JP2007038010A - System for achieving animation of game-character and method for achieving, and making the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an animation achieving system for obtaining the various and dynamic movements of characters in a two-dimensional game, and to provide its method. <P>SOLUTION: A method for achieving and making the animation of a game-character and the system is provided. On the game-character, an area is divided and mutually different animation techniques are applied. In one area, a bone animation technique is used, where logic to control the motion of an object is used. In the other area, a cell animation technique is used, where frame data is outputted. The areas using the mutually different animation techniques are synthesized in one character so as to realize the dynamic movement of the character. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a system and method for realizing effective movement of characters appearing in a game. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for providing dynamic game character movement in an online game employing two-dimensional graphics and reducing the amount of data resident in a memory.

Recently, with the expansion of the game user base and the diversification of the types of hardware that can be realized, the game industry's share in the information technology industry, such as software, hardware, and service provision related to games, has increased. Yes.
An online game is a game that many users enjoy by connecting to a server or another computer through wired communication, wireless communication, or the Internet.
Computers connected to the network have the limiting characteristics of delay and bandwidth, and such network technology is aimed at providing the desired game with the appropriate quality, so that faster processing speeds and It is necessary to provide efficient data.

On the other hand, as a method for realizing the movement of each character that appears in the game and is controlled by the user, there are a cell animation technique and a bone animation technique.
The cell animation technique is a classic technique used in a two-dimensional game, and creates frame data for all actions on a character. The frame data is generated by user control or an event generated on the game. By outputting, it is a technology that provides an animation effect as if a character is actually moving.
However, such cell animation technology is a method in which all actions of the character are drawn directly by the designer, and all of them are resident in memory, and are called one by one under the control of the user. There was a problem that it took a considerable amount of time and money to design the production.
Further, since only the stored frame data is always output, there is a limit to the operations that can be expressed, and the user has a problem that the animation screen is repeated and gets bored immediately.
And if you need to update the data, you can only make new designs, change the palette to an already done design, or repaint other pixel data. In such a game service, there is a limit in providing services such as customer order-type avatar services and item sales.
Also in the character control method, since the frame data corresponding to the control command is output, there is a limit that the motion is drawn only by one control means such as a joystick, a keypad, or a keyboard.

Meanwhile, another conventional technique, bone animation technique, is one of techniques for realizing character movement in a three-dimensional game. The bone animation technique is a technique in which a character operates by producing and designing an object corresponding to a skeleton such as a character and rendering it three-dimensionally.
This is an advanced technology in that it provides a more realistic character outline and motion than the previously described cell animation.
Further, by giving animation logic to the skeleton, there is an advantage that animation suitable for a user command or an event in a game can be realized without working various animations one by one.
However, the bone animation technique is a technique specialized for a three-dimensional game and is not suitable for a two-dimensional game that does not require the three-dimensional technique.
Furthermore, since bone animation requires a rendering process to represent a 3D image, game play is delayed or synchronized between clients, especially in online 2D action games that require fast response and determination. It becomes an element that inhibits the conversion.
Therefore, there is a need for new animation techniques that depict various and quick character actions in a two-dimensional game.

The present invention has been made in view of the conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide an animation realizing system and method for providing various and dynamic character movements on a two-dimensional game.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an animation realizing system and method for outputting various motions in response to a plurality of character control commands.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an animation implementation system and method that can reduce the amount of computation and the amount of data resident in a memory while reducing the time and effort of game production.

  In order to achieve the above technical problem, a system for realizing game character animation according to the present invention includes a first control interface for receiving a character control command from a first input device, and a character control command from a second input device. A first control logic unit that generates a motion of an object included in the character according to a predetermined control logic corresponding to a command received from the first control interface; A second control logic unit that outputs frame data adapted to the character's movement in response to a command received from the second control interface; and an object and a frame generated by the first control logic unit and the second control logic unit Combining data with one Characterized in that it comprises a game data synthesizer to complete the operation of Yarakuta.

  In the method for realizing a game character animation according to the present invention, a) a step of receiving a control command of a game character, and b) a first control command depending on an input interface of the character control command, or a second control command Determining whether it is a control command, c) if the character control command is a first control command, processing object data constituting a character in a bone animation method, and d) the character control command Is a second control command, the graphic data for a part of the character is processed by the cell animation method, and e) the character motion processed by the bone animation method and the cell animation method is synthesized. Including an output stage And butterflies.

  In the game character animation production method according to the present invention, a) a step of dividing the game character into a first area and a second area; and b) a plurality of objects constituting a part of the character in the first area. C) when the object rotates, setting an axis pin at a position corresponding to the axis, d) setting a position for generating the movement of the object with a tracking pin, e) The method includes a step of setting a connection relationship between the shaft pin and the tracking pin, and f) producing frame data to be output to the second area.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can be easily implemented. However, the present invention can be realized in various forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.
Note that components having the same function are denoted by the same reference symbols throughout the drawings for describing the embodiment of the invention, and the repetitive description thereof is omitted. (In addition, when one part is connected to another part, this is not limited to being connected “directly” to another part, but may be connected “through” other parts. Including)

The game character animation according to the present invention can output various and dynamic actions according to a plurality of user controls.
Also in game production, it is possible to provide a smooth game environment by reducing the difficulty of game design and cell data production and reducing the amount of data resident in the memory during the game.
In addition, items and clothes can be changed, and new characters can be easily created by updating and adding objects, thereby providing users with a variety of game fun.

Hereinafter, an animation realization system and method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a game animation realization system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The animation realizing system 100 according to the present invention includes a first control interface 110, a second control interface 120, a first control logic unit 130, a second control logic unit 140, an object database 131, a frame data database 141, The game data composition unit 150, the object update unit 160, and the game event reception unit 170 are included.
In addition, the first control interface 110 and the second control interface 120 perform an interface function between different input devices that command the character during the game. Here, the input device corresponding to the first control interface 110 may be a mouse, and the input device corresponding to the second control interface 120 may be a keyboard.
A command input through the first control interface 110 is transmitted to the first control logic unit 130, and the first control logic unit 130 performs computer processing on the object data in the object database 131 according to a predetermined logic. . Data processing performed by the first control logic unit 130 will be described later.
The command input through the second control interface 120 is transmitted to the second control logic unit 140. The second control logic unit 140 performs a computer process on the frame data of the frame data database 141 according to a predetermined logic. To do. The frame data is output by calling frame data corresponding to a command input to the second control interface 120 in the frame data database 141.

Here, in order to help the understanding of the present invention, terms are defined as follows.
“Character” is a concept including not only a human-shaped character but also a set of objects of other shapes as a set of objects that are operated by the user's control in the game.
Further, the “object” in the specification of the present invention is limited to an object in the game that constitutes the character and moves in conjunction with each other by a user's control or specific logic.

As the objects stored in the object database 131, the above-described bone animation type objects are stored. However, the object is represented in the game in a 2D rendered state. In other words, the object used as the skeleton in the embodiment of the present invention is a 2D-dedicated object that is manufactured in such a manner that only one side is visible.
On the other hand, the frame data stored in the frame data database 141 stores suitable frame data output by a user's control or an event in a game in a cell animation method.
That is, in the embodiment of the present invention, a character is a combination of a 2D object and frame data, which are controlled by different interfaces.

The game data synthesizing unit 150 synthesizes the object and the frame data, and outputs it as one completed character shape. The object and the frame data are each expressed by a divided area of one character, and output the movement of the game character.
The object updating unit 160 performs a function of adding or updating new data to the object stored in the object database 131. Through the object update unit 160, game developers can easily add and change new items and character clothes and designs, and game users can create game character costumes according to their preferences. You can also
The game event receiving unit 170 senses a preset game event such as a situation that occurs in the game, for example, when a game character falls, hits, or dies, and stores it in advance correspondingly. Called object and frame data respectively.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the first control logic unit 130 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
The first control logic unit 130 includes an object motion logic storage unit 132, an axis pin management unit 133, a tracking pin management unit 134, and a connection management unit 135.
The axis pin management unit 133 manages the axis pin of the rotation axis when the object rotates.
The tracking pin management unit 134 is a component for managing a tracking pin for moving the object by tracking a user command or a movement of another object.
The connection management unit 135 performs a function of managing a plurality of components connected to each other by any axis pin, and a connection relationship between a distance or an angle with the tracking pin.
The object motion logic storage unit 132 stores logic for realizing character motion using the axis pins, tracking pins, and connection settings.

Hereinafter, how the axis pin, the tracking pin, and the connection setting are realized in the character will be described using a specific example.
FIG. 3 illustrates a character according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The character of the present invention is largely divided into a region (A) and a region (B). Here, the region (A) includes a 2D rendered object, and the region (B) includes frame data to which the cell animation method is applied.
The 2D rendered object can be created using a D3DX function or the like, and can be expressed on the game through Direct X included in the operating system. The frame data included in the area (B) calls out graphic data suitable for the user's control and game event, and outputs it according to time.
The character area (A) according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a head object 10, upper arm objects 11 and 13, lower arm objects 12 and 14, a torso object 16, and a weapon object 15. Connected by pins or tracking pins, they have organic movements with each other.
On the other hand, the region (B) includes the graphic data 20 corresponding to the entire lower body, and continuously calls and outputs new graphic data suitable for the action of the character.
In other words, the area (A) expresses movement by interlocking 2D-rendered objects with a predetermined logic, and the area (B) continuously replaces the graphic data produced in advance. By doing so, it comes to express movement.

When actually expressing the movement of one character, in the lower body, the state is limited such as running, standing, sitting, jumping, lying down, etc. When running, a small number of animations are repeatedly output It is possible to express a desired operation sufficiently. However, in the case of the upper body, it is possible to express the dynamic movement of the game character when aiming and shooting in all directions. Therefore, in the case of the upper body, the object produced by 2D rendering outputs various motions adapted to the command of the game user, and in the case of the lower body, the limited motion alone is sufficiently natural. Therefore, it has the optimum conditions that can provide dynamic game play.
Further, when the mouse is used for the control of the area (A) and the keyboard is used for the area (B), various motions adapted to the two types of control methods can be provided. In other words, by controlling the aiming and shooting with the mouse and controlling the movement of the character with the keyboard, it is possible to aim and shoot in a direction different from the moving direction, and such a movement is dynamically displayed on the screen. Can be output.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a connection relationship of objects according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The 2D object included in the area (A) is connected by the axis pin and the tracking pin described above. The head object 10 includes an axis pin (P1) and a tracking pin (P7).
Here, the head object rotates about the axis pin (P1), and the axis pin (P1) is set to be connected to the body object.
Meanwhile, the tracking pin (P7) tracks the mouse cursor input from the first control interface 110 in a straight line. That is, the head object 10 rotates around the axis pin (P1) by tracking the tracking pin (P7).
Meanwhile, the weapon object 15 includes a tracking pin (P8) and an axis pin (P4). The tracking pin (P8) operates to maintain a certain distance (d1) from the tracking pin (P7) of the head object 10. By tracking the tracking pin (P8), the weapon object 15 rotates about the axis pin (P4).
When the tracking pin (P8) is set to the part of the weapon's sight and the part of the aiming tool, and the tracking pin (P7) is set to the part of the character's eyes, the character moves the line of sight by the movement of the mouse. Aim the weapon as you move.
Meanwhile, the tracking pin (P5) of the lower arm object 12 is set to maintain a certain distance (d2) from the tracking pin (P8) of the weapon object, and the movement of the tracking pin (P5) The arm object 12 is allowed to move about the axis pin (P3).
Here, the tracking pin (P5) can be connected to the tracking pin (P8) so as to maintain a certain distance, but is continuously attached to the weapon object 15 by setting a connection portion. It can also be set as follows.
On the other hand, the upper arm object 11 is connected to the lower arm object 12 through the shaft pin (P3) and is connected to the body object 16 through the shaft pin (P2) to move.
The upper arm object 13 and the lower arm object 14 representing the opposite arm are also different from each other only in the connection portion, and are similar to the principle of operation described above.
Therefore, when the mouse cursor or the like moves, the tracking pin (P7) that tracks the mouse cursor controls the tracking pin (P8) and the tracking pin (P5) to move in a chained manner, It can be expressed naturally.

Referring to FIG. 2 again, the axis pin management unit 133 and the tracking pin management unit 134 manage the specific position of the object that becomes the axis pin and the tracking pin, and the connection management unit 135 tracks the axis pin and the tracking pin. It manages how the pins are connected to each other. That is, the first tracking pin tracks to maintain a preset angle or distance of the second tracking pin, and manages how the first and second axis pins are connected to each other. .
In addition, the object motion logic storage unit 132 stores in advance logic for a series of linkage operations between such objects, and provides logic suitable for the character.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a character control method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, when the control of the area (A) uses a mouse and the area (B) uses a keyboard, various motions suitable for two types of control methods can be provided. .
When omnidirectional movement occurs like a mouse, the character's motion is output with a preset object logic, and when movement occurs only in a limited direction like a keyboard, the cell Output frame data based on animation techniques.
In addition, since the keyboard expresses the position movement animation of the character, the cell animation technique is suitable because it mainly outputs an animation that is repetitive or stopped.
Therefore, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the amount of data resident in the memory is greatly reduced, but a dynamic movement and a realistic hit feeling can be provided as if they were 3D animation.
When a specific event occurs during the game play as well as the mouse and keyboard control, the object in the area (A) can be output like a single cell animation. That is, in the case of being hit or falling, not the aiming or shooting logic but the connection data of a predetermined object is output.
As described above, the method for realizing the character animation in the embodiment of the present invention is a method of outputting a pre-stored object, logic, and frame data. Even when only the game play packets that control the object and frame data are exchanged, it is possible to provide a sufficiently high speed game play.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for realizing animation according to an embodiment of the present invention.
If the game is started and the character can be operated under the control of the client user, the game client program receives a game control command (S100).
Next, if a game control command is received, it is determined whether the control method is the first control method or the second method, and then a logic adapted thereto is performed (S110). Here, the method for distinguishing between the first control method and the second control method can be easily determined from the input interface or driver device. Here, since the first control method and the second control method can be realized in a double manner, the first control method and the second control method are not necessarily selectively processed. It is also possible to process simultaneously by logic adapted to the second control method.

Here, for example, in the case of the first control method generated by the mouse, object data whose movement is changed by the first control method is called from the database (S120). The object data includes not only the object design but also the tracking pin, axis pin, and connection setting data described above. The object data is not called from a database each time a control signal is generated, but a method of recognizing and utilizing data already stored in the memory of the PC is also possible.
When the data related to the object is called, the object is processed by a bone animation method according to a predetermined logic (S121). If the game is a two-dimensional game even if it is processed by the bone animation method, an object produced by the 2D rendering method is processed by the bone animation method. Here, the part processed by the bone animation is applied only to a part obtained by dividing a part of the character, not the entire character.
On the other hand, for example, when a command of the second control method such as a keyboard is received, frame data corresponding to the control command is called (S130).
When the frame data is called, cell animation processing conforming to the control command is performed (S131). As for the frame data, when moving, the frame data that the left and right feet cross and run repeatedly are output, and when sitting or lying down, the frame data corresponding to this is output. The cell animation technique can also be used only for a portion obtained by dividing a part of the character.

In step S140, the above-described bone animation and the portion processed by the cell animation are combined to realize the movement of one character. For example, the upper body performs bone animation processing, the lower body portion performs cell animation processing, and these are combined into one to complete the operation of one character.
In step S150, an animation combined with one character is output. For example, with the above-described configuration, the mouse operation controls aiming and shooting, and the keyboard controls the moving direction of the character. Accordingly, even when the directions do not coincide with each other, the character can aim or shoot in a direction different from the moving direction simultaneously with the movement.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method for producing a game character object according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In the embodiment of the present invention, the game character is divided, and an area where the object is used and an area where the frame data is used are designated.
In step (S200), an object used by the game character is produced. In an embodiment of the present invention, the object can be produced only for a specific area of the character. The object is manufactured separately based on joints such as the head, torso, upper arm, and lower arm. In the case of a two-dimensional game, the object is manufactured using a 2D rendering method so that only one fixed side surface can be seen. .
When the production and design of the objects are completed, the axis pins that allow each object to move about the axis are set (S210). The shaft pin is mainly connected to a joint portion as a connection point with another object.
In step S220, a tracking pin for generating an object movement is set. The tracking pin has a function of moving its own object around the axis pin by a control command or movement of another object.
Next, when the positions of the shaft pin and the tracking pin are set, the connection relationship between the tracking pin and the shaft pin is set (S230). The object pin and the tracking pin are connected to each other to complete the shape of one character, and the object is linked to each other to create one movement.
In step S240, an attribute of the first tracking pin that rotates the object in response to the user's control among the tracking pins is set. For example, a tracking pin set in the eye of the character head moves the line of sight by tracking the mouse cursor.
If the first tracking pin is set, a second tracking pin depending on the movement of the first tracking pin is set (S250). When the second tracking pin is set to maintain a predetermined distance from the first tracking pin, the object including the second tracking pin also moves under the control of the user. For example, if the tracking pin set in the muzzle or the sight of the weapon is set to maintain a certain distance from the first tracking pin set in the character's eyes, the tracking pin of the muzzle in the direction of the mouse cursor is set. You will aim at the direction.
Such objects and logic are stored as game data and distributed to clients (S260). The production method with the above configuration includes all the character animation logic, so when a new character or item is added, it is easy to make the character design or item by modifying only the design of the object. Can be updated and applied to the game.

FIG. 8 is a reference diagram illustrating the operation of the game character according to the embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 8, the game character can aim up and down in a sitting position. That is, in the case of the upper body, aiming and shooting operations are output up and down by controlling the mouse in the bone animation system, and in the case of the lower body, a fixed sitting posture is produced by controlling the keyboard.
Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, various animations can be provided depending on the situation and control during the game.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these, and those skilled in the art using the basic concept of the present invention defined in the claims. Various modifications and improvements are also within the scope of the present invention.

It is the block diagram which showed the implementation system of the game animation by embodiment of this invention. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a first control logic unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a character according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a diagram illustrating a connection relationship of objects according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a diagram illustrating a method for controlling a character according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for realizing an animation according to an embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for producing a game character object according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a reference figure showing operation of a game character by an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Animation realization system 110 1st control interface 120 2nd control interface 130 1st control logic part 131 Object database 132 Object motion logic storage part 133 Axis pin management part 134 Tracking pin management part 135 Connection management part 140 2nd control logic part 141 Frame data database 150 Game data composition unit 160 Object update unit 170 Game event reception unit

Claims (15)

In the system that realizes game character animation,
A first control interface for receiving a character control command from the first input device;
A second control interface for receiving a character control command from the second input device;
A first control logic unit corresponding to a command received from the first control interface and generating a motion of an object included in the character using a preset control logic;
A second control logic unit that outputs frame data corresponding to the motion of the character in response to a command received from the second control interface;
A game character animation comprising: a game data composition unit for synthesizing an object generated by the first control logic unit and the second control logic unit and frame data to complete one character's operation. system. An object database for storing the object so that an object constituting a part of the character can be provided to the first control logic unit;
The game character animation according to claim 1, further comprising: a frame data database for storing the frame data so that the second control logic unit can provide frame data constituting a part of the character. system. An object updater for updating data in the object database;
The game machine according to claim 2, further comprising a game event receiving unit that receives an event that occurs during game play and requests the first control logic unit and the second control logic unit for data suitable for the event. Realization system of the described game character animation. The first control logic unit includes:
An axis pin management unit for setting information on an axis pin that is an axis on which the object rotates;
A tracking pin management unit for setting a tracking pin for moving the object by tracking a user's command or the movement of another object;
A connection management unit for setting a connection relationship between the shaft pin and the tracking pin;
The system for realizing game character animation according to claim 1, further comprising: an object motion logic storage unit storing logic for realizing a character motion by the axis pin, the tracking pin, and the connection relationship.   5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first control logic unit and the second control logic unit respectively perform animation processing on the first region and the second region obtained by dividing one character. A system for realizing game character animation as set forth in claim 1.   5. The system for realizing game character animation according to claim 1, wherein the first control interface is a mouse interface, and the second control interface is a keyboard interface. 6. In the realization method of game character animation,
a) receiving a control instruction of the game character;
b) determining whether the control command is a first control command or a second control command according to the character control command input interface;
c) when the character control command is a first control command, processing object data constituting the character by a bone animation method;
d) when the character control command is a second control command, processing graphic data for a part of the character by a cell animation method;
and e) synthesizing and outputting the motion of the character processed by the bone animation method and the cell animation method.   8. The method for realizing game character animation according to claim 7, wherein the bone animation method is produced by a two-dimensional rendering method that outputs only one side of an object.   The method of claim 8, wherein the first control command is a control command received through a mouse, and the second control command is a control command received through a keyboard. . The game is an online game;
9. The object and frame data are stored in advance in a client game program, and the object and frame data are called and output in response to the first control command and the second control command. A method for realizing the game character animation described in 1. In a computer recording medium on which a program for realizing game character animation is recorded,
A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for realizing the game character animation according to any one of claims 7 to 10 is recorded. In the game character animation production method,
a) dividing the game character into a first area and a second area;
b) producing a plurality of objects constituting part of the character in the first area;
c) when the object rotates, setting an axis pin at a position corresponding to the axis;
d) setting a position for generating the movement of the object with a tracking pin;
e) setting a connection relationship between the shaft pin and the tracking pin;
and f) producing the frame data to be output to the second area.   The step e) designates a predetermined distance or angle for each of the shaft pin and the shaft pin, the shaft pin and the tracking pin, and the tracking pin and the tracking pin, and sets the connection relationship so that the distance or angle is maintained. The method for producing a game character animation according to claim 12, wherein:   The step e) sets a first tracking pin to track a user control command on the first object, and sets a second tracking pin to track the movement of the first tracking pin on the second object. The method for producing a game character animation according to claim 13.   15. The game character animation production method according to claim 12, wherein the object is produced by a two-dimensional rendering method.