JP2006263122A - Game apparatus, game system, game data processing method, program for game data processing method and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To change an image to be cut in to match changes in the expression of a character to be operated by a player. <P>SOLUTION: A CPU 102 controls the behavior and the positions of a player's character 10 and an enemy character 12 in a first three-dimensional virtual space 136 as a moving area to make the game proceed and images of the game are displayed on a monitor while images of the player's character 10 photographed by a first virtual camera 138 are displayed on a monitor. When a self-portrait corresponding to player's character 10 is displayed beside the player's character 10 displayed on the monitor as a cut-in image, the CPU 102 executes a processing of photographing the player's character 10 after the making of the character arranged in a second three-dimensional space 140 by a second virtual camera 142 and a processing of displaying the image taken by the second virtual camera 142 as a self-portrait corresponding to the player's character 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a game device, a game system, a game data processing method, a program for causing a computer to execute the processing method, and the like, in particular, next to a character balloon (line) of a game screen (not particularly limited, The present invention relates to an improvement in a method for creating a cut-in video, which has a function of displaying a facial expression of a character as a cut-in video around the character.

  In this type of game device game application program, a player is a character defined as an opponent enemy (for example, an enemy character (an opponent)), or another player character or a non-player character (NPC) (another player character). Is operated by other players, and NPC is controlled by a CPU (information processing device).) The game program is executed while paying attention to the positional relationship between the player character and the player character. When developing a game in accordance with a game program, a plurality of game devices (game machines) are connected via a network, and characters appearing on each game device are associated with each other, and operation authority is given to each character. Attempts have been made to communicate between characters and players by adding a chat function to game devices.

  When adding a chat function to each game device, for example, by displaying a video of a face together with text input by a user (player) on the screen (see Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3), , Communication between players can be performed smoothly.

  However, even if a chat function is simply added to the game device, if the dialogue is displayed together with the images of a plurality of characters, it may not be understood which character is the dialogue.

  Therefore, an image corresponding to the character is displayed as a cut-in video next to the character displayed on the screen (see Patent Document 4).

On the other hand, when generating a facial expression of a character, for example, a character making (character customization) method for generating a facial expression of a character based on a user operation has been proposed (see Patent Documents 5, 6, and 7).
JP 2002-116997 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-190034 Special table 2004-519787 gazette JP 2002-85827 A JP-A-8-305880 JP 2002-208024 A JP 2003-67767 A

  In the conventional game device, when adopting the cut-in video, only the video prepared in advance is used, and the character making technique is not reflected. That is, the video used as the cut-in video is a video prepared in advance, and the cut-in video is fixed in two dimensions, so that the change in facial expression is poor.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a game technique including an image processing means capable of changing a cut-in video in accordance with a change in a facial expression of a character operated by a player. is there. Another object of the present invention is to provide a game technique including an image processing means capable of changing a light source in a game space and an image cut-in without being influenced by other characters. To do.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a game machine data control method comprising an operation means, an image processing means, and a memory, based on an operation signal from the operation means operated by a player. The image processing means executes the game program recorded in the memory to determine the behavior and position of the character having the moving area in the first three-dimensional virtual space in the first three-dimensional virtual space. A first process for controlling the game to progress and displaying an image of the game on the display means; a second process for customizing the appearance of the character; and storing the character in the memory; and the first three-dimensional virtual In the space, a third process for displaying on the display means an image obtained by photographing the customized character with the first virtual camera, and the display means corresponds to the character. A fourth process for displaying the inserted image separately from the image of the character, and a fifth process for placing the customized character in the second three-dimensional virtual space and shooting with the second virtual camera. When executed, the image processing means operates to display a video image taken by the second virtual camera on the display means as the inserted image.

  According to the present invention, when an inserted image corresponding to a customized character is displayed, if an image obtained by photographing a character in the first three-dimensional virtual space is used as a cut-in image, the character is first displayed. May not appear on the virtual camera or other characters (Enemi characters) may appear. In the case of night, the character may not be captured by the first virtual camera. Therefore, when generating the cut-in video, the customized character is placed in the second three-dimensional virtual space, the character is photographed by the second virtual camera, and the image obtained by the photographing is used as the character. As the corresponding inserted image, for example, a self-portrait of the character (corresponding to the above-described inserted image obtained by photographing the character itself with the second virtual camera) is generated. For this reason, the facial expression of the cut-in video (the self-portrait corresponding to the character) can be changed in accordance with the change in the facial expression of the customized character (character after character making).

  According to the present invention, the facial expression of the cut-in video can be changed as an image corresponding to the character in accordance with the change in the facial expression of the customized character image.

  In the embodiment described below, a game device having a data processing function (computer function) executes a game application program so that a player can operate an electronic game. The purpose is to change the facial expression of the cut-in video (self-portrait of the player character) as an image corresponding to the player character in accordance with the change in the facial expression of the character image of the player character. It has become.

  First, the configuration of this game apparatus will be described. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a game apparatus according to the present invention. The game apparatus 100 includes a program data storage device or storage medium (including an optical disc and an optical disc drive) 101 in which a game program and data (including video / music data) are stored, execution of the game program, control of the entire system, The CPU 102 that performs coordinate calculation for image display, the system memory 103 that stores programs and data necessary for the CPU 102 to perform processing, and the programs and data necessary when the game apparatus 100 is activated are stored. And a bus arbiter 105 that controls the flow of programs and data between each block of the game apparatus 100 and devices connected to the outside, and these are connected to the bus.

  A rendering processor 106 is connected to the bus, and video (movie) data read from the program data storage device or the storage medium 101 and an image to be generated according to a player's operation or game progress are displayed on the display monitor by the rendering processor 106. (Display means) 110. Graphic data and the like necessary for the rendering processor 106 to generate an image are stored in a graphic memory (frame buffer) 107.

  A sound processor 108 is connected to the bus, and music data read from the program data storage device or storage medium 101, sound effects and sounds to be generated according to the player's operation and game progress, are output from the speaker 111 by the sound processor 108. Is output. Sound data necessary for the sound processor 108 to generate sound effects and sounds are stored in the sound memory 109.

  The game apparatus 100 is connected to a modem 112 (not limited to a modem, any device that can be connected to a network such as a network adapter). The game apparatus 100 includes a modem 112 and a telephone line (not shown). Communication) with other game devices 100 and network servers. Further, the game apparatus 100 includes a backup memory 113 (including a disk storage medium and a storage device) for storing information on the progress of the game and program data input / output through the modem 112, and a player (operator). A controller 114 for inputting information for controlling the game apparatus 100 and externally connected devices to the game apparatus 100 according to the operation is connected. The backup memory 113 is connected to the game controller, but may be connected to the game apparatus main body or may be built in the game apparatus main body.

  CPU 102 in game device 100 processes data for electronic play based on an operation signal (operation data) from an operation terminal (not shown) as an operation means operated by a player and a game program, and this processing. It is configured to have a function as a data processing device that executes processing for outputting results. The CPU 102 and the rendering processor 106 constitute an image arithmetic processing unit. Here, the units described as components of the game apparatus 100 may be distributed to other game apparatuses and servers. An electronic game system, that is, a game device according to the present invention may be realized by a game device terminal and a server on the player side.

  When a game is developed between a plurality of players using a plurality of game devices 100, a plurality of game devices 100 are connected via a communication network 120 as shown in FIG. By exchanging data with, it is possible to develop a game among players. In this case, the CPU 102 in each game device 100 operates with an operation signal (not shown) operated by each player, for example, an operation signal from a key for activating a cut-in chat, a key for performing a chat, or the like ( Operation data) via the communication network 120, data for electronic play (electronic game) is processed based on the acquired operation data and game program, and processing for outputting the processing result is executed. It will also function as a device. When a plurality of game devices 100 are connected via the communication network 120, parameters are communicated between the game devices 100 to display character images and insertion images on the game devices 100, or images themselves as games. It can also be transmitted and received between the devices 100. Further, communication between the game apparatuses 100 can be performed not via the server, but also via the server.

  FIG. 3 shows a screen displayed on the display monitor 110. The player character 10 and other enemy characters 12 are displayed on the screen 130. The CPU 102 controls the behavior and position of the player character 10 and the enemy character 12 displayed on the screen 130 so that the game is performed. Is going to progress. When displaying an image in accordance with the progress of the game on the screen 130, the game apparatus 100 performs a chat that displays the line of the player character 10, for example, “Wow!” In the balloon area (chat area) 132 of the screen 130. It has a function and is provided with a cut-in function for displaying a self-portrait as a cut-in video as an image corresponding to the player character 10 in the cut-in area 134 adjacent to the video of the player character 10. Yes.

  Prior to displaying the self-portrait of the player character 10 in the cut-in area 134, a character making process relating to the player character 10 is executed.

  Specifically, there are a lot of data relating to the character making relating to the player character 10, such as the face (eyes, nose, mouth), skin color, hairstyle, hair color, clothes, and body shape of the player character 10. When the character making is selected by the player's operation and stored in the graphic memory 107, a window for character making is set on the screen 130, and the face and body of the player character 10 are displayed in this window. At this time, in order to arbitrarily generate the facial expression of the image of the player character 10, an operation for selecting arbitrary data from a plurality of data relating to the face is performed, so that the facial expression of the image of the player character 10 can be expressed. Can be attached. For example, when five types of “default”, “joy”, “anger”, “sad”, and “fun” are set as the facial expressions of the player character 10, any one of the five types of facial expressions is set. When the player selects an expression, motion data is selected from the preset emotion data corresponding to the five types of expressions, and the expression of the image of the player character 10 is changed according to the selected motion data. Can add emotions.

  On the other hand, when displaying the images of the player character 10 and the enemy character 12 on the screen 130, as shown in FIG. 4, the player character 10 and the enemy character 12 having the first three-dimensional virtual space 136 as the moving area are displayed as the first. The first virtual camera 138 disposed in the three-dimensional virtual space 136 is photographed, and an image photographed by the first virtual camera 138 is displayed on the screen 130.

  Further, when displaying the self-portrait corresponding to the player character 10 in the cut-in area 134 as a cut-in video, the action point (displayed position) of the player character 10 existing in the first three-dimensional virtual space 136 is displayed. The player character 10 is placed in a second three-dimensional virtual space 140 in a space at a distant position, which is defined separately from the first three-dimensional virtual space 136, and the second three-dimensional A second virtual camera 142 is disposed in front of the player character 10 disposed in the virtual space 140, and a light source model (light) different from the light source model in the first three-dimensional virtual space 136 is disposed above the player character 10. 144 is placed, and the player character 10 is photographed by the second virtual camera 142 and the player character 10 is captured. Generates a self-portrait as a still model, and displays the self-portrait by generated still model the cut-in area 134.

  The self-portrait taken by the second virtual camera 142 is not affected by the position of the light source model on the game space (first three-dimensional virtual space 136) side or the brightness of the light source, and the position and brightness of the light source model 144 are determined. Accordingly, a self-portrait corresponding to the player character 10 can be taken.

  In addition, the cut is performed in accordance with the expression of the player character 10 existing in the first three-dimensional virtual space 136 without changing the expression of the image of the player character 10 arranged in the first three-dimensional virtual space 136. A self-portrait to be displayed in the in area 134 can be generated.

  A plurality of cut-in areas 134 can be set on the screen 130. For example, a self-portrait relating to the player character 10 can be displayed in any one of the cut-in areas 134 at random.

  In addition, the self-portrait displayed in the cut-in area 134 is displayed while the dialogue related to chat is displayed in the balloon area (chat area) 132.

  As described above, the dialogue related to the chat is displayed in the balloon area 132 and the self-portrait related to the player character 10 is displayed in the cut-in area 134. Can be improved.

  Also, if both chat and cut-in functions are executed simultaneously as cut-in chat, the sense of realism and cooperation can be increased and the adventure in the game can be boosted.

  Further, not only the character information by chat but also the emotion of the player character can be transmitted to other players (competitors) as facial expressions.

  Next, processing when executing cut-in chat will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, when the player character 10 and the enemy character 12 are displayed on the screen 130 and the player operates a key for chatting (step S1), the CPU 102 performs processing for executing cut-in chat. Start. Next, when a player operates a key for making a character (for example, a function key) (step S2), the CPU 102 displays five types of facial expressions (“default”, “joy”, “Angry”, “Sad”, “Fun”) are displayed (step S3). At this time, when the player selects one of the facial expressions, one motion data is selected from among the emotional motion data set in advance corresponding to the five types of facial expressions, and is selected according to the selected motion data. An emotion is added to the expression of the image of the player character 10 (step S4).

  Next, when the player character 10 and the enemy character 12 after character making are displayed on the screen 130 and the player operates a key for performing cut-in (step S5), the CPU 102 A dialogue corresponding to the player's operation is displayed in the chat area 132 (step S6). Furthermore, the CPU 102 arranges the player character 10 existing in the first three-dimensional virtual space in the second three-dimensional virtual space 140, images the player character 10 with the second virtual camera 142, and the captured video And the self-portrait is displayed in the cut-in area 134 (step S7). This cut-in video is displayed while the line of the player character 10 is displayed in the chat area 132 as the game is developed. When a key for instructing the end of the cut-in chat is operated by the player (step S8), the CPU 102 erases the dialogue in the chat area 132 and erases the self-portrait in the cut-in area 134 (step S9). ), The process in this routine is terminated.

  According to the present embodiment, when the cut-in video (inserted image) is displayed in the cut-in area 134, the player character 10 is placed in the second three-dimensional virtual space 140, and the player character 10 is Since the self-portrait of the player character 10 is generated as an image corresponding to the player character 10 based on the image captured by the virtual camera 142 and captured by the second virtual camera, the player character generated by character making is generated. In accordance with the change in facial expression of the ten images, the cut-in video, that is, the facial expression of the self-portrait corresponding to the player character 10 can also be changed.

  When the cut-in video (inserted image) is displayed in the cut-in area 134, the main character is not limited to the side or adjacent position of the image of the player character 10, and as shown in FIG. A plurality of cut-in areas 134a, 134b, 134c, 134d, and 134e are set in advance at predetermined positions on the screen that do not interfere with the image of the player character 10 as an image, and any one of the cut-in areas is randomly selected. It is also possible to display an image (inserted image) cut into the selected cut-in area.

  Further, when a game is executed by a plurality of players, when data related to text chat and voice chat is transmitted from the game device 100 operated by each player, when data is transmitted by pressing the transmission button, cut-in is performed. It is also possible to send data with a certain amount of data added, or to send data related to emotions.

  In addition, the difference in movement of each character is expressed by the difference in motion data given to each character (model). As long as the motion data is the same, the movement of each character is the same. For example, the motion data when placing the player character 10 in the first three-dimensional virtual space 136 and the motion data when placing the player character 10 in the second three-dimensional virtual space 140 are different, and the player character 10 is placed in the second When the player character 10 is placed in the three-dimensional virtual space 140, motion data such as an upright posture is given to the player character 10.

  The present invention can also be applied to human-type characters other than humans, animal characters, fantasy characters, robots, vehicles, and the like as player characters.

It is a block diagram of the game device concerning this invention. It is a block diagram of the game system concerning this invention. It is a scene of the image displayed on the monitor. It is a figure for demonstrating the method to produce | generate a cut-in image | video. It is an operation | movement flowchart for demonstrating the processing method of the game data concerning this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the example of arrangement | positioning of a cut-in area | region.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Player character 12 Enemy character 100 Game device 101 Storage medium 102 CPU
103 System memory 104 BOOTROM
105 Bus Arbiter 130 Screen 132 Chat Area 134 Cut-in Area 136 First Three-Dimensional Virtual Space 138 First Virtual Camera 140 Second Three-Dimensional Virtual Space 142 Second Virtual Camera

Claims (14)

In a method for controlling data of a game machine comprising an operation means, an image processing means, and a memory,
Based on an operation signal from the operation means operated by a player, the image processing means executes a game program recorded in the memory,
A first process for controlling the behavior and position of a character having a moving area in the first three-dimensional virtual space in the first three-dimensional virtual space to advance the game and displaying an image of the game on the display means When,
A second process for customizing the appearance of the character and recording it in the memory;
A third process for displaying on the display means an image obtained by photographing the customized character in the first three-dimensional virtual space with a first virtual camera;
A fourth process for displaying an insertion image corresponding to the character on the display means separately from the image of the character;
A fifth process of placing the customized character in a second three-dimensional virtual space and photographing with a second virtual camera;
Run
The method of processing game data, wherein the image processing means operates to display an image taken by the second virtual camera as the insertion image on the display means.   2. The game data processing method according to claim 1, wherein in the second three-dimensional virtual space, the location of the character in the first three-dimensional virtual space is always out of the field of view of the second virtual camera. A method of processing game data, which is a space at a position, and the presence position of the character in the second virtual space is always outside the field of view of the first virtual camera.   The game data processing method according to claim 1, wherein the second three-dimensional virtual space is a space of a game data that is a space of a three-dimensional coordinate system defined separately from the first three-dimensional virtual space. Processing method.   4. The game data processing method according to claim 1, wherein the character in the second three-dimensional virtual space has the same model as the character in the first three-dimensional virtual space, and A game data processing method in which motion data of both characters are different from each other.   5. The game data processing method according to claim 1, wherein the second virtual camera is arranged substantially in front of the character in the second three-dimensional virtual space. Game data processing method.   A plurality of the game machines are connected so that the image processing means of each game machine can exchange data with each other. Each game machine displays a plurality of characters on each display means, and the operation right of the corresponding character. The chat information is transmitted between a plurality of game machines, and the inserted image of the character is displayed on the display means when the chat information is transmitted. 6. The game data processing method according to any one of 1 to 5.   The game data processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the character customization process is performed by controlling the image processing unit based on an operation signal from an operation unit operated by the player. It includes processing for generating the facial expression of the character in the first three-dimensional virtual space, and processing for changing the facial expression of the character displayed on the display means in accordance with the generated facial expression of the character. Game data processing method.   8. The game data processing method according to claim 1, wherein a light source model different from the light source model in the first three-dimensional virtual space is arranged in the second three-dimensional virtual space. A game data processing method characterized by comprising:   10. The game data processing method according to claim 1, wherein the image processing means displays the inserted image at a predetermined position on a screen that does not interfere with the main image.   11. The game data processing method according to claim 10, wherein the image processing means randomly selects one of the insertion images from a plurality of predetermined positions and displays the selected image at this position.   A computer-readable program for causing a computer to execute the processes according to claim 1.   A computer-readable storage medium on which the program according to claim 10 is recorded. In a game apparatus comprising a memory in which a game program is recorded, operation means operated by a player, and image processing means for executing the game program recorded in the memory based on an operation signal from the operation means ,
The image processing means controls the behavior and position of a character having a moving area in the first three-dimensional virtual space in the first three-dimensional virtual space to advance the game, and displays an image of the game A first process to be displayed on
A second process for customizing the appearance of the character and recording it in the memory;
A third process for displaying on the display means an image obtained by photographing the customized character in the first three-dimensional virtual space with a first virtual camera;
A fourth process for displaying an insertion image corresponding to the character on the display means separately from the image of the character;
A fifth process of placing the customized character in a second three-dimensional virtual space and photographing with a second virtual camera;
Run
The game apparatus characterized in that the image processing means operates to display a video photographed by the second virtual camera as the insertion image on the display means. A memory in which a game program is recorded, a plurality of operation means operated by a player, an operation signal from each operation means is fetched via a communication line, and a game recorded in the memory based on each operation signal In a game system comprising image processing means for executing a program,
The image processing means controls the behavior and position of a character having a moving area in the first three-dimensional virtual space in the first three-dimensional virtual space to advance the game, and displays an image of the game A first process to be displayed on
A second process for customizing the appearance of the character and recording it in the memory;
A third process for displaying on the display means an image obtained by photographing the customized character in the first three-dimensional virtual space with a first virtual camera;
A fourth process for displaying an insertion image corresponding to the character on the display means separately from the image of the character;
A fifth process of placing the customized character in a second three-dimensional virtual space and photographing with a second virtual camera;
Run
The game system characterized in that the image processing means operates to display a video image taken by the second virtual camera as the insertion image on the display means.

Images