JP2003256866A - Image generating information and game information and information storing medium and image generating device and game device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize ideal reflection or luminance processing regardless of the shape of a model in a device for generating an image in a virtual space. <P>SOLUTION: The luminance processing or reflection processing of eye balls to be disposed at the right and left of a character is executed by using normal vectors when the eye balls are disposed in ideal directions. In this case, a figure (a) indicates one example of the ideal disposal, and a figure (b) indicates one example of the actual disposing directions. The normal vectors of the respective vertexes of the eye balls disposed in the ideal directions are set as virtual normal vectors at the respective vertexes of the eye balls disposed in the real directions. Then, the luminance processing or reflection processing is executed by using the virtual normal vectors. <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 image generation information for generating an image of a virtual space including a character, game information, an information storage medium for storing the image generation information or the game information, and a virtual space including the character. The present invention relates to a device and the like for generating an image.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many techniques have been developed for constructing a three-dimensional virtual space using a device such as a computer and generating an image of the virtual space. In such a technique, objects are arranged in a virtual space, and these objects are drawn based on a viewpoint set in the virtual space to generate an image. Generally, objects include buildings, desks, trees,
In addition to objects such as cars, animals such as people are also included. Hereinafter, in order to distinguish an object representing an animal from other objects, it is referred to as a “character”.

The shape of each object or character is generally defined by a model in which a plurality of triangular or quadrangular planes called polygons are connected. Then, the model is drawn based on the positional relationship between the individual polygons forming these models and the viewpoint, the positional relationship between the polygons, the color information of each polygon, and the like.

By the way, when the image of the virtual space is generated by using the computer as described above, in order to realistically express the texture of the model or to express the entire virtual space realistically, the physics in the real world is used. Optical processing based on the law may be performed. Specifically, the position of the light source is set in the virtual space, the light reflection is calculated based on the relationship between the position and the direction of the light source, the viewpoint, each polygon forming the model, and the brightness processing of each polygon. By doing
It may express the specularity or highlight of the model.

[0005]

In the image generation of the virtual space by the computer, the processing based on the physical law is often performed as described above to pursue the reality and the realism. However, on the other hand, there are cases in which a fantasy object that does not exist in the real world is represented, or an object that exists in the real world is deformed and represented.

For example, in the face of a character, the proportion of eyes to the entire face may be made significantly larger than that of many people in the real world, and the cuteness of the character may be emphasized. If the eyes are set large in this way, a difference occurs between the arrangement of the eyes on the head of the character and the arrangement of the eyes on the actual person's head. In the case of a general person, the opening directions of the left and right eye hole portions (that is, the holes of the head where the eyeballs are arranged) face the front of the head and are substantially parallel. That is, the part of the eyeball that appears on the surface of the head (so-called part that can be seen as eyes) is oriented in substantially the same direction on the left and right. On the other hand, in the case of a character with large eyes, since the proportion of eyes occupying the head is high, the eye hole portion is arranged along the shape of the head, and the direction of the eyeball portion appearing on the head surface is different between left and right. . Therefore, if the highlighting of the character's eyeballs is expressed based on the physical law, the way the left and right eyeballs shine is different from the way that they shine in the real world, and this may give the viewer a feeling of strangeness. .

In particular, in a game device of a type that generates an image in real time in response to a player's operation input, it is difficult to express reflections and highlights without any laws regardless of physical laws. is there. That is, for a deformed model that cannot be seen in the real world, highlighting at a plausible position and performing appropriate reflections generate an image in real time, regardless of the shape of the model. It was a difficult problem due to the restrictions on

An object of the present invention is to realize ideal reflection and brightness processing regardless of the shape of a model in a device for generating an image in a virtual space.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a brightness processing means (for example, a brightness processing means for performing brightness processing of an object based on a light source and an arrangement position and direction of the object by calculation / control by a processor). Brightness processing unit 12 in FIG.
2) and means for generating an image of a virtual space including the object (for example, the image generation unit 120 in FIG. 11) are caused to function with respect to a device including the processor (for example, the game device 1 in FIG. 1). Image generation information for performing the brightness processing using the reference orientation of the object instead of the orientation of the object (for example, the eyeball brightness processing of FIG. 14), It is characterized by including information for causing the device to function. The image generation information is
Provide for processing by electronic computer (computer),
It means information according to the program.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, a brightness processing means for performing brightness processing on the object based on the light source and the arrangement position and orientation of the object (for example, the brightness processing section 122 in FIG. 11).
And a means for generating an image of a virtual space including the object (for example, the image generating section 120 in FIG. 11), the brightness processing means. Performs the brightness processing using the reference orientation of the object instead of the orientation of the object (see, for example, FIG.
Eyeball brightness processing).

According to the invention described in claim 1 or 8, when the brightness of the object is processed, the reference direction of the object is used instead of the direction of the object. Therefore, with respect to the position and orientation of the object placed in the virtual space, the brightness that should not be realized by the conventionally known luminance processing method,
This can be realized by using such a conventionally known luminance processing method.

By the way, in the computer graphics technology, when performing the brightness processing, generally,
It may be performed using the normal vector of the object placed in the virtual space. Therefore, as in the invention described in claim 2, in the image generation information according to claim 1, information for causing the device to function as means for forming the object by a plurality of primitive surfaces, and the brightness processing. The means performs the luminance processing based on a normal vector (for example, a tentative normal vector in the present embodiment) of a vertex of a primitive surface forming the object when the object is arranged in the reference direction. As it does, it may include information to cause the device to function.

Here, the primitive means a geometric shape (basic element) widely used in computer graphics, and the primitive surface means a surface of the geometric shape. For example, it also includes a plane called a polygon formed by a plurality of vertices.

Further, as in the invention described in claim 3, in the image generation information according to claim 1 or 2, there are a plurality of eye-hole portions whose opening directions are not parallel to each other, and an eye ball is provided in each eye-hole portion. Information for causing the device to function the character placement means (for example, the character control unit 112 in FIG. 11) for placing the placed character in the virtual space, and the eyeballs placed in the plurality of eye holes are the objects. Information for causing the device to function the device, and the brightness processing means, in place of the orientation of each eyeball arranged in the plurality of eye hole portions, using the reference orientation, each of the eyeballs And information for causing the device to function so as to perform the brightness processing.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the character, the opening directions of the plurality of eye hole portions in which the eyeballs are arranged are not parallel. Then, when performing the brightness processing of each eyeball, the reference direction is used instead of the direction of the eyeball. In the case of a character with large eyes, which occupies a large proportion of the face, if the eyes (eyeballs) are arranged according to the shape of the head, the opening directions of the eyes will be non-parallel to the left and right, and Different from the arrangement. Even when representing such a character, if the luminance processing of the eyeball of the character is executed with the eyeball orientation based on the eyeball movement of the human eye as the reference orientation, a high-quality image equivalent to the highlight in the real world is obtained. It becomes possible to realize lights.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the reflection expression means for expressing the object to be reflected on the reflector according to the positional relationship between the reflector and the viewpoint by calculation and control by the processor, and the reflector. Image generation information for causing an apparatus including the processor to generate an image of a virtual space including the viewpoint based on the viewpoint, wherein the reflection expression means replaces the orientation of the reflector. , And includes information for causing the device to function so as to determine the object to be reflected on the reflector by using the reference orientation of the reflector.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the reflection expressing means for expressing the object to be reflected on the reflector according to the positional relationship between the reflector and the viewpoint, and the image of the virtual space including the reflector are displayed. An image generation apparatus comprising: a means for generating based on a viewpoint, wherein the reflection expression means uses a reference orientation of the reflector instead of the orientation of the reflector to reflect the reflected object on the reflector. It is characterized by determining.

According to the fourth or ninth aspect of the invention, in the process of determining the object to be reflected on the surface of the object, the reference direction of the object is used instead of the direction of the object. Therefore, with respect to the position and orientation of the object placed in the virtual space, it is possible to realize the reflection that cannot be realized by the conventionally known calculation method of reflection, by using such conventionally known calculation method. Becomes

In the calculation of reflection, it is general to use the normal vector of the surface of the object.
Therefore, as in the invention described in claim 5, in the image generation information according to claim 4, information for causing the device to function the means for forming the object by a plurality of primitive surfaces, and the reflection expression. The means determines the object to be reflected on the reflector based on the normal vector of the vertex of the reflector when the reflector is arranged in the reference direction,
As described above, information for causing the device to function may be included.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, means for executing a game in which the character appears by operating the character in real time in response to an operation input by means of calculation / control by the processor, and the character based on the viewpoint. And game information for causing a device (for example, the game device 1 in FIG. 11) including the processor to function, and a means for generating an image of a virtual space including With multiple holes,
A character forming means for forming the character by arranging an eyeball in each eye hole portion, and a high point for drawing a highlight at the same position relative to each eye hole portion when drawing a highlight on each eyeball portion. And writing information for causing the device to function. Note that the game information means information according to a program, which is provided for processing by an electronic computer (computer) such as a game device.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, a means for moving a character in real time in response to an operation input to execute a game in which the character appears, and an image of a virtual space including the character based on a viewpoint are displayed. And a means for generating the character, wherein the character has a plurality of eye opening portions whose opening directions are non-parallel,
A character forming means for forming the character by arranging an eyeball in each eye hole portion, and a high point for drawing a highlight at the same position relative to each eye hole portion when drawing a highlight on each eyeball portion. And a light unit.

According to the sixth or tenth aspect of the invention, the character to be placed in the virtual space has a plurality of eye-hole portions whose opening directions are not parallel to each other, and the eye-balls are placed in the respective eye-hole portions. ing. When expressing the highlight of the eyeball, the highlight is drawn at the same position relative to each eye hole. Therefore, it is possible to realize a highlight similar to the highlight of the eyes seen by a general person in the real world.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, the image generation information according to any one of the first to fifth aspects or the game information according to the sixth aspect is stored in the information storage medium. Of course, it is also good.

[0024]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following, a case where a game using a three-dimensional virtual space is executed by the home-use game machine 1 will be described as an example. In the following, a case where the highlight of the eyeball of the humanoid character (part that looks particularly bright or white) is expressed will be described as an example, but it is not necessary to limit to the following case.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a home-use game machine 1. As shown in the figure, the game apparatus 1 has a configuration in which the display 2, the game controllers 3, 4 and the like are detachable. In addition, the system program, the game program, the game data, and the present embodiment are stored in the CD-ROM 5, the IC card 6, the memory card 7, and the information storage medium provided in the main body of the game device 1, which are removable information storage media in the game device 1. The game information such as information necessary for realizing the above form is stored.

The player operates the game controllers 3 and 4 while watching the game image displayed on the display 2 to instruct the action of the character existing in the virtual space, and makes various selections to enjoy the game.

On the other hand, the processing system of the game apparatus 1 generates a three-dimensional virtual space image (game image) for each frame based on signals and game information input from the game controllers 3 and 4, Display on the display 2. It should be noted that various characters and objects are arranged in the virtual space, and based on signals and game information input from the game controllers 3 and 4, the existence position, orientation, motion, etc. of the characters and objects are determined for each frame. To do.

The present embodiment is characterized in that the highlight of the eyeball of the character is expressed with a high likelihood. At that time, the processing system of the game device 1 performs brightness processing according to the positional relationship between the light source in the virtual space and the eyeball of the character to illuminate an appropriate portion of the character's eye.

In the following, the brightness of the object is determined in principle as follows. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the positional relationship between the light ray vector L14 of the light source and the surface of the object 10 in the virtual space. (X, Y, Z) in FIG. 2 indicates the coordinate system of the virtual space (hereinafter referred to as the world coordinate system). Also, the size of the light ray vector L14 is
It is 1 ".

Now, the brightness of the point 12 on the surface of the object 10 is
The inverse vector (-L14 ') of the ray vector L14 and the normal vector N16 (size "of the object 10 at the point 12)
1 ”) and the inner product (cos θ). The closer the absolute value of the inner product | cos θ | is to 1, the higher the brightness of the point 12 on the object 10, and the closer the absolute value of the inner product is to 0, the lower the brightness. This calculation method is almost the same as the concept of diffuse reflection in the real world.

Further, in the present embodiment, the left and right eyes on the face of the character appearing in the game are expressed relatively large. FIG. 3 shows the character 2 in the present embodiment.
It is a figure which shows an example of the face of 0. According to FIG. 3, the right eye 22 and the left eye 24 of the character 20 are significantly larger than the nose 26 and the lips 28. By thus setting the left and right eyes 22 and 24 to be large, the character 20 is rendered cute and fantasy.

By the way, the head of a person generally has a distorted shape. Specifically, the head has a flat part in which the eyes are arranged, but it is curved from the corner of the eye to the ear and further from the ear to the occipital region, and the horizontal cross section of the head forms a closed curve. ing.

FIG. 4 (a) is a schematic drawing of a horizontal section including the left and right eyeballs 32 and 34 of a general human head 30 in the real world. In addition, (b)
It is a schematic diagram of the front (namely, face) of the head 30 shown to (a). A general human eye hole portion (that is, a hole in the head where the eyeball is placed) is arranged in front of each of the left and right heads, and the opening surfaces thereof are substantially parallel to each other.

Here, the opening surface of the eye hole portion means a surface including a so-called eye edge (outline of eye) when the eyelid is opened. In the following, the portion of the eyeball that appears on the surface of the head when the eyelids are opened is simply referred to as "eyes". Further, the opening surface of the eye part, that is, the edge of the eye, is not strictly flat,
Below, for simplification of description, it is assumed to be planar, and the opening surface of the eye hole portion is referred to as an eye opening surface.

In FIG. 4 (a), the straight line 32h
Indicates the eye opening surface for the eye 32, the straight line 34h indicates the eye opening surface for the eye 34, and the left and right eye opening surfaces 32h, 34h are arranged substantially parallel to each other. At this time, the normal vectors of the relatively equal parts of the left and right eyes 32 'and 34' respectively point in substantially parallel directions. For example, the normal vector 42 of the point 38 at the center of the left eye 34 ′ of the head 30 and the normal vector 40 of the point 36 at the center of the right eye 32 ′ shown in FIGS. It is parallel. Therefore, when the highlight of the eyeball is calculated by the above-described method of calculating diffuse reflection, it can be seen that when light rays parallel to each eyeball are projected, the equivalent parts of the left and right eyes are similarly shining.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, when the left and right eyes 22 and 24 of the character are set to be larger than the average size of human eyes in the real world, the size of the eyeball and the shape of the head are Due to the relationship, the directions of the left and right eye opening surfaces are not parallel to each other, but the directions are substantially radiated.

FIG. 4C schematically shows a horizontal cross section of the head 50 including the left and right eyeballs 52 and 54 of a character with large eyes. Further, (d) is a schematic view of the front surface (that is, the face) of the head 50 shown in (c). In (c), the straight line 52h indicates the eye opening surface for the eye 52, and the straight line 54h indicates the eye opening surface for the eye 54. In this way, set the left and right eyeballs relatively large,
When each eyeball is arranged according to the shape of the head, the left and right eye opening surfaces 52h and 54h are non-parallel. Therefore, the normal vectors of the relatively same portions of the left and right eyes 52 'and 54' face different directions. For example, the normal vector 72 of the point 58 at the center of the left eye 54 'and the normal vector 70 of the point 56 at the center of the right eye 52' of the head 50 shown in FIG. ing.

In this case, if the brightness of each eyeball with respect to the parallel ray vector is determined based on the above-mentioned calculation method, the left and right eyeballs will radiate differently. For example, in FIGS. 4C and 4D, the left eye 54 '
The normal vector 72 at the center point 58 of the
Although it points in a direction different from the normal vector 70 of the center point 56 of the right eye 52, it is substantially parallel to the normal vector 74 of the point 60 deviated from the center of the right eye 52 '. Therefore, when a ray vector parallel to these eyes is projected, the center 58 of the left eye 54 'is
If the brightness of the right eye 52 'is high, the brightness of the position 60 of the right eye 52' whose direction is the same as that of the normal vector is high,
The different parts of 'and 54' will shine.

Thus, in the case of expressing a character with large eyes, if the brightness of the eyeball is determined based on the above-described calculation method, a highlight different from the highlight of the human eye in the real world is expressed. Therefore, a player who views the game image may feel uncomfortable.

At this time, if the head is designed to be large in accordance with the size of the eyes, the arrangement of the eyes will be the same as that of a general human eye, but the characteristic of the character that the eyes are large disappears. Also, if the left and right eye opening surfaces are designed to be parallel to each other without changing the shape of the head, the eyes will appear to be popped out or the eyes will be depressed, and the aesthetic appearance of the character will be improved. Be damaged.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the reference directions are the directions of the eyeballs assuming that the left and right eye opening surfaces are substantially parallel, that is, assuming that the left and right eyes are arranged substantially parallel to the front of the head. Then, the brightness processing of the eyeball arranged in the actual direction is performed using the normal vector of the eyeball arranged in the reference direction. Note that the direction of the eyeball refers to the direction of the normal vector of the pupil (the pupil is originally a surface, but here is the center point of the black eye).

However, in general, the eyeball can freely move up and down, left and right within the edge (outline) of the eye, and therefore the character's eyeball is running during the game regardless of the orientation of the eye opening surface. The direction of the eyeball may be freely changed. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, the “reference orientation” is set not as an absolute orientation with respect to the head of the character or the virtual space but as a relative orientation with respect to all actual orientations of the eyeball.

The definition of "reference orientation" in the present embodiment will be described below. Figure 5 shows the "actual orientation" of the eyeball.
It is a figure for explaining the relation between "reference direction". Figure 5
(A) is a figure which shows the relationship of the direction of an actual eye-opening surface and the direction of an ideal eye-opening surface, and has shown the horizontal cross section of a head. In (a), a straight line 54h 'perpendicular to a straight line 80 connecting the nasal head and the occipital region in the head shows an ideal eye opening surface, and a straight line 54h drawn along the head.
Shows the actual aperture surface of the eyeball 54. (A)
According to the above, the actual eye opening surface 54h and the ideal eye opening surface 54h 'form an angle ψ. Hereinafter, such an angle will be referred to as a “shift angle”.

FIG. 5B shows the settings under FIG.
Of the eyeball 54 with respect to the position of the black eye of the left eye 54 '.
It is a figure which shows the relationship between "actual direction" and "reference direction."
It In (b), the actual direction of the eyeball is represented by D,
D is the reference direction of the corresponding eyeball _SNotated by Well
Each direction D, D_SIs a seat for defining the shape of the head
Standard (x_H, Y_H, Z_H) Shows the direction.

In the present embodiment, the "actual orientation" of the eyeball is adjusted so that the positions of the iris with respect to the "edge of the eye" are the same in the actual placement and the ideal placement of the eye opening surface. Correspond with "reference orientation".

Specifically, with reference to FIG. 5B, a case where the black eye is arranged at the center of the left eye 54 'will be described as an example. With respect to the actual orientation of the left eye 54 '(that is, the orientation of the eye opening surface 54h), if the eyeball 54 is arranged so that the normal vector of the pupil is perpendicular to the eye opening surface 54h, the black eye becomes the left eye. 54
It can be placed in the center of ´. Similarly, with respect to the ideal orientation of the left eye 54 '(that is, the ideal orientation of the eye opening surface 54h'), the eyeball is arranged so that the normal vector of the pupil is perpendicular to the eye opening surface 54h '. If you place 54, the black eye
It can be placed in the center of 4 '. In this way, the “actual orientation” and the “reference orientation” are associated with each other so that the pupil (black eye) is located in the same area as the eyes. That is, in this embodiment,
The reference direction D _S is defined as “the actual direction D of the eyeball rotated by ± ψ about the vertical direction of the head (direction of y _H in FIG. 5B)”. Where sign + is z _H
-Means counterclockwise rotation in the x _H plane, and the symbol-means clockwise rotation. For example, in the case of the eyeball 54, the code is −.

According to the definition of "reference orientation", if the normal vector of the eyeball is set by inclining by the displacement angle ψ, the eyeball is always placed in the reference orientation regardless of the orientation. Luminance processing using the normal vector of the case can be performed. Hereinafter, a vector obtained by inclining the normal vector of the eyeball by the displacement angle ψ is referred to as a provisional normal vector.

FIG. 6A shows the eye opening surfaces 52h ', 54.
It is a figure which shows the normal vector of each vertex of an eyeball when h'is arrange | positioned at an ideal position. Further, (b) is a diagram showing a provisional normal vector of each vertex of the eyeball when the eye opening surfaces 52h and 54h are arranged in the actual direction. Note that both the eyeball shown in (a) and the eyeball shown in (b) face the direction in which the iris is located at the center of the eye.
That is, the orientation of the eyeball shown in (a) is a reference orientation with respect to the orientation of the eyeball shown in (b).

According to FIG. 6A, the left and right eyeballs 52, 5
The normal vectors of the relatively same parts on 4 are substantially parallel to each other. For example, the point P _{R1 to} the left of the right eye 52
The normal vector N _{R1 at} is the point P to the left of the left eye 54.
_Is substantially parallel to the normal vector N _{L1 at L1,} and similarly,
The normal vector N _R2 of the point P _{R2 in} the center of the right eye 52 is
Substantially parallel to the normal vector N _L2 of the center point P _L2, the right eye 52
The normal vector N _R2 of the point P _R3 is substantially parallel to the normal vector N _L3 of the point P _L3 of the left eye 54.

On the other hand, according to FIG. 6B, the provisional normal vectors of the points P _R1 to P _R3 and the points P _L1 to P _{L3 on} the eyeball are obtained when the eyeball is arranged in the reference direction. Normal vector N _R1 ~ N
Matches _R3 , N _{L1 to} N _L3 . Therefore, the left and right eyeballs 52, 5
The tentative normal vectors of the relatively same portions of 4 are substantially parallel to each other, and if luminance calculation is performed using such tentative normal vectors, the character is no different from the highlight of human eyes in the real world. You can express the highlights of your eyes.

By the way, in the present embodiment, the shape of the eyeball is defined by a polygon model. Further, the brightness calculation is executed for each of the vertices forming each polygon. Specifically, the basic color and the luminescent color are set in advance for each vertex, the brightness of the vertex is calculated based on the above calculation method during the game execution, and the basic color and the luminescent color of the vertex are calculated based on the brightness. The composition ratio is determined, and the vertex color is determined. The color of the entire surface of the polygon is determined by interpolating the color of each vertex.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a part of an eyeball polygon model (hereinafter referred to as an eyeball model). An example of an eyeball model in which the eyeball models 92 and 94 are arranged according to the shape of the head and the bird's-eye view is taken from the head Shows. In the present embodiment,
Each of the eyeball models 92 and 94 has a shape shown in FIG. 7, instead of a spherical shape. This is a part on the side including the pupil when each of the left and right eyeballs is cut perpendicularly to the perpendicular to the pupil part. Below, such a cut surface 9 of the eyeball
For convenience sake, reference numerals 6 and 98 are referred to as the eyeball bottom surface.

In this embodiment, a provisional normal vector is set for each vertex of the eyeball model.

At each vertex of the eyeball model arranged according to the shape of the head, the normal vector of the eyeball model inclined by the transition angle ψ is set as a provisional normal vector. However, the normal vector of each vertex is the average of the normal vectors of all polygons including the vertex. For example, the normal vector of the vertex p included in the six triangular polygons S _{1 to} S ₆ in FIG. 8 is determined by the average of the normal vector of each polygon S _{1 to} S ₆ .

Next, the direction of the tentative normal vector in the coordinate system (x, y, z) that defines each eyeball model will be described. Below, the coordinate system for defining an eyeball model is called an eyeball coordinate system.

FIG. 9A shows the eyeball model for the left eye shown in FIG.
It is a schematic diagram showing a section of Dell 94. In addition, eye coordinate system
The origin o of the
The cross section shown in (a) is the origin o of the eyeball coordinate system and the pupil P.₃To
It is a cross section including. Furthermore, in (a), the eyeball coordinate system
Z-axis is perpendicular to the bottom of the eyeball 98, and y-axis is square
The direction is the upward direction in the eyeball model 94. Well, eyeball
Vertex P in model 94 ₁The normal vector of is N₁And
R, vertex P₂The normal vector of is N₂And the vertex P₃The law of
The line vector is N₃And the vertex P_FourThe normal vector of is N_Four
And the vertex P_FiveThe normal vector of is N_FiveIs.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 5A, when the displacement angle of the aperture surface of the eye is ψ, the eyeball model 94 and the provisional normal vector in the eyeball coordinate system are set as shown in FIG.
Set as shown in (b) or (c).

FIG. 9 (b) shows that in the eyeball coordinate system,
It is a figure which shows an example which rotated the eyeball model 94 shown to (a) by the transition angle (psi) in the positive direction (counterclockwise) around the y-axis. In this case, the normal vectors N _{1 to} N ₅ of the vertices P _{1 to} P ₅ before the y-axis rotation conversion (that is, the normal vectors of the vertices shown in (a)) are left as they are after the rotation conversion. to set up as a temporary normal vector of _P'1 ~P' _5.

FIG. 9C shows each vertex P ₁ -P _{5 in the} eyeball coordinate system while keeping the orientation of the eyeball model 94.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example in which the direction of the normal vector is rotated in the negative direction (counterclockwise) about the y-axis direction by the displacement angle ψ.
In this case, for each one of the vertices P ₁ to P _5, the normal vector N ₁ to N ₅ corresponding rotated y-axis, each vector _N'1 ~N' ₅ after its rotation Set as a provisional normal vector for each vertex.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a comparison of drawing results when the tentative normal vector is used and when the normal vector is used. In addition, the left and right two characters 82, 8
No. 4 has the same arrangement of left and right eyeballs with respect to the head. Further, FIG. 10 is a drawing in which parallel rays are projected onto the respective characters 82 and 84 and drawn. However, for the character 82 on the left side, the luminance processing of the eyeball was performed using the temporary normal vector, and for the character 84 on the right side, the luminance processing of the eyeball was performed using the normal vector. As a result, with the character 82 on the left side, the highlights are expressed on the right side of the left and right eyes in the figure, whereas with the character 84 on the right side, the highlights of the left and right eyes are expressed at different positions. Thus, for a character with large eyes, if brightness processing is performed using the normal vector of the eyeball, it is possible to express a strange highlight, but by performing brightness processing using the provisional normal vector. , It is possible to express a likely highlight.

The functional configuration of the game device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of functional blocks of the game device 1. According to FIG. 11, the game device 1 includes a processing unit 100, an input unit 200, a display unit 300, an information storage medium 400, and a temporary storage unit 500.
And

The processing unit 100 controls the entire system, gives instructions to each functional unit in the system, gives an instruction based on the operation signal input from the input unit 200 and the game information 410 stored in the information storage medium 400. In addition to the processing for advancing processing, various processing such as image processing and sound processing are performed, and the function thereof is various processors (CPU, DSP, etc.).
And hardware such as ASIC (gate array etc.) or a given program. In addition, the processing unit 100 mainly includes the game calculation unit 110 and the image generation unit 12.
Including 0, the game calculation unit 110 is caused to execute a process corresponding to the operation signal input from the input unit 200, and the image generation unit 120 is caused to generate an image based on the processing result.

The game calculation section 110 sets the screen for various selections in the game, the game progressing process, the coordinates of each character or object existing in the virtual space,
Various game processes such as a process for determining a direction and a motion, a process for determining a position and a direction of a viewpoint, and the like are executed.
Note that these processes are executed based on the operation signal input from the input unit 200 and the game information 410 stored in the information storage medium 400. In addition, the game calculation unit 110
Includes the character control unit 112 and includes the information storage medium 40.
It is made to function based on the game information 410 stored in 0.

The image generation unit 120 includes the game calculation unit 110.
The CPU executes a process for generating a game image for each frame in real time on the basis of the information determined by, and includes hardware such as a CPU, a DSP, an IC for image generation, and a memory. Specifically, the image generation unit 120 performs a process of performing front / rear clipping to determine a view volume of the virtual space (a range of the virtual space that can be seen from the viewpoint through the projection surface) of each character or object in the world coordinate system. Generate a game image by executing processing for converting each coordinate into a two-dimensional coordinate system (projection plane) based on the coordinates of the viewpoint, processing for sequentially drawing individual objects to generate a game image, etc. for each frame To do. Then, the generated game image is output to the display unit 300 and displayed at a required timing (that is, at one frame interval).

The image generation unit 120 also includes a brightness processing unit 122 for executing the process of determining the brightness of the vertices of each model, and the game information 41 stored in the information storage medium 400.
Function based on 0.

The input section 200 is a functional section corresponding to the game controllers 3 and 4 shown in FIG. 1, and outputs the operation input of the player to the processing section 100 as an electric signal. The input unit 200 may use not only the game controllers 3 and 4 shown in FIG. 1 but also a general-purpose input device such as a keyboard, an input means such as a mouse, a trackball, and a joystick.

The display section 300 is a functional section corresponding to the display 2 shown in FIG. 1, and sequentially displays the game images generated by the image generation section 120 in accordance with an instruction input from the processing section 100. The display unit 300 may be realized mainly by a display connected to a computer or the like, or may be realized by a display mainly used when displaying a TV broadcast.

The information storage medium 400 stores a system program and data relating to the driving of the game apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, game information 410 necessary for realizing a game, and a CD-ROM, MO. , DV
It can be realized by hardware such as D, memory, hard disk.

The game information 410 includes information necessary for the game calculation section 110 to function. Specifically, a game scenario, information about each object placed in the virtual space, information for determining the action of each object or character according to an operation signal input from the input unit 200, and a game score are calculated. Information, information for timing the game time, a character control program 420 for causing the character control unit 112 to function, and the like.

In addition, the game information 410 includes information necessary for the image generating section 120 to function. That is, a program for the image generation unit 120 to generate a game image for each frame based on the processing result by the game calculation unit 110 is included. For example, information for realizing the process of converting the coordinates of the object or character in the virtual space from the world coordinate system to the two-dimensional coordinate system based on the viewpoint, the brightness processing program 430 for the brightness processing unit 122 to perform the brightness processing, and the like. Is included. Furthermore, game information 4
10 includes character model data 440 and eyeball model data 450.

The character model data 440 is information for defining a default positional relationship of each part model (for example, a model of a part such as a head, a body, and an arm) that constitutes a character.

The character model data 440 also stores the position of the eyeball model with respect to the head model and the default orientation. To be precise, the position of the origin of the eye coordinate system with respect to the head model, the default direction of each coordinate axis in the eye coordinate system, and the like are set. For example, as shown in FIG. 9B, when the eyeball model in the eyeball coordinate system is set to be inclined by the displacement angle ψ, the character model data 440 includes the yz plane of the eyeball coordinate system as the head. The information for arranging in parallel with the plane connecting the nasal head and the back of the partial model is included. In addition, FIG.
As shown in (c), when the pupil normal vector is set parallel to the z-axis (eyeball coordinate system), the character model data 440 includes the zy plane of the eyeball coordinate system.
Form a transition angle ψ with the plane connecting the nose and occipital region (the acute angle is)
Information for placement is included. That is, the character control unit 112 determines the placement of the head model in the world coordinate system, and then determines the placement of the eyeball model in the world coordinate system based on the character model data 440.

The eyeball model data 450 is information for defining the shape of the eyeball model, and the vertex data 452.
And polygon data 454.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the storage format of the vertex data 452. According to FIG. 12, the vertex data 45
2 shows a vertex number for identifying each vertex forming the eyeball model. , The coordinates of each vertex in the eyeball coordinate system, the provisional normal vector of each vertex in the eyeball coordinate system, the basic color information (R _K , G _K , B _K ) of each vertex, and the color information ( _RL , G
_L , B _L ) are stored in a table format.

Here, the basic color information means the color of the base of the vertex when light is not projected on the corresponding vertex. In addition, the luminescent color information means the color of brilliance when light is projected on the corresponding vertex. It should be noted that R indicates red, G indicates green, and B indicates blue, and the grayscale values of the respective primary colors.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the storage format of the polygon data 454. According to FIG. 13, the polygon data 454 includes a polygon N for identifying each polygon.
o. And the vertex numbers of the vertices forming each polygon. And are stored in a table format.

The temporary storage unit 500 is a storage unit used as a work area of the processing unit 100, and includes a calculation result by the processing unit 100, operation information input from the input unit 200,
It is a functional unit that temporarily stores data and programs read from the information storage medium 400. Specifically, it stores the coordinates, orientation, motion details, etc. of each character,
The game score is stored, and the image information generated by the processing unit 100 is stored. In addition, the temporary storage unit 500
Is realized by hardware such as RAM or VRAM.

The character control unit 112 included in the game calculation unit 110 is based on the operation signal input from the input unit 200 and the character control program 420 stored in the information storage medium 400. It is a functional unit that determines the position, orientation, pose, and motion of the character in the system.

More specifically, the character control unit 112
First, the shape of the character is determined within the coordinate system of the character (character coordinate system). At that time, based on the default positional relationship of each body part model included in the character model data 440, the operation signal input from the input unit 200, and the like, each body part model is rotated or moved in parallel to generate character coordinates. The coordinates of each vertex for specifying the shape of the character in the system are determined.

On the other hand, the character control unit 112 determines the coordinates and orientation of the representative point of the character in the world coordinate system based on the operation signal input from the input unit 200 and the game information 410. Then, based on the determined coordinates and orientation of the representative point of the character, the coordinates of each vertex in the character coordinate system are converted into the world coordinate system.

When the character control unit 112 determines the coordinates and orientation of the head model in the world coordinate system based on the character model data 440, the character control unit 112 further represents the representative eyeball model in the world coordinate system based on the determination information. Determine the coordinates and orientation of the points. Further, the coordinates of each vertex of the eyeball model in the eyeball coordinate system are determined based on the eyeball model data 450, and the coordinates of each vertex are changed from the eyeball coordinate system to the world coordinate system based on the coordinates of the representative point of the eyeball model. Convert to.

The luminance processing section 122 included in the image generating section 120 is based on the temporary normal vector of each vertex of the eyeball model, the basic tone color information, the chromatic color information, and the light ray vector in the world coordinate system. Is a functional unit that determines the color information of each vertex. Specifically, when the coordinates of each vertex of the eyeball model in the world coordinate system are determined by the character control unit 112, the inner product N · L of the provisional normal vector N and the ray vector L at the vertex is calculated, The brightness γ (= | N · L |) is determined. Then, the basic color information (R _K , G _K , B _K ) and the luminescent color information (R _L , G _L ,
Each color component of B _L ) is combined based on the brightness γ, and the color information (R, G, B) of the vertex is determined. R = _RK · (1-γ) + _RL · γ (1) The same applies to G and B.

The process of determining the color of each vertex in the eyeball model will be described below. FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining the eyeball luminance processing. The processing described below is processing performed by the character control unit 112 and the brightness processing unit 122 for each of the left and right eyeball models for each frame based on the game information 410.

According to FIG. 14, the character control unit 112.
First determines the position and orientation of the representative point of the eyeball model in the world coordinate system (step S1; FIG. 15).
(A)). More precisely, in the world coordinate system, the coordinates of the origin 210 of the eyeball coordinate system and each coordinate axis (x axis, y
Axis, z-axis) direction.

Then, the coordinates of each vertex of the eyeball model are converted from the eyeball coordinate system to the world coordinate system based on the coordinates of the origin of the eyeball coordinate system in the world coordinate system and the direction of each coordinate axis (step S2; FIG. 15B). Furthermore,
Based on the direction of each coordinate axis of the eye coordinate system in the world coordinate system, the temporary normal vector of each vertex is converted to the orientation in the world coordinate system (step S3; FIG. 15).
(C)). The coordinates of each vertex in the world coordinate system determined in steps S2 and S3 and the orientation of the temporary normal vector are stored in the temporary storage unit 50 as the transformed vertex data 510.
Store at 0.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of the storage format of the converted vertex data 510. According to FIG. 16, the converted vertex data 510 includes the vertex number. And the coordinates of the vertices after conversion to the world coordinate system and the tentative normal vector after conversion are stored in a table format.

For all vertices in the eye model,
When the coordinates in the world coordinate system and the direction of the temporary normal vector are determined, the brightness processing unit 122 starts the process of determining the color of each vertex.

First, the brightness processing section 122 includes the temporary storage section 5
00 from the converted vertex data 510 stored in No. 00. Is extracted (step S4). Then, the extracted vertex No. The provisional normal vector corresponding to is read out (step S5).

Furthermore, the read provisional normal vector and
The inner product of the light ray vectors in the world coordinate system is calculated (step S6), and based on the inner product result, the basic color information and the luminance color information are combined to determine the color information to be given to the corresponding vertex. The determined color information is the vertex color information data 52.
0 as the vertex number. It is stored in the temporary storage unit 500 in association with (step S7).

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of the storage format of the vertex color information data 520. According to FIG. 17, the vertex color information data 520 includes the vertex number. And color information are stored in a table format.

Temporary storage unit 500 stores the color information of the corresponding vertex.
When it is stored in, it is determined whether or not the color information has been determined for all the vertices stored in the converted vertex data 510 (step S8). If there is an unprocessed vertex, the process returns to step S4 and is processed. repeat. On the other hand, when the process of determining the color information for all the vertices is completed, this process is completed.

When drawing the polygons forming the eyeball model, the coordinates of each vertex are converted from the three-dimensional world coordinate system to the two-dimensional coordinate system (projection plane), and the color information of each vertex is further converted. A polygon is drawn by performing linear interpolation. For example, when determining the color of the point 222 in the polygon 220 formed by the vertices p _{1 to} p ₃ as shown in FIG. 18, calculation is performed as follows. First, the line segment p ₁ -p ₂
The color of the upper point p ₁₂ is determined by linearly interpolating the color information of vertices p ₁ and p ₂ . Similarly, the color of the p ₁₃ points on the line segment p ₁ -p _3, the color information of the vertices p ₁ and p ₃ are determined by linear interpolation. Furthermore, a point 222 on the line segment p ₁₂ -p ₁₃
Color is determined by linearly interpolating the color information of vertices p ₁₂ and p ₁₃ .

That is, the image generator 120 determines the vertex number of the vertex forming each polygon from the polygon data 454 shown in FIG. From the converted vertex data 510 stored in the temporary storage unit 500, and the vertex number.
The coordinates (world coordinate system) corresponding to are read. Furthermore,
The coordinates of the vertices are converted from the world coordinate system to the two-dimensional coordinate system (the coordinate system of the projection plane), and the color information of each vertex determined by the eye luminance processing is stored in the temporary storage unit 500. Read from the information data 520,
The drawing of the polygon concerned is executed.

Next, the hardware configuration of the game device 1 will be described. FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration that enables the present embodiment to be realized. According to the figure, the game device 1 includes a CPU 600, a RAM 602,
ROM 604, information storage medium 606, image generation IC 60
8. Sound generation IC 610, I / O ports 612, 614
Are mutually connected by a system bus 616 so that data can be input / output. Then, the image generation IC 608
A display device 618 is connected, a speaker 620 is connected to the sound generation IC 610, a control device 622 is connected to the I / O port 612, and an I / O port 614.
A communication device 624 is connected to.

The ROM 604 stores initialization information of the main body of the game apparatus 1 and basic information for making each part of the main body of the game apparatus 1 function. The information storage medium 60
6 corresponds to the information storage medium 400 in the functional block shown in FIG. 11, and includes game information 410, model data and texture data for expressing each character or object appearing in the game according to the present embodiment. In addition to storing the above, other various image data, sound data, play data, etc. are stored. Further, as an information storage medium for storing the game information 410 and the like, a CD-RO
M, game cassettes, DVDs, memory cards, etc. are used. When the present embodiment is realized by a business-use game device, the information storage medium for storing the game information 410 and the like can be realized by hardware such as ROM. In this case, the information storage medium 606 is stored in the ROM 604. Become. When the present embodiment is implemented by a personal computer, a memory such as a CD-ROM, a DVD, a ROM, a hard disk, or the like is used.

The control device 622 corresponds to the game controllers 3 and 4 as shown in FIG. 1, and is a device for inputting the result of the judgment made by the player in accordance with the progress of the game to the main body of the device.

The CPU 600 controls the entire apparatus and performs various controls according to a program stored in the information storage medium 606, a system program stored in the ROM 604 (initialization information of the apparatus main body, etc.), a signal input by the control device 622, and the like. Perform data processing. RAM602 is
The storage unit is used as a work area of the CPU 600, and stores given contents of the information storage medium 606 and the ROM 604, or the calculation result of the CPU 600.
The RAM 602 functions as the temporary storage unit 500 in the functional block shown in FIG.

Further, this type of device includes a sound generation IC 61
0 and an image generation IC 608 are provided so that a game sound and a game image can be appropriately output.
The sound generation IC 610 includes an information storage medium 606 and a ROM 60.
4 is an integrated circuit that generates a game sound such as a sound effect or a background music based on the information stored in FIG. 4, and the generated game sound is output by the speaker 620.
The image generation IC 608 includes a RAM 602 and a ROM 6
04, an integrated circuit that generates pixel information to be output to the display device 618 based on image information output from the information storage medium 606 or the like. The display device 618 is a CRT.
, LCD, TV, plasma display, projector and the like.

The communication device 624 is for exchanging various information used inside the game device 1 with the outside, and is connected to another game device to connect the game information 410.
It is used for transmitting and receiving given information according to, and for transmitting and receiving information such as the game information 410 via a communication line.

The various processes described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 18 are an information storage medium 606 storing game information 410 including a program for performing the process during game execution shown in the flowchart of FIG. CPU 600 that operates according to the program, image generation IC 608, sound generation I
It is realized by C610 and the like. The image generation IC 6
08, the processing performed by the sound generation IC 610, etc.
00 or a general-purpose DSP or the like may be performed by software.

The present embodiment may be applied not only to the home-use game machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 but also to any other form of game machine. For example, in FIG. 20, the host device 700, the host device 700 and the communication line 7
An example in which the present embodiment is applied to a game device including terminals 704-1 to 704-n connected via 02 is shown.

In the case of the form shown in FIG. 20, the game information 410 or the like stored in the information storage medium 400 shown in FIG. 11 is, for example, a magnetic disk device, a magnetic tape device, a memory or the like which can be controlled by the host device 700. Information storage medium 70
6 is stored. Also, the terminals 704-1 to 704-
In the case where n has a CPU, an image generation IC, and a sound generation IC and can generate a game image and a game sound in a stand-alone manner, the host device 700 generates the game image and the game sound. Game information 410 and the like are transmitted to the terminals 704-1 to 704-n. On the other hand, if the standalone device cannot be created, the host device 700
Generates a game image and a game sound, and outputs this to the terminal 704-
1 to 704-n and output at the terminal.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 21, this embodiment may be applied to an arcade game machine 800. In this arcade game device 800, the player has a speaker 802.
This is a device for operating a given character displayed on the display 806 to enjoy a given game by operating the operation buttons 804 while listening to the sound output from the device. The system board 808 built in the arcade game device 800 has a CPU, an image generation IC, a sound generation IC,
A RAM, a ROM, a memory 810 that is an information storage medium that stores the game information 410, and the like are mounted.
Then, the CPU executes the various processes described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 18 to realize the game.

In the above embodiment, the brightness processing is performed based on the normal vector when the eyeball model is arranged in the reference direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this case, and other optical calculation (for example, calculation of light reflection or transmission) may be performed using the normal vector when arranged in the reference direction, reflection mapping, etc. It goes without saying that the processing of (1) may be performed.

For example, in the method known as the ray tracing method, the inner product of the normal vector of the object A and the line-of-sight vector of the viewpoint is usually calculated to determine the reflection direction of the line-of-sight vector, and the reflection direction of the line of sight is determined. The reflection of the object A is represented by representing the object B existing in the object A on the surface of the object A. Therefore, when expressing the reflection of the eyeball, a provisional normal vector as described with reference to FIG. 9 is set at each vertex of the eyeball, and as shown in FIG.
Of the tentative normal vector 902 and the line-of-sight vector 906 of the viewpoint 904, the reflection direction 908 of the line-of-sight vector 906 is calculated, and an object existing in the reflection direction 908 is determined and displayed on the eyeball surface. Good.

Alternatively, the reflection mapping may be performed using the tentative normal vector as described with reference to FIG. Usually, in a method known as reflection mapping, an environment texture representing the environment around the viewpoint is generated, and a normal vector of each vertex of the object A,
The dot product with the line-of-sight vector of the viewpoint is calculated for each vertex, and the reflection direction of the line-of-sight vector at each vertex is determined. Then, the range of the environmental texture corresponding to the reflection direction of the line-of-sight vector at each vertex is mapped on the surface of the object A.

Therefore, when the reflection of the eyeball is expressed using reflection mapping, as shown in FIG.
The inner product of the provisional normal vectors 920, 922, 924 of the vertices 910, 912, 914 of the eyeball model and the line-of-sight vector of the viewpoint 930 is calculated, and the reflection direction of the line-of-sight vector is determined. Then, each vertex 910, 912, 91
The area 942 of the environment texture 940 corresponding to the reflection direction of the line-of-sight vector in 4 is determined and mapped to the corresponding polygon of the eyeball model.

Alternatively, more simply, when determining the reflection direction of the light ray vector, it may be determined using the above-mentioned provisional normal vector. Also, it goes without saying that von shading may be performed using the temporary normal vector.

By these processes, it becomes possible to express the image of the same environment in a position relatively equivalent to the left and right eyeballs even for a character with large eyes as shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, when the normal vector of the vertex is calculated, the average of the normal vectors of the faces of all polygons including the vertex is set, but the present invention is not limited to this. No need.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where the highlight of the eyeball is expressed is described as an example, but it is not limited to the eyeball. In addition, this embodiment is for home use,
Not only game machines for business use, but also simulators, large-scale attraction devices that display images on a display to execute attractions, personal computers,
It can also be applied to various image generating devices such as multimedia terminals and system boards for generating game images.

[0112]

According to the present invention, the reference orientation of the object is used in place of the orientation of the object when performing the brightness processing of the object or determining the reflected object reflected on the surface of the object. Therefore, regarding the position and orientation of the object placed in the virtual space, the brightness and reflection that cannot be realized by the conventionally known methods of brightness processing and reflection processing are used. Can be realized by

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of a home-use game machine according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a method of determining brightness.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a face of a character with large eyes.

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of a general human head.
(B) is a front view of the head shown in (a). (C)
[Fig. 3] is a cross-sectional view of the head of a character with large eyes.
(D) is a front view of the head shown in (c).

FIG. 5A is a diagram showing an arrangement example of ideal and actual eye opening surfaces. (B) is a figure for demonstrating the relationship between the "actual direction" of an eyeball and a "reference direction."

FIG. 6A is a diagram showing an example in which left and right eyeballs are respectively arranged in a reference direction. (B) is a figure which shows an example which arranged the right and left eyeballs according to the shape of the head.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an eyeball model.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of vertices included in six polygons.

9A is a view showing an xz section of the eyeball model shown in FIG. 6. FIG. (B) is a diagram showing an example in which the eyeball model shown in (a) is rotated by ψ around the y-axis. (C)
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example in which the normal vector of each vertex is rotated by −ψ about the y axis.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example in which an eyeball is drawn using a tentative normal vector and an example in which an ordinary eyeball is drawn using a normal vector.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of functional blocks of the game device in the present embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a storage form of vertex data.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a storage form of polygon data.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining eyeball luminance processing.

FIG. 15A is a schematic diagram in which an eyeball coordinate system is arranged in the world coordinate system. (B) is a schematic diagram in which each vertex of the eyeball model is arranged in the world coordinate system. (C) is a schematic diagram in which each temporary normal vector is arranged in the world coordinate system.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a storage form of converted vertex data.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a storage form of vertex color information data.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example in which three vertices of a polygon are converted into a coordinate system of a projection plane.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a game device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an application example of the present embodiment to a game device including a host device and a terminal.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example in which the present embodiment is applied to an arcade game machine.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of reflection calculation using a provisional normal vector.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of reflection mapping using a tentative normal vector.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 game device 100 processing unit 110 Game calculation unit 112 Character Control Unit 120 Image generator 122 Luminance processing unit 200 input section 300 display 400 information storage medium 410 Game information 420 character control program 430 Luminance processing program 440 character model data 450 Eyeball model data 452 vertex data 454 polygon data 500 temporary storage 510 Vertex data after conversion 520 Vertex color information data

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Katsunori Itai             No. 21 stock, 2-1, Yaguchi, Ota-ku, Tokyo             Company Monolith Soft F term (reference) 2C001 BC00 BC06 BC08 CB01 CB04                       CB06                 5B050 AA08 BA07 BA08 BA09 BA12                       BA18 CA07 CA08 EA09 EA14                       EA27 EA28 EA30 FA02 FA05                       FA08 FA10                 5B080 AA13 AA19 BA02 CA01 FA02                       FA06 GA06

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A brightness processing means for performing brightness processing of an object based on a light source and an arrangement position and orientation of the object by calculation and control by a processor, and means for generating an image of a virtual space including the object. Is image generation information for causing a device including the processor to function, wherein the brightness processing means performs the brightness processing by using a reference orientation of the object instead of the orientation of the object, Image generation information including information for causing the device to function. 2. The image generation information according to claim 1, wherein information for causing the apparatus to function means for forming the object by a plurality of primitive surfaces, and the luminance processing means for the object to be the reference. An image generation including information for causing the device to perform the luminance processing based on the normal vector of the apex of the primitive surface forming the object when the image generation is performed. information. 3. The image generation information according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a character having a plurality of eyelid portions whose opening directions are non-parallel and an eyeball placed in each eyelid portion is arranged in the virtual space. Information for causing the arrangement means to function in the device, information for causing the device to function as means for each of the eyeballs arranged in the plurality of eye holes, and the brightness processing means, Information for causing the device to function such that the luminance processing is performed for each of the eyeballs by using the reference orientation instead of the orientation of each eyeball arranged in the plurality of eye holes. Image generation information characterized by. 4. A reflection expression means for expressing an object to be reflected on the reflector according to a positional relationship between the reflector and a viewpoint by calculation and control by a processor, and an image of a virtual space including the reflector. Image generation information for causing a device including the processor to function based on a viewpoint, wherein the reflection expressing unit is, instead of the direction of the reflector, a reference direction of the reflector. Image generation information including information for causing the device to function so as to determine the object to be reflected on the reflector using. 5. The image generation information according to claim 4, wherein information for causing the device to function the means for forming the object by a plurality of primitive surfaces, and the reflection expression means, the reflector is a reference. It includes information for causing the device to function so as to determine the object to be reflected on the reflector based on the normal vector of the vertex of the reflector when arranged in the orientation. Image generation information. 6. A processor operates and controls a character in real time in response to an operation input,
Game information for causing a device including the processor to cause a device that executes a game in which the character appears and a device that generates an image of a virtual space including the character based on a viewpoint, wherein the character is , A plurality of eye openings having non-parallel opening directions, and character forming means for forming the character by arranging an eye ball in each eye hole, and when drawing a highlight on each eye, each eye Game information comprising: highlighting means for drawing highlights at the same position relative to the hole; and information for causing the device to function. 7. An information storage medium, which stores the image generation information according to any one of claims 1 to 5 or the game information according to claim 6. 8. An image generation apparatus comprising: a brightness processing means for performing brightness processing of an object based on a light source and an arrangement position and orientation of the object; and a means for generating an image of a virtual space including the object. Then, the brightness processing means performs the brightness processing by using a reference orientation of the object instead of the orientation of the object. 9. A reflection expression means for expressing an object to be reflected on the reflector according to a positional relationship between the reflector and the viewpoint, and a means for generating an image of a virtual space including the reflector based on the viewpoint. And an image generating device including: wherein the reflection expressing unit determines a reflected object reflected on the reflector by using a reference orientation of the reflector instead of the orientation of the reflector. Image generating device. 10. A means for moving a character in real time in response to an operation input to execute a game in which the character appears, and means for generating an image of a virtual space including the character based on a viewpoint. In the game device, the character has a plurality of eye-hole portions whose opening directions are not parallel to each other, and character forming means for forming the character by arranging an eye-ball in each eye-hole portion, and highlighting on each eye-ball. Highlighting means for drawing a highlight at the same position relative to each of the eye-holes when drawing the game device.