half of the body is exposed as if the player jumped to the left from the obstacle is (d), and another enemy character AC3 is visible in addition to the two enemy characters AC1 and AC2.

Since the head detecting section 30 can detect the vertical and horizontal positions of the player's head, when the player's head moves with both vertical and horizontal components, the head detecting unit 30 can respond accordingly. That is, the viewpoint can be moved diagonally.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing an example of the game progress processing executed by the CPU 101. When the power is turned on, this flow starts, and first, a demonstration screen is displayed on the monitor 11 (step S
T1). When the coin switch 25a detects insertion of a predetermined coin (YES in step ST2).
S), a start screen is displayed (step ST3), and game main body processing as a shooting game is executed (step ST4). In a mode in which the game is constructed from a predetermined number of stages, whether or not the predetermined condition is not met in the middle of each stage, for example, is displayed in the upper area of the monitor 11 screen by the control of the CPU 101 functioning as a life gauge management means. Life gauge is below a certain value,
For example, if it is judged whether or not it has decreased to 0, and if the conditions such as being able to shoot all the enemy characters appearing on the stage before the life gauge becomes 0, are cleared,
It is determined whether the next stage is the final stage (step ST5). On the contrary, when the life gauge becomes 0 during the game, the game is switched to the game over screen and the game is forced to end.

On the other hand, if the cleared stage is the final stage, an ending demo screen for displaying an award is displayed (step ST6), and if necessary, the score is displayed and the game over screen is displayed. (Step ST7), the present game ends.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the "game body process" in step ST4. In the game main body process, first, a built-in timer determines whether or not the game time set for each stage has expired, and if it is within the time, it is determined whether or not there is a remaining life gauge ( Steps ST11, ST12). If both are denied, it will transfer to step ST7. On the other hand, if there is a remaining life gauge, an I / O input process, that is, a process of receiving the head position information of the player, that is, the information of the position of the eyes of the player substantially from the head detection unit 30 is performed (step ST13).

Next, it is judged whether it is a subjective viewpoint or an objective viewpoint (step ST14). In this game, the CPU 101 functioning as a main / objective viewpoint switching unit and a timer grasp the overall situation of the game space, that is, where the player is in the game space, etc., only at a certain time at the beginning of each stage, For the purpose of recognition, a wide range is drawn with the pseudo-camera being drawn so as to include the player character, and during this time, it is processed as an objective viewpoint. On the other hand, when the drawing process from the objective viewpoint is finished, the player's eyes are switched to the subjective viewpoint. In step ST14, if it is an objective viewpoint, the game image is drawn from a viewpoint that does not depend on the information obtained in the I / O input processing (step ST15), and when a shooting battle is performed, an interrupt for voice control is made. Occurs and the speaker 12 (or the speakers 12 and 21
Sound sounds relating to shooting are output from both (step ST16).

On the other hand, when shifting to the subjective viewpoint, the game image is drawn from the subjective viewpoint based on the information obtained by the I / O input processing (step ST17), and when the shooting battle is further performed, the interruption processing is performed. Each sound sound regarding shooting is shared and output from the speaker 12 or the speaker 21 (step ST18). Step ST16,
When the voice processing of 18 is finished, it is judged whether or not this stage is finished, and if it is not finished, step ST1
After shifting to 1 and repeating the processing of steps ST11 to ST18, and when the processing is completed, the processing returns to step ST6 and exits from this flow.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the "interruption process" for the sniper from the enemy character in the "voice process based on the viewpoint position" in step ST18.
In the figure, the interruption process for the voice output process is started by the firing by the enemy character, and whether the distance between the voice generation target and the viewpoint of the pseudo camera in the game space is smaller than a preset perspective judgment threshold value. It is determined whether or not (step ST21). In the above description, the sound generation target refers to a bullet fired from an enemy character or an obstacle when the bullet hits an obstacle in front of the viewpoint. That is, when the bullet from the enemy character hits an obstacle in front, if the distance to the obstacle is smaller (closer) than the threshold, the speaker 21 outputs an impact sound (step ST22). If it is larger than the threshold value (far away), the impact sound is output from the speaker 12 (step ST23).

Further, based on the result of the distance calculation between the bullet position and the viewpoint position based on the successive trajectory calculation results, the voice control unit 120 passes the shot bullet just near the viewpoint position so as to be considered to hit the player. In this case, as a hit process to the player (a hit effect process, for example, an effect such as temporarily vibrating the screen is performed, and the life gauge is reduced by a predetermined value. ), And the hit sound is output from the speaker 21 (step ST22). Further, when the player does not hit an obstacle in front of the viewpoint and does not hit the player, the speaker is calculated at the timing when the calculation result of the distance between the bullet and the viewpoint, which are successively calculated, becomes smaller than the threshold value. The wind noise is output from 21 (step ST22). Although other sound effects related to shooting are output from the speaker 12, the shooting sound from the player may be output from the speaker 21, for example. As described above, when the sound generation target is far from the viewpoint, the sound is output from the speaker 12 farther from the player, and conversely, when the sound generation target is closer to the viewpoint, the sound is output from the closer speaker 21 from the player. Therefore, it is possible to provide a more acoustically realistic game.

When the processing for a certain sound output is completed, whether or not the sound output processing for all the sound objects is completed, that is, any effect event for one fired bullet (impact on an obstacle ahead of the time point, It is determined whether or not a hit to the player, or a misalignment that immediately passes the side) has occurred (step ST24). If no effect event has occurred, the process proceeds to step ST21. The voice output process is considered to be completed and the process returns. Note that the number of speakers 21 is not limited to one, and may be provided on the left and right sides. In this case, depending on whether the player's head is located on the left or right in the play area, the left and right speakers are switched to output sound, or the volume ratio is adjusted correspondingly, so that in addition to the sound switching between the left and right directions. It may be possible to create a further acoustic realism by switching or the like.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the 3D video game device according to the present invention, and FIG. 12 is a block diagram for performing a player head detecting operation. Although the present game device is slightly different in appearance from that shown in FIG. 1, it is functionally substantially the same except for the configuration of the head detecting unit 30.

In the second embodiment, the head detecting section 130.
Is, for example, a CCD camera 131 as an image pickup unit disposed right below the monitor 11 and at a center position in the left-right direction,
A background image removing member 132 disposed across the play area, and a silhouette image extracting unit 133 as a processing function unit, a human body silhouette characteristic data memory 134 storing human body silhouette characteristic data, and a position determination processing unit 135. It is equipped with. CCD camera 13
1 is oriented so that the play area side becomes the imaging area.

The background removing member 132 is a support 1 having a rectangular shape that is erected on the front side so as to surround the play area.
32a, an upper horizontal connecting arm portion 132b that is connected to the game machine main body 10 so as to maintain the upright posture of the support body 132a, and a predetermined color attached to the upper half of the support body 132a, for example, a single blue color or two colors. And a screen 132c having a stripe pattern pattern or the like on its surface. The screen 132c has a shape, preferably a quadrangle, which is large enough to cover the range in which the head is displaced in the normal game posture of the player, and has a head between the bent posture and the upright posture. It is arranged at a height position where it can be covered. The screen 132c may be semi-transparent, and in this way, a spectator behind the screen 132c can see the movement of the player and the monitor 11 image.

The CCD camera 131 has a screen 132c.
The angle of view is set so as to be the field of view, so that background objects on the back side of the screen 132c (for example, various objects in the game field (other game machines, etc.), people, etc.) are not included in the captured image. However, it is preferable to use color image pickup means in which filters of RGB colors are arranged in front of the CCD element. The CCD camera 131 has a screen 132c
Toward the target image at a predetermined cycle, for example, every 1/60 seconds or at a time cycle at which the positional displacement of the player's head can be tracked with a required resolution, and the captured image is managed in the internal image memory 131a by address management. I'm trying to remember it below. The silhouette video extraction unit 133 is connected to the image memory 13
A human body silhouette is extracted by executing a process of deleting a blue image (in the case of a monochrome camera, an image of an unpatterned area) from image data including a player and a screen 132c behind the player captured in 1a. To do. This extraction processing can be performed by simply processing the blue area as a no-data area. In addition, in a mode in which the screen 132c has a striped pattern, processing for removing the basic pattern area may be performed.

The position determining unit 135 extracts the head of the human body silhouette from the human body silhouette obtained by the silhouette image extracting unit 133 and the human body silhouette characteristic data stored in the human body silhouette characteristic data memory 134 using pattern recognition technology or the like. The position of the eye on the head, for example, the center position of the head region is calculated and the position is determined by regarding this position as the position of the eye. The obtained position information is transmitted to the game control unit 100, and thereafter, it is used as viewpoint information as in the case of the first embodiment.

In addition to the head detecting portions 30 and 130 in the first and second embodiments, the present invention can adopt the following forms.

(1) Head detecting section 1 in the second embodiment
For 30 CCD cameras, an infrared filter is provided in front of the CCD image pickup surface to form an infrared camera, and an infrared light emitting source for irradiating infrared rays in a range covering the screen 132c is provided at a position near the infrared camera. It is also possible to adopt one in which a material that absorbs infrared light is applied to the surface of 132c. According to this configuration,
In the infrared camera, since reflected light does not return from the screen 132c, the image pickup area of the screen 132c has a low luminance, and therefore the difference in brightness between the image pickup area and the reflection area from the player can be emphasized, and thus the human silhouette can be easily extracted. On the other hand, a screen 132c whose surface is coated with a material that reflects infrared light may be used.
According to this configuration, the infrared camera has the screen 132c.
Since the light is strongly reflected from the image pickup area, the image pickup area of the screen 132c has a high luminance, and therefore, the difference in brightness between the image pickup area and the reflection area from the player can be emphasized, which facilitates the extraction of the human body silhouette.

Further, a screen in which the regions of the infrared reflecting material and the regions of the absorbing material are alternately arranged like a stripe pattern may be used, and even in this case, the same as in the case of the sprite pattern pattern of the second embodiment. , It becomes easy to extract the human body silhouette.

(2) FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the head detecting section.
The infrared camera 231 as described above and a structure that can be mounted on the player's face or head, and an infrared light emitting member for emitting infrared light formed in a predetermined number, for example, three dots, on the front side thereof. The processing unit includes an image memory 231a, an image analysis unit 237, a unique pattern feature data memory 238, and a position determination processing unit 239, as well as a goggle or a head adherend 236 provided with 236a. When the player takes an image with the infrared camera 231,
Three bright points 236b are obtained as image data on the image memory 231a, and the image pattern consisting of these three points is stored in the unique pattern feature data memory 23 by the image analysis unit 238.
8 is compared with the data in 8 to specify the storage position in the image memory 231a, that is, the address. Position determination unit 2
39 calculates the position of the player's eyes based on a preset expression using the address information of three points, and the game control unit 1
To 00. Although the number of the infrared light emitting members 236a is set to three, if at least one infrared light emitting member 236a is set, it can be substantially detected, and particularly if two or more infrared light emitting members 236a are set, the inclination of the head or the face can be detected at the same time. The advantage is that the position of the player's eyes can be determined more accurately.

The infrared ray emitting member 236a is replaced with a required number of reflecting mirrors for reflecting infrared rays on the adherend 236, and infrared ray emitting means having a wide irradiation width is provided on the game machine main body 10 side. May be configured to be able to capture the reflected light from the reflecting mirror, and the same effect as above can be obtained by this. in this case,
Since the adherend 236 does not require a power source or driving means for emitting infrared light, the adherend 236 can be made compact and lightweight.

(3) FIGS. 14A and 14B show still another embodiment of the head detecting section. FIG. 14A is a block diagram and FIG.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining position determination.

The head detecting section 330 includes a distance measuring sensor section 331 composed of a plurality of ultrasonic wave transmitters / receivers 331a, ... Arranged at a predetermined pitch in the left-right direction above the play area, and in the processing section. The position detection processing unit 332, the peak point detection unit 333, and the position determination processing unit 334 are provided. As is well known, the ultrasonic wave transmitter / receiver 331a includes a piezoelectric element, an excitation unit that excites the piezoelectric element with a pulse signal to transmit an ultrasonic pulse, a wave reception unit that receives a reflected wave, and a signal input / output unit. It is configured to include at least a circuit for switching directions. The distance measuring sensor unit 331 may be a reflective light (preferably infrared) sensor including a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit. Each ultrasonic wave transmitter / receiver 331a of the distance measuring sensor unit 331 is configured to have a downward directivity width that can be detected by any one (preferably a plurality) of the player's head in the play area. Alternatively, they are attached at intervals smaller than the width of a normal head.

The ultrasonic wave transmitter / receiver 331a may transmit ultrasonic waves at the same time, but in order to prevent mutual interference with the adjacent ones, ultrasonic wave transmitters / receivers 331a at high speed or at least every other ultrasonic wave are transmitted / received. Alternatively, the wave machines 331a may be alternately transmitted to perform detection. However, in the case of a narrow directivity ultrasonic beam, the shortest distance measurement data is when the ultrasonic wave is transmitted by the ultrasonic wave transmitter / receiver 331a that has been transmitted, so that the adjacent ultrasonic wave transmitter / receiver 331a receives interference. There is no particular problem in specifying the ultrasonic wave transmitter / receiver 331a that has obtained the shortest data.

As shown in FIG. 14, the return wave reflected by the player's head is received by the same ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 331a,
The position detection unit 332 obtains the distance converted from the time from each transmission time point to the reception time point by using the sound velocity information, so that the data of the pitch dimension and the distance of the ultrasonic wave transmitter / receiver 331a (imageally Is shown in the graph 332a). The peak point detection unit 333 determines the peak point height position Pe and the horizontal position Xp from the data of the pitch dimension and the distance as shown in FIG. 14B.
To detect. Since the waveform in the height direction has a mountain shape as shown in FIG. 14B, by providing the position detection unit 332 with a function of creating continuous data using a model function prepared in advance, The peak point detection unit 333 can detect the peak point even when the peak point is between the ultrasonic wave transmitters / receivers 331a. The position determination processing unit 334 can determine the eye height position of the player by subtracting a predetermined value from the detected player crown height position Pe.
The horizontal position can be determined from the arrangement pitch of the ultrasonic wave transmitters / receivers 331a. The information on the eye height position and the horizontal position of the player obtained in this way is transmitted to the game control unit 100.

(4) FIG. 15 is a view showing still another embodiment of the head detecting section. The head detecting unit 430 includes a pressure-sensitive sheet member 431 laid in the play area, detects the positions of both feet of the player, and determines the head position using these information and other information described later. Is.

The pressure-sensitive sheet member 431 has a sensor portion that is long in the front-rear direction, is narrower in the left-right direction, and is at least narrower than the width of the player's foot, and is preferably a sufficiently narrow pitch (in the drawings, for convenience of explanation and drawing). , The pitch is exaggerated and drawn), and has a structure arranged in parallel. As the pressure-sensitive sheet member 431, a known material can be adopted. For example, long pressure-sensitive conductive inks 431b, such as conductive particles, are provided on opposite sides of two flexible film base materials 431a, respectively. It is manufactured by printing a film made of a thermoplastic resin in which non-conductive particles are dispersed and mixed at a corresponding position, and then pasting both film base materials 431a together. In addition, each pressure-sensitive conductive ink 431b includes a lead wire (a thermoplastic resin in which conductive particles such as silver are dispersed and mixed).
Is pulled out to the outside of the film in a state of being insulation coated, a predetermined voltage is applied to the lead wire of one film base material 431a, and a circuit for detecting the voltage is applied to the lead wire of the other film base material 431a. Each lead wire is recognizable and connected. The contact surfaces of the pressure-sensitive conductive inks 431b of both film base materials 431a in the pasted state are in a state where minute unevenness (during printing or due to the presence of fine particles) is formed. The voltage appearing on the other lead wire side can be detected in an analog manner by the substantial change in the contact area between the ink surfaces due to the pressurization, that is, the change in the resistance at the contact surface.

The pressure data memory 432 stores the voltage value detected from the voltage detection circuit of the individual pressure-sensitive conductive ink 431b, that is, the pressure data in association with each other. The memory contents are shown as an image distribution diagram in the figure. ing. The left and right foot position detection unit 433a calculates the position information of each foot in the left-right direction on the pressure-sensitive sheet member 431 by obtaining the center of the area that can be determined as the load received from the left and right feet from the stored content of the pressure data memory 432. The calculated position information is stored in each foot position information memory 433b.
In addition, the left and right foot position detection unit 433a integrates the pressure data in the foot region for each foot, and stores each integrated value in the foot weight deviation information memory 433c as the weight deviation.

The center of gravity calculator 433d is used for the pressure data memory 4
The center of gravity position of the load in the left-right direction on the pressure-sensitive sheet member 431, that is, the waist position is calculated from the contents stored in 32, and the calculation result is the center-of-gravity position information memory 433e.
Memorized in. The statistical learning pattern memory 433f stores pattern data for estimating the position of the head from the positions of both feet, the weight, the waist position, and the like, based on an ergonomic or empirical viewpoint. It is what Then, the position determination unit 433g includes the foot position information memory 433b, the foot weight bias information memory 433c, the center of gravity position information memory 433e, and the statistical learning pattern memory 4.
The head position of the player is determined based on 33f. The determined head position information is transmitted to the game control unit 100.

As described above, by laying the pressure sensitive sheet member 431 in the play area, the position of the head on the pressure sensitive sheet member 431 in the left-right direction can be determined from the position information of both feet of the player. Therefore, it is not necessary to prepare an arrangement space and a structure for the head detecting unit.

(5) FIG. 16 is a view showing another embodiment of the pressure-sensitive sheet member of the head detecting portion. Head detection unit 5
30 is a pressure-sensitive seat member 53 laid in the play area.
1, the position of both feet of the player is detected, and the head position is determined using these information and other information described later.

The pressure-sensitive sheet member 531 is basically the one manufactured by using the principle and material of (4) above. That is, as shown in FIG. 16A, the pressure-sensitive conductive ink 5312 having a long length in the longitudinal direction is arrayed at a predetermined pitch on the back surface of one film base material 5311,
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 16B, the other film substrate 5
On the back surface of 313, pressure-sensitive conductive ink 5314 having a long length in the left-right direction is arrayed and formed at a predetermined pitch, and by bonding the back surfaces to each other, it is possible to form a matrix as shown in FIG. Film base material 53 having pressure part
11 are manufactured. On the other hand, for example, the film substrate 5
A predetermined voltage is sequentially applied to the lead wires of each pressure-sensitive conductive ink 5312 of 311 at high speed, and the other film base material 531
A voltage detection circuit is connected to the lead wire of each pressure-sensitive conductive ink 5314 of No. 3. The pressure-sensitive conductive ink 53
The position of the foot on the pressure-sensitive sheet member 531 can be specified from the timing of voltage application to 12 and the pressure-sensitive conductive ink 5314 that is detected to have been pressurized by the voltage detection circuit, and the level thereof can be detected. If such a pressure-sensitive sheet member 531 is adopted, the positions of both feet of the player can be two-dimensionally detected in the left-right direction and the front-back direction. In this embodiment, the position detection unit 433 shown in FIG. 15 is applied, and if the position determination processing unit 433g is provided with a two-dimensional position determination processing function at this time, the pressure-sensitive sheet member 53 is provided.
The three-dimensional position of the player's head on 1 can be determined.

As a result of the determination of the three-dimensional position of the player's head in this manner, the viewpoint in the game space on the screen of the monitor 11 can be moved also in the depth direction.

(6) Head detecting section 1 in the second embodiment
In addition to 30 and the head detection unit of (1) to (3) above,
When adding the pressure-sensitive sheet member shown in (4) in which the pressure-sensitive conductive inks are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction, the position of the player's head in the depth direction is specified by this pressure-sensitive sheet member. Therefore, the three-dimensional position of the player's head can be specified as a whole.

(7) In the first embodiment, the ultrasonic receivers 32 and 33 are arranged on the left and right sides of the ultrasonic transmitter 31 on straight lines, whereby the height position of the head and the horizontal direction. Although the position was detected, instead of this, three ultrasonic receivers were arranged at predetermined positions on the horizontal plane of the ultrasonic transmitter, and three elliptic spheres were calculated from the measurement time, that is, distance information at each ultrasonic receiver.
It is also possible to individually determine and detect these intersection points as the head position. According to this configuration, there is an advantage that the position of the head in the three-dimensional space can be detected. In addition, it is sufficient if at least three or more ultrasonic receivers are provided.

(8) In the present embodiment, the example applied to the shooting game is shown, but in addition to the shooting game, a game in which the player plays against another character, for example, a boxing game may be used. Further, the present invention can be applied to an object hitting game or the like in which an operating part such as a gun unit is not particularly used, for example, a hidden object is hit by looking from various directions.

[0070]

According to the invention described in claims 1 and 15, it is possible to positively present an image from the viewpoint intended by the player by making the viewpoint of the pseudo camera follow the free movement of the player. In addition, the range of games can be expanded, and a game with a lot of interest can be provided.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the operation section can be operated in association with the movement of the viewpoint.
You can make the game progress interesting.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the position of the head in at least one direction on the horizontal plane can be determined from the sheet-shaped pressure sensor for detecting the positions of both feet.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the position of the head on the horizontal plane and the height position can be detected.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the barycentric position of both feet can be calculated, and the head position of the player can be determined by using at least this barycentric position information.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the head position can be detected without hindering the movement of the player.

According to the seventh aspect of the invention, the position of the player's head can be detected using one propagation medium transmitter and two propagation medium receivers.

According to the present invention, the position of the player's head in the three-dimensional space can be detected by using one propagation medium transmitter and three or more propagation medium receivers.

According to the present invention, the position and height of the player's head in the one-dimensional direction, that is, the head position on the vertical plane can be determined.

According to the tenth aspect of the invention, the head position of the player can be determined from the imaged image of the player.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the silhouette can be easily extracted from the image taken by the player.

According to the twelfth aspect of the invention, the head position of the player can be determined from the image in which the infrared light from the infrared light emitting member that the player is wearing is received.

According to the thirteenth and fourteenth aspects of the present invention, the brightness difference between the player silhouette area and the other areas can be emphasized, and the head position can be easily detected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a pseudo three-dimensional (3D) video game device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a 3D video game device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a detection principle in a position calculation unit of a head detection unit.

4A to 4D are diagrams showing an example of a viewpoint change of a monitor display image when the player's head moves in the vertical direction.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a playing situation of a player.

6A to 6D are diagrams showing an example of a viewpoint change of a monitor display image when the player's head moves in the left-right direction.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a player's play situation.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a game progression process executed by a CPU.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a “game body process” in step ST4.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing voice processing for a sniper shot from an enemy character in “voice processing based on viewpoint position” in step ST18.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of a 3D video game device according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram for performing a player head detection operation shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the head detecting unit.

14A and 14B show still another embodiment of the head detecting unit, FIG. 14A is a block diagram, and FIG. 14B is a diagram for explaining position determination.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing still another embodiment of the head detecting unit.

FIG. 16 is a view showing another embodiment of the pressure-sensitive sheet member of the head detecting section.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Game Device 10 Game Machine Main Body 100 Game Control Unit 101 CPU 110 Drawing Control Unit 120 Voice Control Unit 11 Monitor 12, 21 Speaker 20 Operation Case Unit 22 Gun Unit (Operation Unit) 30, 130, 230, 330, 430, 530 Head detection unit 31 Ultrasonic transmitter 32, 33 Ultrasonic receiver 34 Sensor drive unit 35 Position calculation unit 131 CCD camera 132c Screen 231 Infrared camera 236 Adherent 236a Infrared light emitting member 331 Distance measuring sensor 431 Pressure sensitive sheet member 433 Position detection unit 433d Center of gravity calculation unit 433a Left and right foot position calculation unit

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Hirofumi Fujimoto             4-3-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Konami             Within the corporation (72) Inventor Shigenobu Matsuyama             4-3-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Konami             Within the corporation F term (reference) 2C001 AA07 BA02 BA04 BA05 BB03                       BC04 BC05 BC08 BD05 CA08                       CB01 CB04 CB08 CC01 CC08

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A monitor for displaying an image provided at a predetermined height position of a game machine housing, a game control unit for controlling the progress of a game, and a three-dimensional image from the viewpoint of a pseudo camera, and the monitor. 3 with display control unit to display on screen
In the D video game device, a head detecting unit that detects the position of the player's head located in the play area in front of the monitor screen in at least one-dimensional space, and a change in the detected position of the head. A 3D video game device, comprising: viewpoint changing means for moving the viewpoint of the pseudo camera in accordance with the direction and the amount of change. 2. The 3D video game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation section capable of being operated externally, wherein the game control section reflects the operation content from the operation section on the progress of the game. 3. The head detecting means detects a position of both feet in at least one direction on a horizontal plane, and a sheet-shaped pressure sensor, and at least 1 on the horizontal surface of the head with respect to the detected position information of both feet. 3D according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a head position determining means for determining a position in the direction.
Video game device. 4. The head detecting means further comprises a distance measuring sensor for remotely detecting the height position of the head.
The described 3D video game device. 5. The pressure sensor is an analog sensor, and the head position determining means calculates the position of the center of gravity for both feet from the detected level for each foot detected, and the position information of the obtained center of gravity and the position information of both feet are obtained. 5. The 3D video game device according to claim 3, wherein the position of the head in at least one direction on the horizontal plane is determined by using and. 6. The 3D video game device according to claim 1, wherein the head detecting means includes a distance measuring sensor for remotely detecting at least one of the height of the head and the position in the left-right direction. 7. The distance measuring sensor is arranged at one position of a propagation medium transmitter and two positions in the left and right direction of the monitor screen with the propagation medium transmitter as a center, and transmitted from the propagation medium transmitter. A first propagation medium receiver that receives the propagation medium reflected by the head of the player, and a second propagation medium receiver that receives the propagation medium. 7. The 3D video game device according to claim 6, further comprising head position determining means for determining the position of the player's head from the time elapsed until reception. 8. The head detecting means includes a position detecting sensor for detecting a three-dimensional position of the head, and the position detecting sensor comprises:
One propagation medium transmitter, and at least three propagation medium transmitters arranged at different positions on the horizontal plane with the propagation medium transmitter as a center, and the propagation mediums transmitted from the propagation medium transmitter and reflected by the head of the player, respectively. Each of the propagation medium receivers for receiving is provided, and from the elapsed time from the transmission time to the reception at each of the propagation medium receivers, 3 of the player's head is obtained.
3. The 3D video game device according to claim 1, further comprising a head position determining means for determining a position in the dimensional space. 9. The distance measuring means includes a plurality of propagation medium transceivers arranged above the play area in at least one-dimensional direction on a horizontal plane and arranged downward, the head detecting means. 7. The 3D video game device according to claim 6, further comprising head position determining means for determining the position and height of the player's head in the one-dimensional direction from the elapsed time from transmission to reception in each of the transmission medium transceivers. 10. The 3D video game device according to claim 1, wherein the head detecting unit includes an optical image capturing unit and a head extracting unit that extracts the player's head from the captured image. . 11. A member having a background removal surface is arranged on the side facing the image pickup means with the play area interposed therebetween.
The described 3D video game device. 12. The head detecting means extracts the player's head from an infrared camera, an infrared emitting member attached to the player's head, and an image obtained by receiving infrared light from the infrared emitting member. The 3D video game device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: 13. The 3D video game device according to claim 12, wherein a member having an infrared light absorbing surface is arranged on a side facing the infrared camera across the play area. 14. The 3D video game device according to claim 12, wherein a member having an infrared light reflecting surface is arranged on a side facing the infrared camera across the play area. 15. A monitor for displaying an image provided at a predetermined height position of a game machine housing, a game control unit for controlling the progress of the game, and a pseudo three-dimensional image from the viewpoint of a pseudo camera, A pseudo camera viewpoint movement control method in a 3D video game, comprising: a display control unit for displaying on a monitor screen, wherein at least one dimension in space of a player's head located in a play area in front of the monitor screen. The position information of the head is obtained by repeatedly performing the detecting operation by the head detecting unit that detects the position with respect to the direction, and the viewpoint of the pseudo camera is set so as to follow the obtained change direction and change amount of the head position. A pseudo camera viewpoint movement control method in a 3D video game, which is characterized by moving the viewpoint.