JP2004295916A - Image processor and image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor and an image processing method for displaying a sufficiently realistic shadow with small amount of processing. <P>SOLUTION: This image processor comprises a display body information storage part 16 storing display body information including at least one of position information and posture information of a display body model disposed in a game space; a false shadow information storage part 18 storing false shadow information including at least position information of a false shadow model simplifying to represent the shadow of the display body model projected on a given plane of projection; and a false shadow information following part 20 for allowing the false shadow model to follow the display body model by changing the false shadow information stored in the false shadow information storage part 18, based on the display body information stored in the display body information storage part 16, and binding conditions determined according to the arrangement or shape of the plane of projection. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method capable of facilitating the shadow processing of a display object in a virtual three-dimensional space.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an expression method for displaying a shadow of an object in a game device is known. The shadow is one of the important information for the observer to accurately recognize the object. By displaying the shadow, the positional relationship of the object can be clarified and suitable for displaying the object. A sense of depth can be given. Therefore, in order to create a more realistic image, the display of shadows is indispensable.

  However, generally, the processing for displaying the shadow of an object in three-dimensional image processing requires a large amount of computation and a storage device that requires a large capacity. In particular, high-speed moving image processing is essential in a three-dimensional game device, and there is a certain limit to accurate object shadow processing.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus and an image processing method capable of displaying a necessary and sufficiently realistic shadow with a small processing amount.

  The present invention provides display body information storage means for storing display body information including at least one of position information or body position information of a display body model arranged in a virtual three-dimensional space, and the image displayed on a given projection plane. A pseudo shadow information storage means for storing pseudo shadow information including at least position information of a pseudo shadow model representing a shadow of a display body model in a simplified manner, and the display body information and the projection stored in the display body information storage means Pseudo shadow information driven to change the pseudo shadow information stored in the pseudo shadow information storage means based on a constraint condition determined according to the arrangement or shape of a surface, and to cause the pseudo shadow model to follow the display body model Means.

  According to the present invention, the shadow of the display body model projected on the given projection plane is simply expressed as the pseudo shadow model. Then, the pseudo shadow information is changed based on the constraint condition determined by the projection plane and the display body information.

  In this way, by simplifying and expressing the shadow of the display body model, the amount of computation required for displaying the shadow can be greatly reduced. Further, since the pseudo shadow model follows the display body model in accordance with the position and posture of the display body model in the virtual three-dimensional space, the player can change the posture of the display body model in the virtual three-dimensional space to the pseudo shadow model. It is possible to easily recognize the shadow of the display body model in a necessary and sufficient manner.

  As a result, for example, when the present invention is applied to a three-dimensional game apparatus that requires high-speed moving image processing, the calculation capability of the three-dimensional game apparatus can be allocated to moving image processing of other display objects in the virtual three-dimensional space. This makes it possible to develop a more entertaining 3D game device.

  Further, according to the present invention, in claim 1, the display body information storage means stores representative point coordinate information of two points that follow the display body model as the display body information, and the pseudo shadow information follower means At least the position information of the pseudo shadow information is changed based on the two representative point coordinate information.

  According to the present invention, at least the position of the pseudo shadow model is determined using the representative point coordinate information of the two points that follow the display body model. Further, for example, the size, direction and shape of the pseudo shadow model can be further determined from the representative point coordinate information of the two points. If it carries out like this, the said pseudo shadow model can be suitably driven with the said display body model using only two coordinate information among the various information regarding a display body model.

  According to the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the pseudo shadow information follower is at least one of size information or color information of the pseudo shadow model based on height information of the display body model from the projection plane. Is further changed.

  According to the present invention, the pseudo shadow model can follow the display body model based on height information of the display body model from the projection plane. For example, the darkness of the pseudo shadow model can be changed according to the height of the display body model from the projection plane. In this way, the height of the display body model from the projection plane can be recognized from the pseudo shadow model.

  The present invention provides display body information storage means for storing display body information including at least posture information of a display body model arranged in a virtual three-dimensional space, and a shadow of the display body model projected on a given projection plane. A pseudo shadow information storage unit that stores pseudo shadow information including at least position information of a pseudo shadow model that is expressed in a simplified manner, a posture determination unit that determines the posture of the display body model in the virtual three-dimensional space, and the display body Stored in the pseudo-shadow information storage unit based on information corresponding to the determination result by the posture determination unit of the display body information stored in the information storage unit and a constraint condition determined according to the arrangement and shape of the projection plane And pseudo-shadow information selection follow-up means for changing the pseudo-shadow information and causing the pseudo-shadow model to follow according to the posture of the display body model.

  According to the present invention, the posture of the display body model is discriminated by the posture discriminating means in correspondence with information for causing the display body model to preferably follow the pseudo-shadow model of the display body information. Then, the pseudo shadow information selection follower appropriately causes the pseudo shadow model to follow the display body model according to the determined posture.

  Here, the posture determination means determines the posture of the display body model based on the display body information, the game program, or operation information by the player. For example, when the display body model represents a human, the posture determination means determines whether the display body model is a posture standing on both feet or a prone posture, and the head of the display body model It can be determined according to height information from the projection plane or according to a game program.

  In this way, the pseudo shadow model can be more suitably driven by the display body model.

  The present invention relates to a display body model and a pseudo shadow model which is a model composed of one or more polygons to which a texture is mapped, and which represents a shadow projected on a given projection plane of the display body model in a simplified manner. An image processing apparatus arranged in a virtual three-dimensional space, comprising: display body information storage means for storing display body information including at least one of positional information or posture information of the display body model; and polygons of the pseudo shadow model Pseudo shadow polygon information storage means for storing edge position information, and pseudo shadow texture in which texture information of texture mapped to the polygon of the pseudo shadow model is stored corresponding to the edge position information of the texture Information storage means, the display body information stored in the display body information storage means, and a constraint condition determined according to the arrangement or shape of the projection plane; A pseudo shadow information follower that changes the position information of the edge of the polygon of the pseudo shadow model stored in the pseudo shadow polygon information storage unit based on the pseudo shadow model and causes the pseudo shadow model to follow the display body model. The pseudo-shadow texture information storage means stores the texture information so as to include a circular or elliptical black portion and a non-colored transparent portion arranged outside the black portion. .

  According to the present invention, the texture information storage means stores circular or elliptical texture information. Then, the polygon and the texture of the pseudo shadow model are mapped so that their edges coincide. Therefore, when the pseudo shadow information follower changes the position information of the edge of the polygon of the pseudo shadow model, the texture is expanded and contracted. In this way, the pseudo shadow model can be deformed so as to have various elliptical shapes with different axis lengths, and can follow the display body model.

  The texture information is not limited to the color information of the pseudo shadow model, and various information such as reflectance, refractive index, transparency, and surface roughness can be used as the texture information.

  The present invention relates to a display body model and a pseudo shadow model which is a model composed of one or more polygons to which a texture is mapped, and which represents a shadow projected on a given projection plane of the display body model in a simplified manner. An image processing apparatus arranged in a virtual three-dimensional space, comprising: display body information storage means for storing display body information including at least one of positional information or posture information of the display body model; and polygons of the pseudo shadow model Pseudo shadow polygon information storage means for storing position information, pseudo shadow texture information storage means for storing texture information of texture mapped to the polygon of the pseudo shadow model, and the display body information storage means Stored in the pseudo-shadow polygon information storage means based on display body information and constraint conditions determined according to the arrangement or shape of the projection plane Based on the pseudo-shadow information driven means for changing the position information of the edge of the polygon of the pseudo-shadow model and causing the pseudo-shadow model to follow the display body model, the texture information, and the surface information of the projection plane Translucent computing means for performing translucent computation.

  According to the present invention, the translucent computing means derives information representing an appearance through the shadow of the projection plane based on the texture information and the surface information of the projection plane. By doing so, the pseudo shadow model is displayed as a penumbra, and the shadow in the virtual three-dimensional space can be expressed more realistically.

  The texture information is not limited to the color information of the pseudo shadow model, and various information such as reflectance, refractive index, transparency, and surface roughness can be used as the texture information.

  In the present invention, a display body model representing a game character and a pseudo shadow model representing a shadow of the display body model are arranged in a virtual three-dimensional space, and the pseudo shadow model is an approximate position of both feet or both hands of the display body model. It is characterized in that it has an elliptical shape with the positions projected onto a given projection plane as both end points of the axis.

  According to the present invention, the pseudo shadow model is displayed in an elliptical shape in which the length of the axis is changed according to the positions of both feet or both hands of the display body. In this way, the shadow of the display body model in the virtual three-dimensional space can be simplified and represented. Since the pseudo shadow model is deformed and displayed according to the movement of both feet of the display model, the player can easily recognize the operation of the display model from the shape of the pseudo shadow model. I can do it. Note that the game character corresponds to, for example, a sports player or a robot according to the game program.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  In each embodiment described below, the present invention is applied to a three-dimensional game apparatus that simulates a basketball game in a virtual three-dimensional space (hereinafter referred to as “game space”). As a shadow of “character model”, a pseudo shadow simplified to an elliptical shape (hereinafter referred to as “pseudo shadow model”) is displayed.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of the three-dimensional game apparatus according to the first embodiment. In the three-dimensional game apparatus shown in the figure, the storage unit 10 (memory) stores information on the position and appearance of each display object in the game space, and the processing unit 12 stores the information in the game space stored in the storage unit 10. Various information is rewritten and changed as needed in accordance with game programs and player instructions. Further, the processing unit 12 outputs various information of the game space that is rewritten and changed as needed to the display unit 14 at predetermined intervals, and the display unit 14 outputs the image to a display device such as a display device.

  In the above configuration, in particular, the display unit information storage unit 16 and the pseudo shadow information storage unit 18 are provided in the storage unit 10, and the display unit information storage unit 16 stores position information of each part of the character model in the game space. The pseudo shadow information storage unit 18 stores position information of the elliptical pseudo shadow model in the game space and information on the length of the axis. On the other hand, the processing unit 12 is provided with a pseudo shadow information follower 20, and the pseudo shadow information stored in the pseudo shadow information storage unit 18 based on the position information of the character model stored in the display body information storage unit 16. Change the position information of the shadow model and the information about the axis length.

  In this way, the pseudo shadow model displayed in a simplified elliptical shape is changed in position following the character model, or the image is displayed with the axis length changed. Therefore, by expressing the shadow of the character model using the pseudo-shadow model that is displayed in a simplified manner, the shadow of the character model in the game space can be displayed with simpler processing and suitable for the character model. The pseudo shadow model is displayed as an image following the movement, and the player of the three-dimensional game apparatus can enjoy a more realistic image display.

(Second embodiment)
Next, a 3D game device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present three-dimensional game apparatus, each display body expressed by combining a plurality of polygons is arranged in the game space, and these are subjected to perspective projection conversion on a predetermined perspective projection surface of a viewpoint coordinate system to display a display image. It is to be synthesized. A technique called texture mapping is used for image synthesis. That is, the image information of each display body is separately stored in the image information of each polygon constituting the display body and the surface information (hereinafter referred to as “texture information”) to be attached to each polygon, and the image is output. At this time, image synthesis is performed by pasting texture information corresponding to each polygon. According to this texture mapping method, the pattern and color of the model can be made finer without increasing the number of polygons to be processed.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the present three-dimensional game apparatus. In the three-dimensional game apparatus shown in the figure, the storage unit 100 stores the positions of display bodies such as character models, competition courts, spectator seats, and balls in the game space, the positions of polygons representing the display bodies, and texture information. It is remembered. On the other hand, a player of the 3D game device instructs the processing unit 104 to operate the character model in the game space through the operation unit 102. And the information memorize | stored in the memory | storage part 100 is variously calculated based on the instruction | indication and a game program, and is updated at any time. The game space newly constructed in the storage unit 100 in this way is displayed on a display device such as a display by the display unit 106.

  The storage unit 100 stores, in particular, a display body polygon information storage unit 108 that stores coordinates of each vertex of a polygon (hereinafter referred to as “character polygon”) constituting the character model in order to store information related to the character model. A display body texture information storage unit 110 in which texture information of textures mapped to character polygons is stored in advance is provided.

  Furthermore, in order to store information on the pseudo shadow model, the storage unit 100 stores pseudo shadow polygon information in which coordinates of each vertex of a polygon (hereinafter referred to as “pseudo shadow polygon”) constituting the pseudo shadow model are stored. A storage unit 112 and a pseudo shadow texture information storage unit 114 in which texture information of texture mapped to the pseudo shadow polygon is stored in advance are provided.

  Further, a projection plane information storage unit 116 is provided in which surface information of a projection plane onto which the shadow of the character model in the game space is projected is stored in advance.

  Next, the processing unit 104 is provided with a pseudo shadow information follower 118 and a translucent operation unit 120, and the pseudo shadow information follower 118 is a character stored in the display body polygon information storage unit 108. Based on the vertex coordinate information of the polygon and the constraint condition determined according to the arrangement or shape of the projection plane, the vertex coordinate information of the pseudo shadow polygon stored in the pseudo shadow polygon information storage unit 112 is changed and stored again. To do.

  In addition, when the pseudo-shadow model is displayed on the display unit 106, the semi-transparency calculation unit 120 includes texture information of the pseudo-shadow polygon texture stored in the pseudo-shadow texture information storage unit 114 and the projection plane information storage unit. Based on the projection plane surface information stored in 116, a translucent operation is performed. In the present three-dimensional game apparatus, the pseudo shadow model is composed of four pseudo shadow polygons 201, 202, 203, and 204 defined by the vertices of V0 to V8 shown in FIG. , 202, 203, and 204 are synthesized based on the texture information 210 defined by the vertices of T1, T2, T3, and T4 shown in FIG. In this texture information 210, the inside of a quarter circle passing through the vertices T2 and T3 with the vertex T4 as the center is defined as semitransparent black, and the outside is defined and stored as transparent. When the pseudo shadow polygons 201, 202, 203, and 204 are synthesized based on the texture information 210, when the pseudo shadow polygons 201, 202, 203, and 204 are arranged at positions closest to the viewpoint in the game space, Then, an image is synthesized with a color related to the synthesis with the polygon closest to the viewpoint.

  That is, in the case of the pseudo-shadow model 201, 202, 203, 204, the transparent portion of the texture information 210 is directly image-synthesized with the color of the projection surface, and in the translucent black portion of the texture information 210, The translucent operation unit 120 performs a translucent operation for adding and mixing black on the color of the projection surface according to the transparency, thereby synthesizing the image. In this way, a so-called penumbra can be expressed using translucent black, and a shadow in the game space can be expressed more realistically.

  When the texture information 210 is mapped to the pseudo shadow polygon, the vertices T1 to T4 of the texture information 210 correspond to the vertices V0 to V8 of the pseudo shadow polygons 201, 202, 203, and 204, respectively. To be mapped. For this reason, four pseudo shadow polygons are represented by one texture information 210 representing a quarter circle by the correspondence between the vertices T1 to T4 of the texture information 210 and the vertices V0 to V8 of the pseudo shadow polygons 201, 202, 203, and 204. 201, 202, 203, and 204 can be mapped. Furthermore, when the pseudo shadow models 201, 202, 203, and 204 are transformed into, for example, a rectangle by mapping the texture information 210 so that the positions of the vertices coincide, the texture information 210 extends the rectangle. It is stretched and mapped in the direction of the side. Therefore, the pseudo shadow models 201, 202, 203, and 204 to which the texture information 210 is mapped in this way are displayed in an elliptical image.

  According to the configuration described above, if the player designates various actions such as a movement in the designated direction or a jumping action with respect to the character model by the operation unit 102, the character model performs the designated action in the game space, The pseudo shadow model is displayed following the character model. Here, a case where the character model performs a movement in a specified direction will be described in particular.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which one frame of the motion of the character model is displayed by the three-dimensional game apparatus. Below the character model 220 shown in the figure, an elliptical pseudo shadow model 224 arranged on the projection plane 222 is displayed so that the traveling direction and the major axis direction coincide with each other. As described above, in this three-dimensional game apparatus, the pseudo shadow model 224 having a shape corresponding to the traveling direction of the character model 220 is displayed, and the player can easily grasp the movement and position of the character model 220. .

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a specific procedure for displaying the character model 220 as shown in FIG. 4 and the pseudo shadow model 224 representing its shadow in the three-dimensional game apparatus. FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a game space in the three-dimensional game apparatus, and FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a pseudo shadow model 224 in the game space of the three-dimensional game apparatus. Hereinafter, description will be made based on these drawings.

  First, when a command to move the character model 220 in the X-axis direction with the coordinate axis of the game space is given from the operation unit 102 by the player's operation (S1), the processing unit 104 sends the command and the game program. Accordingly, the vertex coordinate information of the character polygon stored in the display body polygon information storage unit 108 is rewritten and updated with the information after the movement (S2).

  Next, the pseudo shadow information follower 118 acquires coordinate information of points A and B, which are one of the vertices of the polygon representing the toes of both feet of the character model 220, from the display body polygon information storage unit 108 (S3, (See FIGS. 4 and 6). Then, the position information of the points A ′ and B ′ obtained by projecting the coordinates of the points A and B onto the projection surface 222 is derived from the information and the position information of the predetermined projection surface 222 (competition court) (S4, FIG. 6). reference). Next, the distance d between the two points A ′ and B ′ thus obtained, the angle θ with respect to the negative Z-axis direction, and the midpoint coordinate M of both coordinates are obtained (S5, see FIG. 6).

  Further, the pseudo shadow information follower 118 is centered on the position of the midpoint coordinate M, the length of one of the axes is the distance d, and the angle between the axis and the positive direction of the Z axis is the angle θ. Then, a new position of each polygon constituting the pseudo shadow model 224 is derived (S6), and the vertex coordinates of the new pseudo shadow polygon are stored and updated in the pseudo shadow polygon information storage unit 112 (S7, see FIG. 7).

  Thus, each information of the game space newly constructed in the storage unit 100 is displayed on a display device such as a display by the display unit 106, and the pseudo shadow model 224 is driven and displayed in accordance with the movement of the character model 220. (S8). At this time, as described above, since the texture mapping method is adopted in the three-dimensional game apparatus, each pseudo shadow polygon 201, 202, 203, 204 representing the pseudo shadow model 224 transformed from a square to a rectangle is used. In order to paste the texture information 210, mapping is performed so that the vertex positions coincide. For this reason, the pseudo shadow model is displayed in an elliptical shape.

  In the 3D game device, the texture information 210 and the surface information of the projection surface 222 stored in the projection surface information storage unit 116 are translucent by the translucent operation unit 120 when mapping the texture information 210 described above. The image is calculated and displayed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the pattern 226 of the projection surface 222 is displayed through the display portion of the pseudo shadow model 224.

  Further, in order to display the ball in the three-dimensional game apparatus, the model 228 representing the ball in the game space and the model 230 representing the pseudo shadow of the ball in the game space, as in the case of the image synthesis of the character model and the pseudo shadow model. Can be formed. At this time, if a semi-transparent black pattern is used as the texture information of the model 230 representing the pseudo shadow of the ball, it is possible to suitably display and represent a state in which two or more shadows overlap (see FIG. 4). ).

  The length of the axis of the pseudo shadow model is more effective as a length obtained by multiplying the distance d by a constant or a length obtained by adding a certain distance to the distance d instead of the distance d as in the above processing procedure. It is preferable to display an image of a typical pseudo shadow.

  With the above processing, in the present three-dimensional game device, when the character model 220 is moving as shown in FIG. 4, the character model 220 steps out one foot in the traveling direction, and the pseudo shadow model 224 moves in the traveling direction. Are arranged on the projection surface 222 (competition court) so that their long axes overlap. Further, according to the above processing, for example, when the character model 220 takes an upright posture on the projection plane 222 and both the legs of the character model 220 are closed as shown in FIG. A pseudo shadow model 224 is displayed.

  As described above, according to the present three-dimensional game apparatus, the size and direction of the pseudo-shadow changes according to the posture and posture of the character model 220, so that the player of the present three-dimensional game apparatus can easily use the character model 220. Can recognize posture and posture.

  Further, as described above, according to the present three-dimensional game device, a simplified shape is used as the shape of the pseudo shadow model 224, and the pseudo model is obtained by using a relatively small amount of information derived from some information of the character model 220. The arrangement of the shadow model 224 can be specified. For this reason, as compared with the conventional shadow processing method in which all information representing the display body is used for calculation of shadow information, the amount of calculation required for shadow processing can be significantly reduced. For this reason, according to the present three-dimensional game apparatus, shadow processing can be performed very suitably in a three-dimensional game apparatus that requires high-speed moving image processing.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 9 is a view showing a state in which the character model 300 and the pseudo shadow model 302 are displayed by the three-dimensional game apparatus according to the third embodiment. The character model 300 runs on the competition court 304 toward the goal ring 306. Is gripped by the goal ring 306, the state where both legs of the character model 300 are greatly swung in the traveling direction by the inertial force (hereinafter referred to as “shooting posture”) is shown.

  According to the above-described 3D game device according to the second embodiment, the pseudo-shadow model 224 has an image in which the length of the ellipse axis is changed based on the position of both feet of the character model 220 regardless of the posture of the character model 220. Although displayed, when the posture of the character model is remarkably changed, it may be preferable to deform the pseudo shadow model with reference to parts other than both feet.

  For example, in the shoot posture shown in FIG. 9, the pseudo shadow model is preferably an elliptical shape extending from the lower part of the buttocks to the lower part of the toes. Therefore, in this three-dimensional game apparatus, the pseudo shadow model is used using the coordinate information of the toes of both feet. Instead of determining the arrangement and shape of the toe, the arrangement and shape of the pseudo shadow model are determined from the coordinate information of the midpoint P of the toes of both feet and the coordinate information of the point Q of the buttocks.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration of the present three-dimensional game apparatus capable of performing such image processing. In the figure, components corresponding to those of the three-dimensional game apparatus are assigned the same reference numerals and explanations thereof are omitted.

  In the processing unit 308 of the present three-dimensional game apparatus shown in the figure, in particular, a posture determination unit 310 and a pseudo shadow information selection follower 312 are provided. The posture determination unit 310 determines the posture of the character model 300 based on information from the display body information storage unit 16, a signal from the operation unit 102, or a game program. That is, for example, in the case of the present embodiment, the shadow of the character model 300 is a posture to be deformed and displayed with reference to the position coordinates of the toes of both feet, or the position coordinates of the midpoint P of the toes of both feet and the buttocks Whether the posture is to be deformed and displayed with reference to the position coordinate of one point Q is determined based on, for example, the polygonal corner angle of the waist of the character model 300 or based on the game program.

  The pseudo shadow information selection follower 312 reads the display body information from the display body information storage unit 16 based on the determination of the posture determination unit 310, and stores the display body information on the basis of the read body information. The pseudo shadow information is rewritten and changed. That is, in the case of the present embodiment, when the posture determination unit 310 determines that the character model 300 is in a posture with both feet, the toes of both feet of the character model 300 are the same as in the above-described embodiment. If the pseudo-shadow information is changed based on the position coordinates of one point and the posture determination unit 310 determines that the character model 300 is in the shooting posture, the position of the midpoint P of the toes of both feet of the character model 300 is determined. The pseudo shadow information is changed based on the coordinates and the position coordinates of one point Q of the buttocks.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining a procedure of image processing in the three-dimensional game apparatus having the above-described configuration. Hereinafter, processing of the three-dimensional game device according to the present embodiment will be described in order with reference to FIG.

  First, when a command to move the character model 300 in the X-axis direction using the game space coordinates is given from the operation unit 102 by the player's operation (S101), the processing unit 308 causes the command and the game program to be moved. Accordingly, the display body information stored in the display body information storage unit 16 is rewritten and updated with the moved information (S102).

  Next, the posture determination unit 310 determines the posture of the character model 300 based on the display body information stored in the display body information storage unit 16 (S103). Then, based on the determination, the pseudo shadow information selection follower 312 reads necessary data from the display body information stored in the display body information storage unit 16, and derives a position of a new pseudo shadow model based on the data ( S104). Then, the information is stored and updated in the pseudo shadow information storage unit 18 as pseudo shadow information (S105).

  Thus, each information of the game space newly constructed in the storage unit 308 is displayed on a display device such as a display by the display unit 14, and the pseudo shadow model 302 is driven and displayed in accordance with the movement of the character model 300. (S106).

  In this way, even when the character model 300 has a significantly different posture in the game space, the shadow of the character model 300 can be appropriately added without greatly complicating the image processing.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, Various deformation | transformation implementation is possible.

  For example, in each of the above embodiments, information on the height from the projection plane of the shadow of the character model may be further read from the coordinate information of the toe of the character model, and the color information of the pseudo shadow information may be changed based on the information. . Specifically, when the pseudo shadow model is displayed in semi-transparent black, if the transparency information stored in the texture information of the pseudo shadow model is changed according to the information about the height of the character model, the character When the model jumps, it is possible to obtain an image display effect that the shadow density of the pseudo shadow model gradually becomes lighter. In this way, since the height of the character model from the projection plane can be determined from the color of the shadow, the player can more easily determine the position of the character model.

  Further, if the pseudo shadow information is further changed based on the position coordinates of the virtual light source of the pseudo shadow model of each of the above embodiments, the position, shape, color, or the like of the pseudo shadow model can be changed with the movement of the light source. I can do it.

  In addition, when adding a shadow to a fixed crane device in a virtual three-dimensional space, the position and shape of the pseudo shadow model are changed based on a smaller number of display body information than when adding a shadow to the character model described above. I can do it. For example, when the light source is set above the crane device, the pseudo shadow information can be appropriately changed based only on the turning angle of the crane.

  Further, the texture information is not limited to the color information of the pseudo shadow model, and various information such as reflectance, refractive index, transparency, surface roughness, and the like can be used as the texture information.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the three-dimensional game device which concerns on 1st Example. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the three-dimensional game device which concerns on 2nd Example. It is a figure explaining the polygon of the pseudo shadow model of the three-dimensional game device concerning 2nd Example. It is a figure which shows the state by which one frame of the operation | movement which a character model runs by the 3D game device which concerns on 2nd Example was displayed. It is a flowchart explaining the procedure of the image process which displays the shadow of a character model in the three-dimensional game device which concerns on 2nd Example. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the game space in the three-dimensional game device which concerns on 2nd Example. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the pseudo | simulation shadow model in the game space of the three-dimensional game device which concerns on 2nd Example. It is a figure which shows the state by which the upright posture of the character model on a competition court was displayed by the three-dimensional game device which concerns on 2nd Example. It is a figure which shows the state by which the character model and its pseudo shadow model were displayed by the three-dimensional game device concerning 3rd Example. It is a figure which shows the structure of the three-dimensional game device which concerns on 3rd Example. It is a flowchart explaining the procedure of the image processing of the three-dimensional game device which concerns on 3rd Example.

Explanation of symbols

16 Display body information storage unit (display body information storage means)
18 Pseudo shadow information storage unit (pseudo shadow information storage means)
20, 118 Pseudo shadow information follower (pseudo shadow information follower)
112 Pseudo shadow polygon information storage unit (pseudo shadow polygon information storage means)
114 Pseudo shadow texture information storage unit (pseudo shadow texture information storage means)
220, 300 Character model (display model)
222 Projection planes 224, 302 Pseudo shadow model 310 Body posture determination unit (body posture determination means)
312 pseudo shadow information selection follower (pseudo shadow information selection follower)

Claims (9)

Display body information storage means for storing display body information including at least one of position information or body position information of a display body model arranged in a virtual three-dimensional space; and the display body model of the display body model projected on a given projection plane Pseudo-shadow information storage means for storing pseudo-shadow information including at least position information of a pseudo-shadow model representing a simplified shadow;
The pseudo shadow information stored in the pseudo shadow information storage means is changed based on the display body information stored in the display body information storage means and a constraint condition determined according to the arrangement or shape of the projection plane. , Pseudo shadow information follower for causing the pseudo shadow model to follow the display body model;
An image processing apparatus comprising: In claim 1,
The display body information storage means stores representative point coordinate information of two points that follow the display body model as the display body information,
The pseudo-shadow information follower changes at least the position information of the pseudo-shadow information based on the representative point coordinate information of two points. In claim 1 or 2,
The pseudo shadow information follower further changes at least one of size information or color information of the pseudo shadow model based on height information of the display body model from the projection plane. apparatus. Display body information storage means for storing display body information including at least posture information of a display body model arranged in a virtual three-dimensional space;
Pseudo-shadow information storage means for storing pseudo-shadow information including at least position information of a pseudo-shadow model representing the shadow of the display body model projected on a given projection plane in a simplified manner;
Posture determination means for determining the posture of the display body model in the virtual three-dimensional space;
The pseudo shadow information storage based on the information corresponding to the determination result by the posture determination means of the display body information stored in the display body information storage means and the constraint condition determined according to the arrangement and shape of the projection plane Changing the pseudo-shadow information stored in the means, and causing the pseudo-shadow model to perform follow-up corresponding to the posture of the display body model; and
An image processing apparatus comprising: A virtual three-dimensional space representing a display body model and a pseudo shadow model that is a model composed of one or more polygons to which a texture is mapped and expresses a shadow projected on a given projection plane of the display body model A three-dimensional game device arranged in
Display body information storage means for storing display body information including at least one of position information or posture information of the display body model;
Pseudo shadow polygon information storage means for storing position information of polygons of the pseudo shadow model;
Pseudo shadow texture information storage means for storing texture information of the texture mapped to the polygon of the pseudo shadow model;
The pseudo shadow model polygon stored in the pseudo shadow polygon information storage means based on the display body information stored in the display body information storage means and a constraint condition determined according to the arrangement or shape of the projection plane Changing the position information of the edge of the pseudo shadow information follower means for causing the pseudo shadow model to follow the display body model,
Translucent operation means for performing translucent operation based on the texture information and the surface information of the projection plane;
An image processing apparatus comprising: In any one of Claims 1-5,
A display body model representing a game character and a pseudo shadow model representing a shadow of the display body model are arranged in a virtual three-dimensional space,
2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pseudo shadow model has an elliptical shape having a position obtained by projecting an approximate position of both feet or both hands of the display body model on a given projection plane. A display body information storage step for storing display body information including at least one of position information or posture information of a display body model arranged in a virtual three-dimensional space;
A pseudo-shadow information storage step of storing pseudo-shadow information including at least position information of a pseudo-shadow model representing the shadow of the display body model projected on a given projection plane in a simplified manner;
The pseudo shadow information stored in the pseudo shadow information storage step is changed based on the display body information stored in the display body information storage step and a constraint condition determined according to the arrangement or shape of the projection plane. , A pseudo shadow information follow step for causing the pseudo shadow model to follow the display body model;
An image processing method comprising: A display body information storage step for storing display body information including at least posture information of a display body model arranged in a virtual three-dimensional space;
A pseudo-shadow information storage step of storing pseudo-shadow information including at least position information of a pseudo-shadow model representing the shadow of the display body model projected on a given projection plane in a simplified manner;
A posture determination step of determining the posture of the display body model in the virtual three-dimensional space;
The pseudo shadow information storage based on information corresponding to the determination result of the posture determination step of the display body information stored in the display body information storage step and a constraint condition determined according to the arrangement and shape of the projection plane Changing the pseudo-shadow information stored in the step, and causing the pseudo-shadow model to perform follow-up corresponding to the posture of the display body model; and
An image processing method comprising: A virtual three-dimensional space representing a display body model and a pseudo shadow model that is a model composed of one or more polygons to which a texture is mapped and expresses a shadow projected on a given projection plane of the display body model The texture information of the texture mapped to the polygon of the pseudo shadow model is stored in the pseudo shadow texture information storage means corresponding to the position information of the edge of the texture,
A display body information storage step for storing display body information including at least one of positional information or posture information of the display body model;
A pseudo-shadow polygon information storage step for storing position information of polygons of the pseudo-shadow model;
The pseudo shadow model polygon stored in the pseudo shadow polygon information storage step based on the display body information stored in the display body information storage step and a constraint condition determined according to the arrangement or shape of the projection plane. And changing the position information of the edge of the pseudo shadow information follow step to follow the display model model pseudo shadow model,
A translucent operation step for performing a translucent operation based on the texture information and the surface information of the projection surface;
An image processing method comprising:

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