JP2003233839A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine capable of permanently attracting the interest of a player by smoothly moving an elongated pattern to exhibit display configurations with a sense of presence. <P>SOLUTION: An elongated object for displaying a longitudinal pattern Z3 is configured of a plurality of part objects. Those part objects are arranged in a world coordinate system to set an elongated pattern object. A new arrangement position of the part object positioned at the head of the elongated pattern object is calculated. The leading part object is moved to the calculated arrangement position, and the part object positioned behind the leading part object is arranged at the arrangement position where the leading part object has been arranged so that the part object arranged behind the leading part object can pass the same orbit as that of the leading part object. Thus, an elongated pattern Z3 is smoothly moved on a closed orbit on a display picture 6a. <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 gaming machine such as a pachinko machine, a slot machine or a coin gaming machine,
In particular, the present invention relates to a technique of displaying a state of a pattern object having a predetermined shape moving in a virtual three-dimensional space.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a pachinko machine, which is a game machine of this type,
A gaming state that is advantageous for the player who can acquire a large number of pachinko balls and a gaming state that is disadvantageous for the player who consumes the pachinko balls are generated, and the player is in any gaming state. In order to keep the fun of, the display mode with a sense of presence is displayed according to each gaming state. As a display mode, for example, by changing, for example, enlarging, reducing, or moving a pattern, which is a two-dimensional image drawn by using, for example, the perspective method, the player can feel a sense of reality. Such a display mode is realized.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned conventional pachinko machine has the following problems. In the conventional pachinko machine, since the display mode in which the pattern, which is a two-dimensional image, is simply enlarged, reduced, or moved is displayed, there is a problem that the player as a whole has a poor sense of presence and cannot feel it. It was happening. Therefore,
In recent years, by moving an object composed of polygons in a virtual three-dimensional coordinate space, an attempt has been made to realize a realistic display mode by displaying variations of a symbol, which is a three-dimensional image, on a display screen. ing. Specifically, virtual 3
Set an object in the dimensional space and move the object. By generating a display image showing how the object moves in the virtual three-dimensional space based on a given viewpoint, and sequentially displaying the display image on the monitor,
The fluctuations of the realistic patterns are displayed.

However, in the case of displaying a long creature such as a sea snake or a moray eel, a long object is constructed in order to express the movement of the sea snake swimming in the sea. It is necessary to sequentially arrange, in the virtual three-dimensional space, long objects having slightly different shapes obtained by displacing a plurality of polygons. Therefore, the geometry calculation processing performed in the gaming machine is increased, the processing load of the gaming machine is increased, and a drop or the like occurs, which makes it difficult to represent smooth movement of a long object. In addition, it may be difficult to match the shape of the long object with the moving direction thereof, and there may be a problem that the relationship between the movement and movement of the symbol object is not smooth. As a result, there is a problem that the player who observes such a display mode does not have a sufficient sense of realism and cannot keep the interest of the player.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the display mode of a realistic pattern can be displayed by the smooth movement of the object to keep the interest of the player. An object is to provide a game machine.

[0006]

The present invention has the following constitution in order to achieve such an object. According to the configuration of the present invention, in the gaming machine, the object is changed in the virtual three-dimensional space according to the game state, and the state is displayed on the display screen based on a given viewpoint in the virtual three-dimensional space. In the virtual three-dimensional space, an object storage unit that stores a plurality of component objects that form a design object for displaying a design of a predetermined shape on the display screen, and a plurality of component objects read from the object storage unit Object setting means for arranging and setting the symbol objects, arrangement position information deriving means for sequentially deriving arrangement position information for moving the top part object of the symbol objects to a new arrangement position, and the derived Based on the latest layout position information, the top part object is moved and Object moving means for sequentially moving each component object arranged behind the top component object based on the arrangement position information older than the latest arrangement position information, and the plurality of units for moving in the virtual three-dimensional space. Display image generation means for generating a display image showing a state in which a pattern object composed of the respective component objects moves in the virtual three-dimensional space by the individual component objects, and display for displaying the display image on the display screen. And means. When the configuration of the present invention is configuration 1, the present invention can be further configured as follows.

Structure 2 is a gaming machine in which an object is changed in a virtual three-dimensional space according to a game state and the state is displayed on a display screen based on a given viewpoint in the virtual three-dimensional space. An object storage unit that stores a plurality of component objects that form a long design object for displaying a long design on the display screen, and a plurality of component objects read from the object storage unit are the virtual 3 Object setting means for arranging in the dimensional space and setting the long pattern object, and position information for deriving the position information for moving the leading part object in the traveling direction of the long pattern object to a new position. Arranging position information deriving means, and based on the derived latest arranging position information, Object moving means for sequentially moving each component object arranged after the top component object based on the arrangement position information older than the latest arrangement position information, and the virtual three-dimensional Display image generation means for generating a display image showing a state in which a long pattern object composed of the respective component objects moves in the virtual three-dimensional space by the plurality of component objects moving in the space; And a display means for displaying the display image on the display screen. According to this structure, the object setting means virtualizes a plurality of component objects read from the object storage means.
Place them in the three-dimensional space and set a long pattern object composed of these part objects. The arrangement position information deriving means sequentially derives the arrangement position information of the new arrangement position in order to sequentially move the top part object in the traveling direction of the long pattern object to the new arrangement position in the virtual three-dimensional space. . The object moving means, based on the latest arrangement position information derived by the arrangement position information deriving means, places the head part object of the long symbol object at the arrangement position in the virtual three-dimensional space specified by the arrangement position information. To move. further,
The object moving means, based on the placement position information that is older than the latest placement position information, places the top part at the placement position specified by the old placement position information, which is the position after the top part object has already been placed. Each part object arranged behind the object is sequentially moved. The display image generation means generates a display image showing a state of a long pattern object moving by moving each part object in the virtual three-dimensional space. The display means displays the display image on the display screen to display the virtual 3
Display the movement of a long pattern object in the dimensional space. As a result, the long symbol object for displaying the long symbol on the display screen is made up of a plurality of component objects, so that the long symbol object itself can make a complicated movement. Also, based on the latest layout position information, the head part object is moved to the layout position in the virtual three-dimensional space specified by the layout position information, and the top part object is already arranged based on the old layout position information. Since the component objects arranged after the first component object are sequentially moved to the arrangement position specified by the old arrangement position information, which is the position after the start, the simple process It is possible to move the object on the locus so that the other part objects also pass through. As a result, it is possible to realize a realistic and realistic display mode of a long pattern on the display screen, and it is possible to keep the fun of the player playing the gaming machine.

As for configuration 3, in the gaming machine according to configuration 1 or configuration 2, the arrangement position information deriving means indicates rotation angle information indicating a rotation angle of the leading part object, and movement of the leading part object. A movement amount in the virtual three-dimensional space is calculated based on speed information indicating a speed, and the movement amount is added to the arrangement position information in which the head component object is arranged, and the head component object is also added. Is a gaming machine that sequentially derives arrangement position information for newly arranging. According to this configuration, the arrangement position information deriving unit is based on the rotation angle information indicating the rotation angle of the head component object and the speed information indicating the moving speed of the head component object in the virtual three-dimensional space. , A movement amount in a specific direction in the virtual three-dimensional space specified by the rotation angle is calculated. Then, the movement amount is added to the arrangement position information of the arrangement position where the top part object is arranged, and the arrangement position information of the new arrangement position in the virtual three-dimensional space is sequentially derived. The object moving means moves the leading part object to the new placement position and places another component object based on the placement position information that is older than the new placement position information. Other part objects are moved sequentially on the locus. As a result, each component object can be moved so as to pass on the same locus by a simpler process. Further, the same effect as that of the configuration 1 can be obtained.

Configuration 4 is the gaming machine according to any one of Configurations 1 to 3, wherein each component object between the leading component object and the trailing component object is the longitudinal direction of the long symbol object. Is a gaming machine having the same width. According to this configuration,
Since each of the part objects between the first part object and the last part object has the same width in the longitudinal direction of the long pattern object, each of the other part objects regardless of the movement amount of the first part object. Part objects can be moved in the same way. as a result,
Since it is possible to display the smooth movement of the long pattern object, it is possible to keep the player's interest interesting.

Structure 5 is the gaming machine according to any one of Structures 1 to 4, wherein the gaming machine further has the same pattern to be attached to each of the component objects constituting the long pattern object. According to the distance from the viewpoint to each of the component objects and a plurality of types of textures whose hues are different in stages,
A texture selection unit that selects a specific texture from the plurality of types of textures so that the hue of each component object displayed on the display screen changes in a stepwise manner; It is a gaming machine that attaches the selected texture to each component object and generates a display image showing how the long pattern object moves in a virtual three-dimensional space. Here, the same pattern means not only a pattern composed of many colors,
Including those made of one color. According to this configuration, the texture selection unit has the same pattern and has a gradual color shade to be attached to each part object according to the distance from a given viewpoint in the virtual three-dimensional space to each part object. Select a specific texture from different types of textures. The display image generation means attaches each selected texture to each component object and generates a display image showing the movement of the long pattern object. The display means displays a long pattern having different shades in the depth direction of the display screen. As a result, virtual 3
In the dimensional space, the hue of each component object that forms the long pattern that is displayed on the display screen changes stepwise according to the distance from the viewpoint to each component object, so there is a particular sense of presence in the depth direction of the display screen. It is possible to realize a certain display mode, and to keep the interest of the player playing the game machine permanent.

According to a sixth aspect of the game machine according to the fifth aspect, the plurality of types of textures are constituted by a single basic texture data and a plurality of color palette data of different shades that determine the shade of the texture. It is a gaming machine that is being played. According to this configuration, the plurality of types of textures are configured by a combination of single basic texture data and a plurality of color palette data. As a result, it is possible to reduce the storage area for storing the data of a plurality of types of textures. Also, since a plurality of types of textures are realized by changing the color palette data, when the color of the light source is changed, for example, when a so-called light source process is used to realize a plurality of types of textures, the light is changed. It does not cause a problem that the hue of the hit portion changes according to the color of the light source.

As for configuration 7, in the gaming machine according to configuration 5 or 6, the texture selecting means selects a texture having a lighter shade as a specific texture as the distance between the viewpoint and each of the component objects is shorter. It is a game machine that does. According to this configuration, the texture selecting unit selects a texture having a lighter shade as the distance between the viewpoint and the part object is shorter, and therefore the display unit has a longer shade that is closer to the viewpoint. It is displayed brightly. As a result, a more realistic display mode can be realized, and the player's interest can be made more permanent.

Structure 8 is the gaming machine according to Structure 5 or Structure 6, wherein the texture selecting means selects a darker color texture as a specific texture as the distance between the viewpoint and each of the component objects is shorter. It is a game machine that does. According to this configuration, the texture selecting means selects a texture having a darker shade as the distance between the viewpoint and the part object is shorter, and therefore the display means
The longer the pattern is closer to the viewpoint, the darker the shade is displayed. As a result, a more realistic display mode can be realized, and the player's interest can be made more permanent.

Structure 9 is the gaming machine according to Structure 5 or Structure 6, wherein the texture selecting means is the virtual 3
This is a gaming machine that selects a specific texture from the plurality of types of textures based on the difference value between the coordinate value of the viewpoint in the three-dimensional space and the coordinate value of each component object in the virtual three-dimensional space. According to this structure, the texture selection unit divides the coordinate value of the viewpoint in the virtual three-dimensional space and the coordinate value at which the object is arranged to obtain the difference value. Further, since the difference value indicates the distance between the viewpoint and the object, the texture selecting means selects a specific texture based on the magnitude of the difference value. As a result, the distance between the viewpoint and the object can be easily obtained.

According to a tenth aspect, in the gaming machine according to the ninth aspect, each of the textures is associated with a plurality of difference values within a predetermined range, and the texture selecting means sets the coordinate point of the viewpoint and each of the coordinate points. This is a game machine that selects a texture associated with a predetermined range that includes a difference value with respect to the coordinate point of a component object, as a specific texture. According to this configuration, the texture selecting unit obtains which range of the difference values of the plurality of predetermined ranges the difference value between the viewpoint coordinate value and the coordinate value of each component object is included, and determines the range. Select the texture associated with. As a result, even if the number of types of textures is limited, it is possible to gradually change the hue of the image of the component object having a long pattern displayed on the display screen.

A structure 11 is the game machine according to the structure 10, wherein the predetermined range is each range obtained by dividing a maximum value of a predetermined difference value by the number of the plurality of types of textures. . According to this configuration, by dividing the maximum value of the predetermined difference value by the number of the plurality of types of textures, the hue of the image of the long-shaped pattern part object displayed on the display screen is gradually increased. Change to.
As a result, it is possible to gradually change the shade of the image of each component object having a long pattern by a relatively simple process.

Structure 12 is the gaming machine according to any one of Structures 5 to 11, wherein the virtual three-dimensional space is
It is a space for displaying a state under the sea, and the long pattern object is a game machine which is an object for displaying a long creature (for example, a snake, an eel, a deep-sea fish, etc.). According to this structure, the display means realistically displays on the display screen how a long creature such as a snake, a eel, or a deep-sea fish moves. As a result, the interest of the player can be made more permanent.

In configuration 13, the gaming machine described in any one of configurations 1 to 12 is a pachinko machine. As a basic configuration of this pachinko machine, it has an operation handle, and according to the operation of the handle, shoots a game ball to a predetermined game area, and the game ball wins an operating opening arranged at a predetermined position in the game area. As a necessary condition, it is possible to start changing the identification symbol and the auxiliary symbol on the display means. In addition, during the occurrence of a specific game state, the 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, and a valuable value (only a prize ball is given according to the number of winning prizes. However, it also includes writing to a magnetic card). As a result, the enjoyment of the player playing the pachinko machine can be made permanent.

Structure 14, in the pachinko machine according to Structure 13, the long symbol object is an identification symbol which is a long symbol for allowing the player to identify the game state.
Alternatively, it is a pachinko machine which is an object for displaying an auxiliary design which is a long design other than the identification design. According to this configuration, in the display means, the elongated pattern moves from the back side from the display screen, and the hue of the elongated pattern changes according to the distance in the depth direction from the display screen. , An identification symbol for the player to identify the game state or an auxiliary symbol other than the identification symbol is displayed. As a result, the enjoyment of the pachinko game can be improved.

[0020]

The operation of the present invention is as follows. The object setting means arranges each of the plurality of component objects read out from the object storage means in the virtual three-dimensional space, and sets a pattern object having a predetermined shape composed of these component objects. The arrangement position information deriving means sequentially derives the arrangement position information of the new arrangement position in order to sequentially move the top part object in the traveling direction of the symbol object to the new arrangement position in the virtual three-dimensional space. The object moving means moves the top part object of the symbol object to the arrangement position in the virtual three-dimensional space specified by the arrangement position information based on the latest arrangement position information derived by the arrangement position information deriving means. . Further, the object moving means, based on the arrangement position information that is older than the latest arrangement position information, moves the head to the arrangement position specified by the old arrangement position information, which is the position after the first component object has already been arranged. The component objects arranged after the component object of are sequentially moved. The display image generation means generates a display image showing a state of a pattern object moving by moving each part object in the virtual three-dimensional space. The display means displays the display image on the display screen, and displays a state in which the entire pattern object moves along the trajectory after the head component object moves in the virtual three-dimensional space.

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 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 game machine including an image display device. 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 an image display device. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image processing unit of FIG.

The pachinko machine according to this embodiment is provided with a game board 2 having a control board 1 (see FIG. 2) for controlling the entire pachinko machine, a frame 3 to which the game board 2 is attached, and a game board 2
On the lower side of the upper receiving tray 4, an upper receiving tray 4 provided on the lower side, a rotary handle 5 to which a launching device (not shown) for firing the pachinko balls stored in the upper receiving tray 4 to the board surface of the game board 2 is connected, The lower tray 8 provided, the identification symbol for the player to identify the game state, and the liquid crystal monitor 6 for displaying the auxiliary symbol or the like which is a symbol other than the identification symbol displayed to enhance the effect of the production in the game state. The display screen 6a is provided with an image display device 7 (see FIG. 2) mounted so as to be arranged substantially in the center of the board surface of the game board 2. On the display screen 6a, fluctuations (movement, rotation, etc.) of one or a plurality of identification symbols and auxiliary symbols on a background on which a predetermined pattern is drawn.
(Deformation, etc.) is displayed according to the game state in the gaming machine. The identification pattern means a so-called symbol number for making the player recognize the jackpot or reach etc. on the pachinko machine or an image of the symbol numbered, and the auxiliary symbol is to increase the effect in the jackpot or reach etc. An image of a design other than the identification design displayed in FIG. Also,
The jackpot refers to a state that is advantageous to a player who can obtain a large number of pachinko balls, and the normal gaming state refers to a state that is disadvantageous to a player who consumes the pachinko balls. Fluctuations such as identification patterns that are displayed during the normal gaming state are called normal fluctuations, and regardless of whether or not a big hit has occurred, an effect as if a big hit occurs (including the case where a big hit occurs) Fluctuation is called reach. In addition, at the time of a big hit, a display mode for each round described below is displayed. further,
When a game is not being played on a pachinko machine, a display such as a demonstration is displayed.

On the game board 2, a rail 2a for guiding the pachinko ball fired by the rotary handle 5 to the board surface,
A plurality of nails (not shown) that guide the pachinko balls to unspecified locations, a plurality of winning openings 2b in which the pachinko balls guided by the nails win, and a pachinko ball that is guided near the center of the game board 2. There is provided a starting opening 2c for winning a prize and a large winning opening 2d for allowing a relatively large number of pachinko balls to win at a time in a specific game state. A prize detection sensor 11 for detecting the entrance of a pachinko ball in each of the winning openings 2b, the starting opening 2c and the large winning opening 2d.
(See FIG. 2) are provided respectively. When the winning detection sensor 11 detects the entrance 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 sensor 12 (see FIG. 2) is provided in the start port 2c. Further, the special winning opening 2d is provided with an opening / closing solenoid 13 (see FIG. 2), and the operation of the opening / closing solenoid 13 allows the special winning opening 2d to be 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 entering the starting opening 2c is provided, but the description thereof is omitted in this embodiment.

The upper tray 4 has a saucer 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) communicating with a launching device that launches a pachinko ball toward the rail 2a is provided. Further, a ball removal button 4b for transferring the stored pachinko balls to the lower tray 8 is provided on the upper tray 4, and the pachinko balls stored in the upper tray 4 are pushed by pressing the ball removal button 4b. Can be transferred to the lower tray 8. The lower saucer 8 has a saucer shape and receives the pachinko ball transferred from the upper saucer 4. The lower tray 8 is provided with a ball pulling lever (not shown) for pulling out the pachinko balls stored therein.

A launching device for launching 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 strength according to the amount of rotation. In addition,
When the player holds the rotary handle 5 in a rotated state, the launching device launches one pachinko ball at predetermined intervals.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control board 1 provided in the game board 2 outputs a main control unit 16 which is a microcomputer including a memory and a CPU, and a value which determines a game state in the game machine. A counter 14, a start-up sensor 12 that detects the entry of a pachinko ball with the starting opening 2c (see FIG. 1), and a winning detection sensor 11 that detects the entry of a pachinko ball with the winning opening 2b or the like (see FIG. 1). , Winners 2
An open / close solenoid 13 for opening and closing d (see FIG. 1), and an I / F (interface) 15 connected to an I / F (interface) 17 of the image display device 7 so that information can be distributed.
And so on. The control board 1 executes various events such as supplying a predetermined amount of pachinko balls or operating a lamp or a speaker (not shown) based on the detection of the ball detection sensor of the winning opening 2b or the starting opening 2c described above. It is a thing. In addition, the control board 1 I / F various commands for instructing a display mode according to the game state.
It is transmitted to the image display device 7 through 15.

The processing carried out by the control board 1 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Step S1 (Detection of Ball Entering) The player drives the pachinko ball into the game board 2 with the rotary handle 5 to start the pachinko game. Game board 2
Some of the pachinko balls that have been hit inside are guided to near the center of the board and enter the starting opening 2c. When the pachinko ball enters the starting opening 2c, the starting start sensor 12 for detecting the ball entering the starting opening 2c sends a starting start signal to the main control unit 16
The winning detection sensor 11 provided in the starting opening 2c sends a winning signal to the main controller 16. In this embodiment, the 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 of sends a winning signal to the main controller 16.

Step S2 (Supplying Pachinko Balls) When the main control section 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 through.

Step S3 (big hit lottery) When the start control signal from the start start sensor 12 is detected, the main control section 16 reads the output value of the counter 14 and carries out the big hit lottery. In the jackpot lottery, if the output value of the counter 14 is a predetermined value, a “jackpot” 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 “out” is continued.

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

Step S5 (new ball detection?) The main controller 16 waits until it detects the presence 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 waits until a new start start signal is detected. The control board 1 that executes steps S1 to S5 described above corresponds to, so to speak, a game state generating means. It should be noted that the start start sensor 12 detects the entrance of a pachinko ball during fluctuations in the identification pattern (reach, normal fluctuations, etc.), and stores the number of the pachinko balls that have entered, and the holding lamp not described above 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 S2 to S4 are repeated.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image display device 7 receives an I / F 1 that receives a command sent from the control board 1.
7, an object that is three-dimensional information set in the world coordinate system based on the command, a basic texture data that is image information of the pattern of the object, and a character storage unit 18 that stores the backmost image, and the received command And a three-dimensional image processing unit 19 for generating a display image in which a texture based on basic texture data is attached to the object by executing a program according to The image storage unit 20 that temporarily stores the display image generated in step 1 and the liquid crystal monitor 6 that displays the display image are provided. The world coordinate system is a three-dimensional coordinate system corresponding to a virtual three-dimensional space. An object is a three-dimensional virtual object set in the world coordinate system, and is three-dimensional information composed of a plurality of polygons. A polygon is a polygonal plane defined by a plurality of three-dimensional coordinate vertices. The texture is image information attached to each polygon of the object, and by attaching the texture to the object, an image corresponding to the object, for example, an identification pattern, an auxiliary pattern, or a background is generated. As will be apparent from the detailed description below, the texture attached to the polygon is composed of basic texture data for determining the pattern and color palette data that is color information for determining the shade of the pattern. Therefore, it is possible to generate a plurality of types of textures having the same pattern (which may be composed of one color) and different shades by using a plurality of types of color palette data and a single basic texture data.

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 appropriately read from the three-dimensional image processing unit 19, and basic texture data, which is two-dimensional image information of the object. Specifically, in the character storage unit 18, a background displayed on the display screen 6a of the liquid crystal monitor 6, for example, a plurality of types of background texture data that constitutes a coral reef pattern on the seabed, and a hit identification pattern at the time of a big hit, for example, a fish pattern. Texture data of the round display pattern showing the number of rounds of jackpots, and various basic texture data such as auxiliary patterns displayed for production during the round, such as texture data of sea turtle patterns, are stored. There is. Further, the character storage unit 18 also stores a background object, a pattern object, and the like each of which is composed of one or a plurality of polygons to which each texture is attached.
Further, the character storage unit 18 also stores a two-dimensional rearmost image to be displayed on the rearmost side of the display screen 6a. Each of these objects, texture data, and the backmost image are appropriately read by the three-dimensional image processing unit 19. The character storage unit 18 corresponds to the object information storage means in the present invention.

The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 includes a CPU (central processing unit) for controlling and managing the entire image display device, a CP.
It is composed of a memory for appropriately storing the calculation result in U and an image data processor for generating an image to be output to the liquid crystal monitor 6. Three-dimensional image processing unit 19
Sets various viewpoints and various objects read from the character storage unit 18 in the world coordinate system, which is a three-dimensional virtual space, and moves the viewpoints in order to realize the display mode according to the command. To displace. Furthermore, we perform so-called geometry calculation processing,
Projection information, which is two-dimensional coordinate information, is generated by projecting an object in the world coordinate system onto a projection plane based on a viewpoint. Based on the projection information, the position corresponding to the apex of each polygon of each object in the frame memory provided in the image storage unit 20, that is, the address in the frame memory is obtained, and the texture read from the character storage unit 18 The polygon is deformed so as to match the vertices of each polygon, and the texture is drawn based on each address in the frame memory. After the drawing of textures for all objects is completed, the image storage unit 20
When a display image is generated in the frame memory of, the display image is output to the liquid crystal monitor 6. The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 corresponds to the object setting means, the arrangement position information deriving means, the object moving means, and the display image generating means in the present invention. Furthermore, the three-dimensional image processing unit 1
Reference numeral 9 also corresponds to, so to speak, a texture selecting means for selecting a texture having a hue according to the distance from the viewpoint.

Specifically, the three-dimensional image processing section 19 is constructed, for example, as follows. 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
Is 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 that collectively transfers the data stored in the work RAM 23 according to an instruction from the CPU 21, and a DM
I / F 25 for receiving data transferred by A24
And a geometry calculation processing unit 26 that performs coordinate calculation processing based on the data received by the I / F 25;
The rendering processing unit 27 that generates a display image based on the data received by F25 and the rendering processing unit 27 that generates a plurality of types of color palette data that is color information.
And a video output unit 30 for outputting a display image to the liquid crystal monitor 6. In addition, the CPU 21 described above
And program ROM 22, work RAM 23 and DMA 2
4 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 is connected to the geometry calculation processing unit 26 and the rendering unit via the data bus that is independent of the data bus described above. It is connected to the processing unit.

The program ROM 22 is a program that is first executed by the CPU 21 when the game machine is powered on, or a plurality of types of programs for displaying according to the type of command sent from the control board 1. Or
It stores map data and color palette data. The program for displaying sets an object and a viewpoint in the world coordinate system in order to realize a display mode according to a command, for example, by referring to a table prepared in advance or performing arithmetic processing on the referred data. The setting information for doing so is derived. 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. The setting information includes placement coordinate data for placing an object in the world coordinate system, rotation angle data that indicates the orientation of an object to be placed in the world coordinate system as a rotation angle from the reference orientation of the object, and world coordinates. Instructs the viewpoint data for setting the viewpoint in the system, the objects stored in the character storage unit 18, the basic texture data, the rearmost image, and the background texture to be attached to the polygons forming the background object arranged in the world coordinate system. It is information for generating a one-screen display image to be displayed on the display screen 6a as well as including map data to be displayed.
The map data configures the entire background displayed on the display screen 6a, for example, the entire seabed pattern displayed on the display screen 6a, by a plurality of types of background textures, and associates the background textures to be attached to the polygons forming the background object. Is data for instructing. The program ROM 22 is a so-called map data storage means for storing map data, and a so-called color palette data storage means for storing a plurality of color palette data.

The CPU 21 is a central processing unit that manages and controls the entire image display device 7 according to a control program stored in the program ROM 22, and mainly executes a program according 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 continuously moves. Specifically, the CPU 21 sequentially writes, in the work RAM 23, the setting information obtained by executing the display program for performing the display corresponding to the command according to the type of the command received by the I / F 17, and the predetermined information is set. The DMA 24 is instructed to transfer the setting information in the work RAM 23 at every interrupt processing interval (for example, 1/30 seconds or 1/60 seconds).

The work RAM 23 temporarily stores the setting information which is the execution result obtained by the CPU 21. Further, the DMA 24 is a so-called direct memory access controller capable of transferring the data stored in the work RAM 23 without the processing of the CPU 21. That is, the DMA 24
The setting information stored in the work RAM 23 is collectively transferred to the I / F 25 based on the transfer start instruction from the.

The I / F 25 receives the setting information transferred by the DMA 24. The I / F 25 is used for coordinate calculation such as the storage address of the object stored in the character storage unit 18 included in the setting information, the arrangement coordinate data for arranging the object in the world coordinate system, and the viewpoint data for setting the viewpoint. The target data is supplied to the geometry calculation processing unit 26, and the data of the storage address such as the basic texture data stored in the character storage unit 18 included in the setting information to be the target of image drawing is supplied to the rendering processing unit 27. Furthermore, I / F2
Reference numeral 5 indicates color palette data for designating the color information of the texture included in the setting information.
Give to eight.

The geometry calculation processing section 26 uses the I / F 25
Based on the data given from, the coordinate calculation processing associated with the movement and rotation of the three-dimensional coordinate points is performed. Specifically, the geometry calculation processing section 26 reads out the objects composed of a plurality of polygons arranged in the local coordinate system based on the storage addresses of the objects stored in the character storage section 18, and uses them as rotation angle data. Based on the arrangement coordinate data, the coordinate data of each polygon of the object in the world coordinate system is calculated based on the arrangement coordinate data. The local coordinate system is a coordinate system unique to an object in which an object having a reference posture is set. Further, the coordinate data of each polygon of the object in the viewpoint coordinate system based on the viewpoint set based on the viewpoint data is calculated. Further, the projection information, which is the two-dimensional coordinate data of each polygon of the object on the projection plane when the object is projected on the projection plane set perpendicular to the line of sight based on the viewpoint, is calculated. Then, the geometry calculation processing section 26 gives the projection information to the rendering processing section 27.

The palette processing unit 28 has a palette RAM (not shown) for storing color palette data composed of a plurality of types of color information written by the CPU 21, and converts the color palette data given from the CPU 21 through the I / F 25. The corresponding color palette is given to the rendering processing unit 27. To give a color palette means, for example, the rendering address of the storage address of the color palette stored in the palette RAM.
The rendering processing unit 27 refers to the color information stored in the storage address when generating the display image. Each color information is determined by a combination of red (R), green (G), and blue (B). If the data size of the color palette is 16 bits, each value of 0 to 15 is set. Is assigned predetermined color information. Further, each data of the color palette, that is, each palette is assigned to each dot that constitutes the texture, and by drawing each dot with the color information of each palette, the entire texture is drawn. In the present embodiment, the color information assigned to each palette of this color palette is sequentially changed to generate a plurality of types of textures having different shades in stages.

The rendering processing unit 27 first reads the backmost image based on the storage address of the backmost image in the character storage unit 18, and stores the backmost image in the frame memory provided in the image storage unit 20. It draws and expands each polygon of the object based on the projection information in the frame memory. Furthermore, the rendering processing unit 27
Draws the texture read from the character storage unit 18 on the area corresponding to each polygon in the frame memory based on the storage address of the texture in the character storage unit 18 and the color palette data. This allows
In the frame memory, a display image having a predetermined aspect ratio, for example, an aspect ratio of 3: 4, in which a background pattern and various pattern patterns are drawn on the backmost image, is generated. The geometry calculation processing unit 26 and the rendering processing unit 27 described above
Then, clipping processing that determines the portion to be displayed on the screen, hidden surface processing that determines the visible portion and the invisible portion depending on the context of the polygon, shading calculation processing that calculates the light hit from the light source and the reflection state etc. The processing of is also appropriately performed.

The selector unit 29 selects a plurality of frame memories as appropriate. Specifically, the selector unit 2
Reference numeral 9 denotes a plurality of frame memories provided in the image storage unit 20, for example, one of the first frame memory and the second frame memory when the rendering processing unit 27 draws an image. select.
In this case, the display image is generated in the selected frame memory. On the other hand, the selector unit 29
The display image for which the display image has already been generated is read from the frame memory on the side on which drawing is not performed, and the display image is sent to the video output unit 30. The selector unit 2
9 sequentially switches the read side frame memory and the drawing side frame memory. The video output unit 30 converts the display image sent from the selector unit 29 into a video signal and outputs it to the liquid crystal monitor 6.

The image storage unit 20 includes the rendering processing unit 2
This is a so-called video RAM that stores the display image generated by the computer 7. The image storage section 20 constitutes a so-called double buffer provided with a first frame memory, which is a storage area for storing a display image for one screen, and a second frame memory, for example. The number of frame memories provided in 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 6a for displaying the display image output from the video output section 30, and the screen 6a is attached so as to be exposed on the board surface of the game board 2. The display screen 6a has, for example, an aspect ratio of 9: 1.
6, a so-called wide screen, and the liquid crystal monitor 6 displays the display image output from the video output unit 30 with an aspect ratio of 3: 4 in accordance with the aspect ratio of the display screen 6a.
Display the image on. Further, the liquid crystal monitor 6 also has a function of displaying a display image with an aspect ratio of 3: 4 as it is, so that the aspect ratio of the display image displayed on the display screen 6a can be appropriately changed according to the game state. You can also In addition,
The liquid crystal monitor 6 corresponds to the display means in the present invention.

The display mode displayed on the gaming machine according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. On the display screen 6a of the liquid crystal monitor 6, for example, the display modes as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C are displayed based on the command sent from the control board 1. This display mode is an example of a round display that is displayed after a big hit occurs on a pachinko machine. Hereinafter, this display mode will be described. The present invention is not limited to the display mode during the round, and can be appropriately applied to the display mode during the reach, the normal fluctuation, or the demonstration, for example.

As shown in FIG. 5, on the display screen 6a which is a wide screen having an aspect ratio of 9:16, the jackpot identification symbol Z1 including the identification symbol Z1a which is the eighth identification symbol at the time of the jackpot, and the ninth time. Round display pattern showing the round of Z
2 and 2 are displayed in the foreground. The identification symbol Z1a is the type of identification symbol when the jackpot is determined during the game,
This identification symbol Z1a is displayed as if it is waving its tail fin in a stopped state. In addition, the round display design Z2,
It shows the number of rounds by jackpot, and the number is added each time the number of rounds is overlapped. Between the jackpot identification symbol Z1 and the round display symbol Z2, a predetermined shape, for example, a long elongated symbol Z3, which is an auxiliary symbol for enhancing the effect, is displayed. As shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C, long symbols Z3
Appears in the display screen 6a from the outside of the display screen 6a, and an annular track 92 between the back side and the front side of the display screen 6a.
It is a drawing of a long creature swimming around above (for example, deep-sea fish such as Ryugu messenger, sea snake, etc.). Further, the long pattern Z3 is displayed such that its hue becomes lighter as it gets closer to the display screen 6a, and its color becomes darker as it goes deeper in the display screen 6a. That is, the display screen 6a
Until the end of the ninth round of jackpots,
While continuing to swim around the circular orbit 92, the long pattern Z3 is darker on the back side of the sea and brighter on the front side.
Is displayed realistically. For convenience, in FIG.
A plurality of long symbols Z3, for example, four rectangular parallelepipeds are shown in a row. Further, in this embodiment, the display screen 6a
A case of moving on an eight-shaped annular orbit 92 from the back side to the front side of is explained, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is also possible to move on any orbit. .

Next, the processing performed by the image display device 7 for realizing the above-described display mode shown in FIG. 5 will be described in detail with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS.

Step T1 (Grasp command) The I / F 17 sequentially receives the commands sent from the control board 1 and sequentially passes the commands to the three-dimensional image processing section 19. The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 stores the command in a command buffer (not shown) provided in the work RAM 23. Further, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 reads out a command stored in the command buffer each time there is an interrupt process from the liquid crystal monitor 6, and executes the program in the program ROM 22 corresponding to the command to execute one screen worth. Generate a display image. By executing the program, the following steps are executed in the three-dimensional image processing unit 19. The interrupt process described above is performed every 1/30 seconds or 1/60 seconds of the liquid crystal monitor 6, for example, in synchronization with the vertical scanning signal.

Step T2 (setting the viewpoint in the world coordinate system) The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 displays the state of the world coordinate system in the world coordinate system corresponding to the virtual three-dimensional space on the display screen 6a of the liquid crystal monitor 6. Set the viewpoint to display on. The viewpoint is a reference point of a coordinate system whose z axis is a line of sight that points in a predetermined direction in the world coordinate system, for example, the direction in which an object is arranged. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 sets, in the world coordinate system, a viewpoint SP whose sight line is directed to, for example, a long pattern object OZ3 described later, based on the viewpoint data derived by the program. coordinate value _{(P 0x, P 0y, P} 0Z) to set the position P ₀ of the. A 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 this embodiment, the viewpoint SP fixed at a predetermined position in the world coordinate system will be described, but the viewpoint SP may be set such that the arrangement position of the viewpoint SP and the sight line direction are displaced at predetermined time intervals. .

Step T3 (setting a long-sized symbol object etc.) The three-dimensional image processing section 19 firstly, the symbol object OZ for displaying the jackpot identification symbol Z1 on the display screen 6a.
1 and the symbol object OZ2 for displaying the round display symbol Z2 are read from the character storage unit 18, respectively. Next, as shown in FIG. 9, the jackpot identification symbol Z1 and the round display symbol Z2 are displayed at each position on the display screen 6a shown in FIG. coordinate value in the world coordinate system _{(P 0x + ΔSP 1x, P} 0y + ΔSP 1y, P 0Z + ΔSP
The arrangement position SP ₁ of _1Z), the coordinate values in the world coordinate system based on the viewpoint SP a design object OZ2 (P _0x +
_{ΔSP 2x, P 0y + ΔSP 2y} , respectively set the arrangement position SP ₂ of P _0Z + ΔSP _2Z). Note that, in FIG. 5, the shapes of the symbol objects OZ1 and OZ2 are illustrated as spherical shapes for convenience, but the invention is not limited to this.

Further, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 is
A long pattern that is an image of a deep-sea fish swimming (master of Ryugu)
Construct a long pattern object OZ3 for displaying Z3
A plurality of, for example, four component objects OZa-O
Zd and Zd are read from the character storage unit 18, and
The component objects OZa to OZd are the first in the world coordinate system.
Set to the fixed position. Parts objects OZa-OZ
d is the z-axis direction of the local coordinate system, as shown in FIG.
So that it points toward the beginning of the long pattern object OZ3
Each is set, and the figure after being rotated around each axis
It is placed in the world coordinate system by force. 3D image processing unit 1
9 is read from the character storage unit 18 as shown in FIG.
The projected part object OZa is the origin of the world coordinate system.
Coordinate value (P_1x, P_1y, P_1Z) Initial placement
Position P₁The part object OZb in the world coordinate system
Coordinate values (P_2x, P_2y, P_2Z) Early
Arrangement position P₂The part object OZc in the world
Coordinate value (P_3x, P_3y, P_3Z)of
Initial placement position P₃To the object object OZd
Coordinate values (P_4x, P_4y，
P_4Z) Initial placement position P _FourPlace each in
A long pattern object OZ3 is set in the coordinate system.
At this time, the respective component objects OZa to OZd are respectively
Initial rotation angle data, which will be described later, to determine the initial posture of the
It is arranged in a posture based on the data. In addition, long design object
Initial placement position P where object OZ3 is set₁~ P_FourIs
The area in the world coordinate system displayed on the display screen 6a
The position is outside the loose view volume. Step T3
Corresponds to the function of the object setting means in the present invention
To do.

Step T4 (Variation of Long Symbol Object, etc.) The three-dimensional information processing section 19 varies the form of each symbol object OZ1, OZ2 for each interrupt process. Specifically, the symbol object OZ1 of the jackpot identification symbol Z1
Includes a design object in which the identification design Z1a is displayed. The design object displays, for example, a head object that displays the head of the fish, a body part object that displays the body of the fish, and a tail fin of the fish. The tail fin portion object is connected at a predetermined connecting point. The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 swings and displaces each part object of the pattern object of the identification pattern to the left and right for each interrupt processing with the connecting point as the center. This allows
On the display screen 6a, it is possible to display an action in which a fish swims while stopped at a predetermined position. Since the symbol objects OZ1 and OZ2 are arranged with the viewpoint SP as a reference, even when the arrangement position of the viewpoint SP and the line-of-sight direction are displaced, the symbols corresponding to the objects OZ1 and OZ2 are displayed on the display screen 6a. It can be displayed at a fixed position.

Further, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 moves the part object OZa, and also moves each of the part objects OZb to OZd so that the part object OZa passes on the trajectory on which the part object OZa has moved. As a result, as shown in FIG.
Each of the component objects OZa to OZd is moved so as to pass on the second track 92 having an eight-shaped ring shape. Specifically, the process of moving the long symbol object OZ3 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7. The step T4 corresponds to the functions of the arrangement position information deriving means and the object moving means in the present invention.

Step U41 (Calculate the amount of movement of the top part object) The three-dimensional image processing section 19 rotates the part object by rotating speed data for determining the moving speed of the part object prepared in advance in the program. The rotation angle data that determines the movement direction is read out, and the movement amount in the world coordinate system of the head part object OZa of the long pattern object OZ3 is calculated based on the speed data and the rotation angle data. The rotation angle data corresponds to the rotation angle information in the present invention, and the speed data corresponds to the speed data in the present invention.

Here, FIG. 11 shows rotation angle data, velocity data, etc. used to move the part object OZa. The initial placement coordinates (X, Y, Z) of the first trajectory shown in FIG. 11 are set to the coordinate values (P _1x , P _1y , P _1Z ) of the placement position P _{1 where} the part object OZa is first placed in the world coordinate system. Corresponding coordinate values, and the initial arrangement coordinates (X, Y, Z) of the second trajectory are positions that are initially arranged on the second trajectory 92 (positions at which the first trajectory 91 and the second trajectory 92 substantially intersect each other). ) Coordinate values. The speed data is data composed of the number of frames and the moving distance, and indicates, for example, the moving speed of the part object OZa, that is, the distance to move the part object OZa for each frame (for each interrupt process). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, on the first orbit, for 500 frames, each frame is sequentially moved by a distance of “64”, and on the second orbit, for 816 frames. Indicates that each frame should be sequentially moved by a distance of "64". In other words, it takes 500 frames to pass the first orbit and 816 frames to move at a constant speed (distance of "64" at a time) during the second round orbit. However, during that time, it is instructed to move at a constant speed (distance "64" each). The initial rotation angle data is
The data is composed of an angle θx around the x-axis, an angle θy around the y-axis, and an angle θz around the z-axis in the local coordinate system. The rotation angle around each axis for rotating the posture of the component object OZa in the coordinate system is designated. The rotation angle data is the number of frames and the angles θx, θ around each axis in the local coordinate system.
This data is composed of y and θz, and is a part object OZa for each frame between the specified number of frames.
Indicates the rotation angle around each axis in the local coordinate system. Specifically, in the rotation angle data described at the beginning of the row of the first orbit 91, during 80 frames, rotation is not performed around the x axis and the z axis for each frame,
It is shown that only the y-axis is rotated by an angle corresponding to the value “0C0”. The value “0CO” is a hexadecimal number, and one rotation, that is, 360 ° is represented by one byte.
The angle is different from the case of being represented by 2 bytes or more. For example, when 360 ° is represented by 1 byte, the value “001” corresponds to about 1.4 °. All the numerical values shown in FIG. 11 are represented by hexadecimal numbers.

The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 substitutes the velocity data and the rotation angle data for each frame into the following equations (1) to (3), and moves in each axial direction in the world coordinate system (ΔX, ΔY). , ΔZ) is calculated.

[0060]   ΔX = (moving distance per frame) × sin θy × cos θx (1)   ΔY = (moving distance per frame) × sin θx (2)   ΔZ = (moving distance per frame) × cos θy × cos θx (3)

Step U42 (top part object
Calculate new placement position coordinates) The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 distributes the part object OZa.
The amount of movement described above is added to the value of each axis of the placed coordinates.
Add (ΔX, ΔY, ΔZ) to the world
Obtain the coordinate value of the new position in the standard system. example
For example, the initial placement position P ₁The part object OZa is placed in
If the coordinate value (P_1x, P_1y, P_1Z) To
A new placement position by adding the motion amount (ΔX, ΔY, ΔZ)
P_X1Coordinate value (P_1x+ ΔX, P_1y+ ΔY, P_1Z+ ΔZ)
To calculate. Similarly, each of the first and second orbits
The movement amount calculated according to the data
By sequentially adding to the coordinate value where OZa is arranged
So, the new placement position P_X2, P _X3, P_X4, ... are calculated sequentially
To be done. As a result, on the first track 91 and the second track 92
The coordinate value of is calculated. Steps U41 and U42 are the main
This corresponds to the function of the arrangement position information derivation means in Ming.

Step U43 (moving each part object) As shown in FIGS. 12A to 12D, the three-dimensional image processing section 19 calculates new placement positions P _X1 , P _X2 ,. , The part object OZa is sequentially moved to a new placement position, and the other part objects OZb to OZ are placed behind the part object OZa.
d is sequentially moved to the arrangement positions P ₁ , P _X1 , P _X2 , ... Where the component object OZa was arranged. Specifically, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 uses the part object OZa.
Moves to a new placement position PX1, the part object OZb moves to the placement position P1 and the part object OZ
c is moved to the arrangement position P ₂ , and the part object OZd is moved to the arrangement position P ₃ . Similarly, the part object OZa is sequentially moved to a new placement position, and
By moving each of the component objects OZb to OZd, the other component objects OZb to OZd can be moved on the locus of the movement of the component object OZa. As a result, the part objects OZa to OZ
The long symbol object OZ3 composed of d can be smoothly moved on the first trajectory 91 and the second trajectory 92. Step U43 corresponds to the function of the object moving means in the present invention.

Step T5 (transformation correction of viewpoint coordinate system) The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 sets the coordinate values of the respective pattern objects OZ1 to OZ3 arranged in the world coordinate system to viewpoint coordinates with the viewpoint SP as a reference, that is, the origin. Convert to system coordinate values. Here, since the aspect ratio of the display image generated in the frame memory by the rendering processing unit 27 is 3: 4, when this display image is displayed on the display screen 6a with the aspect ratio of 9:16, the display image is stretched. The bad effect that it becomes the image which occurs is generated. Therefore, by deforming and correcting the viewpoint coordinate system in accordance with the aspect ratio of the display image and the aspect ratio of the display screen, the symbols and the like arranged in the viewpoint coordinate system are deformed.

Specifically, the three-dimensional image processing section 19 calculates the deformation correction data for correcting the deformation of the viewpoint coordinate system. This deformation correction data is used for each symbol object OZ1.
Is a magnification value for enlarging or reducing the vertical width or horizontal width of OZ3. The deformation correction data can be calculated by the following equation (4), where the aspect ratio of the display screen 6a is A: B and the aspect ratio of the display image is a: b. The deformation correction data calculated by the following equation (4) is used for correcting the horizontal width of a pattern object or the like when the horizontal width of the display image is changed based on the vertical magnification of the display image. It is a magnification value, and is a magnification value for deforming and correcting the vertical width of the pattern objects OZ1 to OZ3 when the vertical width of the display image is deformed according to the screen with reference to the horizontal magnification.

(A × b) ÷ (a × B) (4)

The aspect ratio of the display image generated in the frame memory is 3: 4, and the aspect ratio of the display screen 6a is 9: 1.
In the case of 6, the aspect ratio of the display image is displayed on the display screen 6a at 9:16, so that the width of the display image is 4/3.
It is displayed as if it was magnified twice. At this time, the widths of the symbols of the symbol objects OZ1 to OZ3 included in the display image are also enlarged by 4/3 times. Here, by substituting the respective values of the aspect ratio of the display image and the display screen 6a into the equation (4), the widths of the pattern objects OZ1 to OZ3 are set to three quarters.
Deformation correction data of a magnification value to be reduced to twice (hereinafter referred to as “3/4 times”) is calculated. Furthermore, the three-dimensional image processing unit 1
9 reduces the lateral direction (x-axis direction) of the viewpoint coordinate system by 3/4 based on the deformation correction data. As a result, each of the symbol objects OZ1 to OZ3 is reduced by 3/4 in the x-axis direction of the viewpoint coordinate system.

Step T6 (projection on the projection plane) The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 is 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 the z value is fixed.
It can be treated as a dimensional coordinate system. The projection plane SC has an area corresponding to the frame memory provided in the image storage unit 20.

Further, the three-dimensional image processing section 19 projects the symbol object OZ1 and the symbol object OZ2 in parallel on the projection plane SC. As a result, the vertices of each polygon forming each of the symbol objects OZ1 and OZ2 are projected as they are so as to move in parallel to the projection plane SC, and the three-dimensional coordinate values of each vertex are 2 on the projection plane SC.
Converted to dimension coordinate values. On the other hand, the three-dimensional image processing unit 1
9 perspectively projects the long pattern object OZ3 onto the projection plane SC. As a result, the long pattern object OZ3
Vertices of polygons forming the respective component objects OZa to OZd are projected so as to move in the viewpoint SP direction, and the three-dimensional coordinate values of each vertex are converted into two-dimensional coordinate values on the projection plane SC. It Three-dimensional image processing unit 19
Is finished by projecting all objects,
Get the projection information of each object in the world coordinate system. The reason why the symbol objects OZ1 and OZ2 are projected in parallel is that the player can easily recognize the jackpot identification symbol Z1 and the round display symbol Z2. The long symbol object OZ and each of the symbol objects OZ1 and OZ2 can be arbitrarily seen through or projected in parallel.

Step T7 (drawing of the backmost image) The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 reads out the backmost image stored in the character storage unit 18, and stores the backmost image in the frame memory in the image storage unit 20. draw. This rearmost image is, for example, a background image displaying the state of the deep sea.

Step T8 (pasting texture) The three-dimensional image processing section 19 determines the viewpoint SP in the world coordinate system.
From the long pattern object OZ3 to each of the component objects OZa to OZd, select the color palette data of the texture to be attached to each polygon according to the distance, and select the texture of the shade based on the color data It is pasted on each of the component objects OZa to OZd of the design object OZ3. The step T8 is
It corresponds to the function of the texture selection means.

Now, the relationship between the basic texture data and the color palette data will be described. As shown in FIG. 13, a plurality of types of textures T1a to T1d having the same pattern and having different shades are composed of basic texture data t1 for drawing the pattern of the character “A” and color information of the basic texture data t1. Yes, and is generated from a plurality of color palette data a to d having different shades. That is, in the case of the combination of the basic texture data t1 and the color palette data a, the texture T1a is the combination of the basic texture data t1 and the color palette data b or the color palette data c or the color palette data d. Are textures T1b, T1c, T1
d are generated respectively. Further, a plurality of types of textures T2a to T2d having the same pattern and different shades,
T3a to T3d, T4a to T4d, T5a to T5d are
Texture data t2, t3, t4, t5 for drawing a pattern of characters "B, C, D, E" and color information of the texture data t2 to t5, and a plurality of color palette data a to each having different shades. and d, respectively. Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the respective color palette data a to d are assigned so as to be selected according to the distance from the viewpoint SP, and the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 causes the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 to select each from the viewpoint SP. Part object OZa
The color palette data is selected according to the distance from to OZd. It should be noted that the difference in hue in the figure is shown by the density of the diagonal lines. The processing performed in step T8 will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

Step U81 (Calculation of Distance from Viewpoint to Each Part Object) As shown in FIG. 15, the three-dimensional image processing section 19 causes the coordinate values of the arrangement positions of the part objects OZa to OZd and the coordinates of the viewpoint SP. The distance from the viewpoint SP to each of the component objects OZa to OZd is calculated based on the value.

Specifically, as shown in FIG.
For example, when the part object OZa is arranged at the arrangement position P 1 in the world coordinate system and the viewpoint SP is arranged at the arrangement position P ₀ , the part object OZ
from the coordinate values P _1Z of z-axis component of the position P ₁ of a, a difference value obtained by the coordinate values P _0Z the Z-axis component of the viewpoint SP subtracting (P _1Z -P _0Z) in the world coordinate system, It is calculated as the distance L ₁ from the viewpoint SP to the part object OZa. Further, as shown in FIG. 15B, the part object OZa is located at a position P _X1 in the world coordinate system, for example.
And the viewpoint SP is located at the placement position P ₀ , the placement position P of the part object OZa is set.
From the coordinate values P _x1z the z-axis component of _X1, subtracting the coordinate value P _0Z the Z-axis component of the viewpoint SP in the world coordinate system (P _x1z -
The difference value obtained by P _0Z ) is calculated as the distance L 1 from the viewpoint SP to the component object OZa. Similarly, the distances L _{2 to} L ₄ from the viewpoint SP to the respective component objects OZb to OZd are calculated. In addition, based on the coordinate values (X, Y, Z) of the respective arrangement positions of the respective component objects OZa to OZd in the world coordinate system and the coordinate values (P _OX , P _0y , P _0z ) of the viewpoint SP in the world coordinate system. √ [(X-P _OX ) ² + (Y-P _0y ) ² + (Z-
The solution of the equation P _0z ) ² ] may be calculated as the distances L _{1 to} L ₄ from the viewpoint SP to the respective component objects OZa to OZd.

Step U82 (setting the tint of each component object) The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 gradually changes the tint shown in FIG. Color palette data is selected from, for example, four different types of color palette data a to d, and the color palette data is set as texture color palette data for pasting on each of the component objects OZa to OZd. 3D image processing unit 1
9 sets dark color palette data in the order of polygons on the side far from the viewpoint SP, for example. For example,
As shown in FIG. 15A, the distance L ₁ from the viewpoint SP to the component object OZa is the distance Lc from the viewpoint SP.
When it is between Ld and Ld, the color palette data b is set. Similarly, the color palette data b is set for the part objects OZb and OZc and the color palette data a is set for the part object OZd according to the positions of the distances L _{2 to} L ₄ . Also, for example, in FIG.
As shown in (b), each of the component objects OZa to OZ
Similarly, when d is moved to a new arrangement position, the color palette data d is assigned to the component objects OZa and the color palette data is assigned to the component objects OZb to OZd in accordance with the positions of the distances L _{1 to} L _4. Set c respectively. Similarly, according to the distance from the viewpoint SP to the arrangement positions of the respective component objects OZa to OZd,
Set the color palette data. As a result, the long pattern Z3 on the display screen 6a can be displayed such that the tint on the front side is the brightest and the tint becomes gradually darker as the distance from the front side becomes the center.

Step U83 (pasting texture of long pattern) The three-dimensional information processing section 19 determines each part object OZa-
The address in the frame memory of the image storage unit 20 corresponding to the coordinate value of each vertex of each polygon of OZd, that is, the position of each polygon of each component object OZa to OZd in the frame memory is obtained. Then, the character storage unit 1
Based on the basic texture data read out from No. 8 and the color palette data set for each of the component objects OZa to OZd, a texture having a predetermined color is attached to each polygon, that is, drawn. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, a texture T1b based on the color palette data b is attached to the component objects OZa to OZc, and a texture T1a based on the color palette data a is attached to the component object OZd. As a result, an image in which the image of the long pattern Z3 is superimposed on the backmost image is generated in the frame memory.

Step T9 (pasting of a pattern texture) The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 stores in the frame memory of the image storage unit 20 corresponding to the coordinate value of each vertex of each polygon of each pattern object OZ1 to OZ2 included in the projection information. , The position of each polygon of each of the symbol objects OZ1 to OZ2 in the frame memory is obtained. And
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 and the round display symbol Z2 are superimposed on the backmost image and the long symbol Z3 is generated in the frame memory. In addition, the symbol object OZ from the viewpoint SP
You may make it perform the process similar to step T8 according to the distance of 1-OZ2. Also, steps T8 and T
9 and 9 are described separately for convenience, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19
Then, for example, the Z buffer method is used. Steps T5 to T9 correspond to the function of the display image generating means in the present invention.

Step T10 (Display) The three-dimensional image processing section 19 outputs the display image generated in the frame memory to the liquid crystal monitor 6 via the video output section 30. The liquid crystal monitor 6 sequentially displays the display image with an aspect ratio of 3: 4 sent from the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 for each interrupt process according to the display screen 6a with an aspect ratio of 9:16. As a result, the display modes shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C are displayed.

In FIG. 5, for convenience of explanation, the long symbols Z3 are explained by connecting four rectangular parallelepipeds, but in an actual game machine,
The display modes as shown in FIGS. 16A to 16C are displayed. FIG. 16 is a trace of the display image actually displayed. As shown in FIG. 16, a background showing the state of the deep sea is displayed on the display screen 6a, and the jackpot identification symbol Z1, the round display symbol Z2, and the long symbol Z3 are displayed on the background. The long pattern Z3 swims around the circular orbit in the deep sea displayed on the display screen 6a while smoothly winding the long body. At this time,
The shade is displayed dark on the back side of the display screen 6a, and the shade is displayed brighter toward the front side.

According to the above-described embodiment, the long pattern (long pattern object) is divided into a plurality of parts (part objects), and each part moves on the same trajectory. It is possible to move the standard pattern smoothly. As a result, it is possible to realize a more realistic display mode with a small processing load as compared with the case where a long pattern is moved by displacing a large number of polygons. Further, since the display screen 6a is displayed so that it is dark on the back side and bright on the front side, the sense of presence in the depth direction of the display screen 6a can be further increased.

In the above-described embodiment, the texture having a lighter color is attached to the viewpoint SP,
The present invention is not limited to this. For example, the viewpoint S
It is also possible to paste a texture with a darker shade as it approaches P. Thereby, it is possible to make an expression such that the light source is on the back side of the display screen 6a, and it is possible to realize a realistic display mode such as moving toward the exit of a cave or a tunnel.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the long (for example, horizontally long) pattern is explained, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a square or vertically long pattern can be used. Alternatively, it can be applied to a symbol based on a symbol object configured such that another component object passes on the same trajectory along which the leading component object moves in the traveling direction.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a plurality of types of textures of the same pattern composed of a plurality of color palette data and a single basic texture data are used, but the present invention is not limited to this. Not, for example,
It is also possible to use a plurality of types of textures each including a plurality of basic texture data and a plurality of color palette data corresponding to each basic texture data.

Although the liquid crystal monitor has been described in the above embodiment, for example, a CR is used instead of the liquid crystal monitor.
It may be a T monitor, an LED monitor, or the like.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the pachinko machine is explained as the game machine, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be modified and implemented in a game machine such as a slot machine or a coin game machine. it can.

[0085]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, since the design object for displaying the design of the predetermined shape on the display screen is composed of a plurality of component objects, the design object itself It allows complex movements. Also, based on the latest layout position information, the head part object is moved to the layout position in the virtual three-dimensional space specified by the layout position information, and the top part object is already arranged based on the old layout position information. Since the component objects arranged after the first component object are sequentially moved to the arrangement position specified by the old arrangement position information, which is the position after the start, the simple process It is possible to move the object on the locus so that the other part objects also pass through. As a result, it is possible to realize a realistic and realistic display mode of a design of a predetermined shape on the display screen, and it is possible to keep the fun of the player playing the game machine.

[Brief description of 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 a 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 processing in a control board of a pachinko machine.

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

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing in the image display device.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a process in step T4.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process in step T8.

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

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state of a part object in a local coordinate system.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing data for setting / moving a part object.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing how each part object is moved.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a relationship between basic texture data and color palette data.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing how color palette data is set according to a distance from a viewpoint.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a relationship between a viewpoint and each component object.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an actual display mode on a pachinko machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Control platform 6… LCD monitor 6a ... Display screen 7 ... Image display device 18 ... Character storage 19 ... Three-dimensional image processing unit 20 ... Image storage unit Z3 ... Long design OZ3 ... Long pattern object OZa-OZd ... Parts object SP ... Viewpoint a to d ... Color palette data t1 to t5 ... Basic texture data T1a to T5d ... Texture

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2C088 AA35 AA36 EB55                 5B050 AA10 BA13 BA18 CA07 EA09                       EA12 EA19 EA27 EA28 FA02                       FA05

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A gaming machine for changing an object in a virtual three-dimensional space according to a game state and displaying the state on a display screen based on a given viewpoint in the virtual three-dimensional space. An object storage unit that stores a plurality of component objects that form a design object for displaying a design of a predetermined shape on the screen, and a plurality of component objects read from the object storage unit in the virtual three-dimensional space, respectively. Object setting means for arranging and setting the symbol object, arrangement position information deriving means for sequentially deriving arrangement position information for moving the top part object of the symbol object to a new arrangement position, and the derived The top part object is moved based on the latest arrangement position information, and Object moving means for sequentially moving each component object arranged behind the top component object based on the arrangement position information older than the latest arrangement position information, and the plurality of units for moving in the virtual three-dimensional space. Display image generation means for generating a display image showing a state in which a pattern object composed of the respective component objects moves in the virtual three-dimensional space by the individual component objects, and a display for displaying the display image on the display screen. A gaming machine comprising means and. 2. A gaming machine, wherein an object is changed in a virtual three-dimensional space according to a game state, and the state is displayed on a display screen based on a given viewpoint in the virtual three-dimensional space. An object storage unit that stores a plurality of component objects that form a long design object for displaying a long design on a screen, and a plurality of component objects read from the object storage unit, in the virtual three-dimensional space. Object setting means for arranging each of the long pattern objects and setting the long pattern object, and arrangement for sequentially deriving arrangement position information for moving the leading part object in the traveling direction of the long pattern object to a new arrangement position. Position information deriving means, and the top part object based on the derived latest layout position information. And an object moving unit that sequentially moves each of the component objects arranged after the top component object based on the arrangement position information older than the latest arrangement position information, and the virtual three-dimensional space. Display image generation means for generating a display image showing a state in which a long pattern object composed of the respective component objects moves in the virtual three-dimensional space by the plurality of component objects moving inside; A gaming machine comprising: a display unit for displaying an image on a display screen. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement position information deriving unit indicates rotation angle information indicating a rotation angle of the head component object and moving speed of the head component object. A movement amount in the virtual three-dimensional space is calculated based on the instructed speed information, and the movement amount is added to the arrangement position information in which the head component object is arranged, and the head component object is newly added. A game machine characterized by sequentially deriving placement position information for placement in the.