JP2006122716A - Program, information storage medium, and game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine which can offer a ball game that expresses mental variations of its characters according to their positional relations. <P>SOLUTION: A positional conditions determining section 222 determines the positional relations between a character owning a ball and another character in the opponent team. When the positional relations between them meet positional conditions, an ability changing section 224 performs a processing to change a characteristic value which determines the action ability of the character owning the ball, and an action control section 226 controls the action of the character owning the ball based on the changed characteristic value. A viewpoint control section 228 changes the viewing position or viewing angle according to the positional relations between the characters. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  A program for executing a game in a virtual space in response to a user's operation input and causing a device including a processor to function in real time to generate an image of the virtual space, an information storage medium for storing the program, The present invention also relates to a game device for realizing a game.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, many game devices have been developed that execute a game in response to an operation input, generate a game image in real time, and display the game image on a display. For example, as a home game device, a display device such as a television and a game controller for operation input are connected to the main body of the game device, or a display screen and a controller are integrated. There are small game devices. In addition, among game machines for business use, there is a game apparatus that includes a casing that is integrally provided with a large display and an operation panel. Alternatively, many games that are realized via a network using a personal computer (PC) or the like have been developed. Many of these games (or game devices) control the movement of the character based on operation inputs, programs, data, etc., and generate an image of a virtual space including the character based on a virtual camera (viewpoint) It is displayed (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-167252 A

  There are various types of games realized by this type of game device, and one of them is a basketball game. In a basketball game, one team is composed of five characters, and two teams (that is, ten characters) are played against each other on a game court set in a virtual space. The player operates the characters of either team using the game controller. For example, when the character to be operated holds the ball, the direction of dribbling is specified by the direction key, and whether the ball is passed or shot is specified by the function key. On the other hand, when the character to be operated does not hold the ball, the moving direction is designated by the direction key or the like, and the action of blocking the action of the enemy team character or taking the ball is designated by the function key.

  By the way, in a game in which a plurality of characters appear on the screen at the same time as in the above-mentioned basketball game, it is possible to identify each character with a unique ability, and the game is more complicated and realistic. Some are set to expand to. For example, there is a technique that expresses individuality by clarifying the difference in movement ability of each character such as shooting, passing, dribbling, and jumping. According to such a game, the player devises a game strategy by properly using the abilities of these characters.

  As described above, there have been a plurality of types of games that allow the character to exhibit the movement ability unique to the character. However, in a ball game of a type that realizes a game in real time in response to an operation input, there is rarely a type of game that expresses the movement of the character's heart during game execution and reflects the emotion in the game in real life. there were. In a basketball game in the real world, a player's body contact may cause a psychological action on the player, and the player's play may change. For example, there is a case where a player feels pressure by being marked by an opponent player he / she is not good at and is unable to perform well. In an actual ball game, such a psychological effect may be incorporated into a strategy, but according to a conventional game device, there is no game that enables such a psychological strategy.

  The subject of this invention is expressing the psychological change of the character according to positional relationship.

  A first invention is a ball game in which a given character is operated in real time in response to an operation input to a device including a processor that performs calculation and control, and a plurality of characters including the given character appear. Means for executing (for example, the game calculation unit 220 shown in FIG. 7), means for generating an image of the virtual space in which the plurality of characters exist based on the viewpoint (for example, the image generation unit 240 shown in FIG. 7), Position determination means for determining whether or not a positional relationship between a ball possessing character having a ball and another character among the plurality of characters satisfies a position condition (for example, FIG. Position condition determination unit 222 shown in FIG. 7; the position determination process in FIG. 9), and action ability changing means (for example, changing the action ability of the character that satisfies the position condition) , Capacity changing unit 224 and an operation control unit 226 shown in FIG. 7; a game information including information for operating an operation control process) shown in FIG. 13, to the device.

  In a twentieth aspect, a given character is moved in real time in response to an operation input, and an image of a virtual space in which a plurality of characters including the given character exist is generated and displayed based on a viewpoint. A game device that executes a ball game in which the plurality of characters appear (for example, the game device 1 shown in FIG. 1), and among the plurality of characters, a positional relationship between a ball-owning character having a ball and another character Position determining means for determining whether or not the position condition is satisfied (for example, the position condition determining unit 222 shown in FIG. 7), and movement capability changing means for changing the movement ability of the character that satisfies the position condition (for example, FIG. 7). And a capability change unit 224 and an action control unit 226) shown in FIG.

  According to the first or twentieth invention, the positional relationship between the character that owns the ball and the other character is determined, and when there is a character that satisfies the positional condition, the movement ability of the character is changed. That is, it is possible to change the movement ability of the character according to the positional relationship between the characters. Therefore, for example, in a game such as a basketball game where body contact can occur between characters, a psychological change of a player character caused by a positional relationship can be expressed by a change in movement ability. In addition, the game can be developed in a more complicated and realistic manner by changing the operation ability according to the positional relationship.

  As a second invention, in the game information of the first invention, the position determination means determines whether or not another character exists in a predetermined direction of the ball-owning character as the position condition. Information for causing the device to function may be included.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to determine whether or not the performance ability is changed according to the orientation of the other character with respect to the ball possessing character. Therefore, when other characters exist in one direction as seen from the ball-owning character, the movement ability is not changed, and when other characters exist in a different direction, the movement ability is changed. Specificity with respect to direction can be produced. Therefore, for example, when there is another character behind the ball-owning character, it is possible not to change the movement ability, and when it exists in the other direction, it is possible to change the movement ability.

  As a third invention, in the game information of the first or second invention, the position determination means determines whether or not another character exists within a predetermined range to be followed by the ball possessing character. It is good also as including the information for making the said apparatus function so that it may determine.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is determined as a position condition whether another character exists within a predetermined range that is followed by the ball possessing character. At this time, the position condition may be satisfied when the character exists within the predetermined range, or the position condition may be satisfied when the character exists outside the predetermined range. As described above, it is possible to easily determine the position only by determining whether it is within or outside the predetermined range. In addition, since the predetermined range moves according to the movement of the ball possessing character (following), for example, if the predetermined range is always positioned near the position of the ball owning character, It becomes easy to distinguish whether the character is far or near.

  As a fourth invention, in the game information of the third invention, the action ability changing means determines the amount of change of the action ability according to the number or / and duration of other characters existing within the predetermined range. It is good also as including the information for making the said apparatus function so.

  According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the movement ability changes with the number and duration of other characters that satisfy the position condition. Therefore, for example, it is possible to set the movement ability to change as the number of other characters that satisfy the position condition is larger or smaller. According to this setting, for example, the psychological burden increases as the number of defenses increases, and it is possible to produce the psychology of the ball-owning character such that the movement ability decreases.

  Alternatively, it is possible to set so that the operation capability is lowered or improved as the time that satisfies the position condition is prolonged, or conversely, the normal operation capability is gradually returned as the operation time is prolonged.

  Further, as a fifth invention, in the game information of any one of the first to fourth inventions, the movement ability changing means has a movement ability according to a distance between the ball possessing character and another character satisfying the position condition. Information for making the apparatus function so as to determine the amount of change may be included.

  According to the fifth aspect, the movement ability is changed according to the distance between the other character that satisfies the position condition and the ball-owning character. Therefore, for example, it can be set so that the closer the other character is to the ball possessing character, or the farther the other character is, the more the action ability changes. According to this setting, for example, a psychological change caused by the approaching character on the defense side can be expressed by a change in movement ability.

  As a sixth invention, in the game information according to any one of the first to fifth inventions, the movement ability changing means changes the movement ability of the ball possessing character among the characters satisfying the position condition. May include information for causing the apparatus to function.

  According to the sixth aspect, when the position condition is satisfied, the movement ability of the ball possessing character is changed. Thereby, for example, the action of the character at the time of defense can be clarified. In conventional basketball games and the like, the defense against the offense was made only by physical contact between the characters. However, according to the invention, the movement ability of the ball-owning character is reduced due to the positional relationship with other characters. Can be made.

  Further, as a seventh invention, in the game information of the sixth invention, the movement ability changing means has a movement ability according to which other character that satisfies the position condition appears in the ball game. Information for making the apparatus function so as to determine the amount of change may be included.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the change amount of the movement ability of the ball possessing character is determined according to the type of the other character. For example, it can be set so that the amount of change in movement ability differs when another character A approaches the ball possessing character and when another character B approaches. Therefore, the strength and weakness of defense can be expressed as the individuality of each character.

  As an eighth invention, in the game information of the sixth invention, the movement ability changing means determines a change amount of the movement ability according to which character the ball possessing character appears in the ball game. It is good also as including the information for making the said apparatus function like.

  According to the eighth aspect of the invention, the change amount of the movement ability is determined according to the type of the character that owns the ball. For example, the amount of change in the movement ability when the position condition is satisfied can be set differently when the character A owns the ball and when the character B owns the ball. Therefore, it is possible to express a character whose heart is easily shaken or a character which is not easily shaken in response to the positional relationship between characters.

  Further, as a ninth invention, in the game information of the sixth invention, the movement ability changing means is a combination of a ball possessing character and another character that satisfies the position condition, and for any character that appears in the ball game. Information for causing the apparatus to function may be included so as to determine a change amount of the operation capability depending on whether the combination is a combination.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the change amount of the movement ability is determined according to the combination of the ball possessing character and another character that satisfies the position condition. For example, when the character possessed by the ball is A, when the other character B approaches and when the character C approaches, the character A can move more greatly when the character B approaches. When the ball-owning character is D, it is possible to produce the difference that the character D can change its movement ability more greatly when the character C approaches than when the character B approaches.

  Further, as a tenth invention, in the game information of the ninth invention, the amount of change in the action ability is determined according to a combination of the position of the ball possessing character and the position of another character satisfying the position condition. It is good also as including the information for making the said apparatus function so that it may determine.

  According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the change amount of the movement ability is determined according to the position of the ball possessing character and the other character that satisfies the position condition. Therefore, for example, when characters of uncorrelated positions approach each other, the amount of change in movement ability is small, and when characters between positions with high correlation approach each other, the amount of change in movement ability is set large. It is possible to produce such an effect.

  As an eleventh invention, in the game information according to any one of the sixth to tenth inventions, the movement ability changing means causes the other character that satisfies the position condition to be an opponent team of the ball possessing character in the ball game. Information for causing the apparatus to function may be included so that the operation capability is changed only when belonging.

  According to the eleventh aspect, when the character belonging to the opponent team of the ball-owning character satisfies the position condition, the movement ability of the ball-owning character is changed. In other words, even if the characters belonging to the team of the team satisfy the position condition, the movement ability of the ball-owning character is not changed, and therefore, the character's actions during the offense and defense can be clearly distinguished.

  There are various types of movement abilities of the ball possessing character. For example, as the twelfth invention, in the game information of any of the sixth to eleventh inventions, the movement ability changing means may Information for causing the device to function so as to change at least one of the character's ability to shoot, pass, jump, and dribble may be included.

  Further, as a thirteenth invention, in the game information of any one of the first to twelfth inventions, information for causing the device to function a look-out action means for causing the ball-owning character to look around the surroundings, The position determination means may include information for causing the device to function so that the position condition is determined when the ball-owning character performs an action to look around.

  According to the thirteenth invention, the ball possessing character is caused to perform an action of looking around the virtual space. Then, the position condition is determined when the ball-owning character performs an overlooking action. In other words, the position determination is performed in response to an action overlooked by the ball-owning character. For example, in a basketball game, a pass destination may be determined by looking around. In such a game, it is possible to determine whether or not to change the movement ability based on the position condition when looking around, and to determine the change amount of the movement ability.

  Further, as a fourteenth invention, in the game information of any one of the first to thirteenth inventions, the movement ability changing means determines a change amount of movement ability according to a remaining time or a point difference in the ball game. May include information for causing the apparatus to function.

  According to the fourteenth aspect, it is possible to determine the amount of change in the performance according to the remaining time or point difference in the game. Therefore, it is possible to express both a psychological action based on the positional relationship between characters and a psychological action based on the progress of the game, such as time and point difference, by a change in movement ability.

  According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the game information according to any one of the first to fourteenth aspects, the apparatus further includes facial expression changing means for changing the facial expression of the ball possessing character when the position condition is satisfied. It is good also as including the information for making it function.

  Here, the expression means not only the face, face color, sweat, but also gestures.

  According to the fifteenth aspect, it is possible to change the facial expression of the ball possessing character when the position condition is satisfied. For example, expressions such as making the face color of the ball-owning character worse, sweating near the forehead or the head, or being scared. As a result, it is possible to visually express the impatience and sway of the ball-owning character and to indirectly notify the player of changes in the performance ability.

  According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the game information of any one of the first to fifteenth aspects, a display range changing means for changing the image display range of the virtual space based on the viewpoint when the position condition is satisfied ( For example, the viewpoint control unit 228 shown in FIG. 7; the viewpoint control process shown in FIG. 17) may include information for causing the apparatus to function.

  According to the sixteenth aspect, the image display range of the virtual space is changed when the position condition is satisfied. For example, when the position condition is not satisfied, the entire court in the ball game is displayed, and when the position condition is satisfied, the image display range is changed such that the expression is focused on the character that satisfies the position condition. As a result, not only can the character's psychology when the position condition is satisfied be expressed by a change in movement ability, but it can also be expressed subjectively by changing the display state.

  Further, as a seventeenth invention, in the game information of the sixteenth invention, the display range changing means is a distance between the ball possessing character and another character satisfying the position condition, the number of other characters satisfying the position condition, And information for causing the apparatus to function so as to determine the change amount of the image display range based on at least one of the elapsed time satisfying the position condition.

  According to the seventeenth aspect, the display range of the image is changed according to the distance between the ball-owning character and another character that satisfies the position condition, the number of other characters that satisfy the position condition, and the time. Therefore, for example, it is possible to subjectively express the anxiety and tension of the ball-owning character due to the approach of the defense or the increase in the number of defenses by changing the display state.

  A plurality of methods can be considered as a method for changing the image display range. For example, in the game information of the sixteenth or seventeenth invention, for example, in the eighteenth invention, the display range changing means has a viewpoint for the ball possessing character. Information for causing the apparatus to function so as to change the image display range by performing at least one of the following: changing the distance, changing the viewing angle of the viewpoint, and blurring the surroundings of the ball-owning character It may be included.

  As a nineteenth invention, the game information of any one of the first to eighteenth inventions may be stored in an information storage medium.

  As described above, according to the game information of the present invention, the positional relationship between the character having the ball and the other character is determined, and when there is a character that satisfies the positional condition, the movement ability of the character is determined. To change. Therefore, it becomes possible to express the psychological change of the character accompanying the positional relationship between the characters by changing the movement ability.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  Hereinafter, a case where a basketball game is executed by a home game device will be described as an example. However, application of the present invention is not necessarily limited to the following case.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a home game device 1. According to the figure, the game apparatus 1 has a configuration in which a display 2, game controllers 3 and 4 and the like are detachable. The processing system of the game apparatus 1 generates an image based on information such as the system program and the game program 420 and signals input from the game controllers 3 and 4 and displays the image on the display 2. Further, the system program, the game program 420, 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 apparatus 1, which are information storage media detachably attached to the game apparatus 1. Information necessary for realizing the form is stored.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the game image 10 of the basketball game in the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, in the game image 10, a basketball court 12 set in a virtual space, a plurality of player characters 14a, 14b, 14c,... And a score 16 are displayed. Each player character belongs to either team A or team B, and clearly indicates the team to which the team belongs by the color or pattern of the uniform.

  The player enjoys the basketball game by operating the game controllers 3 and 4 while watching the game image displayed on the display 2. However, in this embodiment, the number of characters that can be instructed by the game controllers 3 and 4 is always one. That is, the player selects a character to be operated from among the characters belonging to one team appearing in the game during the game execution, and inputs an operation instruction by the game controllers 3 and 4. For example, when the character selected as the operation target has a ball, the player instructs the game controllers 3 and 4 to perform actions such as shooting, jumping, passing, and dribbling, and the character selected as the operation target is the defense side. In this case, an instruction is given for operations such as obstructing the opponent character's pass, cutting the ball, blocking, and marking the opponent character. Note that characters other than the character to be operated by the player are automatically controlled by the processing system of the game apparatus 1. Hereinafter, the character operated by the player is referred to as an operation character.

  On the other hand, the processing system of the game apparatus 1 controls the movement of each character based on instructions included from the game controllers 3 and 4 and information included in the game program. Then, based on a virtual camera (hereinafter referred to as viewpoint) set in the virtual space, an image of the virtual space including each character is generated and displayed on the display 2.

  By the way, the feature of the game apparatus 1 in the present embodiment is that the ability of the character that owns the ball is changed in accordance with the positional relationship between the character that owns the ball and other characters. Specifically, when a character belonging to the opponent team approaches the character that owns the ball, the movement ability of the character that owns the ball is changed. As a result, it is possible to express the psychology of the character upset by being marked, and to increase the game strategy means in the basketball game, thereby producing a more realistic game.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the game image 20 in the present embodiment, and is an example of an image immediately before a black uniform character 22 (hereinafter referred to as a black character) performs a shot. That is, the black character 22 owns the ball 26. In the figure, there is no white uniform character 24 (hereinafter referred to as a white character) as an opponent in the vicinity of the black character 22, that is, a position sufficiently close to obstructing the shot of the black character 22. . In such a case, the processing system of the game apparatus 1 in the present embodiment causes the black character 22 to perform a shot by exhibiting the preset motion ability.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the game image 30 in the present embodiment, and is an image example when the white character 32 is dribbling. That is, the character that owns the ball 36 is the white character 32. According to the figure, the black character 34 exists near the white character 32, that is, at a position sufficiently close to obstruct the dribbling of the white character 32. In such a case, the processing system of the game apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment reduces the motion ability of the white character 32, for example, slows the dribble speed or lowers the success probability of the pass, and thereby the white character 32. Express the upset of the heart.

  However, in this embodiment, even when the character that is the opponent exists near the character that owns the ball, the character that is the opponent exists behind the character that owns the ball. Then, the movement is performed without degrading the movement ability of the character who owns the ball. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the game image 40 in the present embodiment, and is an image example in which the white character 42 is dribbling. That is, the white character 42 owns the ball 46. According to the figure, the black character 44 as an opponent exists near the white character 42, but the black character 44 is located behind the white character 42. Therefore, the processing system of the game apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment continues the movement without reducing the movement ability of the white character 42.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the character selected as the operation target by the player owns the ball, the position of the viewpoint and the line of sight in the horizontal direction are determined according to the positional relationship between the operation character and the opponent character. The orientation and depression angle are automatically changed. Specifically, when the operation character owns the ball and there is a character that is the opponent in the vicinity of the position of the operation character, the viewpoint position is brought closer to the operation character, and the visibility of the virtual space becomes worse Like that. According to such an effect, not only can the motion of the operation character that owns the ball be expressed as a result of the action, but it can also be expressed subjectively by making it difficult to see the surroundings.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when the black character 34 exists in the vicinity of the white character 32 being dribbling, if the white character 32 is an operation character, the viewpoint is brought close to the position of the white character 32. At the same time, the line of sight is directed toward the white character 32. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the game image 50 when the image is generated with the viewpoint approaching the white character 32 and the line of sight directed toward the white character 32 in the state illustrated in FIG. 4. According to FIG. 6, only the white character 32 and the black character 34 that face each other are displayed in the game image 50, and the player cannot overlook the basketball court widely. Therefore, it is possible to subjectively express the anxiety of the operation character whose surroundings cannot be seen due to being marked, and also to cause anxiety of the player who executes the game to experience a sense of reality.

  Hereinafter, the character that owns the ball is referred to as a ball-owning character. Further, the team to which the ball-owning character belongs is called a teammate, the opponent team is called the opponent team, and the character belonging to the opponent team is called the opponent character.

  Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described in detail.

  First, the functional structure of the game apparatus 1 in the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks of the game apparatus 1. As shown in the figure, the game apparatus 1 includes a processing unit 200, an input unit 100, a display unit 300, an information storage medium 400, and a temporary storage unit 500.

  The processing unit 200 proceeds with the basketball game based on the control of the entire system, the instruction of instructions to each function unit in the system, the operation signal input from the input unit 100 and the game program 420 stored in the information storage medium 400. To perform various processes such as image processing, image processing, sound processing, etc., and its functions are based on various processors (CPU, DSP, etc.), hardware such as ASIC (gate array, etc.), or a given program realizable. The processing unit 200 mainly includes a game calculation unit 220 and an image generation unit 240. The processing unit 200 causes the game calculation unit 220 to execute a process according to an operation signal input from the input unit 100. The image generation unit 240 generates an image based on the above.

  The game calculation unit 220 is a process for setting screens for various selections in the game, a process for progressing the basketball game, a process for determining the coordinates, orientation, posture, action, etc. of each character, ball, object, etc. existing in the virtual space, Various game processes such as a process for determining a character (that is, an operation character) to be operated by the player and a process for determining the position and orientation of the viewpoint are executed for each frame. These processes are executed based on an operation signal input from the input unit 100 and a game calculation program 422 stored in the information storage medium 400.

  In addition, the game calculation unit 220 in this embodiment mainly includes a position condition determination unit 222, an ability change unit 224, an operation control unit 226, and a viewpoint control unit 228, and is stored in the information storage medium 400. Each unit is caused to function based on the game calculation program 422.

  The image generation unit 240 executes a process for generating a game image for each frame in real time based on the information determined by the game calculation unit 220, and includes a CPU, a DSP, an image generation dedicated IC, a memory, and the like. Consists of hardware. Specifically, the image generation unit 240 performs processing for determining the view volume in the virtual space by performing forward / backward clipping, processing for converting the coordinates of each character or object based on the viewpoint, and processing in the three-dimensional virtual space. A process of converting coordinates from the coordinate system to the two-dimensional coordinate system based on the viewpoint is executed for each frame to generate a game image. Then, the generated game image is stored in a temporary storage unit 500 (for example, a frame buffer). The processing unit 200 outputs and displays the game image stored in the temporary storage unit 500 on the display unit 300 at a necessary timing (for example, at an interval of one frame).

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

  The display unit 300 is a functional unit corresponding to the display 2 shown in FIG. 1, and sequentially reads and displays game images stored in the temporary storage unit 500 in accordance with instructions input from the processing unit 200. 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 system programs and data related to driving of the game apparatus 1 in the present embodiment, game programs necessary for realizing a basketball game, and the like, and includes a CD-ROM, MO, DVD, memory, and the like. It can be realized by hardware such as a hard disk. The game program 420 includes a game calculation program 422 and an image generation program 424.

  The game calculation program 422 includes a game scenario, model information of each character, information of each object arranged in the virtual space, information for operating each object or character in accordance with an operation signal input from the input unit 100, basketball Information for calculating the score of the game, information for timing the game time, information on eigenvalues that determine the movement ability of each character, and the like are included. Furthermore, information for operating the position condition determination unit 222 included in the game calculation unit 220 (information for realizing a position determination process described later), information for operating the ability change unit 224 and the operation control unit 226 ( Information for realizing operation control processing described later), information for causing the viewpoint control unit 228 to function (information for realizing viewpoint control processing described later), and the like.

  The image generation program 424 includes a program for the image generation unit 240 to generate a game image for each frame based on the processing result by the game calculation unit 220. For example, information for realizing the process of converting the coordinates of an object or character in the virtual space to a coordinate system based on the viewpoint position, or the process for converting from a three-dimensional coordinate system based on the viewpoint to a two-dimensional coordinate system Information to do.

  The temporary storage unit 500 is a storage unit used as a work area of the processing unit 200. The temporary storage unit 500 stores calculation results from the processing unit 200, operation information input from the input unit 100, data and programs read from the information storage medium 400, and the like. It is a functional unit that temporarily stores. Specifically, each character's coordinates, orientation, action contents, and attributes (for example, whether the team belongs and whether the ball is owned), the elapsed time measured from the start of the basketball game, Or the image information generated by the processing unit 200 is stored. The temporary storage unit 500 is realized by hardware such as RAM or VRAM.

  Hereinafter, each functional unit included in the game calculation unit 220 will be described in detail.

  In the following, the coordinate system in the virtual space including the basketball court is referred to as a world coordinate system and is represented by (X, Y, Z). The world coordinate system is set so that the vertical direction of the virtual space is indicated by the Y axis, and the positive direction of the Y axis indicates the vertical upward direction in the virtual space. A plane coordinate system perpendicular to the Y axis is referred to as a horizontal coordinate system and is represented by (X, Z).

  First, the position condition determination unit 222 will be described.

  The position condition determination unit 222 is a functional unit that determines the positional relationship between characters and determines whether or not the movement ability of the ball-owning character is changed. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the positional relationship between the ball-owning character and its opponent character satisfies the positional condition. When there is an opponent character that satisfies the position condition, the number n is counted and updated and stored in the temporary storage unit 500 each time.

  FIG. 8A is a diagram for explaining an example of the position condition, and is a plan view of the basketball court in the virtual space. In the figure, a point 70 indicates the position of the ball possessing character in the virtual space. In the following, the position of each character in the virtual space is represented by one point, and that point is referred to as a representative point. That is, the point 70 represents a representative point of the ball possessing character. An arrow 72 starting from the representative point 70 indicates the direction vector of the ball possessing character in the horizontal coordinate system. That is, the ball possessing character faces the direction of the arrow 72 in the virtual space shown in FIG.

In the position determination, the position condition determination unit 222 first determines whether or not the opponent character exists in the determination range 74 near the position of the ball-owning character. The determination range 74 is a range corresponding to the hatched portion shown in FIG. 8A and means a fan portion having a radius R _C centered on the ball possessing character. That is, the position condition determination unit 222 determines whether or not the opponent character is present in a circle area having a radius R _C centered on the representative point 70 of the ball-owning character. It is determined whether or not it exists behind the owned character. Specifically, in the circular region having the radius R _C centered on the representative point of the ball-owning character, the arc center angle θ having the position of the direction vector 72 as one end is (−θ _C ≦ θ ≦ θ _C ). It is determined whether or not the opponent character exists in the range to be satisfied (FIG. 8B).

In other words, the position condition determination unit 222 determines, as a position condition, 1) whether or not a character exists in a circular area having a radius R _C centered on the representative point of the ball-owning character, and 2) condition 1) with the ball-owning character. Whether the angle formed by the straight line connecting the character satisfying the condition and the direction vector is within a predetermined angle range (−θ _C ≦ θ ≦ θ _C ), or 3) a character satisfying the above conditions 1) and 2) It is determined whether or not it is a partner character.

  Further, when there are a plurality of characters satisfying the position conditions 1) to 3), the position condition determination unit 222 counts the number n. The counted result is temporarily stored in the temporary storage unit 500.

  Below, the position determination process by the position condition determination part 222 is demonstrated using the flowchart shown in FIG. The following processing may be performed for each frame, may be performed for each predetermined period, or may be performed immediately before the ball-owning character performs an action. Here, the action means an action of the character during a so-called offense such as a shot, a pass, a dribble, or a jump.

  First, the position condition determination unit 222 determines the coordinates of each character (that is, the coordinates of representative points) in the horizontal coordinate system. At the same time, the ownership of the ball is determined. In other words, it determines which of the characters appearing in the running basketball game is the ball possessing character. Then, attribute data 520 in which each character is associated with its attributes (for example, coordinates in the horizontal coordinate system, presence / absence of a ball, team belonging, etc.) is generated and updated and stored in the temporary storage unit 500 (step S1).

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the storage format of the attribute data 520. According to the figure, in the attribute data 520, the identification code of each character, the coordinates in the horizontal coordinate system, the identification code of the belonging team, and the possession / non-use of the ball are stored in association with each other.

  Next, the position condition determining unit 222 extracts information on the character that owns the ball from the attribute data 520 generated in step S1 (step S2), and determines the team to which the character (that is, the ball-owning character) belongs. (Step S3). Specifically, from the attribute data 520, the character code, the coordinate information, and the team code to which the code indicating “owning” the ball is attached are read. Based on the team code read from the attribute data 520, the team to which the ball possessing character belongs is determined. According to the attribute data 520 shown in FIG. 10, there are a character belonging to Team A and a character belonging to Team B. Therefore, here, the position condition determination unit 222 determines whether the ball possessing character read from the attribute data 520 belongs to Team A or Team B.

  When the team to which the ball-owning character belongs is determined in step S3, the character codes and coordinate information of all opponent characters belonging to the opponent team are read from the attribute data 520. For example, when the ball possessing character belongs to the A team, the information of the character belonging to the B team is read from the attribute data 520 (step S4). On the other hand, if the ball-owning character belongs to Team B, information on the character belonging to Team A is read from attribute data 520 (step S5).

Next, the position condition determination unit 222 sets a variable n for counting the number of opponent characters that satisfy the position condition to zero (step S6). Then, an unprocessed opponent character is selected from the opponent characters read in step S4 or S5 (step S7), and a distance r from the ball possessing character is calculated (step S8). Specifically, the distance r is calculated from the coordinates (X _BAL , Z _BAL ) of the representative point of the ball-owning character in the horizontal coordinate system and the coordinates (X _M , Z _M ) of the representative point of the selected opponent character.

r = √ ((X _BAL -X _M ) ² + (Z _BAL -Z _M ) ² ) (1)
Further, the position condition determination unit 222 determines whether or not the distance r calculated in step S8 is smaller than the predetermined length R _C (r ≦ R _C ) (step S9). That is, it is determined whether or not the character selected in step S7 is within a circle having a radius _RC centered on the representative point of the ball-owning character. When the calculated distance r is longer than the predetermined length R _C (r> R _C ), the process proceeds to step S13, and the process proceeds to the next opponent character. That is, it is determined whether or not there is an unprocessed opponent character among the opponent characters read in step S4 or S5.

If the condition (r ≦ R _C ) is satisfied in step S9, the angle θ formed by the line segment connecting the opponent character selected in step S7 and the ball-owning character and the direction vector of the ball-owning character is calculated. (Step S10). Specifically, the unit vector U of the line segment connecting the representative point of the selected opponent character and the representative point of the ball-owning character is calculated (however, the representative point of the ball-owning character is the starting point), and the ball-owning character The angle θ formed by the inner product (U · D) and the outer product (U × D) with the direction vector D is calculated.

θ = tan ⁻¹ {| U × D | / (U · D)} (2)
Here, | U × D | means a scalar of outer product U × D.

Subsequently, the position condition determination unit 222 determines whether or not the angle θ calculated in step S10 satisfies the condition (−θ _C ≦ θ ≦ θ _C ) (step S11). That is, it is determined whether or not the opponent character selected in step S7 exists in the hatched area 74 shown in FIG. At this time, if the formed angle θ does not satisfy the condition (−θ _C ≦ θ ≦ θ _C ), the process proceeds to step S13, and the unprocessed opponent character among the opponent characters read in step S4 or S5. It is determined whether or not exists. On the other hand, when the angle θ formed in step S11 satisfies the condition (−θ _C ≦ θ ≦ θ _C ), 1 is added to the variable n for counting the number of opponent characters that satisfy the position condition (step S12). ). Then, the process proceeds to the next opponent character. That is, it is determined whether or not there is an unprocessed opponent character among the opponent characters extracted in step S4 or S5 (step S13).

  If it is determined in step S13 that there is an unprocessed opponent character among the opponent characters read from the attribute data 520 in step S4 or S5, the process returns to step S7 and the process is repeated. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S13 that the processing has been completed for all of the selected opponent characters, the counted value n is stored in the temporary storage unit 500, and this processing is terminated.

  As described above, the position condition determination unit 222 determines the positional relationship between the ball possessing character and the opponent character in the virtual space, and determines the presence or absence of the opponent character that satisfies the position condition. If there is an opponent character that satisfies the position condition, the number is counted and updated and stored in the temporary storage unit 500.

Note that the determination range for determining the positional relationship between the ball-owning character and the opponent character need not be limited to the shape shown by the hatched portion 74 shown in FIG. 8, and may be another shape. Further, the value of the radius R _C and the threshold value θ _C may be changed as the game time elapses, or may be set to be different for each character. In addition, the distance r and the angle θ between the characters do not necessarily have to be calculated using the formulas (1) and (2), but may be obtained by table format data or other calculation methods. is there.

  Next, the ability changing unit 224 will be described.

  The ability changing unit 224 is a functional unit that executes a process for changing the movement ability of the ball possessing character in accordance with the number n of opponent characters that satisfy the position condition.

  In this embodiment, the movement ability (or movement itself) of the ball-owning character is determined based on a unique value (= constant) unique to each character. However, when there is a character that satisfies the above positional conditions 1) to 3), the motion ability is changed by multiplying the eigenvalue by a numerical value η that varies according to the number n of the opponent characters. In other words, the ability changing unit 224 performs a process for changing the eigenvalue of each character from a default value (a preset value), that is, a process for calculating a value η that changes according to the value of the number n. Further, in the present embodiment, the value of the numerical value η is changed so that the movement ability of the ball possessing character decreases as the number n of opponent characters that satisfy the position condition increases. Hereinafter, the value η is referred to as a change coefficient η.

The eigenvalue is a numerical value such as a moving speed v _{D in} dribbling, a height h in jump, a target aiming range ΔV in a shot or a pass, and a success probability C of a special technique (for example, dunk shot). The aiming area ΔV is a value indicating the possibility of causing the ball to reach the target position, the details of which will be described later. The larger the eigenvalue ΔV, the more inaccurate the chute or the path, and the smaller the target position, the target position. Indicates that there is a high probability of throwing the ball accurately.

In order to reduce the movement ability of the ball possessing character as the number n of opponent characters that satisfy the position condition increases, the change function η decreases with a decrease in n (where n ≧ 0). And always satisfy η> 0). For example, using an exponential function,
η (n) = exp {−αn} (3)
And so on. Here, α is a constant satisfying 0 <α <1, and the constant α reduces the rapid decrease of the change coefficient η accompanying the change of the variable n. According to the equation (3), η = 1 when n = 0. The reason for using such a function is to allow the character who owns the ball to exert a preliminarily given action ability when there is no opponent character that satisfies the position condition. For example, if the dribble speed v _D is a preset moving speed and is multiplied by η shown in Equation (3) (v _D η), if n ≠ 0, then η <1, v _D > v _D η and the moving speed during dribbling is reduced. If n = 0, η = 1, so v _D = v _D η, and a preset dribbling speed can be exhibited.

  However, the method for determining the change coefficient η need not be limited to the method of determining by the function η (n) with n as a variable. For example, it may be determined using data in a table format in which the value of n is associated with the value of η in advance. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the correspondence table 440 between n and η. When the correspondence table 440 is used, the ability changing unit 224 reads the value of the change coefficient η corresponding to the numerical value from the correspondence table 440 when the position condition determining unit 222 determines the number n of opponent characters.

  Next, the operation control unit 226 will be described.

  The motion control unit 226 is a functional unit that controls the motion of the ball-owning character based on the change coefficient η determined by the ability changing unit 224 and the eigenvalues that determine each action ability.

  Hereinafter, some examples of the method for changing the operation capability will be described.

  There are several types of actions of the ball-owning character, that is, the action of the character on the offense side, but here, jumping, dribbling, general shooting, passing, special techniques (for example, dunk shooting, etc.) Explained as an example.

  First, jumping and dribbling will be described.

In this embodiment, the eigenvalue characterizing the jump ability is the height h of the vertex at the time of jump, and the eigenvalue characterizing the dribble ability is the moving speed v _V at the time of dribbling. That is, as the eigenvalue h is large, the character having the eigenvalues h can jump higher, as the eigenvalue v _V is large, the character can move in the virtual space at a high speed while dribbling with the eigenvalues v _V. Therefore, for example, when causing the ball possessing character to execute the jump, the motion control unit 226 reads the eigenvalue h of the character from the information storage medium 400 and determines the height of the vertex at the time of the jump. Alternatively, when executing a dribble the ball possessing character is the eigenvalue v _D character is read from the information storage medium 400 to determine the moving speed during dribbling according.

However the operation controller 226, when executing a jump or dribble the ball possessing character, eigenvalues h read from the information storage medium 400, v instead of directly using _D, and η changes coefficients determined by the capacity changing unit 224 Use by multiplying. The change coefficient η is a value that decreases as the number n of opponent characters increases. Therefore, when the change coefficient η is multiplied by the eigenvalues h and v _D , if n> 0, the height at the time of jump becomes low, and the moving speed at the time of dribbling becomes slow. On the other hand, when there is no opponent character that satisfies the position condition (n = 0), since η = 1, the original jump force and dribble speed possessed by the ball possessing character can be exhibited.

  Next, the chute and the path will be described.

  As the eigenvalue characterizing the ability of the chute and the path, the aiming area ΔV is used in the present embodiment as described above. This numerical value indicates the range in the virtual space, and specifically indicates the volume (ΔV = 2ΔX × 2ΔY × 2ΔZ) in the world coordinate diameter.

  By the way, when a shot or a pass is executed, the target arrival position of the ball is determined in advance. For example, in the case of a shot, the target arrival position is set right above the goal of the opponent team, and in the case of a pass, the representative point position of the character at the pass destination is set as the target arrival position. Therefore, in this embodiment, when a shot or pass is executed, the target arrival position of the ball is first determined, and the range of the aiming area ΔV centering on the target arrival position is set as the “selection range” of the position where the ball reaches. Set to coordinate system. Then, the arrival position of the ball is determined by a random number from the selection range set in the world coordinate system, the trajectory of the ball is determined based on the determined arrival position of the ball and the position of the ball owning character, Move.

For example, when causing the ball-owning character to execute a shot, the motion control unit 226 uses the coordinates (X _G , Y _G , Z _G ) immediately above the goal of the opponent team and the aiming area (ΔX) set for each character. , ΔY, ΔZ) are read from the information storage medium 400 to determine the selection range.

(X _G −ΔX ≦ X ≦ X _G + ΔX)
(Y _G −ΔY ≦ Y ≦ Y _G + ΔY)
(Z _G −ΔZ ≦ Z ≦ Z _G + ΔZ)
This selection range indicates the range of the aiming area ΔV centered on the coordinates (X _G , Y _G , Z _G ) immediately above the goal. Then, the reaching position of the ball is determined by a random number from the determined selection range.

  FIG. 12 is a plan view of the court 60 in the virtual space, and shows an example of the selection range of the ball arrival position. According to the figure, the plane (2ΔX × 2ΔZ) of the selection range 52 is a wider range than the reach range where the ball reliably reaches the goal. If the arrival position is determined by a random number from such a selection range, there is a possibility that a position other than the position where the goal is surely selected. In other words, the smaller the aiming area ΔV, the higher the possibility that the ball will be goaled. Conversely, the larger the aiming area ΔV, the lower the possibility that the ball will be goald.

  However, the operation control unit 226 does not directly use the value of the aiming area ΔV read from the information storage medium 400 as the eigenvalue of the path or chute, but changes the aiming area ΔV by the change coefficient η determined by the ability changing unit 224. Use it. Specifically, the operation control unit 226 multiplies each component (ΔX, ΔY, ΔZ) of the aiming range ΔV by the reciprocal (1 / η) of the change coefficient η. That is, as the number n of opponent characters increases, the reciprocal (1 / η) of the change coefficient increases, the range of the aiming area ΔV increases, and the certainty of the shot or pass decreases. However, when there is no opponent character that satisfies the position condition, that is, when n = 0, η = 1, so that a shot or pass can be realized in the original aiming area ΔV of the ball possessing character.

  Next, a special technique such as dunk shot will be described.

  For a special technique, the eigenvalue that determines the movement ability is defined by the success probability C of the movement. That is, the success or failure of the operation is determined by the success probability C. For example, when the success probability C is 30% for the special skill A, a random number ξ is generated from values of 1 or more and less than 100, and is the obtained random number ξ included in the numerical range of 1 or more and less than 30? Determine whether or not. If included, the special technique is executed so as to succeed, and if not included, the special technique is executed so as to fail.

  Specifically, when an instruction to execute a special technique is input to the ball possessing character, the motion control unit 226 reads the eigenvalue C of the special technique from the information storage medium 400 and determines whether or not to execute the special technique. However, the operation control unit 226 does not use the read value of the eigenvalue C as it is, but multiplies the eigenvalue C by the value of the change coefficient η calculated by the ability change unit 224. Since the change coefficient η is a value that decreases as the number n of partner characters increases, the success probability decreases as the number n of partner characters increases when the eigenvalue C is multiplied. On the other hand, when there is no opponent character that satisfies the position condition (n = 0), since η = 1, the success or failure of the special technique is determined by the success probability inherent in the ball possessing character. .

  Hereinafter, the operation control process by the capability changing unit 224 and the operation control unit 226 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The action control process is a process for controlling the action of the ball possessing character. The motion control process described below is repeatedly executed each time a character motion execution instruction is input from the input unit 100.

  In the action control process, when the character is caused to move according to a processing result based on the game program 420 or an input instruction from the input unit 100 (step S20), the attribute data 520 generated by the position condition determining unit 222 (FIG. Based on 10), it is determined whether or not the character concerned is a ball possessing character (step S21). If it is not a ball-owning character, this process is terminated, and the character is caused to perform an action as usual.

  When it is a ball possessing character (step S21; Y), the ability changing unit 224 calculates a change coefficient η (step S22). More precisely, the ability change unit 224 reads the number n of the opponent characters stored in the temporary storage unit 500 by the position determination process of FIG. 9 and calculates the change coefficient η.

  Next, the motion control unit 226 determines the content of the motion to be executed by the ball possessing character according to the processing result based on the game program 420 or the instruction content input from the input unit 100 (step S23).

If it is determined in step S23 that jump or dribble is to be executed, the eigenvalue corresponding to the operation is read from the information storage medium 400 (step S24). For example, when the jump is executed, the eigenvalue h of the jump power of the corresponding character is read out. Alternatively, in the case of dribbling, the eigenvalue v _D of the dribbling speed of the corresponding character is read out. Then, the operating ability is determined by multiplying the read eigenvalue by the change coefficient η determined in step S22 (step S25). For example, when jumping, the eigenvalue h is multiplied by the change coefficient η to determine the height of the vertex at the time of jump, and when dribbling is performed, the eigenvalue v _D is multiplied by the change coefficient η to move at the time of dribbling. Determine the speed. The motion control unit 226 causes the ball-owning character to perform a motion based on the determined value (step S26).

  If it is determined in step S23 that the shoot or pass is to be executed, the eigenvalue ΔV of the shoot or pass is read from the information storage medium 400 among the eigenvalues corresponding to the character who owns the ball (step S27). Further, using the reciprocal (1 / η) of the change coefficient η determined by the ability changing unit 224 in step S22 and the eigenvalue (sighting area) ΔV, the value of the aiming area of the path or shoot is changed (step S28). Specifically, each component (ΔX, ΔY, ΔZ) constituting the eigenvalue ΔV is multiplied by an inverse (1 / η).

Next, the motion control unit 226 determines the target arrival position of the ball (step S29). For example, when the ball possessing character is to shoot, the position directly above the goal (X _G , Y _G , Z _G ) of the opponent team is the target arrival position, and when the pass is made, the representative point of the pass destination character The coordinates (X _P , Y _P , Z _P ) are set as the target arrival position. Further, the selection range is determined using the aiming area (ΔX, ΔY, ΔZ) changed in step S28 so that the target arrival position becomes the center point (step S30).

  When the selection range is determined, the motion control unit 226 generates a random number to determine the ball arrival position from the selection range (step S31). Further, the ball trajectory is determined from the determined arrival position and the coordinates of the representative point of the ball possessing character (step S32), and the ball is moved.

  If it is determined in step S23 that the special technique is to be executed, among the eigenvalues corresponding to the character that owns the ball, the eigenvalue C of the special technique is read from the information storage medium 400 (step S33). Then, the eigenvalue C is multiplied by the change coefficient η determined in step S22 to determine the success probability of the special technique (step S34). Next, the operation control unit 226 performs processing for generating a random number and determining success or failure of the special technique based on the random number and the success probability (step S35). If successful (step S36; Y), the ball possessing character is caused to execute the special technique to succeed (step S37), and if failed (step S36; N), the special skill is failed to the ball possessing character. (Step S38).

  Now, when the process related to the operation determined in step S23 is finished, this process is finished.

  As described above, the ability changing unit 224 calculates the change coefficient η based on the number n of opponent characters that satisfy the position condition, and the motion control unit 226 uses the eigenvalue predetermined for each character and the change coefficient η. Based on the above, the movement ability of the ball possessing character, execution success or failure, etc. are determined.

  By the way, according to the above description, the eigenvalue unique to each character is used as an amount for determining the movement ability, and the eigenvalue is described as being constant. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the amount that determines the movement ability may be a value that changes according to the elapsed time of the game or the distance between the character and an arbitrary object. For example, the movement ability may be determined by a value that changes according to the distance between the object such as a ball or a goal and the character.

  Alternatively, the parameters (ΔX, ΔY, ΔZ) that characterize the pass ability may be values that change according to the distance L between the ball possessing character and the pass destination character. For example, the value of each parameter (ΔX, ΔY, ΔZ) may be small when the ball possessing character and the pass destination character are close, and the value of each parameter (ΔX, ΔY, ΔZ) may be large when the character is far away. Even in such a case, the operation capability can be changed by multiplying each parameter by a change coefficient (1 / η).

  Next, the viewpoint control unit 228 will be described.

  The viewpoint control unit 228 is a functional unit that determines the position and orientation (that is, the line-of-sight direction) of the viewpoint during game execution for each frame.

  In the present embodiment, when the following two conditions are satisfied, the viewpoint is approached to the character who owns the ball.

      Condition a. The operation character is a ball possessing character.

      Condition b. There is an opponent character that satisfies the position conditions 1) to 3).

  First, an example of a method for determining the viewpoint position at normal time, that is, when the above two conditions are not satisfied will be described.

In the following, for the sake of simplicity, the viewing angle τ _O , the viewing angle ω _O , and the height Y _V are fixed at normal times, and the viewing direction in the horizontal coordinate system is parallel to the Z axis. Set as follows.

  FIG. 14 is a plan view of a basketball court 60 (hereinafter simply referred to as a court) in a virtual space. In the figure, end lines 61a and 61b and a center line 62 are set parallel to the Z axis, and side lines 63a and 63b are set parallel to the X axis. That is, the viewpoint moves in parallel in the virtual space so that the line-of-sight direction is always parallel to the end lines 61a and 61b and the center line 62. As described above, the Y axis indicates the vertical upward in the virtual space, and each coordinate axis is set so that the outer product (X × Y) indicates the positive direction of the Z axis.

Under normal conditions, the horizontal coordinate (X _V , Z _V ) of the viewpoint is determined according to the following equation using the horizontal coordinate (X _CH , Z _CH ) of the operation character and the direction vector.

X _V = X _CH + X _O sinφ (4)
Z _V = Z _CH −Z _O (5)
Here, (X _O , Z _O ) is a constant. Φ represents an angle formed by the direction vector of the operation character and the Z axis.

  FIG. 15 is a plan view of the court 60 and is a diagram for explaining the positional relationship between the operation character 82 and the viewpoint 80 based on the equations (4) and (5). In the figure, only the end lines 61a and 61b and the side lines 63a and 63b are shown, and the other lines are omitted.

Now, according to the equation (4), the X coordinate of the viewpoint is in the range of the amplitude X _O around the representative point of the operation character according to the magnitude of the angle φ formed by the direction vector of the operation character and the Z axis. The placement position is determined. For example, when the direction vector is parallel to the Z axis (φ = 0, π), the X coordinate of the viewpoint is equal to X _V = X _CH , that is, the X coordinate of the operation character. When the angle formed by the direction vector and the Z axis is φ = π / 2, X _V = X _CH + X _O , and when φ = −π / 2, X _V = X _CH −X _O. That is, the viewpoint is always arranged in the direction in which the operation character faces. Further, according to the equation (5), the distance between the operation character and the viewpoint in the Z direction is always kept at Z _O (= constant), and the viewpoint is always arranged on one side line 63a side in the court 60. In other words, in normal times, the depth position of the operation character and the orientation of the viewpoint with respect to the viewpoint are always constant, and the operation character is always expressed with the same size on the screen.

Subsequently, an example of the viewpoint arrangement method when the above two conditions a and b are satisfied will be described. However, even when the conditions a and b are satisfied, the values of the viewpoint height Y _V and the viewing angle ω _O are constant.

When the above two conditions a and b are satisfied, that is, when the operation character owns the ball and there is an opponent character that satisfies the position condition, the viewpoint is brought closer to the operation character and the line of sight is changed. Let Specifically, as the number n of partner characters that satisfy the position condition increases, the viewpoint approaches the operation character, and the shortest distance r _MIN among the distances between the partner character that satisfies the position condition and the operation character decreases. To bring the viewpoint closer to the operating character. That is, for the number n and the distance r _MIN , a function ξ (n, r) that decreases as n increases and decreases as r _MIN decreases is calculated and included in equations (4) and (5). Multiply the constants (X _O , Z _O ).

X _V = X _CH + X _O ξsinφ (6)
Z _V = Z _CH −Z _O ξ (7)
Since the function ξ is a function that decreases as the number of opponent characters n increases and decreases as the distance r _MIN decreases, the X and Z coordinates of the viewpoint decrease as r _MIN increases as n increases. As a result, the representative point position of the operation character is approached.

The function ξ may be any function as long as it decreases with increasing n and decreasing r _MIN (or increasing 1 / r _MIN ). May be used.

ξ = exp {− (βn + γ / r _MIN )} (8)
Here, β and γ are positive constants of less than 1, and these constants alleviate sudden changes in values due to changes in n and r _MIN .

The viewpoint control unit 228 also brings the viewpoint position closer to the operation character and directs the viewpoint vector in the horizontal coordinate system toward the operation character. Specifically, the line-of-sight vector may be rotated by τ _Y around the Y axis from the state facing the Z-axis direction.

τ _Y = tan ⁻¹ {−X _O sinφ / Z _O } (9)
Incidentally, the depth position of the operated character for viewpoint Multiplying ξ function as shown in equation (8) to a constant Z _O is changed. Since the function ξ is a decreasing function with respect to n and 1 / r _MIN , the viewpoint increases as the number n of opponent characters that satisfy the position condition increases or as the nearest opponent character approaches the operation character. It will approach the operating character. Here, since the viewpoint height Y _V is constant, if the depression angle τ _O is kept constant, the operation character appears to move downward from the center of the screen as the viewpoint approaches, making it difficult to see the operation character. End up.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for describing a positional relationship between the operation character and the viewpoint in the virtual space and an image example corresponding to the positional relationship. (A) shows the positional relationship between the viewpoint 80 and the operation character 82 and the image example in the normal state. In normal times, the depth Z _O of the operation character 82 is always constant, and the depression angle τ _O is set so that the operation character is located near the center of the screen. However, when the viewpoint 80 approaches the operation character 82 with the depression angle τ _O kept constant, the line of sight of the viewpoint 80 passes above the head of the operation character 82, and the target (that is, the operation character 82) is located near the center of the screen. Will not be displayed (FIG. 16B). Therefore, the depression angle τ is changed so that the line of sight of the viewpoint 80 passes near the height of the representative point of the operation character 82. Specifically, the height of the target (for example, the height of the head or torso of the operation character 82) is set as h, and the distance between the viewpoint and the operation character is calculated as r _{Z according} to the following equation.

τ = tan−1 {(Y _V −h) / r _Z } (10)
In this way, the operation character can be displayed near the center of the screen by changing the depression angle τ according to the positional relationship between the viewpoint 80 and the operation character 82 (FIG. 16C).

Note that the method of determining the value of the coefficient ξ for changing the distance between the operation character and the viewpoint is not only a method of determining by the function of variables n and 1 / r _MIN as shown in Equation (8), Of course, it may be determined based on data in a table format in which the value of n or 1 / r _{MIN and} the value of ξ are associated with each other.

  Next, processing (viewpoint control processing) by the viewpoint control unit 228 will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The viewpoint control unit 228 executes the following process for each frame.

  According to the figure, the viewpoint control unit 228 extracts an operation character from the attribute data 520 generated by the position condition determination unit 222 (step S50). Then, it is determined whether or not the extracted operation character owns the ball (step S51). At this time, if the ball is not owned, the process proceeds to step S53 to determine the normal viewpoint position. In the case of possessing the ball, whether or not there is an opponent character that satisfies the position condition based on the processing result of the position condition determination unit 222, that is, the number n of the opponent characters stored in the temporary storage unit 500 is n = 0. It is determined whether or not (step S52). If there is no opponent character that satisfies the position condition, the process proceeds to step S53 to determine the normal viewpoint position.

In normal times, that is, when the operating character does not own the ball (step S51; N), or when there is no character that satisfies the position condition (step S52; N), the formulas (4) and (5) are used. Then, the horizontal coordinates (X _V , Z _V ) of the viewpoint are determined (step S53). That is, the horizontal coordinate (X _CH , Z _CH ) of the operation character and the angle φ formed by the direction vector and the Z axis are substituted into the equations (4) and (5) to determine the horizontal coordinate of the viewpoint. Next, the image generation unit 240 is based on the preset viewing angle τ _O , viewing angle ω _O , height Y _V , viewing direction of the viewpoint in the horizontal coordinate system, and horizontal coordinates (X _V , Z _V ) of the viewpoint. The image is generated (step S54), and the viewpoint control process in one frame is terminated.

On the other hand, when the operation character owns the ball (step S51; Y) and there is an opponent character that satisfies the position condition (step S52; Y), the viewpoint position is determined based on the processing result of the position condition determination unit 222. Determine as follows. That is, the coefficient ξ is calculated based on the number n of opponent characters that satisfy the position condition and the shortest distance r _MIN among the distances between the opponent character that satisfies the position condition and the operation character (step S55). Next, the calculated horizontal axis (X _V , Z _V ) of the viewpoint is determined by substituting the calculated coefficient ξ into the equations (6) and (7) (step S56). Further, the line-of-sight direction is determined (step S57). The direction of the line of sight in the horizontal coordinate system is determined by equation (9), and the depression angle τ is determined by equation (10). Then, the calculated horizontal coordinate _{(X V, Z V),} ( orientation and depression angle τ of the line of sight in the horizontal coordinate system) viewing direction, viewing angle omega _O preset viewpoint, the image generated based on the height Y _V The unit 240 generates an image (step S58). When the above process ends, the viewpoint control process in one frame ends.

  Next, the hardware configuration of the game apparatus 1 in the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration capable of realizing the present embodiment. According to the figure, in the game apparatus 1, a CPU 600, a RAM 602, a ROM 604, an information storage medium 606, an image generation IC 608, a sound generation IC 610, and I / O ports 612 and 614 can mutually input and output data via a system bus 616. It is connected. A display device 618 is connected to the image generation IC 608, 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 is connected to the I / O port 614. A communication device 624 is connected.

  The ROM 604 stores initialization information of the game apparatus 1 main body, basic information for causing each part of the game apparatus 1 main body to function, and the like. The information storage medium 606 corresponds to the information storage medium 400 in the functional block shown in FIG. 7, and includes image data, sound data, and the like for representing each character or court in the game program 420 or basketball game. Play data and the like are mainly stored. When the present invention is applied to the home game device 1 shown in FIG. 1, a CD-ROM, game cassette, DVD, memory card, or the like is used as an information storage medium for storing the game program 420 and the like. Further, when the present invention is applied to an arcade game device, it can be realized by hardware such as a ROM. In this case, the information storage medium 606 is a ROM 604. When the present invention is realized by a personal computer, a memory such as a CD-ROM, DVD, 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 determination made by the player according to the progress of the game to the device main body.

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

  Further, this type of apparatus is provided with a sound generation IC 610 and an image generation IC 608 so that game sounds and game images can be suitably output. The sound generation IC 610 is an integrated circuit that generates game sounds such as sound effects and background music based on information stored in the information storage medium 606 and the ROM 604, and the generated game sounds are output by the speaker 620. . The image generation IC 608 is an integrated circuit that generates pixel information to be output to the display device 618 based on image information output from the RAM 602, ROM 604, information storage medium 606, and the like. The display device 618 is realized by a CRT, LCD, TV, plasma display, projector, or the like.

  The communication device 624 exchanges various types of information used inside the game device 1 with the outside. The communication device 624 is connected to other game devices 1 to send and receive given information according to the game program 420. Also, it is used for transmitting / receiving information such as the game program 420 via a communication line.

  The various processes described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 17 are information storing programs including programs for performing processes during game execution and replay processing shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 9, 13, and 17. It is realized by a storage medium 606, a CPU 600 that operates according to the program, an image generation IC 608, a sound generation IC 610, and the like. The processing performed by the image generation IC 608, the sound generation IC 610, and the like may be performed by software using the CPU 600 or a general-purpose DSP.

  The present invention may be applied not only to the home game apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 but also to any other form of game apparatus 1. For example, FIG. 19 shows an example in which the present embodiment is applied to a game device including a host device 700 and terminals 704-1 to 704-n connected to the host device 700 via a communication line 702. .

  In the case of the form shown in FIG. 19, the game program 420 or the like stored in the information storage medium 400 shown in FIG. 7 is an information storage medium such as a magnetic disk device, magnetic tape device, or memory that can be controlled by the host device 700, for example. 706. Further, when the terminals 704-1 to 704-n have 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 A game program 420 and the like for generating game images and game sounds are transmitted to the terminals 704-1 to 704-n. On the other hand, if it cannot be generated stand-alone, the host device 700 generates a game image and a game sound, transmits them to the terminals 704-1 to 704-n, and outputs them at the terminals.

  Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 20, the present embodiment may be applied to an arcade game device 800. In this arcade game apparatus 800, a player operates a given character displayed on the display 806 and enjoys a given game by operating the operation button 804 while listening to the sound output from the speaker 802. Device. A system board 808 built in the arcade game apparatus 800 is mounted with a CPU, an image generation IC, a sound generation IC, a RAM, a ROM, a memory 810 that is an information storage medium for storing game information, and the like. The CPU executes the various processes described with reference to FIGS. 9, 13, 17 and the like, thereby realizing a game.

  Subsequently, some modified examples of the present embodiment will be described below.

(1) Modified Example of Method for Changing Motion Ability In the above embodiment, the description has been made assuming that the motion ability is changed under the same conditions for all the characters that own the ball. For example, when the character A owns the ball and when the character B owns the ball, the change rate of the movement ability when the position condition is satisfied is equal. That is, regardless of the character, the eigenvalue of the ball possessing character is multiplied by the change coefficient η calculated by the equation (3). However, it is not necessary to limit to this method. A modification will be described below.

[1] Example in which the amount of change in movement ability differs for each character In the above embodiment, the eigenvalue of the ball possessing character that satisfies the position condition is multiplied by the change coefficient η based on the equation (3). However, the amount of change in the movement ability may be set to be different depending on the character who owns the ball.

  For example, when the change coefficient η is defined by the function of the variable n as shown in Expression (3), the constant α included in the function is set as a value unique to the character. That is, even if the value of n is the same, the value of the change coefficient η obtained by the difference in the value of the coefficient α is set to be different for each character.

Specifically, the character A is set to α _A , the character B is set to α _B ,..., Etc. (however, the constant α satisfies 0 <α <1). . While the game is being executed, the processing system (for example, the ability changing unit 224) of the game apparatus 1 reads the value of the index α corresponding to the character that owns the ball and substitutes it into equation (3) to calculate the change coefficient η. In this way, by setting the amount of change in the movement ability to be different depending on the character who owns the ball, it is possible to produce a character that is strong in normality, a character that is upset when marked by the opponent character, etc. Become.

[2] An example in which the amount of change in the movement ability varies depending on the opponent character In the above embodiment, the change coefficient η based on the equation (3) is applied to the eigenvalue of the ball possessing character regardless of the type of the opponent character that satisfies the position condition. It was decided to multiply. However, the change amount of the movement ability of the ball possessing character may be set differently depending on the opponent character that satisfies the position condition.

For example, the constant alpha _A is the character A, the constant alpha _B is the character B, and the constant alpha _C is a character C ..., sets the constant alpha for each character so on (although constant alpha 0 <alpha Meet). When the character A satisfies the position condition with respect to the ball possessing character, the change coefficient η is
η = exp {−α _A } (11)
Calculated by When the character A and the character B satisfy the position condition, the change coefficient η is
η = exp {− (α _A + α _B )} (12)
Calculated by Thus, by determining the amount of change in the movement ability of the ball-owning character according to the type of the opponent character, it is possible to express the strength and weakness of defense.

[3] An example in which the amount of change in movement ability differs according to the compatibility The amount of change in movement ability of the ball-owning character changes according to the correlation (or compatibility) between the opponent character that satisfies the position condition and the character that owns the ball You may let them. For example, when characters in opposite positions approach each other, or when characters in rivalry approach each other, the amount of change in the movement ability of the ball-owning character is increased, and characters with less correlation approach each other. In this case, the change amount of the movement ability of the ball possessing character is reduced.

  As a specific example, the change coefficient η is calculated as follows.

η = exp {−α} (13)
During the execution of the game, an index value based on the correlation between the opponent character that satisfies the position condition and the ball possessing character is substituted into α included in Expression (13). FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of the correlation table 460 in which the correlation and the index are associated with each other. According to the figure, the index α ₁ when the character that owns the ball and the opponent character that satisfies the position condition are in the same kind position, the index α ₂ when it is rival, and the case where it is uncorrelated The index α ₃ is stored in association with each other.

  The processing system (for example, the position condition determination unit 222) of the game apparatus 1 not only stores the coordinate information of each character and the possession / non-use of the ball in the attribute data 520 shown in FIG. 10, but also identifies the position, rival character, and the like. The code to do is memorized. Further, the processing system (for example, the ability changing unit 224) of the game apparatus 1 determines the position or rival relationship of the opponent character that satisfies the position condition, and reads an appropriate index from the correlation table 460 shown in FIG. Then, the change coefficient η is calculated.

  When there are a plurality of opponent characters that satisfy the position condition, the change coefficient η may be determined by adding an index corresponding to each opponent character as shown below.

η = exp {− (α ₁ + α ₃ + α ₃ + ...)} (14)
Thus, by expressing the correlation between characters, it is possible to enhance the strategy in the basketball game.

[4] An example in which the amount of change in capability varies depending on the content of the operation In the above embodiment, the operation capability is changed by multiplying the eigenvalue by the change coefficient η (or its reciprocal 1 / η) regardless of the content of the operation. Explained. However, it is not necessary to limit to such a method, and it is needless to say that the ratio of changing the operation capability may be changed according to the content of the operation.

For example, as shown in Equation (3), when the change coefficient η is defined by a function having a variable n, a value corresponding to the content of the operation with respect to α included in the function (however, 0 <α <1 ). For example, α _J is used when the ball-owning character performs a jump, α _D when the dribble is executed, α _P when the pass is executed, α _S when the shot is executed, α _S Substituting each into equation (3). As described above, if the value of α corresponding to the operation content is set and substituted into the equation (3), it is possible to express a change in operation capability for each operation.

[5] An example in which the amount of change in movement ability varies depending on the distance between characters In the above embodiment, the movement ability of the ball-owning character is changed according to the number of opponent characters that satisfy the position condition. A configuration may be _adopted in which the amount of change in movement ability is determined based on the shortest distance r _MIN among the distances between the opponent character that satisfies the position condition and the ball possessing character.

Specifically, when there is no opponent character satisfying the position condition, the change coefficient η is set to η = 1, and when there is an opponent character satisfying the position condition, the distance between the opponent character and the ball possessing character is determined. The shortest distance r _MIN is selected from the above, and the change coefficient η is determined by the following equation.

η = exp {−α / r _MIN } (15)
Thus, by changing the movement ability according to the distance r _MIN between the opponent character that satisfies the position condition and the ball possessing character, it is possible to more realistically express the movement of the ball possessing character's mind.

[6] An example in which the amount of change in movement ability varies depending on the point difference of the game In the embodiment described above, the movement ability of the ball-owning character is changed in accordance with the number of opponent characters that satisfy the position condition. On the other hand, the movement ability may be changed according to the point difference of the game.

  For example, when the team to which the ball-owning character belongs is defeated by the opponent team, the movement ability may be reduced, and when the team is winning, the movement ability may be improved from the actual ability. Specifically, for example, when the ball-owning character belongs to Team A and is playing against Team B, when the score of Team A is a and the score of Team B is b, the change coefficient η is Determine according to

η = exp {−αn + (1-b / a)} (16)
However, when the scores a and b are 0, 1 is assigned to a and b, respectively. In Expression (16), if a> b, exp {1-b / a}> 1 is obtained, and the movement ability of the ball possessing character is improved. On the other hand, if a <b, exp {1-b / a} <1 and the movement ability of the ball possessing character decreases.

  Or, conversely, when the team to which the ball-owning character belongs is defeated by the opponent team, the movement ability of the ball-owning character is improved to reduce the point difference, and when the team is winning, the movement ability is reduced. May be.

[8] Example in which the amount of change in movement ability varies depending on the remaining time of the game In the embodiment described above, the movement ability of the ball-owning character is changed in accordance with the number of opponent characters that satisfy the position condition. On the other hand, the operation ability may be changed according to the remaining time of the game.

  For example, when the time limit of the game time is T and the elapsed time t from the start of the game is 0 ≦ t ≦ T / 2, the change coefficient η is calculated by the equation (3), and the elapsed time When t satisfies T / 2 <t ≦ T, the change coefficient is calculated by the following equation.

η = Iexp {−αn} (17)
Here, I is a constant that satisfies 0 <I <1. According to the equation (17), the change coefficient η is always less than 1 due to the constant I, so that the operation capability is lowered. In this way, it is possible to produce a fatigue of the character, a decrease in judgment, and the like by changing the movement ability according to the passage of time.

[9] An example in which the amount of change in the movement ability varies depending on the elapsed time satisfying the position condition In the above embodiment, the movement ability of the ball-owning character is changed according to the number of opponent characters that satisfy the position condition. On the other hand, the movement ability of the ball possessing character may be changed according to the length of time that satisfies the position condition.

  For example, the change coefficient η is defined by the following equation.

η = exp {−φt} (18), or η = J-exp {−φt} (19)
And Here, φ and J are positive constants (where J> 1), and t indicates an elapsed time after the opponent character satisfies the position condition. According to the equation (18), the change coefficient η decreases with the passage of time, and it is possible to produce an effect such that the operation ability gradually differs from the normal time. On the other hand, according to the equation (19), the change coefficient η approaches the value of J as time passes. Therefore, by setting J≈1, it is possible to produce an effect so that the movement ability of the ball possessing character gradually returns to normal as time passes.

  In addition, you may set so that the change amount of action ability may differ according to whether the team to which a ball possession character belongs is a home team or an away team.

  Further, according to the above description, the operation capability is changed by multiplying the eigenvalue that determines the operation capability by the change coefficient η. However, it is not necessary to limit to this method. For example, the movement ability (for example, eigenvalue) and each condition (for example, the number of opponent characters that satisfy the position condition, the distance between the opponent character and the ball possessing character, etc.) are associated with each other. Of course, the operation capability may be determined directly using table format data or the like.

  Further, the case where an exponential function is used as a function for defining the change coefficient η has been described as an example. However, it is needless to say that the function is not limited to this and may be calculated by a linear function or the like.

  In addition, according to the above description, the case where the movement ability of the ball possessing character is lowered according to the presence / absence of the opponent character that satisfies the position condition has been mainly described, but conversely, the movement ability may be set to be improved. Of course it is good.

(2) Modification of viewpoint control method In the above embodiment, when the operation character owns the ball, the position of the viewpoint approaches the operation character according to the distance between the opponent character that satisfies the position condition and the ball possession character. Explained as letting. However, the method is not limited to the above method, and any method may be used as long as the range of the field of view in the virtual space is changed when the position condition is satisfied.

[1] Example of changing viewing angle In the above-described embodiment, the position of the viewpoint in the horizontal coordinate system is determined according to the equations (4) and (5) in the normal state, and the conditions a and b are satisfied (that is, When the operation character owns the ball and there is an opponent character that satisfies the positional condition), the values of the constants (X _O , Z _O ) included in the above formula are changed to bring the viewpoint closer to the operation character It was. However, the viewing angle ω of the viewpoint may be changed without changing the values of the constants (X _O , Z _O ). Here, the viewing angle is an angle formed by the viewpoint with the adjacent vertex in the view window (rectangle), and the horizontal viewing angle and the vertical viewing angle have different sizes.

  In the case of generating an image by performing perspective projection conversion based on the viewpoint, when a view window is set on the projection plane and the size of the view window is constant, changing the viewing angle, Changing the distance from the projection plane (ie, the view window) is equivalent. That is, the viewing angle decreases as the projection plane moves away from the viewpoint, and the viewing angle increases as the projection plane approaches the viewpoint. Therefore, as a method of changing the viewing angle, a method of changing the position of the viewpoint (that is, the depth) based on the position of the projection plane in the virtual space, and a position of the projection plane (the depth) are changed based on the position of the viewpoint. A method can be considered, but the latter case, that is, a case where the position of the projection plane is changed will be described below.

  FIG. 22 is a diagram for explaining an example of changing the viewing angle.

FIG. 22A shows the relationship between the viewpoint 92 and the projection plane 94 in the normal state (that is, when the operation character does not own the ball or when the operation character owns the ball but there is no opponent character that satisfies the position condition). It is a figure which shows a positional relationship. In the figure, a black circle 96 indicates an operation character, and a black triangle 98 indicates an opponent character. In FIG. 22A, only the end lines 61a and 61b and the side lines 63a and 63b in the coat 60 are shown for the sake of simplicity, and the other lines are omitted. Under normal conditions, the line-of-sight direction of the viewpoint 92 in the horizontal coordinate system is parallel to the Z axis, and the distance R between the viewpoint 92 and the projection plane 94 is R _O (= constant). FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram of an image generated based on the viewpoint 92 having the positional relationship shown in FIG. According to FIG. 23, a relatively wide range of virtual space is displayed.

FIG. 22B is a diagram showing an example of the orientation of the viewpoint and the position of the projection plane when the operation character 96 owns the ball and the opponent character 98 satisfies the position condition. In FIG. 22B, the line-of-sight vector of the viewpoint faces the position of the operation character 96, and the distance R between the viewpoint and the projection plane is longer than the distance R _O at the normal time. Therefore, the viewing angle is narrowed and the display range in the virtual space is narrowed. At the same time, the viewpoint height Y _V is lowered. FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram of an image generated based on the viewpoint having the positional relationship shown in FIG. According to FIG. 24, the operation character is enlarged and displayed on the screen, and the height Y _{V of the} viewpoint is lowered, so that a sense of reality and a sense of urgency are further increased.

  Incidentally, the distance R between the viewpoint and the projection plane may be determined according to the distance between the opponent character that satisfies the position condition and the operation character. For example, the viewpoint and the projection plane are set to be farther away as the opponent character and the operation character are closer to each other. According to this setting, as the opponent character and the operation character come closer, the two characters are enlarged and displayed.

[2] Example of blurring around the ball-owning character As a method of changing the range of view, the surroundings of the target may be blurred. Specifically, when the operation character owns the ball and there is a character that satisfies the position condition, the portion other than the range of the radius κ is expressed with the representative point of the operation character as the center. There are various methods for blurring, but it is set so that a predetermined color (for example, white or black) is combined with the image as it moves away from one point (that is, the representative point of the operation character) as known in fog processing, for example. To do. By blurring the surroundings of the operating character (that is, the ball-owning character) in this way, it is possible to subjectively express the feeling of anxiety of the operating character whose surroundings cannot be seen.

(3) Modified Example of Position Condition Determination Timing In the above embodiment, the position condition determination unit 222 performs the position determination process at predetermined time intervals (for example, every frame). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the position determination process may be performed using a predetermined opportunity. For example, when a ball-owning character performs a pass or a shoot during a game, the ball-owning character may look around in the virtual space in order to determine where the ball is going. Then, after performing the action concerned (or during performing the action concerned), you may make it perform a position determination process. Note that the overlook action may be performed in response to an operation input by the player, or may be automatically performed by the game program 420.

(4) Example of changing the facial expression of the character According to the above embodiment, when the position condition is satisfied, the movement ability of the ball-owning character is changed, or the range of view at the viewpoint is changed. However, not only these methods, but also the change in the performance of the character may be visually expressed by changing the facial expression (facial color or behavior) of the character. For example, when the position condition is satisfied, the facial color of the ball-owning character is deteriorated, or the facial expression of the opponent character is changed to a proud expression. Or, as the movement ability changes, it makes you feel confused, bewildered, or look around.

  Specifically, when n ≠ 0 in the position condition determination process (FIG. 9) (that is, when the position condition is satisfied), the processing system of the game device (for example, the motion control unit 226) It makes you act so as to sneak out the behavior of and to look around. Further, when generating an image (for example, the image generation unit 240) changes the base color of the texture to be mapped to the face portion of the ball-owning character to make the face bluish, or sweat around the face portion or the head. The game image is generated by changing the texture to be mapped to the face portion of each character.

  As described above, it is possible to visually notify the player of the change in the performance ability by changing the expression of the ball possessing character due to the satisfaction of the position condition.

  In addition to changing the character's facial expression, the performance value of the action may be directly expressed by a numerical value or a bar graph.

  Although the basketball game has been described as an example of the ball game according to the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to, for example, soccer, hockey, handball, water polo, and the like. Of course, the parameter value that determines the operation capability may be set to be displayed on the display screen.

It is an external view of the game device in the present embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the game image in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of a game image when not satisfy | filling position conditions. It is a figure which shows an example of a game image when a position condition is satisfy | filled. It is a figure which shows an example of a game image when a position condition is not satisfy | filled. It is a figure which shows an example of the game image when the image display range is changed. It is a figure which shows the functional block of the game device in this embodiment. (A) is a top view of virtual space. (B) is a figure which shows an example of the determination range. It is a flowchart for demonstrating a position determination process. It is a figure which shows an example of attribute data. It is a figure which shows an example of a correspondence table. It is a top view of the coat in virtual space. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an operation control process. It is a top view of the coat in virtual space. It is a figure for demonstrating the positional relationship of an operation character and a viewpoint. (A) is a figure which shows the positional relationship of the viewpoint and operation character in normal time. (B) is a figure which shows an example when the depression angle (tau) _O is made constant. (C) is a figure which shows an example when the depression angle (tau) is changed. It is a flowchart for demonstrating viewpoint control processing. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the game device 1 in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example which applied this embodiment to the game device containing a host device and a terminal. It is a figure which shows the example which applied this embodiment to the game device for business use. It is a figure which shows an example of a correlation table. (A) is a figure which shows the relationship between the viewpoint and viewing angle in normal time. (B) is a figure which shows the relationship between a viewpoint and a viewing angle when a positional condition is satisfy | filled. It is a figure which shows an example of the game image in normal time. It is a figure which shows an example of a game image when a viewing angle is shortened.

Explanation of symbols

100 input unit 200 processing unit 220 game calculation unit
222 Position condition determination unit
224 ability change department
226 Operation control unit
228 Viewpoint control unit 240 Image generation unit 300 Display unit 400 Information storage medium 420 Game program
422 Game calculation program
424 Image generation program 500 Temporary storage unit 520 Attribute data 540 Number of opponent characters n

Claims (9)

A program for causing a computer to operate an operation character in real time in response to an operation input, and to generate an image of a virtual space where a plurality of characters including the operation character exist based on a predetermined viewpoint,
Determining means for determining whether or not a character other than the operation character is located within a predetermined range within a predetermined approach distance in front of the operation character;
Detecting means for detecting a state where the determining means determines that another character is located;
Viewpoint control means for controlling the viewpoint to approach the operation character according to the detection of the detection means;
A program for causing the computer to function as The program according to claim 1,
A program for causing the computer to function so that the viewpoint control unit controls the viewpoint to approach the operation character while directing the line-of-sight direction toward the operation character. The program according to claim 1 or 2,
The determination means includes distance calculation means for calculating a distance from the operation character to another character;
The viewpoint control means controls the viewpoint to approach the operation character as the distance calculated by the distance calculation means is shorter.
Program for causing the computer to function. The program according to claim 1 or 2,
The determination means has character counting means for counting the number of other characters located within the predetermined range;
The viewpoint control unit controls the viewpoint to approach the operation character as the number of other characters counted by the character counting unit increases.
Program for causing the computer to function. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A program for causing the computer to function so that the viewpoint control means performs control for narrowing the viewing angle of the viewpoint instead of the control for bringing the viewpoint closer to the operation character. Computer
Image generation means for generating an image of a virtual space in which a plurality of characters including an operation character exist based on a predetermined viewpoint;
Determining means for determining whether or not a character other than the operation character is located within a predetermined range within a predetermined approach distance in front of the operation character;
Detecting means for detecting a state where the determining means determines that another character is located;
And function as
A program for causing the computer to function so as to generate an image by performing a blurring process on a peripheral portion of the operation character in the image based on the viewpoint when the image generation unit is detected by the detection unit.   The computer-readable information storage medium which memorize | stored the program as described in any one of Claims 1-6. A game device that operates an operation character in real time in response to an operation input and generates an image of a virtual space in which a plurality of characters including the operation character exist based on a predetermined viewpoint,
Determination means for determining whether or not another character other than the operation character is located within a predetermined range within a predetermined approach distance in front of the operation character;
Detecting means for detecting a state where the determining means determines that another character is located;
Viewpoint control means for controlling the viewpoint to approach the operation character in accordance with detection by the detection means;
A game device comprising: Image generating means for generating an image of a virtual space in which a plurality of characters including an operation character exist based on a predetermined viewpoint;
Determination means for determining whether or not another character other than the operation character is located within a predetermined range within a predetermined approach distance in front of the operation character;
Detecting means for detecting a state where the determining means determines that another character is located;
With
A game device characterized in that, when the image generation means is detected by the detection means, an image is generated by performing blurring processing on a peripheral portion of the operation character in the image based on the viewpoint.

Images