JP2011183070A - Game device, operation method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game device, an operation method, and a program, suitable for restricting fatigue of user's eyes while watching three-dimensional images. <P>SOLUTION: Based on two sets of positions of viewpoints and positions of projection surfaces stored in a memory part 201, a production part 202 repeatedly produces two game images by projecting pictures in a virtual space as seen from the respective viewpoints on the corresponding projection surfaces. The two viewpoints are apart from each other by only a little prescribed distance, and a display part 203 displays the two game images every time they are produced in accordance with a three-dimensional view system. An update part 204 updates the memory part 201 to put the positions of the viewpoints closer to each other in accordance with the progress of a game. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a game device, an operation method, and a program suitable for suppressing fatigue of the eyes of a user viewing a stereoscopic image.

  Conventionally, a technique for generating a stereoscopically viewable stereoscopic image using binocular parallax has been proposed. Such a technique typically generates a stereoscopic image by generating an image of an object viewed from a slightly shifted position for the right eye and the left eye. Patent Document 1 shown below discloses a technique for providing such a stereoscopic image.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-075300

  However, as in the case where the planar image is continuously viewed, the user's eyes are fatigued when the stereoscopic image is continuously viewed. Therefore, there is a demand for a technique for suppressing the burden on the eyes of the player in a game using a stereoscopic image.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a game device, an operation method, and a program suitable for suppressing fatigue of the eyes of a user who views a stereoscopic image. To do.

  In order to achieve the above object, a game apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is a game apparatus that provides a player with a game using a plurality of objects arranged in a virtual space, and includes a storage unit, a generation unit And a display unit and an update unit.

  First, the storage unit stores the positions of a plurality of objects, and stores two sets of viewpoint positions, projection plane positions, and orientations arranged in the virtual space. For each of the two sets stored, the generation unit performs perspective projection of the positions of the plurality of objects at the stored positions using each of the pair of viewpoints and the projection plane of the pair, The process of generating two game images is repeated.

  Here, the viewpoint is a virtual camera existing in the virtual space looking at the three-dimensional virtual space. The projection plane is a plane in the virtual space for drawing a game image by perspectively projecting a state in which the three-dimensional virtual space is viewed from the viewpoint in the direction of the line of sight. Typically, the projection plane spreads perpendicularly to the line-of-sight vector with a vector (line-of-sight vector) indicating the direction of the line of sight as the center. When zooming in, the projection plane moves in parallel so as to approach the object to be photographed in the three-dimensional space (away from the viewpoint), and away from the object to be photographed when zooming out (so as to approach the viewpoint). Translate. When the direction of the line-of-sight vector is changed (that is, when the virtual camera is panned in any of the upper, lower, left, and right directions), the direction of the projection plane also changes according to the direction of the line-of-sight vector.

  Therefore, the position and orientation of the projection plane can be calculated from the position of the camera and the direction of the line of sight. The position of the camera and the direction of the line of sight are specified by the game program according to the progress of the game. Or you may designate by the instruction | indication of a player.

  Note that two sets of viewpoints and projection planes are prepared in order to provide a three-dimensional game image to the player. And the position in the virtual space of each viewpoint is memorize | stored in a memory | storage part slightly apart only predetermined distance so that parallax may arise. At this time, the distance between the viewpoint and the projection plane, that is, the length of the perpendicular line dropped from the viewpoint to the projection plane is equal in both sets. Further, since the distances between the viewpoints are short, the perpendiculars dropped from the viewpoint to the projection plane are almost parallel. Therefore, the line connecting the viewpoints and the perpendicular line dropped from the viewpoint to the projection plane are almost orthogonal. The generation unit generates two game images by projecting a state in which the virtual space is viewed from each viewpoint onto a projection plane corresponding to each viewpoint.

  The display unit displays the two game images on the screen every time two game images are generated. For example, the display unit may output the images for the right eye and the left eye on a screen (such as a monitor) so as to be alternately arranged one line vertically. On the other hand, the screen has a configuration in which, for example, a filter called a parallax barrier with a slit in the vertical direction is superimposed. The player can see different images for each eye by viewing the images displayed by the display unit through the parallax barrier. Thereby, stereoscopic vision becomes possible.

  The update unit updates the storage unit so that the two viewpoints approach each other as the game progresses after the game is started to be provided to the player. That is, in the initial state immediately after the game is started, the two viewpoints are arranged slightly apart by a predetermined distance. The update unit updates the storage unit so that the distance between the viewpoints gradually approaches as the game progresses. Thereby, the parallax by the two images generated by the generation unit is reduced, and the image displayed by the display unit approaches a planar image. Typically, viewing a planar image is less burdensome on human eyes than viewing a stereoscopic image. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the eyestrain of the player by bringing the two viewpoints closer as the game progresses.

  The distance between the two viewpoints may be determined based on the play time by the player. As described above, the update unit updates the storage unit to bring the two viewpoints closer as the game progresses. At this time, the degree of progress of the game is determined based on the time when the player actually played the game. In this way, it is possible to suppress the eyestrain of the player by bringing the two viewpoints closer according to the time at which the player has played the game.

  The game may be composed of a plurality of stages. The distance between the two viewpoints may be determined based on the number of stages that have been cleared since the player started playing.

  Here, the stage is an event defined in the game, for example, when a character in the game defeats an enemy boss character or obtains an item. When the player clears the stage, the update unit updates the distance between the two viewpoints stored in the storage unit. In other words, as the number of stages that have been cleared since the player has started playing increases, the distance between the two viewpoints is updated so that the fatigue of the eyes of the player can be suppressed.

  In addition, the game device may further include a controller that receives an input to the game from the player. The distance between the two viewpoints may be determined based on the number of inputs accepted by the controller.

  Here, the input received by the controller is, for example, an instruction to shoot a gun bullet in the case of a shooting game, or an instruction to operate a character in the case of a role playing game. Therefore, it can be determined that the more the number of inputs received by the controller, the longer the player is playing and the eyes are getting tired. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the eyestrain of the player by bringing the two viewpoints closer as the player inputs more.

  Further, the update unit may update the storage unit so that the distance between the two viewpoints is returned to a predetermined specified value when the controller does not accept the input for a predetermined threshold time. In other words, if the input from the controller is not accepted for a while, it is considered that the player is resting during that time. Therefore, in such a case, the update unit returns the distance between the two viewpoints to a predetermined specified value. Thereby, the game image is displayed three-dimensionally, and it becomes possible to provide the player with a powerful game again.

  The update unit may update the storage unit to return the distance between the two viewpoints to a predetermined specified value when a predetermined grace period elapses after the distance between the two viewpoints reaches a predetermined minimum value. .

  Here, when the distance between the two viewpoints reaches a predetermined minimum value, an image closer to a planar image is provided. Therefore, it is considered that the player was able to rest his eyes when the predetermined grace time elapsed after the distance between the two viewpoints became the predetermined minimum value. Therefore, in this case, the update unit returns the distance between the two viewpoints to a predetermined specified value. As a result, the game image is displayed again three-dimensionally, and a powerful game can be provided to the player.

  An operation method according to another aspect of the present invention is an operation method by a game device that provides a player with a game using a plurality of objects arranged in a virtual space. Here, the game apparatus stores a plurality of object positions, a storage unit that stores two sets of viewpoint positions, projection plane positions, and orientations arranged in the virtual space, a generation unit, a display And an updating unit.

  In the operation method, in the generation step, for each of the two stored sets, the generation unit uses a pair of viewpoints and the pair of projection planes to determine a plurality of objects at the stored positions. The process of generating two game images is repeated by performing perspective projection. In the display process, each time two game images are generated, the display unit displays the two game images on the screen. In the update process, the update unit updates the storage unit so that the two viewpoints approach each other as the game progresses after the game starts to be provided to the player.

  A program according to another aspect of the present invention is configured to cause a computer to function as the game device.

  The program of the present invention can be recorded on a computer-readable information recording medium such as a compact disk, flexible disk, hard disk, magneto-optical disk, digital video disk, magnetic tape, and semiconductor memory. The above program can be distributed and sold via a computer communication network independently of the computer on which the program is executed. The information recording medium can be distributed and sold independently of the computer.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a game device, an operation method, and a program suitable for suppressing fatigue of the eyes of a user viewing a stereoscopic image.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the typical information processing apparatus with which the game device which concerns on this embodiment is implement | achieved. It is a figure for demonstrating the functional structure of the game device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship of two viewpoints and a projection surface. (A), (B) is a figure which shows a mode that it approaches a plane image, when parallax is lost. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement process of the game device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the stereo image implement | achieved by the parallax barrier system. (A), (B) is a figure which shows a mode that the position of a projection surface is moved similarly to a viewpoint. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement process of the game device which concerns on other embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement process of the game device which concerns on other embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the table which defines the distance between the viewpoints concerning another modification.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In the following, for ease of understanding, an embodiment in which the present invention is realized using a game information processing device will be described. However, the embodiment described below is for explanation, and the present invention is described. It does not limit the range. Therefore, those skilled in the art can employ embodiments in which each or all of these elements are replaced with equivalent ones, and these embodiments are also included in the scope of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a typical information processing apparatus 100 that performs the functions of the game apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention by executing a program. Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to FIG.

  The information processing apparatus 100 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 101, a read only memory (ROM) 102, a random access memory (RAM) 103, an interface 104, a controller unit 105, an external memory 106, and an image processing unit. 107, a DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disc ROM) drive 108, a NIC (Network Interface Card) 109, and an audio processing unit 110.

  When a DVD-ROM storing a game program and data is loaded into the DVD-ROM drive 108 and the game apparatus 100 is turned on, the program is executed and the terminal device of this embodiment is realized. .

  The CPU 101 controls the overall operation of the information processing apparatus 100 and is connected to each component to exchange control signals and data. Further, the CPU 101 uses arithmetic operations such as addition / subtraction / multiplication / division, logical sum, logical product, etc. using an ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit) (not shown) for a storage area called a register (not shown) that can be accessed at high speed. , Logic operations such as logical negation, bit operations such as bit sum, bit product, bit inversion, bit shift, and bit rotation can be performed. In addition, the CPU 101 itself is configured so that saturation operations such as addition / subtraction / multiplication / division for multimedia processing, vector operations such as trigonometric functions, etc. can be performed at a high speed, and those provided with a coprocessor. There is.

  The ROM 102 stores an IPL (Initial Program Loader) that is executed immediately after the power is turned on. When the CPU 101 executes this IPL, the program recorded on the DVD-ROM is read to the RAM 103, and execution by the CPU 101 is started. The ROM 102 stores an operating system program and various data necessary for operation control of the entire information processing apparatus 100.

  The RAM 103 is for temporarily storing data and programs. The program and data read from the DVD-ROM and other data necessary for game progress and chat communication are held. Further, the CPU 101 provides a variable area in the RAM 103 and performs an operation by directly operating the ALU on the value stored in the variable, or temporarily stores the value stored in the RAM 103 in the register. Perform operations such as performing operations on registers and writing back the operation results to memory.

  The controller unit 105 wirelessly connected via the interface 104 includes an input device 105a and a sensor bar 105b. Here, the input device 105a includes an acceleration sensor (not shown) and the like, and when the input device 105a is shaken, the information of acceleration generated by the operation is received by wireless communication.

  The sensor bar 105b is a member attached to a monitor to which an image processing unit 107 described later is connected. The sensor bar 105b typically includes a plurality (for example, two or more) of LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) 105b 'that emit light in a predetermined frequency band such as infrared rays. On the other hand, the input device 105a further includes a sensor such as a CMOS sensor (infrared camera) (not shown) that detects infrared rays. The interface 104 further receives the position detected on the sensor of the infrared rays emitted from the two or more LEDs 105b 'mounted on the sensor bar 105b from the input device 105a by wireless communication. Based on the relationship between two or more positions on the received sensor, the CPU 101 estimates the direction pointed to (pointed to) by the input device 105a.

  The external memory 106 detachably connected via the interface 104 stores data indicating game play status (past results, etc.), data indicating the progress of the game, and log of chat communication in a network battle ( Data) is stored in a rewritable manner. The player can appropriately record these data in the external memory 106 by inputting an instruction via the controller unit 105.

  The image processing unit 107 processes the data read from the DVD-ROM by an image arithmetic processor (not shown) included in the CPU 101 or the image processing unit 107, and then processes the processed data on a frame memory ( (Not shown). The image information recorded in the frame memory is converted into a video signal at a predetermined synchronization timing and output to a monitor (not shown) connected to the image processing unit 107. Thereby, various image displays are possible.

  A DVD-ROM mounted on the DVD-ROM drive 108 stores a program for realizing the game and image data and audio data associated with the game. Under the control of the CPU 101, the DVD-ROM drive 108 performs a reading process on the DVD-ROM loaded therein, reads out necessary programs and data, and these are temporarily stored in the RAM 103 or the like.

  Further, the image calculation processor can execute a two-dimensional image overlay calculation, a transmission calculation such as α blending, and various saturation calculations at high speed.

  In addition, when the virtual space is configured in three dimensions, polygon information that is arranged in the three-dimensional space and to which various texture information is added is rendered by the Z buffer method, and a predetermined viewpoint position is used. It is also possible to perform a high-speed execution of a calculation for obtaining a rendering image obtained by looking down at a polygon arranged in the virtual space in a predetermined line-of-sight direction.

  Further, the CPU 101 and the image arithmetic processor cooperate to draw a character string as a two-dimensional image in the frame memory or draw it on the surface of each polygon according to the font information that defines the character shape. Is possible.

  The NIC 109 is used to connect the information processing apparatus 100 to a computer communication network (not shown) such as the Internet, and is based on the 10BASE-T / 100BASE-T standard used when configuring a LAN (Local Area Network). To connect to the Internet using an analog modem, ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) modem, ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) modem, cable television line A cable modem or the like and an interface (not shown) that mediates between these and the CPU 101 are configured.

  The audio processing unit 110 converts audio data read from the DVD-ROM into an analog audio signal and outputs the analog audio signal from a speaker (not shown) connected thereto. Further, under the control of the CPU 101, sound effects and music data to be generated during the progress of the game are generated, and sound corresponding to this is output from the speaker.

  When the audio data recorded on the DVD-ROM is MIDI data, the audio processing unit 110 converts the MIDI data into PCM data with reference to the sound source data included in the audio data. If the compressed audio data is in ADPCM format or Ogg Vorbis format, it is expanded and converted to PCM data. The PCM data can be output by performing D / A (Digital / Analog) conversion at a timing corresponding to the sampling frequency and outputting it to a speaker.

  In addition, the information processing apparatus 100 uses a large-capacity external storage device such as a hard disk so as to perform the same function as the ROM 102, the RAM 103, the external memory 106, the DVD-ROM mounted on the DVD-ROM drive 108, and the like. You may comprise.

  The information processing apparatus 100 described above corresponds to a so-called “consumer video game apparatus”, but the present invention can be realized as long as it performs image processing to display a virtual space. Therefore, the present invention can be realized on various computers such as a mobile phone, a portable game device, a karaoke apparatus, and a general computer.

  For example, a general computer includes an CPU, a RAM, a ROM, a DVD-ROM drive, and an NIC as in the information processing apparatus 100, and an image processing unit having a simpler function than the information processing apparatus 100. In addition to having a hard disk as an external storage device, a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a magnetic tape, and the like can be used. Further, not the controller unit 105 but a keyboard or a mouse is used as an input device.

  Hereinafter, unless otherwise noted, the game apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described based on the information processing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. The game apparatus can be appropriately replaced with a general computer or elements of a general game apparatus as necessary, and these embodiments are also included in the scope of the present invention.

(Embodiment 1)
A schematic configuration of the game apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The game device 200 includes a storage unit 201, a generation unit 202, a display unit 203, an update unit 204, and a controller 205.

  First, the storage unit 201 stores the positions of a plurality of objects. Furthermore, the storage unit 201 stores two sets of the positions of the viewpoints (cameras) arranged in the virtual space and the positions and orientations of the projection planes. In order to generate a stereoscopic image, the two viewpoints serve as the human left eye and right eye. Accordingly, two viewpoints are arranged at positions in the virtual space separated by a predetermined slight distance, like the arrangement of human eyes.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the distance between the viewpoint (302a, 302b) and the projection plane (304a, 302b), that is, the length of the perpendicular (303a, 303b) dropped from the viewpoint to the projection plane, Are equal. Further, the viewpoints (302a, 302b) are arranged at positions close to each other. Therefore, the perpendiculars (303a, 303b) dropped from the viewpoint to the projection plane are substantially parallel, and the line (L) connecting the viewpoints to the perpendicular (303a, 303b) dropped from the viewpoint to the projection plane is Nearly orthogonal.

  These pieces of information stored in the storage unit 201 are stored in advance in, for example, a DVD-ROM, and the CPU 101 reads out the DVD-ROM loaded in the DVD-ROM drive 108 and temporarily stores it in the RAM 103. The update unit 204 described later updates the temporarily stored information as needed, for example, according to the progress of the game. As described above, the CPU 101, the RAM 103, the DVD-ROM drive 108, and the like work together to function as the storage unit 201.

  The generation unit 202 perspective-projects the state in the virtual space viewed from each viewpoint at a certain point of time on each of the projection planes corresponding to each viewpoint, and generates two game images for the left eye and the right eye. The RAM 103, the image processing unit 107, and the like cooperate to function as the generation unit 202.

  The display unit 203 processes the two game images generated by the generation unit 202 and outputs them to a monitor (not shown). In the present embodiment, the game device 200 realizes a stereoscopic image by a parallax barrier method. Therefore, the display unit 203 processes the two images generated by the generation unit 202 into an image corresponding to the parallax barrier and outputs the image to the monitor. The image processing unit 107 and the like function as the display unit 203.

  The update unit 204 updates the positions of the two viewpoints stored in the storage unit 201 as the game progresses. That is, the update unit 204 controls the degree to which the generated game image looks stereoscopic by changing the distance between the viewpoints as the game progresses. This is shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 4, the image for the left eye and the image for the right eye are images obtained by photographing the virtual space from the viewpoint (camera) (302a, 302b) in the virtual space. That is, the generation unit 202 changes the viewpoint 301 of the virtual space 301 at a certain time point from the viewpoints for the left eye and the right eye (302a, 302b) in the direction of the line of sight (303a, 303b). Projecting onto the corresponding projection plane (304a, 304b). Each of the projected images becomes a left-eye image and a right-eye image.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 4B, a case where the distance L ′ between the viewpoints is made closer to that in FIG. 4A will be described. Since the distance L ′ between the viewpoints in FIG. 4 (B) is shorter than the distance L between the viewpoints in FIG. 4 (A), the two game images projected and generated in FIG. The difference becomes smaller and the image becomes more planar. Therefore, the update unit 204 can change the degree to which the generated game image looks three-dimensional by changing the distance between the viewpoints. The CPU 101, the RAM 103, and the like function as the update unit 204.

  The controller 205 receives an operation instruction from the player. The controller unit 105 or the like functions as the controller 205.

(Operation processing)
An operation process of the game apparatus 200 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the game apparatus 200 is turned on, the game is started through an initialization process (step S101). In the initialization process, information necessary for starting the game is read from the DVD-ROM or ROM 102 into the storage unit 201. The information necessary for starting the game includes, for example, the progress of the game before the power is turned off, the shape, position, and orientation of the object in the virtual space according to the progress, the positions of the two virtual cameras, and The positions and orientations of the two projection planes are included.

  When the game is started, the generation unit 202 projects an object arranged in the virtual space viewed from each viewpoint onto a projection plane corresponding to each viewpoint based on information stored in the storage unit 201. To do. Thereby, two game images, which are two-dimensional images of the three-dimensional virtual space viewed from each viewpoint, are generated, one for the left eye and one for the right eye (step S102).

  In the present embodiment, the game apparatus 200 realizes a stereoscopic image by the parallax barrier method as described above. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a mechanism for displaying a stereoscopic image by the parallax barrier method. The figure shows a state where the monitor 120 is viewed from above. A film 410 having slits arranged in stripes is superimposed on the monitor 120, and the image displayed by the display unit 203 is separated in the left and right directions by the film 410. Therefore, the display unit 203 processes and displays the two game images generated in step S102 into images corresponding to the parallax barrier (step S103).

  That is, the display unit 203 records the images for the right eye and the left eye in a frame memory (not shown) provided in the image processing unit 107 so as to be alternately arranged one line (420) vertically. The image information recorded in the frame memory is converted into a video signal at a predetermined synchronization timing and output. Thus, a three-dimensional image is displayed on a monitor (not shown) connected to the image processing unit 107.

  Next, the CPU 101 determines whether or not there is an operation instruction from an unprocessed player by the controller 205 (step S104). For example, the accepted operation instruction is stored in the storage unit 201 in a FIFO stack format. The CPU 101 refers to the top of the stack, and determines that there is an unprocessed operation instruction if an operation instruction is stored at the top (step S104; Yes). In this case, the updating unit 204 pops and reads the operation instruction at the top of the stack from the stack. Then, the position of the object is updated according to the operation instruction. That is, according to the read operation instruction, the game is advanced and the contents of the storage unit 201 are updated (step S105).

  For example, a case where a shooting game is executed in the game apparatus 200 will be described. When the player instructs an operation to move the character position, the update unit 204 updates the position and orientation of the object corresponding to the character stored in the storage unit 201 in accordance with the operation instruction. Alternatively, when the player instructs an operation to shoot a gun in the direction of hitting the enemy character, the update unit 204 corresponds to the enemy character stored in the storage unit 201 so as to express how the enemy character is shot. Update the position and orientation of the object.

  If no operation instruction is stored at the top of the stack, there is no unprocessed operation instruction (step S104; No), and the process of the subsequent step S106 is performed without performing the process of step S105.

  In step S106, the CPU 101 determines whether the distance between the two viewpoints is greater than a predetermined minimum value (step S106). For example, the predetermined minimum value may be zero. Alternatively, a value not less than 0 and not more than a predetermined specified value may be set as the predetermined minimum value.

  Here, the predetermined specified value is a distance between the viewpoints before the update is started. The predetermined specified value may be determined in advance by the game program or may be determined by the player. When the distance between the two viewpoints is larger than the predetermined minimum value (step S106; Yes), the game device 200 performs a process (steps S107 to S109) for bringing the positions of the two viewpoints closer according to the progress of the game.

  That is, the CPU 101 acquires the play time from the start of the game to the present (step S107). The play time may be measured by, for example, an internal clock (not shown) provided in the CPU 101. And the update part 204 updates the memory | storage part 201 so that the distance of a viewpoint may be brought close according to the acquired play time (step S108).

  For example, the update unit 204 multiplies the play time by a predetermined coefficient. Then, the storage unit 201 is updated so that the position of the two viewpoints approaches the direction of the midpoint between the viewpoints by the multiplication result.

  Similarly, the update unit 204 updates the storage unit 201 with respect to the position of the projection plane (step S109). As described with reference to FIG. 3, the distance between the viewpoint (302a, 302b) and the projection plane (304a, 304b), that is, the length of the perpendicular (303a, 303b) dropped from the viewpoint to the projection plane, Since the pairs are equal and the distances between the viewpoints are short, the perpendicular lines (303a, 303b) dropped from the viewpoint to the projection plane are substantially parallel. Therefore, the update unit 204 moves the projection planes (304a, 304b) closer to the midpoint direction between the representative points (for example, the center points) of the projection planes by the same distance as the approach point (302a, 302b). Thus, the storage unit 201 is updated.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which two pairs of viewpoints and projection planes are viewed from above. For example, when the distance between the viewpoints (302a, 302b) is approached from the distance X shown in FIG. 7A to the middle point m between the viewpoints to the distance X ′ shown in FIG. The surfaces (304a, 304b) are also brought close to each other from the distance X to the distance X ′ in the direction of the midpoint m ′ between the projection surfaces. Then, the process returns to step S102.

  On the other hand, if the distance between the two viewpoints is equal to or smaller than the predetermined minimum value in step S106 (step S106; No), the game device 200 executes steps S107 to S109 so as not to bring the viewpoints closer to each other. Instead, the process returns to step S102 for generating an image.

  In this way, the game device 200 repeats the process of generating and displaying the game image based on the state stored in the storage unit 201 while gradually approaching the position of the viewpoint according to the play time. As a result, the displayed game image gradually changes from a three-dimensional image to a flat image with the play time.

(Embodiment 2)
In the above embodiment, while the distance between the two viewpoints is larger than the predetermined minimum value, the viewpoints are brought closer to each other according to the progress of the game. In this embodiment, when the distance between the two viewpoints becomes equal to or less than the predetermined minimum value and the predetermined grace time has elapsed, the distance between the two viewpoints returns to the initial value (specified value). Try to keep one viewpoint away.

  8 and 9 show the flow of processing of the game device 200 in the present embodiment. In FIG. 8, the description of the processing similar to that in FIG. 5 (processing to which the same step numbers as in FIG. 5 are given) showing the flow of processing in the first embodiment is omitted. Note that the configuration of the game device 200 according to the present embodiment is also the same as that of the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in the first embodiment, it is assumed that the distance between the two viewpoints gradually approaches as the game progresses. When it is finally determined that the distance between the two viewpoints is equal to or smaller than the predetermined minimum value (step S106; No), the CPU 101 subsequently determines whether or not the “increase flag” is set (step S106a). ). Here, the increase flag is a flag that specifies increasing the distance between the viewpoints. In the initial state, the increase flag is not set. If the increase flag is not set (step S106a; No), the CPU 101 sets the increase flag (step S106b), and the time at that time is regarded as the time when the distance between the viewpoints reaches the minimum value. (Step S106c). Then, the process returns to step S102.

  Since the steps S107 to S109 are not executed while the increase flag is set, the storage unit 201 is not updated to bring the distance between the viewpoints closer. On the other hand, when the increase flag is set (step S106a; Yes), the positions of the two viewpoints have not returned to the specified values (step S200; No), and when the predetermined grace period is exceeded ( (Step S210; Yes) For the first time, the update unit 204 updates the storage unit 201 so that the distance between the viewpoints and the distance between the projection planes are separated from the respective center points by a predetermined minute distance (Step S211, S212).

  After the process of updating the distance between the viewpoints and between the projection planes (Steps S211, S212) is repeated, and the distance returns to the specified value (Step S200; Yes), the CPU 101 sets an increase flag. Reset is performed (step S201), and the process returns to step S102. This makes it possible to repeatedly perform a series of processes in which the distance between the viewpoints is brought close to a predetermined minimum value and the distance between the viewpoints is returned to a predetermined specified value after a predetermined grace period has elapsed.

(Modification)
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, A various deformation | transformation and application are possible. Moreover, it is also possible to freely combine the constituent elements of the above-described embodiments.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, a stereoscopic image is realized using a monitor on which a filter having a slit in the vertical direction is superimposed. However, the method for realizing a stereoscopic image is not limited to this. For example, you may use the monitor on which the sheet | seat in which the pickled lens called the lenticular lens sheet | seat was located in a line was superimposed. In this case, the display unit 203 may display the left eye image and the right eye image alternately one line at a time in the same manner as in the case of using the parallax barrier.

  Alternatively, a method using liquid crystal shutter glasses that alternately open and close the left and right shutters may be used. When the liquid crystal shutter glasses are used, the display unit 203 may output the left-eye image and the right-eye image alternately to the monitor in accordance with the cycle of opening and closing the shutter of the glasses.

  In the above embodiment, the update unit 204 determines the degree of progress of the game based on the play time, and approaches the positions of the two viewpoints (and the positions of the two projection planes) according to the play time. Instead, for example, the progress of the game may be determined by the number of input operation instructions. For example, in the case of a shooting game, the positions of the two viewpoints may be brought closer according to the number of operations instructing the enemy character to shoot a gun.

  Alternatively, when the game is composed of a plurality of stages, the progress of the game may be determined by the number of cleared stages. Here, the stage is any event defined in the game. For example, if one stage is cleared by defeating an enemy boss character or obtaining an item when a character in the game clears the position of two viewpoints according to the number of stages cleared so far Should be approached.

  In addition, the update unit 204 updates the storage unit 201 so that the distance between viewpoints (and the distance between projection planes) is returned to a specified value when an operation instruction from the player is not input for a predetermined threshold time or more. May be.

  In the above embodiment, in step S108 and step S109, the storage unit 201 is set so that the positions of the two viewpoints and the two projection planes are close to each other by the distance obtained by multiplying the play time by a predetermined coefficient. updated. Instead, for example, the storage unit 201 may store a table that associates the play time with the distance between the viewpoints.

  The table may be read into the storage unit 201 from, for example, a DVD-ROM in which a game program is stored in the initialization process. As shown in FIG. 10, the table is configured such that the longer the play time, the shorter the distance between the associated viewpoints. The update unit 204 may determine the distances that bring the two viewpoints and the two projection planes closer in steps S108 and S109 with reference to this table. In FIG. 10, the unit indicating the play time and the distance between the viewpoints is not limited to “minute” or “centimeter”.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a game device, an operation method, and a program suitable for suppressing fatigue of the eyes of a user who views a stereoscopic image.

100 Information processing apparatus 101 CPU
102 ROM
103 RAM
104 Interface 105 Controller unit 105a Input device 105b Sensor bar 105b'LED
106 External Memory 107 Image Processing Unit 108 DVD-ROM Drive 109 NIC
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 110 Sound processing part 200 Game device 201 Storage part 202 Generation part 203 Display part 204 Update part 205 Controller

Claims (8)

A game device that provides a player with a game using a plurality of objects arranged in a virtual space,
A storage unit in which positions of the plurality of objects are stored, and two sets of a viewpoint position, a projection plane position, and an orientation arranged in the virtual space are stored;
For each of the two stored sets, two games are obtained by perspectively projecting the plurality of objects at the stored positions using each of the pair of viewpoints and the pair of projection planes. A generator that repeats the process of generating an image,
A display unit that displays the two game images on the screen each time the two game images are generated,
An update unit that updates the storage unit so that the more the game progresses after the start of providing the game to the player, the closer the two viewpoints are,
A game apparatus comprising: The game device according to claim 1,
The distance between the two viewpoints is determined based on a play time by the player. The game device according to claim 1,
The game is composed of a plurality of stages,
The distance between the two viewpoints is determined based on the number of stages that have been cleared since the player started playing. The game device according to claim 1,
The game device further includes a controller that receives an input to the game from the player,
The distance between the two viewpoints is determined based on the number of inputs accepted by the controller. The game device according to claim 4,
The update unit updates the storage unit so as to return the distance between the two viewpoints to a predetermined specified value when an input is not received by the controller for a predetermined threshold time. The game device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein:
The update unit updates the storage unit to return the distance between the two viewpoints to a predetermined specified value when a predetermined grace period elapses after the distance between the two viewpoints reaches a predetermined minimum value. A game device characterized by: An operation method by a game device for providing a player with a game using a plurality of objects arranged in a virtual space,
The game apparatus stores a plurality of objects positions, a storage section storing two sets of viewpoint positions, projection plane positions and orientations arranged in the virtual space, a generation section, a display And an update unit,
The operation method is as follows:
The generation unit perspective-projects the plurality of objects at the stored positions with respect to each of the two stored sets, using each of the pair of viewpoints and the pair of projection planes. By repeating the process of generating two game images,
The display unit displaying the two game images on the screen each time the two game images are generated;
A step of updating the storage unit so that the more the game progresses after the update unit starts providing the game to the player, the closer the two viewpoints are;
An operation method characterized by comprising: A program for causing a computer to function as a game device that provides a player with a game using a plurality of objects arranged in a virtual space,
The program causes the computer to
A storage unit in which positions of the plurality of objects are stored, and two sets of a viewpoint position, a projection plane position, and an orientation arranged in the virtual space are stored;
For each of the two stored sets, two games are obtained by perspectively projecting the plurality of objects at the stored positions using each of the pair of viewpoints and the pair of projection planes. A generator that repeats the process of generating an image,
A display unit that displays the two game images on the screen each time the two game images are generated,
An update unit that updates the storage unit so that the more the game progresses after the start of providing the game to the player, the closer the two viewpoints are,
A program characterized by functioning as