JP2008062087A - Game apparatus and character motion setting method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game apparatus and a character motion setting method enhancing the realistic feeling of a game. <P>SOLUTION: A sight position computing section 162 computes a sight position of a gun type controller 110 on a screen based on image data output from a camera 120. A sight area setting section 164 sets a predetermined range including a computed sight position, as a sight area. A motion setting section 166 sends instructions to a game rendering section 172 to make an enemy character perform specific motion when a display position of the enemy character on the screen is included in the sight area. The game rendering section 172 receiving the instructions makes the enemy character to perform the specific motion of escaping and hiding behind a shield. A motion setting section 166 interrupts the specific motion under specified conditions. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a game apparatus and a character action setting method in which a display object on a screen performs a predetermined action.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, game devices are known in which a player uses a shooting device such as a handgun to shoot a target character or the like displayed on a screen of a display device. For example, in the game device disclosed in Patent Document 1, a virtual bullet is fired from the muzzle portion by pulling a trigger provided in the gun-type controller, and the landing position on the screen is calculated. When this landing position matches the target character (when a bullet hits), a game effect is performed in which the character is injured or destroyed. Further, in the game device disclosed in Patent Document 2, the landing position is calculated when the trigger provided in the gun-type controller is pulled, and whether or not the bullet has hit the character, It is determined whether or not it has landed on the peripheral area, and different game effects are performed depending on the landing position. In addition, there exists patent document 3 as what was disclosed after the application of this application.
JP-A-9-75552 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-230081 Japanese Patent Application No. 10-329058

  By the way, in the above-described conventional game device, the landing position is calculated only when the gun type controller is triggered by the player, and a predetermined game effect is produced when a bullet hits the character directly or around it. Is done. Therefore, even if the player moves the aiming position of the gun-type controller and aligns the aiming position with an enemy character or the like on the screen, there is a problem in that nothing happens and lacks a sense of reality. For example, when a scene in which a gun is shot is considered, it is unnatural that an enemy character whose muzzle is pointed at does not escape, bark, or hide by an obstacle. In addition, when considering a scene in which a fighter or the like is controlled to fight, it is unnatural to avoid this when locking the aiming position of a missile or the like.

  The present invention was created in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a game apparatus and a character action setting method capable of enhancing the realistic sensation of a game.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, in the game device of the present invention, when the player operates the position specifying unit to specify an arbitrary position on the screen, the display position of the character included in the game image displayed on the screen When the designated arbitrary position is close to the character, the character action setting means causes the character to perform a specific action and interrupts the specific action under a certain condition. According to the present invention, when the character displayed on the screen or its periphery is pointed by the position specifying means, the character can be caused to perform a specific action such as escaping. In such a case, it is possible to realistically reproduce the avoidance operation in the case of the game, and to enhance the realistic sensation of the game.

  Further, it is desirable that the character action setting means described above interrupts the specific action under a certain condition when the specific action is continuously performed. The character action setting means described above preferably measures the duration of the specific action, and interrupts the specific action when the measurement time reaches a predetermined time.

  In particular, it is desirable that the above-described position designation means is formed including a gun-type controller, and an arbitrary position on the screen designated by the position designation means is set as the aiming position of the gun-type controller. When the muzzle part of the gun-type controller is pointed at the character, it is possible to produce a game effect such that the character recognizes that the muzzle part has been pointed and performs a specific action, which can enhance the realism of the game. .

  Alternatively, the position specifying means described above is formed including a dedicated controller having a moving operation unit such as a cross cursor key or a joystick, and an arbitrary position on the screen specified by the position specifying means is set as an operation state of the moving operation unit. It is desirable to set the display position of the indicator that moves on the screen according to the situation. It is possible to point a character by operating a moving operation unit such as a cross cursor key provided on a dedicated controller to move a specific index displayed on the screen, and the character is pointed in this way By recognizing this and performing a game effect that performs a specific action, the presence of the game can be enhanced.

  Further, it is desirable that the character action setting means described above causes the character to perform a specific action when the display position of the character is included in the first area including the arbitrary position specified by the position specifying means. Since the operation for checking whether or not the display position of the character is included in the first area corresponding to the designated arbitrary position and its periphery can be performed by simply comparing the coordinates, the processing is simplified. Is possible.

  Further, it is desirable that the character action setting means described above causes the character to perform a specific action when an arbitrary position specified by the position specifying means is included in the second area including the character display position. As in the case of using the first region described above, the operation of checking whether or not the indicated arbitrary position is included in the second region corresponding to the character and its surroundings simply compares the coordinates. Therefore, the processing can be simplified.

  The arrival time predicting means predicts the time until the arbitrary position reaches the vicinity of the display position of the character based on the moving speed and moving direction of the specified arbitrary position. It is desirable that the character perform a specific action when it is within the time. When considering a battle-type game, it is natural to determine the content of your action while monitoring the opponent's behavior, so the arbitrary position specified by the player until it reaches the vicinity of the character display position By setting the action content to be performed by this character by predicting the time, the realism of the game can be further enhanced.

  In addition, it is desirable that the character action setting means described above variably sets the contents of the specific action to be performed after that according to the contents of the action performed by the character before performing the specific action. Further, it is desirable that the character action setting means variably sets the content of the specific action to be performed by the character based on the result of the distance calculation means calculating the distance between the designated arbitrary position and the character display position. Further, it is desirable that the character action setting means variably sets the content of the specific action to be performed by the character based on the result of calculating the moving speed of the designated arbitrary position by the speed calculating means. In this way, the content of the specific action to be performed by the character is not decided uniformly, but depending on the action content of the character up to that point, the distance to the designated arbitrary position, or the moving speed of the designated arbitrary position. By setting it to be variable, it is possible to further enhance the realism of the game.

  In the character action setting method of the present invention, a game image including a character is displayed on the screen of the display means, an arbitrary position on the screen is designated by a predetermined operation using the position designation means, and the position designation means is used. When the designated arbitrary position approaches the display position of the character displayed on the screen, the character is caused to perform a specific action and the specific action is interrupted under a certain condition.

  In addition, when the specific operation is continuously performed, it is desirable to interrupt the specific operation under a certain condition.

  Further, it is desirable to measure the duration of the above-described specific operation and interrupt the specific operation when this measurement time reaches a predetermined time.

  Further, the above-described position specifying means includes a gun-type controller, and it is desirable that the arbitrary position on the screen specified by the position specifying means is the aiming position of the gun-type controller.

  Further, the position specifying means described above includes a dedicated controller equipped with a movement operation unit such as a cross cursor key, a joystick, etc., and the arbitrary position on the screen specified by the position specification means depends on the operation state of the movement operation unit. It is desirable that the display position of the indicator move on the screen.

  In addition, it is desirable that the character perform a specific action when the display position of the character is included in the first region including the arbitrary position specified by the position specifying means described above.

  In addition, it is desirable to cause the character to perform a specific action when the second region including the character display position described above includes an arbitrary position specified by the position specifying means.

  Further, based on the moving speed and moving direction of the arbitrary position specified by the position specifying means described above, the time until the arbitrary position reaches the vicinity of the character display position is predicted, and the predicted time is within a predetermined time. In this case, it is desirable to cause the character to perform a specific action.

  Further, it is desirable to variably set the content of the specific action to be performed after that according to the content of the action performed by the character before performing the above-described specific action.

  Further, it is desirable to calculate the distance between the arbitrary position specified by the position specifying means described above and the display position of the character, and to variably set the content of the specific action to be performed by the character according to the calculated distance.

  Further, it is desirable to calculate the moving speed of the arbitrary position specified by the position specifying means described above, and to variably set the content of the specific action to be performed by the character according to the calculated moving speed.

  Hereinafter, a game device according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a game device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic positional relationship of some components included in the game apparatus. The game device 100 shown in these drawings includes a gun-type controller 110, a camera 120, a display device 130, a coin insertion unit 140, a start button 150, a game calculation unit 160, an image generation unit 180, and a ROM 190.

  The gun-type controller 110 has a light emitting unit 112 and a trigger 114. The light emitting unit 112 emits light including an infrared wavelength component, and is configured by, for example, a semiconductor laser. The laser light emitted from the light emitting unit 112 is emitted from the muzzle unit 118 in a direction parallel to the barrel unit 116 of the gun-type controller 110.

  The trigger 114 is for the player to give a virtual bullet firing instruction. When the player performs an operation of pulling the trigger 114, the gun-type controller 110 is directed toward the game calculation unit 160. A trigger signal is output. The player sets the aiming position of the muzzle portion 118 of the gun-type controller 110 toward an enemy character or the like displayed on the screen 134 of the display device 130, and then pulls the trigger 114, whereby the gun-type controller 110 pulls the trigger 114. A virtual bullet is fired against an enemy character or the like displayed at the upper aiming position.

  The camera 120 is for photographing the screen 132. The screen 132 is formed of a translucent member, and is disposed at a position in front of the display device 130 and blocking the line of sight of the player who is looking at the screen 134 of the display device 130. The player can view the game image displayed on the screen 134 of the display device 130 through the screen 132. When laser light is emitted from the gun-type controller 110 toward an arbitrary position on the screen 134 of the display device 130, an image is formed by the laser light at the position of the screen 132 corresponding to the arbitrary position on the screen 134. The camera 120 shoots the entire screen 132 including the image to generate image data.

  The coin insertion unit 140 is a part where the player inserts coins. The start button 150 is for the player to instruct the start of the game.

  The game calculation unit 160 controls the entire game apparatus 100, and when a player inserts a coin into the coin insertion unit 140 and further presses the start button 150, the game program is read from the ROM 190 and executed. Thus, various game calculation processes for calculating the display position of an enemy character as a target are started, and the image generation unit 180 is instructed to generate a game image. In addition, the game calculation unit 160 determines whether or not the game is over. For example, the game calculation unit 160 measures the elapsed time from the start of the game calculation, and determines that the game is over when a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the game. When the game is over, the game calculation unit 160 ends a series of game calculation processes.

  The game calculation unit 160 includes an aim position calculation unit 162, an aim region setting unit 164, an action setting unit 166, a firing instruction determination unit 168, a hit determination unit 170, and a game effect unit 172.

  The aim position calculation unit 162 captures image data output from the camera 120 at a predetermined time interval, and based on this image data, determines the aim position of the gun-type controller 110 that is directed to an arbitrary position on the screen 134 by the player. calculate. Specifically, the imaging position on the screen 132 of the laser light emitted from the gun-type controller 110 is calculated from the image data output from the camera 120, and the aiming position on the screen 134 is calculated based on this imaging position. Is calculated.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of aiming position detection. As shown in the figure, when the player directs the muzzle portion 118 of the gun-type controller 110 toward the screen 134 of the display device 130, the laser light emitted from the muzzle portion 118 passes through the screen 132 and then passes through the screen 132. The aiming position B of the screen 134 is reached. The imaging position A on the screen 132 is calculated by photographing the screen 132 with the camera 120, and the aiming position B is calculated based on the imaging position A.

  The aiming area setting unit 164 sets a predetermined area including the aiming position (hereinafter referred to as “aiming area”) based on the aiming position on the screen calculated by the aiming position calculating unit 162. This aiming region corresponds to a first region set including the aiming position.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the aiming region. As shown in the figure, the aiming area setting unit 164 sets a rectangular area (area surrounded by a dotted line) centered on the aiming position B as the aiming area 202. The aiming area 202 is not limited to a rectangular shape, and may be an area having another shape. For example, a square or circular area around the aiming position may be used as the aiming area.

  The action setting unit 166 aims the display position of the enemy character based on the aiming region 202 set by the aiming region setting unit 164 and the position and shape of the enemy character on the screen 134 calculated by a predetermined game calculation. It is determined whether or not the area 202 is included.

  5 and 6 are diagrams showing the positional relationship between the enemy character 300 displayed on the screen 134 and the aiming area 202. FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, when the entire enemy character 300 is included in the aiming area 202, the action setting unit 166 determines that the display position of the enemy character 300 is included in the aiming area 202. In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, even when a part of the enemy character 300 is included in the aiming area 202, the action setting unit 166 determines that the display position of the enemy character 300 is included in the aiming area 202.

  In the above-described example, the case where a part and all of the enemy character 300 are included in the aiming area 202 as shown in FIG. 6 is treated equally, but only a part of the enemy character 300 is included in the aiming area 202. In such a case, the display position of the enemy character 300 may be handled as not included in the aiming area 202. Further, when the enemy character 300 has a complicated shape, or when the shape of the enemy character 300 changes from moment to moment, whether or not a part of the shape of the enemy character 300 is included in the aiming area 202. It is not easy to find out. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a rectangular area 302 having almost the same size as the enemy character 300 is set, and whether or not all or part of the rectangular area 302 is included in the aiming area 202 is determined. By making the determination, the arithmetic processing may be simplified. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a point C set inside (or outside) the enemy character 300 is temporarily set as the display position of the enemy character 300, and is this point C included in the aiming region 202? It is possible to further simplify the arithmetic processing by determining whether or not.

  Further, when the action setting unit 166 determines that the display position of the enemy character 300 is included in the aiming area 202, the action setting unit 166 outputs an instruction for causing the enemy character 300 to perform a specific action toward the game effect unit 172. As the specific action to be performed by the enemy character, for example, in the case of a shooting game in which a bullet is fired against the enemy character, the enemy character 300 is run in a direction away from the aiming position B (right direction in FIG. 7), For example, an action of running the enemy character 300 may be conceived in order to hide behind a shield that blocks the player's line of sight (the rock 304 existing below the aiming position B in FIG. 8). Alternatively, the enemy character 300 may have a frightened expression or behavior. When the enemy character 300 is not included in the aiming area 202, the action setting unit 166 does not give a special action instruction related to the specific action to the game effect part 172.

  The firing instruction determination unit 168 monitors the presence or absence of a trigger signal output from the gun-type controller 110. When the trigger signal is detected, the firing instruction determination unit 168 determines that a virtual bullet firing instruction has been issued by the player, and the firing instruction is issued. The signal is output to the hit determination unit 170.

  When the firing instruction signal is output from the firing instruction determining unit 168, the hit determining unit 170 determines the position and shape of the enemy character calculated by a predetermined game calculation and the aiming position detected by the aiming position calculating unit 162. Based on this, it is determined whether or not a virtual bullet has hit the enemy character. This hit determination is performed not only on the enemy character 300 existing near the aiming position B as shown in FIG. 5 but also on all enemy characters included in the screen 134. The result of the hit determination performed by the hit determination unit 170 in this way is sent to the game effect unit 172.

  The game directing unit 172 performs predetermined game calculations related to the shooting game of the present embodiment, thereby responding to the placement and movement of enemy characters, or the presence or absence of a virtual bullet hit from the gun-type controller 110. Various landing treatments are performed. For example, when a hit determination is not made by the hit determination unit 170 (when a shooting instruction signal is not output from the shooting instruction determination unit 168), a predetermined game calculation according to the game program is performed to cause an enemy character to appear. The process of moving is performed. When the hit determination unit 170 makes a hit determination, if the determination result is affirmative (if hit), the enemy character type that the bullet hit is injured, damaged, or explodes. On the other hand, if the result of the determination is negative (no hit), the landing process such as leaving a landing mark on the landed ground or other background is performed.

  In addition, when an instruction for causing the enemy character 300 to perform a specific action is sent from the action setting unit 166, the game rendering unit 172 enters the aiming region 202 even if the hit determination by the hit determination unit 170 is not made. A process for performing a specific action only on the enemy character 300 including the display position is performed. This process is performed for each enemy character 300 when the display position of the plurality of enemy characters 300 is included in the aiming area 202. In this way, when the display positions of a plurality of enemy characters 300 are included in the aiming area 202, the specific actions to be performed by the enemy characters 300 do not have to be the same, and the contents of the specific actions are individually Is set. For example, when the display positions of three enemy characters A, B, and C are included in the aiming area 202, the enemy character A is caused to move away from the aiming position, and the enemy character B is obstructed. The enemy character C may be intimidated by the action of hiding the enemy character C. Which type of specific action is to be performed by which enemy character may be set randomly each time, or may be set in advance for each enemy character.

  The image generation unit 180 generates a predetermined game image in response to an image generation instruction output from the game calculation unit 160. The generated game image is displayed on the screen 134 of the display device 130. Specifically, the 3D game space is composed of various 2D or 3D objects corresponding to enemy characters, backgrounds, etc., and includes the arrangement, orientation, virtual viewpoint position, etc. of these objects. An image generation instruction is sent from the game effect unit 172 to the image generation unit 180. The image generation unit 180 performs perspective projection conversion based on the designated viewpoint position, and generates a game image for one screen corresponding to the screen 134 of the display device 130. The game image generation operation is performed at a predetermined time interval (for example, every 1/60 seconds), and the game image displayed on the display device 130 is updated at this time interval.

  The gun-type controller 110, the camera 120, the screen 132, and the aiming position calculation unit 162 described above are used as position specifying means, the aiming region setting unit 164 and the action setting unit 166 are used as character action setting means, and the image generation unit 180 and the display device 130 are used. Each corresponds to a display means.

  Next, the operation of the game device of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the game apparatus 100. The game calculation unit 160 determines whether or not a coin has been inserted into the coin insertion unit 140 by the player (step 100). If a coin is inserted, the game calculation unit 160 next determines whether or not the start button 150 has been pressed by the player (step 101). When the start button 150 is pressed, the game calculation unit 160 executes a game program stored in the ROM 190 and starts a shooting game (step 102).

  When the game is started, the image generation unit 180 generates a game image including various objects such as an enemy character and a background based on the image generation instruction output from the game calculation unit 172, and displays the game image on the display device 130. (Step 103). The camera 120 captures an image of the screen 132 disposed in front of the display device 130 (step 104).

  Next, the aim position calculation unit 162 calculates the aim position based on the image data output from the camera 120 that captured the screen 132 (step 105), and whether or not the aim position is included in the screen 134. Is determined (step 106). In the game apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the aiming position can be detected regardless of the operation state of the trigger 114 provided in the gun-type controller 110. Therefore, when the aiming position is not included in the screen 134, the player This is a case where the muzzle portion 118 of the gun-type controller 110 is not held toward the screen 134 of the display device 130. In this case, a negative determination is made in step 106, and the game rendering unit 172 determines each object in the game space. After the movement or event generation processing based on the game program is performed, the processing in step 103 (game image generation / display processing) and subsequent steps are repeated.

  If the aiming position is included in the screen 134, an affirmative determination is made in step 106 described above, and the game rendering unit 172 then determines whether or not a virtual bullet has been fired from the gun-type controller 110. Determination is made (step 107). This determination is performed by examining whether or not a firing instruction signal is output from the firing instruction determination unit 168. If a bullet has been fired, an affirmative determination is made in the determination processing of step 107, and the game effect section 172 performs landing processing of the fired bullet (step 108). As described above, the content of the landing process differs depending on whether or not the shot bullet has hit the enemy character, and the landing process according to the result of the hit determination by the hit determination unit 170 is performed.

After the bullet firing determination process (step 107) and the landing process (step 108), or in parallel with these processes, the aiming area setting unit 164 aims at a predetermined rectangular area centered on the aiming position. The area 202 is set (step 109). Next, the motion setting unit 166 determines whether or not the enemy character display position is included in the aiming region 202 set by the aiming region setting unit 164 (step 110). If it is included, the action setting unit 166 sends an instruction to perform a specific action corresponding to the enemy character to the game effect unit 172 (step 111). Receiving this instruction, the game rendering unit 172 performs a game calculation for causing the enemy character included in the aiming area 202 to perform a specific action (step 112).

  When the display position of the enemy character is not included in the aiming area 202, or when the enemy character display position is included, and the processing for causing the enemy character to perform the specific action is completed, the processing of the above-described step 103 (game image generation / Display processing) and subsequent steps are repeated.

  As described above, the game apparatus 100 of the present embodiment detects the aiming position at any time or at any time regardless of the operation state of the trigger 114 provided in the gun-type controller 110, and sets the aiming area 202 around it. Then, when the enemy character display position is included in the aiming area 202, an instruction for causing the enemy character to perform a specific action is sent from the action setting unit 166 to the game effect unit 172, and the specific action is executed. Therefore, when the player changes the direction of the muzzle portion 118 of the gun-type controller 110 to move the aiming position and aligns the aiming position with the enemy character on the screen 134, the enemy character escapes, hides, or barks. It is possible to produce a game that takes various actions, and to enhance the realistic sensation of the game.

  By the way, in the description of the present embodiment described above, the content of the specific action that the enemy character performs when the display position of the enemy character is included in the aiming area is the action content that the enemy character is performing at that time. Although they are set independently, they may be associated with each other. That is, the content of the specific action to be executed next may be made different depending on the action of the targeted enemy character at that time. In this case, the action setting unit 166 determines the action content of the enemy character included in the aiming area 202, determines the content of the specific action in consideration of the determination result, and specifies the action effect part 172. Give instructions to perform the action. Actually, the action setting unit 166 only determines whether or not the display position of the enemy character is included in the aiming area 202, and the game effect unit 172 determines the content of the specific action according to the action content of the enemy character. May be set.

  As a specific example of the specific action in which the content is variably set, for example, if an enemy character in battle is loading a bullet into a gun, it cannot fight back against the attack from the player. On the other hand, when a bullet is loaded on the enemy character's gun and the posture of fighting back is maintained, an action to respond to the attack from the player is performed. In this manner, by setting the action content when the aiming position approaches according to the action content of the enemy character at that point in time, a more natural action pattern can be realized, and the realistic feeling can be further increased. Can be increased.

  Further, the content of the specific action to be performed by the enemy character may be variably set according to the distance between the display position of the enemy character and the aiming position. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a game apparatus that variably sets a specific action to be performed by the enemy character in consideration of the distance between the display position of the enemy character and the aiming position. The game apparatus 100a shown in the figure is different from the game apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 in that a distance calculation unit 174 is added. The distance calculation unit 174 corresponds to a distance calculation unit.

  The distance calculation unit 174 calculates a distance between the enemy character display position calculated by the game effect unit 172 and the aim position calculated by the aim position calculation unit 162. When the enemy character display position is included in the aiming area 202, the action setting unit 166 performs the action on the enemy character based on the distance between the enemy character display position calculated by the distance calculating unit 174 and the aiming position. The content of the specific action to be set is set, and an action instruction corresponding to the set action content is sent to the game effect unit 172. The game effect unit 172 causes the enemy character to perform the specified specific action according to the action instruction sent from the action setting unit 166.

  As a specific example of the specific action in which the content is variably set, for example, when the aiming position is relatively far from the display position of the enemy character, a specific action in which the enemy character escapes or is hidden by the shielding object is performed. Is close to the display position of the enemy character, a specific action for the enemy character to descend is performed. Alternatively, if only the action of the enemy character escaping from the aiming position is considered as the specific action, if the aiming position is relatively far from the display position of the enemy character, the enemy character slowly escapes and the aiming position is displayed of the enemy character. If it is close to the position, the enemy character performs a specific action to escape quickly. In this way, by setting the content of the specific action variably according to the distance between the display position of the enemy character and the aiming position, a more natural action pattern can be realized, and the game can be more realistic. Can be increased.

  Further, the content of the specific action to be performed by the enemy character may be variably set according to the moving speed of the aiming position. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a game apparatus that variably sets a specific action to be performed by an enemy character in consideration of the moving speed of the aiming position. The game apparatus 100b shown in the figure is different from the game apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 in that a moving speed calculation unit 176 is added. The movement speed calculation unit 176 corresponds to a speed calculation unit.

  The movement speed calculation unit 176 calculates the movement speed of the aim position based on the aim position calculated by the aim position calculation unit 162. When the enemy character display position is included in the aiming area 202, the action setting unit 166 determines the content of the specific action to be performed on the enemy character based on the moving speed of the aiming position calculated by the moving speed calculating unit 176. The operation instruction corresponding to the set operation content is sent to the game rendering unit 172. The game effect unit 172 causes the enemy character to perform the specified specific action according to the action instruction sent from the action setting unit 166.

  As a specific example of the specific action in which the content is variably set, for example, when the aiming position approaches the enemy character at a high speed, the enemy character escapes quickly, and when the aiming position approaches the enemy character slowly, the enemy character Let the character perform a specific action to escape slowly. Thus, by setting the content of the specific action variably according to the moving speed of the aiming position, a more natural action pattern can be realized, and the realistic sensation of the game can be further enhanced.

  In the above-described embodiment, while the enemy character display position is included in the aiming area 202, the enemy character is allowed to continuously perform a specific action. Even in the case of being included in 202, the continuous specific operation may be interrupted under certain conditions. For example, the action setting unit 166 measures the time after instructing the enemy character to perform the specific action hidden behind the shield, and performs this specific action when the measurement time reaches a predetermined time. You may make it perform the instruction | indication to interrupt.

  If the enemy character is hidden behind the shield and the aiming position does not move from the vicinity of the shield, the enemy character will not come out from behind the shield until the game develops. It will be less changeable and less interesting. Therefore, by sending an instruction from the action setting unit 166 to the game effect unit 172 so as to interrupt the specific action by the enemy character after a certain time has elapsed, the enemy character temporarily appears from the shield. Therefore, the player may perform an attack without missing the timing when the enemy character comes out of the shield. In this way, by temporarily interrupting the specific action to be performed by the enemy character, the game content can be changed, so that it is possible to increase the fun of the game.

  In the above-described embodiment, a rectangular area including the aiming position is set as the aiming area 202, and when the enemy character display position is included in the aiming area 202, the enemy character performs a specific action. However, a predetermined area including the display position of the enemy character may be set as the character area, and when the aiming position is included in the character area, the enemy character may be caused to perform a specific action. This character area corresponds to a second area formed including the display position of the enemy character.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a game device that sets a character area and causes an enemy character to perform a specific action. The game apparatus 100c shown in the figure is different from the game apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 in that a character area setting unit 178 is newly added and an aiming area setting unit 164 is deleted.

  The character area setting unit 178 sets a predetermined rectangular area including the display position as the character area based on the display position of the enemy character set by the game effect unit 172. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a specific example of the character area set on the screen 134. As shown in the figure, the character area setting unit 178 sets a rectangular area including the enemy character 300 as the character area 302. As in the case of the aiming area 202, the character area 302 may be set to an area having a predetermined shape (square or circle) other than a rectangle.

  The action setting unit 166 determines whether or not the aiming position is included in the character region 302 based on the character region 302 set by the character region setting unit 178 and the aiming position calculated by the aiming position calculating unit 162. To do. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between the character region 302 set on the screen 134 and the aiming position B. As shown in FIG. The action setting unit 166 determines whether the aim position B is included in the character area 302 as shown in FIG. 14 or whether the aim position B is not included in the character area 302 as shown in FIG. When a plurality of enemy characters 300 are displayed on the screen 134, the character area 302 is set corresponding to each enemy character 300. In this case, the size, shape, and the like of the corresponding character area 302 may be variably set according to the size and type of the enemy character 300.

  When the aiming position B is included in the character area 302, the action setting unit 166 sends an action instruction for causing the enemy character 300 to perform a specific action to the game effect part 172. Upon receiving this action instruction, the game effect section 172 performs a game calculation that causes the enemy character 300 to perform a specific action. The content of the specific action is the same as the case where the enemy character 300 is caused to perform the specific action using the aiming area 202 described above. In the case of a shooting game, at least the action of the enemy character 300 running away, hiding, or barking. included. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, when the aiming position B is included in the character area 302 and the aiming position B is in the left direction of the enemy character 300, the action setting unit 166 displays the enemy character 300. Gives an instruction to the game effect unit 172 to perform a specific action of escaping right on the screen 134. As a result, as shown in FIG. 15, a game effect in which the enemy character 300 moves to a position separated from the aiming position B is performed by the game effect unit 172.

  As described above, in the game device 100 c shown in FIG. 12, when the character region 302 is set around the enemy character 300 by the character region setting unit 178 and the aiming position B is included in the character region 302. An instruction to cause the enemy character 300 to perform a specific action is sent from the action setting unit 166 to the game effect unit 172, and the specific action is executed. Therefore, when the player changes the direction of the muzzle portion 118 of the gun-type controller 110 to move the aiming position and aligns the aiming position with the enemy character on the screen, the enemy character escapes, hides, or barks. It is possible to produce a game that takes natural action to enhance the realism of the game.

  In the various game devices described above, the aiming area 202 is set around the aiming position, or the character area 302 is set around the enemy character, and the display position and aiming position of the enemy character are in each of these areas. When included, the enemy character is caused to perform a specific action, but the time until the aiming position moves and reaches the vicinity of the enemy character is predicted, and this predicted time is within a predetermined time Sometimes the enemy character may perform a specific action.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a game device that calculates an estimated time until the aiming position moves and reaches the vicinity of the enemy character and causes the enemy character to perform a specific action. The game device 100d shown in the figure is different from the game device 100 shown in FIG. 1 in that a predicted time calculation unit 182 is added and an aiming region setting unit 164 is deleted. The predicted time calculation unit 182 corresponds to arrival time predicting means.

  The predicted time calculation unit 182 divides the entire screen 134 into a plurality of parts, and predicts the time until the divided area including the aiming position matches the divided area (corresponding to the third area) including the enemy character. FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a prediction time calculation method by the prediction time calculation unit 182. In the example shown in FIG. 17, the predicted time calculation unit 182 divides the vertical direction of the screen 134 by about 5 and the horizontal direction by 8 and based on the aim position B calculated by the aim position calculation unit 162. A divided area A-2 including the position B is obtained. Assuming that the aiming position B is included in the divided area A-1 t seconds before, the predicted time calculation unit 182 performs four divisions including the enemy character 300 when the aiming position B moves. It is determined whether or not one of the areas A-3, A-4, A-5, and A-6 is reached, and if it reaches, it calculates how much time it takes. In the example shown in FIG. 17, the divided area A-3 that the aiming position B reaches after t seconds is one of the four divided areas including the enemy character 300, and therefore the aiming position B is calculated by the predicted time calculation unit 182. The predicted time t until the character reaches the vicinity of the enemy character 300 is calculated. When the predicted time calculated by the predicted time calculator 182 is within a predetermined time, the action setting unit 166 sends an instruction for causing the enemy character 300 to perform a specific action to the game effect unit 172. Upon receiving this instruction, the game rendering unit 172 causes the corresponding enemy character 300 to perform a specific action.

  In this way, the time until the aiming position B reaches the vicinity of the enemy character 300 is predicted, and when the predicted time is within a predetermined time, an instruction for causing the enemy character 300 to perform a specific action is received from the action setting unit 166. It is sent to the game effect part 172, and specific operation | movement is performed. Therefore, when the player changes the direction of the muzzle portion 118 of the gun-type controller 110 to move the aiming position and aligns the aiming position with the enemy character on the screen, the enemy character escapes, hides, or barks. It is possible to produce a game that takes natural action to enhance the realism of the game.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation implementation is possible within the range of the summary of this invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the commercial game apparatus 100 using the gun-type controller 110 has been described. However, instead of using the gun-type controller 110, a dedicated controller having a movement operation unit such as a cross cursor key or a joystick is used. The present invention may be applied to a home game device. In this case, the display position of a specific index that moves on the screen 134 in accordance with the operation state of the movement operation unit may be handled in the same manner as the above-described aiming position. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a game apparatus 100e using a dedicated controller equipped with a cross cursor key, and shows a state where a home game apparatus 100e and an external display device 400 are connected. ing.

  In FIG. 18, the dedicated controller 500 connected to the game apparatus 100e is used for the cross cursor key 510 necessary for moving the position of the index 412 displayed on the screen 410 of the display apparatus 400, various instruction inputs, and the like. And a push button switch 520 to be used. When a shooting game is performed using the dedicated controller 500, the aiming position can be adjusted to an arbitrary position on the screen 410 by operating the cross cursor key 510 to move the index 412 on the screen 410. Thus, by pressing the push button switch 520 in a state where the aiming position is set to the enemy character, a virtual bullet can be fired against the enemy character. Therefore, in the game apparatus 100e to which the present invention is applied, when the player operates the cross cursor key of the dedicated controller 500 to bring the index 412 on the screen 410 closer to the enemy character, the enemy character performs a specific action. As described above, the game calculation is performed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the aiming position on the screen 134 is calculated by photographing the imaging position of the laser light emitted from the muzzle portion 118 of the gun-type controller 110 with the camera 120. A mechanism for calculating or detecting the aiming position on 134 may use other methods. For example, a fixed-seat type gun-type controller partially constrained to a housing or the like may be used, and the aiming position on the screen may be determined based on the direction of the barrel portion of the gun-type controller. Alternatively, when a raster scanning display device is used, the light receiving unit is provided in the gun-type controller and the entire screen is illuminated, and the time until the arbitrary position on the screen where the muzzle portion is directed is measured to measure the arbitrary position. The aiming position on the screen may be determined by repeating the process of detecting the image at predetermined time intervals.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, as the specific action to be performed by the enemy character, the avoidance action away from the aiming position is considered, so that it becomes difficult to shoot the enemy character and the difficulty of the game increases. On the other hand, the difficulty level of the game may be lowered by causing the enemy character to perform an action such as approaching the aiming position. In this case, even if the player is a beginner, it becomes easy to shoot enemy characters, so that such a player can be more interesting and satisfying.

  In the above-described embodiment, the game device that performs a shooting game has been described. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to game devices that perform other types of games. For example, in a game device that shoots a subject as a display object on a screen with a camera, the center position of the shooting range is detected as an arbitrary position instructed by the player based on the direction of the lens of the camera. As shown, a predetermined range centered on the arbitrary position D is set as the shooting range 502.

  Consider a case in which a game rule is set in this game device in which a score is added when a specific subject is photographed from many subjects. In this case, as shown in FIG. 20, when a specific subject 504 is included in the shooting range 502, other subjects 506 and 508 are moved into the shooting range 502 as shown in FIG. In addition, a specific action is performed on a character corresponding to another subject 506 or the like. For this reason, it is not easy to shoot including only the specific subject 504 in the shooting range 502, and a game for competing for time until shooting only the subject 504 can be realized.

  Also, consider a case where a subject takes a pose that makes this part look the most beautiful when a specific part (for example, a leg) of the subject is included in the imaging range. As shown in FIG. 23, when the subject's leg 510 is included in the shooting range 502, or when an arbitrary position D corresponding to the center of the lens overlaps the subject's leg 510, The subject may be caused to perform a specific operation to change the pose so that 510 looks the most beautiful.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the game device of one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the schematic positional relationship of the one part structure contained in the game device shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the detection of an aim position. It is a figure which shows the specific example of an aim area | region. It is a figure which shows an example of the positional relationship of an enemy character and an aim area | region. It is a figure which shows the other example of the positional relationship of an enemy character and an aim area | region. It is a figure which shows an example of the specific operation | movement which an enemy character performs. It is a figure which shows the other example of specific action which an enemy character performs. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of a game device. It is a figure which shows the structure of the game device which sets the specific operation | movement which an enemy character performs taking into consideration the distance of the display position of an enemy character, and an aim position. It is a figure which shows the structure of the game device which variably sets the specific action which an enemy character performs in consideration of the moving speed of an aim position. It is a figure which shows the structure of the game device which sets a character area and makes an enemy character perform specific action. It is a figure which shows the specific example of a character area. It is a figure which shows an example of the positional relationship of a character area | region and an aim position. It is a figure which shows the other example of the positional relationship of a character area | region and an aim position. It is a figure which shows the structure of the game device which calculates the prediction time until an aim position is moving and reaches the vicinity of an enemy character, and makes an enemy character perform specific action. It is a figure which shows the calculation method of prediction time. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the game device using the exclusive controller provided with the cross cursor key. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting of an imaging | photography range. It is a figure which shows an example of the image which included the specific to-be-photographed object in the imaging | photography range. It is a figure which shows the other example of the image which included another to-be-photographed object in the imaging | photography range. It is a figure which shows an example of the image which included the leg of the to-be-photographed object in the imaging | photography range. It is a figure which shows the other example of the image which included the leg of the to-be-photographed object in the imaging | photography range.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Game apparatus 110 Gun type controller 120 Camera 130 Display apparatus 132 Screen 160 Game calculating part 162 Aiming position calculation part 164 Aiming area setting part 166 Operation setting part 172 Game effect part

Claims (22)

Display means for displaying a game image including a character on the screen;
Position specifying means for specifying an arbitrary position on the screen by a predetermined operation;
When the arbitrary position specified by the position specifying means approaches the display position of the character displayed on the screen, the character is caused to perform a specific action, and the specific action is interrupted under a certain condition. Character action setting means for causing
A game apparatus comprising: In claim 1,
The game apparatus, wherein the character action setting means interrupts the specified action under the certain condition when the specified action is continuously performed. In claim 1 or 2,
The game apparatus characterized in that the character action setting means measures the duration of the specific action and interrupts the specific action when the measurement time reaches a predetermined time. In any one of Claims 1-3,
The position specifying means includes a gun-type controller,
The game apparatus, wherein the arbitrary position on the screen designated by the position designation means is an aiming position of the gun-type controller. In any one of Claims 1-4,
The position specifying means includes a dedicated controller equipped with a movement operation unit such as a cross cursor key and a joystick.
2. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arbitrary position on the screen specified by the position specifying means is a display position of an index that moves on the screen in accordance with an operation state of the movement operation unit. In any one of Claims 1-5,
The character action setting means causes the character to perform a specific action when a display position of the character is included in a first area including the arbitrary position specified by the position specifying means. Game device to play. In any one of Claims 1-5,
The character action setting means causes the character to perform a specific action when the arbitrary position specified by the position specifying means is included in a second area including the display position of the character. Game device to play. In any one of Claims 1-5,
It further comprises arrival time prediction means for predicting the time until the arbitrary position reaches the vicinity of the display position of the character based on the moving speed and moving direction of the arbitrary position specified by the position specifying means. ,
The game apparatus characterized in that the character action setting means causes the character to perform a specific action when the time predicted by the arrival time prediction means is within a predetermined time. In any one of Claims 1-8,
The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the character action setting means variably sets the contents of the specific action to be performed after that according to the contents of the action performed by the character before performing the specific action. In any one of Claims 1-9,
A distance calculating means for calculating a distance between the arbitrary position specified by the position specifying means and the display position of the character;
The game apparatus, wherein the character action setting means variably sets the content of the specific action to be performed by the character in accordance with the distance calculated by the distance calculation means. In any one of Claims 1-9,
A speed calculating means for calculating a moving speed of the arbitrary position specified by the position specifying means;
The game apparatus characterized in that the character action setting means variably sets the content of the specific action to be performed by the character according to the moving speed calculated by the speed calculating means. Displaying a game image including the character on the screen of the display means;
Specify an arbitrary position on the screen by a predetermined operation using a position specifying means,
When the arbitrary position specified by the position specifying means approaches the display position of the character displayed on the screen, the character is caused to perform a specific action, and the specific action is interrupted under a certain condition. And a character action setting method. In claim 12,
A character action setting method, wherein, when the specific action is continuously performed, the specific action is interrupted under the certain condition. In claim 12 or 13,
A character action setting method, characterized in that the duration of the specific action is measured, and the specific action is interrupted when the measurement time reaches a predetermined time. In any one of Claims 12-14,
The position specifying means includes a gun-type controller,
The character motion setting method, wherein the arbitrary position on the screen specified by the position specifying means is an aiming position of the gun-type controller. In any one of Claims 12-15,
The position specifying means includes a dedicated controller equipped with a movement operation unit such as a cross cursor key and a joystick.
The character motion setting method, wherein the arbitrary position on the screen specified by the position specifying means is a display position of an indicator that moves on the screen in accordance with an operation state of the movement operation unit. In any one of Claims 12-16,
A character motion setting method, wherein the character performs a specific motion when the display position of the character is included in the first area including the arbitrary position specified by the position specifying means. In any one of Claims 12-16,
A character action setting method, wherein the character is caused to perform a specific action when the second position including the character display position includes the arbitrary position specified by the position specifying means. In any one of Claims 12-16,
Based on the moving speed and moving direction of the arbitrary position specified by the position specifying means, predicting the time until the arbitrary position reaches the vicinity of the display position of the character,
A character action setting method, characterized by causing the character to perform a specific action when the predicted time is within a predetermined time. In any one of Claims 12-19,
A character action setting method characterized by variably setting the contents of the specific action to be performed after that according to the contents of the action performed by the character before performing the specific action. In any one of Claims 12-20,
Calculating the distance between the arbitrary position specified by the position specifying means and the display position of the character;
A character action setting method characterized by variably setting the content of the specific action to be performed by the character in accordance with the calculated distance. In any one of Claims 12-20,
Calculating the moving speed of the arbitrary position specified by the position specifying means;
A character action setting method characterized by variably setting the content of the specific action to be performed by the character in accordance with the calculated moving speed.

Images