JP2012178060A - Program, information storage medium and stereoscopic image generation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve new utterance display using a "balloon" in a video game using a stereoscopic image.SOLUTION: A balloon object 6 is composed of a balloon body 61 in which utterance content 5 is displayed and a balloon indicator 62 indicating a correspondence relation between the part of the balloon body and an utterance character 2, and the balloon indicator 62 is arranged between the balloon body 61 and the utterance character 2 such that a depth position gradually changes. Even when the balloon body 61 is arranged at the nearest part of a camera coordinate system Zc axial direction (depth direction) of a left virtual camera C1 and a right virtual camera C2, the balloon indicator 62 is arranged between the balloon body 61 and the utterance character 2 so that it is possible to clearly display a correspondence relation between the "balloon" and the utterance character while maintaining easiness to view the utterance content of the "balloon".

Description

  The present invention relates to a program for causing a computer to generate a stereoscopic image in which a virtual three-dimensional space in which a character is arranged is viewed from a given viewpoint.

In recent years, displays (including televisions) capable of displaying stereoscopic images (also referred to as stereograms, 3D images, etc.) are becoming widespread. Along with this, a technique for making a video game compatible with stereoscopic vision has been proposed.
For example, it is possible to adjust the distance between the left and right virtual cameras for generating the left-eye stereoscopic image and the right-eye stereoscopic image, and the fatigue feeling when viewing stereoscopic images for a long time without changing the powerful stereoscopic image. A technique for reducing the above has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2011-24637 A

  Now, it is not always appropriate to apply a technique that has been used in video games based on planar images (meaning non-stereoscopic images; images shared by both left and right eyes) to stereoscopic images. Difficult cases are seen. For example, a so-called “speech balloon” that is used when displaying the content of a character or the like appearing in a game is one of them.

  For example, when reproducing a conversation scene prepared in advance in RPG (role playing game) or the like, it is common to display the dialogue characters of characters appearing in the scene as “speech balloons”. “Speech balloon” displays information that is very important for advancing the game, so it has the highest display priority and is generally displayed in the foreground without being hidden in the game screen. Is. That is, the priority in the concealment process is the highest and is always visible. In a video game based on a planar image, the “speech balloon” can be placed over the image of the speaking character (speaking character) or in the vicinity of the image. I was able to.

On the other hand, in the case of a stereoscopic image, there is naturally a unique depth from the left and right virtual cameras serving as viewpoints for generating the game screen to the comment character.
From the role of “speech balloon”, the priority of display is the highest as in the video game based on a planar image, and the display position is the same as or near the speaking character. Is desirable. However, in the stereoscopic image, in addition to these, the depth position must be determined. There are two ways to determine the depth position of this “speech balloon”: to bring it to the forefront so as not to contradict the display priority, or to match the depth position of the speaker. However, these methods may cause a problem in terms of ease of viewing a stereoscopic image.

  For example, in the method of bringing the depth position of the “balloon” to the foremost side so as not to contradict the display priority, the “balloon” is configured as a plate polygon, and the left virtual camera C1 and the right virtual camera Depth information of the virtual plane closest to C2 (for example, the front clip plane, the virtual plane immediately behind it, the virtual plane that matches the display screen, etc.) is given. Focusing only on the “speech balloon” and the text information in it, it is easiest to see the depth position near the display screen. However, in this method, since it is desired that the “speech balloon” comes to the foremost side, all other objects need to be displayed behind the surface on which the “speech balloon” exists. In other words, the “speech balloon” is arranged in front of the speaking character in the depth direction in the camera coordinate system Zc axis direction. However, in this method, a “speech balloon” may be placed in front of the comment character, and the difference between the depth information of the comment character and the depth information of the “speech balloon” increases, so-called “parallax deviation”. If you try to see the “speech balloon” and the talking character simultaneously or alternately, it becomes difficult to see.

  Then, it cannot be said that the latter method, that is, whether the depth information of the “speech balloon” should be matched with the comment character. There may be a problem that other objects are arranged between the left and right virtual cameras and the “speech balloon” and are hidden (hidden). In this case, there is a possibility that the text information inside the balloon cannot be read. Therefore, the depth position of the “speech balloon” is matched to the speaker, and “speech balloon” is given priority as the display priority. In other words, in the positional relationship of the depth, another object overlaps in front of the “speech balloon”. However, it can be considered that the “speech balloon” covers and hides another object in front. In this case, the balloon appears to be buried in the near object. Moreover, a “field-of-view struggle” occurs in which one eye appears to be buried, while the other eye appears to be unfilled. It looks like it ’s buried. This is called “depth / concealment contradiction” and causes difficulty in viewing.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to realize a new remark display using a “speech balloon” in a video game using a stereoscopic image.

A first form for solving the above problems is a program for causing a computer to generate a stereoscopic image in which a virtual three-dimensional space in which a character is arranged is viewed from a given viewpoint,
The balloon body (for example, the balloon body 61 in FIG. 3) has a depth position (for example, FIG. 3) according to a depth arrangement reference that defines a reference plane or a reference area of the depth position based on the viewpoint when the balloon body is disposed. Main body arrangement reference plane 12) (for example, the processing unit 200 in FIG. 6, the game calculation unit 210, the balloon management unit 220, the main body control unit 222, step S42 in FIG. 12),
A balloon indicator (for example, the balloon indicator 62 and the indicator linking part 63 in FIG. 3) indicating the correspondence between the balloon body arranged by the body part arranging means and the character is connected between the balloon body and the character. As indicator arrangement means (for example, the processing unit 200, the game calculation unit 210, the balloon management unit 220, the indicator control unit 224, and step S50 in FIG. 12) arranged along the depth direction so as to connect each other. A program for causing the computer to function.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stereoscopic image generating apparatus for generating a stereoscopic image in which a virtual three-dimensional space in which a character is arranged is viewed from a given viewpoint, wherein the balloon main body is arranged with the balloon main body. Correspondence between the character body and the body part disposing means arranged at the depth position in accordance with the depth arrangement standard defining the reference plane or reference area of the depth position based on the viewpoint, and the body part arranging means A stereoscopic image generating device (for example, for home use in FIG. 1), comprising: a pointer arrangement unit that arranges a balloon indicator indicating a relationship along the depth direction so as to connect the balloon main body and the character. Game device 1200) can be configured.

According to the first form or the like, the “speech balloon” is composed of a part of the speech balloon body in which the content of the speech is displayed, and a speech balloon indicator that indicates the correspondence between the speech balloon body and the character. And it can arrange | position along a depth direction so that a balloon main body and a character may be tied.
In other words, even if the body part of the “speech balloon” and the comment character are arranged away from each other in the depth direction of the camera coordinate system of the virtual camera, the speech balloon indicator is connected between the different depth positions. Since it is arranged, “parallax deviation” can be eliminated. Even in a video game using a stereoscopic image, the correspondence between the “speech balloon” and the speech character can be clearly displayed while maintaining the visibility of the speech content of the “speech balloon”.

  With regard to the design of “speech balloon”, as a second form, the indicator placement means is a board in which the speech balloon indicator is gradually bent in the depth direction from a predetermined peripheral position of the speech balloon body toward the character. The program of the 1st form for functioning the said computer can be comprised so that it may arrange | position and comprise in a shape.

  According to the second mode, the same effects as those of the first mode can be obtained, and the line-of-sight guidance from the balloon body to the balloon indicator and the speaking character can be made smooth and the “balloon” can be easily seen.

  Further, as a third form, the indicator arranging means arranges and configures the plate-like body so that the maximum bent portion is located on the side close to the blowing body. Two types of programs can be configured.

  According to the third embodiment, the same effect as the second embodiment can be obtained, and the design of the “speech balloon” can improve the design in the type in which the speech balloon indicator is extended from the balloon body. Gaze guidance becomes more effective.

  When adopting a type in which the balloon body and the balloon indicator are separated from each other as a fourth embodiment, as the fourth form, the pointer arrangement means is provided between the balloon body and the character. The computer is arranged such that a plurality of small indicators (small indicators 64a, 64b,... In FIGS. 13 and 14) are discretely arranged at different depth positions to arrange the balloon indicators. It is preferable to configure a program of the second form for functioning. This type of speech balloon is often used to indicate a “speculation (monologue)” that is not spoken, rather than a “speech” of a character.

  Further, if it is desired to further improve the design and the effect of the line-of-sight guidance, as a fifth form, the indicator arrangement means narrows the arrangement interval of the plurality of small indicators closer to the balloon body. It is preferable to configure the fourth form of the program for causing the computer to function as described above.

  Furthermore, if attention is paid to the design of the balloon indicator and it is desired to provide diversity, the indicator arrangement means may have a size of the balloon body and / or a size of the character as a sixth embodiment. Accordingly, it is preferable to configure a program of any one of the first to fifth modes for causing the computer to function such that the form of the balloon indicator is changed and arranged accordingly.

  In addition, in the case where it is desired to moderately suppress the enhancement of the proximity portion with the balloon indicator while improving the design and improving the effect of the line-of-sight guidance, the balloon instruction is provided as a seventh form. According to the relative positional relationship between the body and the character in the depth direction, color arrangement changing means for changing the color arrangement of the balloon indicator (for example, the processing unit 200, the game calculation unit 210, the balloon management unit 220 in FIG. 6, As the standard color arrangement data 514e in FIG. 8 and step S42 in FIG. 12, it is preferable to configure any one of the first to sixth programs for further functioning the computer.

In order to maintain high visibility of the speech balloon body even in the case where some object is present on the virtual camera side than “speech balloon”, as an eighth embodiment, the positional relationship between the speech balloon body and other objects is used. Based on the concealment determination means for determining whether or not part or all of the other object is hidden in the balloon body as viewed from the viewpoint (for example, the processing unit 200, the game calculation unit 210, the balloon management unit in FIG. 6). 220, step S76 in FIG.
A body portion that renders the balloon body by performing a predetermined blurring process to reduce the visibility of the outline of the balloon body when generating the stereoscopic image when it is determined to be hidden by the concealment determining means As a drawing means (for example, the processing unit 200 in FIG. 6, the stereoscopic image generation unit 261, and step S <b> 78 in FIG. 17), any one of the first to seventh programs for further functioning the computer is configured. Is preferred.

  Furthermore, as a ninth aspect, the balloon content part is a position overlapping the balloon body when viewed from the viewpoint, and the depth position is a reference for the depth position based on the viewpoint when the balloon content part is arranged. A program according to any one of the first to eighth modes for causing the computer to further function as a content portion arrangement unit that arranges at a depth position in accordance with a content portion depth arrangement standard that defines a surface or a reference area. You can also.

  According to the ninth form, while having the same effect as any of the first to eighth forms, and maintaining the appearance as a “speech balloon” when viewed stereoscopically, the speech balloon content part ( For example, the speech line) and the balloon body can be arranged at different depths in the game space. If the balloon content part is arranged at a depth position in the vicinity of the speech character, the main character of the balloon can be seen smoothly without adjusting the focus while keeping the focus position of the eye in the balloon content part.

  Regarding the drawing order in this case, as a tenth form, the depth arrangement reference defines a depth position between the depth arrangement reference and the character's depth position, and after drawing of the balloon body A ninth form of program for causing the computer to further function as a content portion drawing means for drawing the balloon content portion can be configured.

  In addition, regarding the contents indicated to the player by “speech balloon”, as an eleventh form, the balloon content part includes at least a given image (for example, a player image), and the main body part placement unit and the content part placement unit Of the ninth or tenth mode for causing the computer to function in such a manner that the size of the balloon main body and the balloon content portion is changed according to the depth position of the character based on the viewpoint. A program can be configured.

  According to the eleventh aspect, the same effect as in the ninth or tenth aspect can be obtained, and an arbitrary image can be displayed as the content of the balloon. For example, since the player's own image can be displayed as the contents of the balloon, the friendliness between the players can be enhanced.

  The twelfth aspect is a computer-readable information storage medium storing the program of any one of the first to eleventh aspects. The “information storage medium” mentioned here includes, for example, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, an IC memory, and the like. According to the twelfth invention, by causing the computer to read and execute the program of any one of the first to eleventh forms, causing the computer to exert the same effect as any of the first to eleventh forms. Can do.

The figure which shows an example of the system configuration | structure of the stationary household game device which is a stereoscopic vision image generation apparatus. The figure which shows the example of a game screen. The figure for demonstrating the principle of the display method of a balloon object. The front view which shows the relative positional relationship of a balloon object and a speech character on the assumption that a player character is a speech character. The front view which shows the relative positional relationship of a balloon object and a speech character on the assumption that a player character is a speech character. The functional block diagram which shows an example of a function structure. The figure which shows an example of the data structure of character initial setting data. The figure which shows an example of a data structure of balloon template data. The figure which shows an example of a data structure of remark event setting data. The figure which shows an example of the data structure of play data. The flowchart for demonstrating the flow of the main processes. The flowchart for demonstrating the flow of a balloon management process. The figure which shows the example of a game screen using the 1st modification of a balloon object. The figure for demonstrating the display principle of the 1st modification of a balloon object. The flowchart for demonstrating the flow of the modification of the balloon management process for handling the 1st modification of a balloon object. The figure which shows the example of a game screen using the 2nd modification of a balloon object. The flowchart for demonstrating the flow of an event space game space image generation process. The figure for demonstrating the modification of the display method of an utterance content. The figure for demonstrating the modification of the display method of an utterance content. The figure which shows the modification of the system configuration | structure of a household game device. The figure which shows the example of a game screen which used the speech balloon for chat. The flowchart for demonstrating the flow of chat speech balloon management processing.

[First Embodiment]
As a first embodiment to which the present invention is applied, in a stationary home game device that is one of stereoscopic image generation devices, a video game based on a stereoscopic image, in which a character follows a game story An example of executing an RPG (role playing game) in which an automatic speech event for speech or conversation is inserted will be given.
Note that the game genre to which the present invention can be applied is not limited to RPG, and is a shooting game as long as it is a video game that is represented by a stereoscopic image and uses a “speech balloon” to produce a speech event or the like. Other genres such as an action game, a music game, a strategy simulation game, and a virtual creature training game may also be used. In this case, the form using the “balloon” is not limited to the use in the event described in the present embodiment. Further, the content displayed by the “speech balloon” is not limited to the display of the content of the remarks, and may be for the purpose of displaying, for example, an explanatory text, an explanatory text, and an annotation. That is, the present embodiment can be similarly applied to a so-called “drawer”.

[Configuration of game device]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of a stationary home-use game device that is a stereoscopic image generation device according to the present embodiment. The stationary home game device 1200 includes a game device main body 1201, a video monitor 1220 that can display a stereoscopic image, and a game controller 1230.

  The game apparatus main body 1201 includes, for example, a control unit 1210 and information storage medium reading devices 1206 and 1208 such as an optical disk 1202 and a memory card 1204. Then, the home game device 1200 reads the game program and various setting data from the optical disk 1202 and the memory card 1204, and the control unit 1210 executes various game operations based on operation inputs made by the game controller 1230. Run video games.

  The control unit 1210 includes various microprocessors such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), and DSP (Digital Signal Processor), ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), and electric and electronic elements such as an IC memory. Each part of the game device 1200 is controlled.

The control unit 1210 includes a communication device 1212 and a short-range wireless communication module 1214.
The communication device 1212 is wired or wirelessly connected to a communication line 1 such as the Internet, a LAN (Local Area Network), or a WAN (Wide Area Network) to realize data communication with an external device. The short-range wireless communication module 1214 realizes data transmission / reception with a plurality of accessory devices such as a plurality of game controllers 1230 via short-range wireless. As a short-range wireless format, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark), UWB (ultra-wide band wireless), wireless LAN, or the like can be applied as appropriate.

  Then, the control unit 1210, based on the operation input signal received from the game controller 1230, 3DCG for the left eye (image taken in the game space with a virtual camera serving as the viewpoint for the left eye) and 3DCG for the right eye ( A left-eye stereoscopic image and a right-eye stereoscopic image in which various information display bodies are added to them based on a virtual camera that is a viewpoint for the right eye). In addition, a game sound is generated and a video game is executed.

  The video signal based on the generated stereoscopic image and the sound signal based on the game sound are connected to a video monitor 1220 connected via a signal cable 1209 (including a display monitor and a television capable of external input such as an audio signal and a video signal). Is output. Note that the left-eye stereoscopic image and the right-eye stereoscopic image are generated as images suitable for the stereoscopic system adopted by the video monitor 1220, and a video signal transmission method based on them is also adopted by the video monitor 1220. It shall be suitable for the stereoscopic viewing method.

The video monitor 1220 is an image display device that displays a stereoscopic image (a video that gives a stereoscopic effect generally called “three-dimensional video”) based on a predetermined principle.
In this embodiment, the video monitor 1220 includes a flat panel display 1222 that displays an image, a speaker 1224 that outputs sound, a stereoscopic glasses 1226 that are classified as a liquid crystal shutter system, and a control signal for the glasses. IR emitter 1228 for transmitting.

  The player wears stereoscopic glasses 1226, and plays the game sound emitted from the speaker 1224 while viewing the left-eye stereoscopic image and the right-eye stereoscopic image displayed on the flat panel display 1222 of the video monitor 1220. While listening, the game controller 1230 inputs various operations to enjoy the game.

  Note that the principle of stereoscopic viewing of the video monitor 1220 can be set as appropriate. If the autostereoscopic method is employed, the stereoscopic glasses 1226 and the IR emitter 1228 can be omitted.

  The game controller 1230 connects various input devices and output devices by a local bus circuit with a built-in controller control unit 1260 as a center, and the controller control unit 1260 controls input / output between the devices.

  As input devices, for example, push buttons 1232 used for selection decision and cancellation, timing input, and the like, direction input keys 1234 for individually inputting each of the up, down, left and right directions in the figure, the operation direction and the operation A right analog lever 1236 and a left analog lever 1238 capable of inputting the amount simultaneously.

  The controller control unit 1260 wirelessly communicates with various microchips such as a bus controller IC that controls data communication in a CPU or a local bus circuit, an electronic component such as an IC memory, and the short-range wireless communication module 1214 of the game apparatus main body 1201. A short-range wireless communication module 1262 that realizes the above is mounted.

  Then, the controller control unit 1260 generates an operation input signal based on signals transmitted from various input devices via the local bus circuit, and the generated operation input signal is transmitted to the game apparatus main body 1201 by the short-range wireless communication module 1262. Send. Further, in a configuration in which an output device such as a speaker or a vibrator is mounted, when an output signal sent from the game apparatus main body 1201 is received by the short-range wireless communication module 1262, the output signal is associated with the received output signal. A control signal can be generated and sent to the output device. The electric power required by the controller control unit 1260 and each unit is supplied from a battery (not shown) built in the game controller 1230.

  The program and various setting data necessary for game execution may be connected to the communication line 1 via the communication device 1212 and downloaded from an external device. Here, the communication line means a communication path through which data can be exchanged. That is, the communication line includes a dedicated line (dedicated cable) for direct connection, a LAN (Local Area Network) such as Ethernet (registered trademark), and a communication network such as a telephone communication network, a cable network, and the Internet. In addition, the communication method may be wired or wireless.

[Overview of the game]
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a game screen in the present embodiment. The RPG game screen of the present embodiment includes a main game screen W2 that is mainly displayed during game play, and a speech event screen W4 that is displayed limitedly during a speech event.

  The main game screen W2 is a screen that is visible to the player wearing the stereoscopic glasses 1226 by switching and displaying the left-eye stereoscopic image and the right-eye stereoscopic image on the video monitor 1220 at a predetermined cycle. Although the illustrated example is shown as a planar image, it is assumed that the player visually recognizes a stereoscopic image.

In the virtual three-dimensional space, a background object 3 (for example, a ground object that forms an uneven surface of the ground or a hemispherical celestial object to which a texture depicting the sky is applied to the inner surface) is arranged to form the game space. A character object to be the player character 2 and the enemy 4 which is an NPC (non-player character) is arranged there.
The left-eye stereoscopic image for displaying the main game screen W2 is based on 3DCG obtained by photographing the player character 2 and the surroundings with the left virtual camera as the left-eye viewpoint, that is, based on the left-eye game space image. , A hit point display 20 of the player character 2 and an information display field regarding the enemy 4 at a predetermined position for the left eye (a position in consideration of a predetermined binocular parallax so as to indicate predetermined depth position information from the left virtual camera) 2D sprite images such as 21 (displayed in a “drawer” form, which is a kind of “speech balloon” in the example in the figure), are generated by being synthesized. Similarly for the right-eye stereoscopic image, the hit point display 20 and the information display at a predetermined position for the right eye are displayed on the 3DCG (right-eye game space image) captured by the right virtual camera as the right-eye viewpoint. It is generated by synthesizing the column 21 and the like.

  Similarly to the main game screen W2, the speech event screen W4 is also displayed by switching between the left-eye stereoscopic image and the right-eye stereoscopic image on the video monitor 1220 at a predetermined cycle, and thereby the player wearing the stereoscopic glasses 1226. Is a three-dimensional screen.

When generating the speech event screen W4, an event game space (event space) separate from the main game space for shooting the main game screen W2 according to data defining the scene configuration of a predetermined speech event Are formed, and character objects related to the event (in the example of FIG. 2, player character 2 and NPC 7 object) and a balloon object 6 are arranged therein. Then, the left virtual camera C1 and the right virtual camera C2 installed in the event space shoot the event space to generate a left game space image and a right game space image.
Of course, when the speech event is executed using the character in the main game space as it is, the setting of the event space may be omitted.

  The “speech event” is an effect event that is automatically inserted in the middle of the game to make the game exciting, and is executed when an event triggering condition specified for each speech event is satisfied during the game. The position of the character related to the speech event, the motion, the content of the speech, the positions and orientations of the left and right virtual cameras, the angle of view, and the like are preset by the game creator. That is, it is automatically executed according to a predetermined scenario. When the event ends, the display returns to the main game screen W2.

  The center of a speech event is a speech of a character appearing in the game, which may be a conversational form or a single emotional discharge. The speech content 5 (the dialogue character in the illustrated example) is displayed by a “speech balloon”, that is, a speech balloon object 6 that is visually associated with the character that made the speech.

  For example, in the example of the speech event screen W4 shown in FIG. 2, the object of the player character 2 is displayed over the shoulder of the NPC 7, and the content of the speech of the player character 2 is displayed by a balloon object 6 associated with the player character 2. Yes. In the balloon object 6 in the form shown in the figure, the angularly drawn portion is formed toward the player character 2, and the content of the speech indicated by the balloon object 6 is associated with the player character 2, that is, It shows that the player character 2 is a speaking character.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the display principle of the balloon object 6 and corresponds to a perspective view of the game space. 4 and 5 correspond to a front view and a side view showing a relative positional relationship between the balloon object 6 and the speaking character on the assumption that the player character 2 is a speaking character.

  As shown in these drawings, the balloon object 6 of the present embodiment is a set of plate-like polygons having no thickness or a thin thickness, and a balloon main body 61 in which the remark content 5 is mainly shown, and extending from the balloon main body. And a balloon indicator 62 directed to the player character 2 (speaking character in the example in the figure). The balloon indicator 62 has an indicator coupling portion 63 that constitutes a coupling location with the balloon body 61.

Specifically, the balloon body 61 of the present embodiment is a rectangular plate polygon defined by vertices P1 to P4 at four corners. When the balloon object 6 is newly arranged, the balloon main body 61 is initially arranged on the main body arrangement reference plane 12 closer to the left virtual camera C1 and the right virtual camera C2 than any object such as a character appearing in the speech event. Is done. The main body arrangement reference plane 12 is a plane that is perpendicular to the camera coordinate system Zc axis (screen depth direction) of the virtual camera.
Further, after that, the direction of the surface of the balloon body 61 is determined by the surface normal vector Vn (see FIG. 5), the left virtual camera C1 or the right virtual camera C2, or an intermediate point thereof (if a stereoscopic image is not generated). For example, it may be adjusted so as to face the position where the viewpoint will be arranged.

  As for the arrangement position of the balloon main body 61, a reference area having a predetermined depth width is defined instead of defining a reference plane for the depth position, as in the main body arrangement reference plane 12, and arranged within the reference area. It is good also as a structure. Further, the main body arrangement reference surface 12 is not limited to one, and a plurality of main body arrangement reference surfaces 12 may be prepared in a multilayer shape close to each other in the camera coordinate system Zc axis direction.

  The balloon indicator 62 is a triangular plate polygon defined by an indicator coupling part 63 composed of a rectangular polygon coupled to the lower end of the balloon body 61, and the lower end of the indicator coupling part 63 and the indicator tip apex P9. With.

  Specifically, the indicator connecting portion 63 is a plate polygon defined by four corner vertices P5 to P8, and the two upper vertices P5 and P6 are set near the lower side and the center of the left and right of the balloon body 61. ing. The left and right vertices P7 and P8 have a relative positional relationship in which the left and right vertices are narrower than the left and right vertices P5 and P6. Set to a little bit side. That is, the relative angles of the plurality of indicator coupling portions 63 are set so that the maximum bent portion of the balloon indicator 62 is positioned on the side closer to the balloon body 61. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, when viewed from the side with respect to the camera coordinate system Zc axis of the left virtual camera C <b> 1 and the right virtual camera C <b> 2, the balloon indicator 62 is connected to the balloon coupling unit 63 with respect to the balloon body 61. With the camera coordinate system, it looks like it is bent to the heel side in the depth direction.

  The tip portion of the balloon indicator 62 is a triangular plate polygon defined by the two vertices P7 and P8 at the lower end of the indicator connecting portion 63 and the indicator tip vertex P9.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the indicator tip apex P <b> 9 of the balloon indicator 62 is set in advance at the indicator base point 70 set at the upper end of the indicator connecting portion 63 and the utterance location of the speaking character. It is set at the intersection of a straight line L1 connecting the utterance reference point 72 and the spherical boundary surface 74 having a predetermined radius r from the utterance reference point 72.

  The utterance reference point 72 is a reference point of a place where the utterance character utters. In the example shown in the figure, the player character 2 is a humanoid, so it is provided at the center of the head, but is set as appropriate according to the design of the comment character.

  The spherical boundary surface 74 serves as a limit surface where the balloon indicator 62 of the balloon object 6 is close to the speaking character. Therefore, the radius r is appropriately defined for each character that can be a speaking character.

Further, the two vertices P7 and P8 at the lower end of the indicator connecting portion 63 are set at equal distances from the left and right center line L3 of the balloon body 61 at the initial stage when the balloon object 6 is newly arranged. However, when the indicator tip vertex P9 is set, the instruction viewed from the left / right center line L3 of the balloon body 61 by a distance corresponding to the left / right offset distance D2 of the indicator tip vertex P9 from the left / right center line L3 of the balloon body 61 is set. It is offset in the arrangement direction of the body tip vertex P9.
As a result, the balloon indicator 62 is smoothly connected to the balloon main body 61 in the camera coordinate system Zc-axis direction (depth direction) and the Xc-axis direction (left-right direction) by the portion of the indicator coupling portion 63.

  Note that the number of constituents of the indicator connection unit 63 in one balloon object 6 is not limited to the illustrated example, but a plurality of indicator connection units in which the bending angle is gradually changed toward the tip of the balloon indicator 62. The arrangement may be made by In this case, the connection relationship between the balloon body 61 and the balloon indicator 62 appears to be smoother.

  Thus, according to the display method of the balloon object 6 of the present embodiment, the balloon object 6 is constituted by the balloon body 61 and the balloon indicator 62, and the balloon body 61 is any of the character objects related to the event. Can also be placed near the virtual camera. In the left-eye stereoscopic image and the right-eye stereoscopic image serving as the speech event screen W4, the balloon object 6 is displayed in the foreground, so that important information in the speech event can be easily displayed. On the other hand, the balloon body 61 is extended in the camera coordinate system heel direction so that the balloon indicator 62 points to the remarking character via the indicator coupling portion 63. Therefore, even in a video game based on a stereoscopic image, it can be seen at a glance which character the utterance content 5 displayed on the balloon object 6 is.

[Description of functional block]
FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, the consumer game device 1200 includes an operation input unit 100, a processing unit 200, a sound output unit 350, a stereoscopic image display unit 361, a communication unit 370, and a storage unit. 500.

  The operation input unit 100 outputs an operation input signal to the processing unit 200 in accordance with various operation inputs made by the player. In FIG. 1, the game controller 1230 corresponds to the operation input unit 100.

The processing unit 200 is realized by electronic components such as a microprocessor, an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit), and an IC memory, and inputs / outputs data to / from each functional unit such as the operation input unit 100 and the storage unit 500. At the same time, various arithmetic processes are executed based on predetermined programs and data, and operation input signals from the operation input unit 100 to control the operation of the stationary home game device 1200. In FIG. 1, the control unit 1210 built in the game apparatus main body 1201 corresponds to the processing unit 200.
The processing unit 200 in this embodiment includes a game calculation unit 210, a sound generation unit 250, a stereoscopic image generation unit 261, and a communication control unit 270.

  The game calculation unit 210 executes various processes for executing a video game. For example, the game space setting unit 212 is provided, the background object 3 is arranged in the virtual three-dimensional space to form a game space (main game space, event game space (event space)), and the player character 2 or A process of arranging character objects such as the enemy 4 and the NPC 7 is performed.

  A character motion control unit 214 is provided, and processing for moving the object of the player character 2 in accordance with an operation input from the operation input unit 100 and so-called AI control for automatically moving and moving the object of the enemy 4 or the NPC 7 are performed. Execute the process.

  In addition, the virtual camera control unit 216 is provided, and shooting parameters such as the position, posture, and angle of view of the left virtual camera C1 and the right virtual camera C2 installed in the game space (main game space, event game space (event space)). Executes the process of automatically controlling

  In addition, the game calculation unit 210 performs an encounter determination between the player character 2 and the enemy 4, a battle process between the enemies 4 that has been counted, a process for reflecting damage due to the battle, a process for determining a win / loss. In addition, various processes necessary for the execution of the video game, such as a counter, a timer process relating to a timer, and a flag setting, can be executed as appropriate. The process related to the progress control of the video game can be realized in the same manner as that of a known video game (RPG in this embodiment).

  In addition, the game calculation unit 210 of the present embodiment further includes a speech event management unit 218, and determines whether or not the game progress condition satisfies a triggering condition prepared for each speech event.

If there is a speech event determined by the speech event management unit 218 to satisfy the event triggering condition, the game calculation unit 210 triggers the event and starts progress control.
When the progress of the event is started, an event space is formed by the game space setting unit 212 according to the contents of the triggered event, the character motion control unit 214 controls the movement of the character in the event space, and the virtual camera control unit 216 controls the event. The left virtual camera C1 and the right virtual camera C2 in the space are controlled.

  Then, the drawer management unit 220 executes management of the balloon objects 6 arranged in the speech event. The drawer management unit 220 in this embodiment further includes a main body control unit 222, an indicator control unit 224, a connection control unit 226, and a statement content control unit 228.

The main body control unit 222 is a depth arrangement reference (for example, the main body arrangement shown in FIG. 3) that defines a reference plane or reference area for the depth position based on a virtual camera (viewpoint for generating a game space image) when the balloon main body 61 is arranged. The depth position of the blowing body 61 is determined according to the reference plane 12). Then, processing related to determination of the size of the balloon body 61, adjustment of the orientation, and the like is performed.
Specifically, the vertices P1 to P4 at the four corners of the balloon body of the new balloon object 6 are set according to the template at predetermined depth positions in the camera coordinate system of the left virtual camera C1 and the right virtual camera C2 defined for each statement. .
If the direction of the surface of the balloon body 61 is to be directed to the virtual camera, for example, the surface normal vector of the balloon body 61 is directed to the left virtual camera C1, the right virtual camera C2, or any of the intermediate positions thereof. In addition, the orientation of the balloon body 61 may be corrected.

The indicator control unit 224 arranges a balloon indicator 62 that indicates the correspondence between the balloon body 61 and the comment character. Specifically, an indicator tip apex P9 (see FIG. 4) arranged at a predetermined position with respect to the balloon body in the template of the balloon object 6 is placed on the line from the balloon body 61 toward the speaking character. Move to a position away from the utterance site by a predetermined distance.
Further, the portion on the indicator tip apex P9 side of the balloon indicator 62 may be processed as follows. That is, the transparency of the balloon indicator part is set so that the transparency becomes higher as the depth position of the balloon indicator 62 approaches the speaking character. In this way, the balloon indicator 62 can be expressed as if it is silently pointing to the speaking character, and does not hinder the visual view of the world that appears on the game screen.

The connection control unit 226 adjusts the shape of the indicator coupling unit 63 according to the relative positional relationship between the tip positions of the balloon body 61 and the balloon indicator 62, and smoothly connects the two. The body 62 is shown to be integrated and smoothly extended and bent toward the speaking character.
Specifically, the left and right vertices P7 and P8 of the lower end of the indicator connecting portion 63 are offset from the position indicated by the template of the balloon object 6 so as to approach the indicator tip vertex P9.

  The speech content control unit 228 executes auxiliary processing for displaying the speech content 5 with the balloon object 6. For example, the texture applied to the balloon object 6 is generated by synthesizing the text of the dialogue with the texture.

  In addition, the game calculation unit 210 includes a system time counter 248. The system timekeeping unit 248 executes timekeeping processing such as various timers using the internal clock of the CPU.

  In addition, the game calculation unit 210 performs information processing necessary for the progress of the game (for example, decoding of information received from an external device, texture development, hit determination, flag setting, etc.) and various processes necessary for executing the video game. Can be executed.

  The sound generation unit 250 is realized by, for example, a digital signal processor (DSP), a processor such as a voice synthesis IC, an audio codec that can play back an audio file, and the like. BGM and sound signals of various operation sounds are generated and output to the sound output unit 350. In the configuration in which the content of the speech is reproduced by sound, the sound that reads out the content of the speech may be decoded according to the display of the balloon object 6.

  The sound output unit 350 is a device for outputting sound effects, BGM, and the like based on the sound signal input from the sound generation unit 250. In FIG. 1, the speaker 1224 of the video monitor 1220 corresponds to this.

The stereoscopic image generation unit 261 is realized by, for example, a processor such as a digital signal processor (DSP), a control program thereof, a drawing frame IC memory such as a frame buffer, and the like. The stereoscopic image generation unit 261 generates a left-eye stereoscopic image based on a game space image with the left virtual camera C1 as a viewpoint and a right virtual camera C2 at a predetermined image generation timing (for example, 1/240 seconds). The right-eye stereoscopic image based on the game space image as the viewpoint is generated alternately, and the generated stereoscopic image signal is output to the stereoscopic image display unit 361.
Note that, depending on the stereoscopic display principle of the video monitor 1220, the left-eye stereoscopic image and the right-eye stereoscopic image are appropriately generated and output simultaneously.

  The stereoscopic image display unit 361 displays a game image in a stereoscopic manner based on the image signal input from the stereoscopic image generation unit 261. For example, it can be realized by an image display device such as a flat panel display, a cathode ray tube (CRT), a projector, or a head mounted display, stereoscopic glasses corresponding to the stereoscopic vision principle of the image display device, and a transmitter that transmits a control signal thereto. In FIG. 1, the flat panel display 1222, the stereoscopic glasses 1226, and the IR emitter 1228 of the video monitor 1220 correspond.

  The communication control unit 270 executes data processing related to data communication, and realizes data exchange with an external device via the communication unit 370.

  The communication unit 370 connects to the communication line 1 at a physical level to realize communication. For example, it is realized by a wireless communication device, a modem, a TA (terminal adapter), a cable communication cable jack, a control circuit, and the like, and the communication device 1212 corresponds to this in FIG.

  The storage unit 500 stores a program for realizing various functions for causing the processing unit 200 to control the consumer game device 1200 in an integrated manner, a program for executing a video game, various data, and the like. Further, it is used as a work area of the processing unit 200, and temporarily stores calculation results executed by the processing unit 200 according to various programs, input data input from the operation input unit 100, and the like. This function is realized by, for example, an IC memory such as a RAM and a ROM, a magnetic disk such as a hard disk, and an optical disk such as a CD-ROM and DVD.

  The storage unit 500 of the present embodiment stores a system program 501, a game program 502, main game space setting data 510, character initial setting data 512, balloon template data 514, and speech event setting data 520 in advance. ing. In addition, play data 524 and system time 590 are stored as data that is generated and updated as needed in accordance with game preparation and progress and image generation. The storage unit 500 is also used as a storage area of the stereoscopic image generation unit 261. Therefore, the storage unit 500 appropriately stores image data used in the process of generating the left-eye stereoscopic image and the right-eye stereoscopic image. Can do.

  The system program 501 is a program for realizing input / output basic functions as a computer of the consumer game device 1200. The game program 502 is application software for realizing various functions for controlling the game progress as the game calculation unit 210 by being read and executed by the processing unit 200. The game program 502 may be configured as a part of the system program 501.

  The main game space setting data 510 includes model data, texture data, motion data, arrangement position coordinates, etc. of the background object 3 for configuring the main game space used for photographing the main game screen W2 in the virtual three-dimensional space. Store information for each object.

  The character initial setting data 512 includes model data of objects that are characters such as the player character 2, the enemy 4, and the NPC 7 appearing in the speech event, texture data, and a plurality of motion data sets for realizing various operations (for example, (Including motion ID and motion data corresponding to the motion ID), arrangement position coordinates, movement pattern, initial setting of equipment, and the like are stored for each object.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, a character data set 512a is stored for each character. One character data set 512a includes a character ID 512b, character model data 512c, character texture data 512d, and the like, an utterance reference point coordinate 512e which is a coordinate value of the utterance reference point 72 in the local coordinate system of the character, and a spherical boundary surface. The boundary surface radius 512f indicating the radius r of 74 is stored.

  The balloon template data 514 stores data defining the template of the balloon object 6. For example, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, (1) standard balloon body vertex coordinates 514a including local coordinate system coordinate values of vertices (P1 to P4) that determine the shape of the balloon body 61, and (2) Standard indicator connecting portion vertex coordinates 514b including local coordinate system coordinate values of the vertices (P5 to P8) for determining the shape of the indicator connecting portion 63, and (3) the local coordinates of the tip position (P9) of the balloon indicator 62 Standard indicator tip vertex coordinates 514 c that are system coordinate values, (4) Standard indicator base point coordinates 514 d that are local coordinate system coordinate values of the indicator base point 70, and (5) Texture applied to the balloon object 6, etc. Standard color arrangement data 514e that defines a standard display form of the balloon object 6 such as color arrangement information and a transparency pattern is stored.

For example, the standard indicator connecting portion vertex coordinate 514b is defined by the distance from the left and right center line L3 (see FIG. 4) of the balloon body 61.
Further, for example, the standard color arrangement data 514e is set such that the color arrangement is determined according to the relative positional relationship between the balloon indicator 62 and the speech character in the camera coordinate system Zc axis (screen depth direction). For example, the longer the relative distance, the more bluish or darker the color may be set. Further, the transparency of the balloon indicator is set so that the transparency of the transparency pattern increases as the depth position of the balloon indicator 62 approaches the speaking character. Furthermore, it is more preferable that the maximum transparency is set so as to increase in accordance with the relative positional relationship between the balloon body 61 and the comment character in the depth direction, since a sense of distance can be visually expressed.

  In this embodiment, since the balloon object 6 is described as one type, the number of the balloon template data 514 is one. However, when a plurality of types of balloon objects 6 are used properly, similar data may be prepared for each type.

  The speech event setting data 520 defines an event accompanied by a character's speech. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, an event data set 522 is stored for each event. One event data set 522 stores a speech ID 522a, an event triggering condition 522b, a speech character ID 522c, a speech content 522d, a display time limit 522e, event space setting data 522f, and a balloon type 522j.

  The event trigger condition 522b defines a condition for the event to occur. For example, the elapsed time from the start of the game, the position of the player character 2 in the game space, possession of a specific item, capture of a specific enemy 4 or dungeon, end of a certain speech event, etc. can be set as appropriate.

  The statement content 522d is information for displaying the statement content. For example, dialogue, image data such as an image representing a specific expression of a character, a symbol mark, and the like can be set as appropriate.

  The display time limit 522e defines the time from when the balloon object 6 for displaying the content of the message is arranged until it is deleted.

  The event space setting data 522f stores information for forming a dedicated game space (event space) for generating the speech event screen W4. For example, it includes the arrangement information of the background object that forms the place where the speech event is performed, the character placement information such as the type of character appearing in the speech event, the placement position and posture of the object, and motion control data. In addition, it includes shooting parameters 522g and balloon body arrangement reference information 522h.

  The shooting parameter 522g stores the arrangement position, posture, angle of view, and data defining time changes of the left virtual camera C1 and the right virtual camera C2 for shooting the utterance event screen W4 of the utterance event.

  The balloon main body arrangement reference information 522h stores information for determining the arrangement position of the balloon object 6 with respect to the left virtual camera C1 and the right virtual camera C2 for photographing the speech event screen W4 of the speech event. For example, it is information that defines the dispositionable main body placement reference plane 12 (see FIG. 3).

  The balloon type 522j specifies the type to be used in the speech event when the balloon object 6 is configured to be selected from a plurality of types.

  The event data set 522 is not limited to a format that defines a single statement, and a configuration that is defined in units of cuts in terms of video expression terms. For example, a script format may be used in which a plurality of utterances switched in accordance with the passage of time of an event and their execution timing are specified in time series, and may be defined in units of scenes in terms of video expression terms.

  The play data 524 stores various parameter values indicating the progress of the game currently being executed. Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, a left / right flag 525, main game space status data 526, and event space status data 528 are included.

  The left / right flag 525 indicates which of the left and right stereoscopic images is to be generated at the current image generation timing. For example, “1” indicates the left and “0” indicates the right, and is switched at every image generation timing.

  The main game space status data 526 stores information on the main game space (first game space) prepared for shooting the main game screen W2. For example, character status data 532 dedicated to the main game space, left virtual camera control data 534, and right virtual camera control data 536 are included.

  The character status data 532 is prepared for each character object such as the player character 2 and the enemy 4 and is used for data indicating the state of the corresponding character object, for example, position coordinates, posture, moving speed, applied texture data and motion control. Data, hit points, and the like are stored and updated sequentially by the character motion control unit 214.

  The left virtual camera control data 534 and the right virtual camera control data 536 store parameter values indicating the states of the left virtual camera C1 and the right virtual camera C2, and parameter values indicating shooting conditions. For example, the virtual camera arrangement position, line-of-sight direction, shooting angle of view, aperture value, filter type, and the like are stored. These data are sequentially updated by the virtual camera control unit 216.

  The event space status data 528 stores information on an event space (second game space) prepared for generating the speech event screen W4. For example, character status data 532, left virtual camera control data 534, and right virtual camera control data 536 are included exclusively for the event space. Event space status data 528 further includes balloon management data 540.

  The balloon management data 540 stores various parameters related to the arrangement and display of the balloon object 6, and a balloon data set 542 is generated and updated for each balloon object 6 arranged by the balloon management unit 220. And it deletes with the arrangement | positioning cancellation | release of the said balloon object 6. FIG.

  One speech balloon data set 542 identifies a speech balloon ID 544 for identifying the speech balloon object 6, a speech ID 546 for identifying a speech event associated with the speech balloon object, and a character object associated with the speech balloon object. And a placement start system time 550 indicating the timing at which the speech balloon object is placed in the game space.

  Further, as information for determining the size, posture, orientation, and the like of the balloon object 6, balloon body vertex coordinates 552, indicator joint section vertex coordinates 554 for determining the outer shape / direction of the balloon body 61 and the instruction coupling section 63, including. The former stores coordinate values of vertices P1 to P4, and the latter stores coordinate values of vertices P5 to P8.

  Still further, the balloon data set 542 includes a pointer base point coordinate 556 that stores the coordinate value of the pointer base point 70 and a pointer tip vertex that stores the coordinate value of the tip position (pointer tip vertex P9) of the balloon indicator 62. The coordinates 558 and the balloon texture 560 applied to the balloon object 6 are stored.

  In the balloon texture 560, a texture in which the message content 522d (see FIG. 9) corresponding to the message ID 546 is combined with the texture defined by the standard color arrangement data 514e (see FIG. 8) of the balloon template data 514 is stored.

  Note that the storage unit 500 also stores various data (for example, timer values, counters, coordinate transformation matrices, textures, Z buffers, etc.) necessary for executing processing related to game progress and image generation as appropriate. And

[Description of process flow]
Next, the flow of processing in this embodiment will be described. A series of processing flow described here is realized by executing the game program 502 while the processing unit 200 is executing the system program 501.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the main processing flow in the present embodiment. First, the processing unit 200 prepares a main game space for executing field type RPG on the main game screen W2 (step S2).
That is, referring to the main game space setting data 510 and the character initial setting data 512, the background object 3 for configuring the main game space is arranged in the virtual three-dimensional space, and characters such as the player character 2 and the enemy 4 are arranged there. Initial placement of the object. Then, for the character, character status data 532 is generated, and sequential updating is started. Further, the left virtual camera C1 and the right virtual camera C2 are arranged in the virtual three-dimensional space, the left virtual camera control data 534 and the right virtual camera control data 536 are generated, and sequential updating is started. Furthermore, the left / right flag 525 is initialized. Such setting information is stored and managed in the play data 524 as main game space status data 526.

  If the game is started (step S8), then the processing unit 200 displays steps S10 to S92 in a predetermined image generation timing cycle, that is, the left-eye stereoscopic image and the right-eye stereoscopic image on the video monitor 1220. Executes repeatedly at intervals.

  Specifically, the processing unit 200 refers to the utterance event setting data 520 (see FIG. 9) and determines whether the event triggering condition 522b is satisfied. That is, it is determined whether there is a speech event that satisfies the trigger condition (step S10).

If the result is negative (YES in step S10), the processing unit 200 executes, for each object, the field type RPG as shown in the main game screen W2 for the main game space described by the main game space status data 526. The operation control is executed (step S12).
For example, the movement of the object of the player character 2 is controlled according to an operation input signal from the operation input unit 100, and the movement of the enemy 4 is controlled by so-called AI control. If the background object 3 is also set to move, its automatic control is also executed here.

Next, the processing unit 200 performs automatic control of the left virtual camera C1 and the right virtual camera C2 in the main game space (step S14). For example, the position and posture (such as the line-of-sight direction) and the angle of view of both virtual cameras are controlled so that the player character 2 is always within the shooting angle of view.
If the game screen is configured from the first person viewpoint, the positions, postures, movement speeds, and the like of the left virtual camera C1 and the right virtual camera C2 are changed according to the operation input signal from the operation input unit 100.

Next, the processing unit 200 executes a game space image generation process for the main game screen W2 (step S16).
Specifically, referring to the left / right flag 525, if the image to be generated at the current image generation timing is a left-eye stereoscopic image, the left virtual camera C1 in the main game space indicates the state of the main game space. The captured image is rendered to generate a left-eye game space image. If the image to be generated is a right-eye stereoscopic image, an image obtained by photographing the state of the game space with the right virtual camera C2 in the main game space is rendered to generate a right-eye game space image.

  Next, the processing unit 200 synthesizes various information display bodies such as the hit point display 20 and the information display column 21 with the generated left-eye game space image or right-eye game space image to obtain the final left-eye stereoscopic view. An image or a right-eye stereoscopic image is generated and displayed on the stereoscopic image display unit 361 (step S18).

  Next, the processing unit 200 executes a determination process of the result of the game progress in the main game space at the current image generation timing (step S20). For example, the result of the battle between the player character 2 and the enemy 4 is determined and the hit point value is updated accordingly.

  If the game progress determination result does not satisfy the predetermined game end condition (NO in step S22), the left / right flag 525 switching process (step S24) or the timing synchronization process of the image generation timing as appropriate is executed. Return to step S10.

When it is determined in step S10 that there is a speech event that satisfies the event triggering condition 522b, that is, when it is determined that a speech event has occurred (YES in step S10), the processing unit 200 sets the event triggering condition 522b. An event space for executing a speech event satisfying the above is initialized (step S30).
Specifically, the event space status data 528 is generated (see FIG. 10) by referring to the event space setting data 522f of the event data set 522 determined to satisfy the event triggering condition 522b (see FIG. 10). . In the example of FIG. 3, an event space for generating the speech event screen W4 is prepared, and the speech character (player character 2) appearing in the event, the NPC 7, the left virtual camera C1, the right virtual camera C2, etc. Will be placed.
And the process part 200 performs a balloon management process (step S32).

  If the characters appearing in the event are set to move during the execution of the speech event, the object object motion control process (corresponding to step S12) is appropriately performed before executing step S32. It is good to add.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of the balloon management process in this embodiment. In this process, the processing unit 200 first determines whether or not the balloon object 6 has already been arranged for the utterance event determined to satisfy the event triggering condition 522b in step S10 (step S40).
If the speech balloon management data 540 (see FIG. 10) includes the speech balloon data set 542 having the speech ID 546 that matches the speech ID of the speech event determined to satisfy the event triggering condition 522b in step S10, the determination is positive. A negative decision.

  If step S40 is negative (NO in step S40), the processing unit 200 next refers to the event data set 522 determined to satisfy the event triggering condition 522b in step S10, and the balloon body placement reference information The balloon main body arrangement reference plane 12 based on 522h is obtained, and the new balloon object 6 as set in the balloon template data 514 (see FIG. 8) is arranged there (step S42). Accordingly, a new balloon data set 542 is generated in the balloon management data 540 of the play data 524. The arrangement start system time 550 stores the system time 590 at that time.

  Then, the processing unit 200 refers to the standard color arrangement data 514e of the balloon template data 514 and the event data set 522 determined to satisfy the event triggering condition 522b in step S10, and the content of the message in the balloon main body 61 portion. A speech balloon texture obtained by combining 522d is generated (step S44; see FIG. 10).

  If the standard color arrangement data 514e of the balloon template data 514 includes a transparency setting, this is applied. For example, the portion of the balloon body 61 may be set to be opaque or slightly transparent, and the transparency may be increased toward the tip of the balloon indicator 62. That is, the speech balloon management unit 220 may function as a transparency setting unit that sets the transparency of the speech balloon indicator 62 so that the transparency becomes higher as the depth position is closer to the comment character.

  If the balloon object 6 has already been placed (YES in step S40), steps S42 and S44 are skipped.

Next, the processing unit 200 optimizes the vertical and horizontal widths of the balloon main body 61 according to the message content 522d (step S48).
Specifically, if the remark content 522d is a line text, the vertical and horizontal widths are determined by a predetermined function according to the number of characters, and the positions of the vertices P1 to P4 at the four corners of the balloon body 61 are corrected. If the remark content 522d is an image, the positions of the vertices P1 to P4 are corrected so that the balloon body 61 is slightly larger than the size of the image. Along with this, the position of the indicator base point 70 (see FIG. 4) provided at the lower end predetermined relative position of the blowing body 61 is also corrected and changed.

  Next, the processing unit 200 optimizes the indicator tip apex P9 from the position set in the balloon template data 514 to an appropriate position for indicating the speaking character (step S50). Specifically, referring to the character data set 512a of the speaking character (see FIG. 7), a straight line L1 that connects the current indicator base point 70 to the utterance reference point 72 indicated by the utterance reference point coordinate 512e of the utterance character. And a spherical boundary surface 74 having a boundary surface radius 512f from the utterance reference point 72. And the intersection of the straight line L1 and the spherical boundary surface 74 is calculated | required, and the position of the indicator front-end | tip vertex P9 is changed there.

  Next, the processing unit 200 calculates a left-right offset distance D2 (see FIG. 4) from the left-right center line L3 of the balloon body 61 to the optimized indicator tip apex P9 (step S52), and the indicator connection unit 63. The two vertices P7 and P8 at the lower end of the pointer are offset leftward or rightward with the indicator tip vertex P9 by an amount corresponding to the left-right offset distance D2 (step S54). Thereby, the outline of the balloon object 6 can be set so that the balloon indicator 62 is bent stepwise in the camera coordinate system heel direction and right and left at the indicator coupling portion 63.

  Next, the processing unit 200 refers to the arrangement start system time 550 of the balloon object 6 that has already been arranged, and since the arrangement start, the display time limit 522e (see FIG. 9) of the event data set 522 that matches the message ID 546 has already been obtained. The balloon object 6 that has passed is extracted and the display thereof is canceled (step S56), and the balloon management process is terminated.

  Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 11, when the balloon management process is completed, the processing unit 200 refers to the left / right flag 525 and the image to be generated at the current image generation timing is a left-eye stereoscopic image. If there is, a left eye game space image is generated by rendering an image obtained by photographing the event space with the left virtual camera C1 in the event space. Further, if the image to be generated is a right-eye stereoscopic image, an image obtained by photographing the state of the game space with the right virtual camera C2 in the event space is rendered to generate a right-eye game space image (step S70). ).

  Next, the processing unit 200 synthesizes various information display bodies such as the hit point display 20 and the information display column 21 with the generated left-eye game space image or right-eye game space image, thereby obtaining the final left-eye three-dimensional image. A visual image or a right-eye stereoscopic image is generated and displayed on the stereoscopic image display unit 361 (step S88).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the event determined to satisfy the event triggering condition 522b in step S10 has ended (step S90). For example, in the case of an event in which a single statement is made, it is regarded as an end when the display time limit 522e (see FIG. 9) has elapsed since the start of the placement of the balloon object 6. Further, in the case where a plurality of comment contents 522d are prepared and can be switched over time, when the display limit time 522e elapses from the start of the arrangement of the last comment contents, it may be regarded as the end.

If the speech event has not ended (NO in step S90), the processing unit 200 executes the left / right flag 525 switching process (step S92) and the image generation timing synchronization process, and then proceeds to step S32. Return.
Conversely, if it is determined that the speech event has ended (YES in step S90), the processing unit 200 shifts the processing to step S22.

  When the game progresses and the game progress in the main game space eventually satisfies a predetermined game end condition (YES in step S22), the processing unit 200 executes an ending process (step S110), and a series of processes Exit.

  Although the case where the left-eye stereoscopic image and the right-eye stereoscopic image are alternately generated has been described, depending on the stereoscopic display method employed by the video monitor 1220, they may be generated simultaneously. . Specifically, it is assumed that both the left-eye game space image and the right-eye game space image are generated in step S16, and the left-eye stereoscopic image and the right-eye stereoscopic image are generated in the subsequent step S18. good. The same applies to steps S70 and S88.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, in a video game using a stereoscopic image, even if the content of a message is arranged in front of the player, the message display is easy to see without contradicting the spatial arrangement relationship of characters in the game space. Can be realized.

  Note that the processing related to “speech balloon” in the present embodiment includes a main body indicating the display content (a main part corresponding to the speech balloon main body 61) and an indicator (corresponding to the speech balloon indicator 62) that associates the content with an object in the game space. If the display body has a configuration having a corresponding directivity portion, the display body can be similarly applied to the display other than the display of the content of speech.

  For example, in FIG. 2, the information display field 21 of the enemy 4 is shown in the form of “drawer” that displays text, marks, etc. for displaying the information of the enemy. This “drawer” is a kind of “speech balloon”. Therefore, the processing related to “speech balloon” in the present embodiment can be similarly applied to the information display column 21 if the speech balloon indicator 62 is regarded as a bar and a circle (circle) drawn at the tip thereof.

  In this case, what is called “information display setting data” corresponding to the speech event setting data 520 is prepared. More specifically, in the information display setting data, the information ID is stored instead of the message ID 522a as described in the message event setting data 520, and the event activation condition 522b is set to a predetermined information display operation input. Further, the remark character ID 522c may be a target character ID for displaying the information, and a sentence or a mark to be displayed in the remark content 522d may be stored. If an input of a predetermined information display operation is detected, the processing unit 200 may execute a process called “drawer management process” in the same manner as the balloon management process.

[Description of Modification]
Although the embodiment to which the present invention is applied has been described above, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this, and additions, omissions, and changes of components can be added as appropriate.

[Part 1]
For example, a stationary home game device 1200 is exemplified as the stereoscopic image generation device, but a multi-function mobile phone (so-called smartphone) capable of executing a business game device, a portable game device, a personal computer, and application software, A tablet-type information terminal device, a music player, a car navigation system, or the like may be used, and can be similarly applied to a device having a function of generating a stereoscopic image.
Further, in a game system configured by communication connection between a game terminal operated by a player and a server system, the present invention may be applied to the server system as a stereoscopic image generation device. In this case, the server system generates a stereoscopic image based on the operation information of the player and transmits it to the game terminal.

  Furthermore, when a device capable of executing a video game is realized as the stereoscopic image generating device of the present invention, it is not limited to a mode in which a dedicated game program is executed. For example, instead of a dedicated game program, a web browser program and a plug-in for realizing interactive display on the web browser by script control are executed, and the same applies to a configuration in which a video game is realized as a so-called browser game it can. That is, in this case, a server system that provides a program and image data for executing a browser game to the terminal device is the stereoscopic image generation device of the present invention.

  Further, the stereoscopic viewing method employed in the device for displaying a stereoscopic image (stereoscopic display device; in the above embodiment, the video monitor 1220) may be another method in the above embodiment. For example, a binocular system, a multi-view system, an aerial image system (a so-called integral system, a fractional view system, etc.) may be used. In addition, depending on the stereoscopic method adopted, the parallax direction is not limited to the horizontal direction, but may be a method having a parallax in the vertical direction as well. It doesn't matter. Furthermore, the stereoscopic viewing method may be a method of projecting onto a screen that is three-dimensionally arranged in the space or a screen that dynamically moves in the space, and may be three-dimensionally arranged in the space. A method using a light source group or a light source group that dynamically moves in space may be used. In addition, the images obtained by these stereoscopic display devices may be reflected by a mirror or a half mirror. In addition, the positional relationship between the screen and the viewer may be acquired using head tracking, eye tracking, a gyro sensor, or the like, and may be fed back to the stereoscopic video.

[Part 2]
In the above embodiment, the balloon body 61 of the balloon object 6 has been described as being disposed closest to the viewpoint as viewed from the viewpoint. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, when the foreground object is arranged as the speech event screen W4 and the camera angle over the foreground is adopted, the balloon body 61 of the balloon object 6 is viewed from the viewpoint rather than the foreground object. It can also be arranged.
Specifically, in the former example, in the balloon main body arrangement reference information 522h (see FIG. 9) of the event data set 522, for example, the main body arrangement reference plane 12 (see FIG. 3) is determined from the arrangement position of the object as the foreground. This should be set to the heel side when viewed from the virtual camera.

[Part 3]
The design of the balloon object 6 is not limited to the “standard type” exemplified in the above embodiment, and can be set as appropriate.
For example, as shown in the speech event screen W4b of FIG. 13 and the principle explanatory diagram of FIG. 14, the content of the speech is a monologue that reveals the emotion of the player character 2 that is the speech character in this case and the thoughts that are not spoken. Alternatively, the balloon object 6 may be configured by a balloon body 61 and a pointer group 64 including a plurality of small pointers 64a, 64b,. The indicator group 64 corresponds to the balloon indicator 62 in the “standard type” balloon object 6. The balloon object 6 having such a design is called a “monologue type”.

  Specifically, balloon template data 514 (see FIG. 8) is prepared for each balloon object design. The “monologue type” balloon template data 514 includes settings of the shape and size of a plurality of small indicators 64a, 64b,.

  And it is set as the structure which the process part 200 performs instead of the balloon management process of the said embodiment, the balloon management process B shown in FIG. Specifically, steps S40 to S48 are the same as the balloon management process of the above embodiment, but in the balloon management process B, the type of the newly placed balloon object 6 is determined after step S50 (step S51). . In the discrimination, for example, the balloon type 522j of the event data set 522 of the utterance event determined to satisfy the event triggering condition 522b in step S10 is referred (see FIG. 9).

  If “monologue type” is designated (“monologue type” in step S51), the processing unit 200 designates along the straight line L1 that connects the utterance character's utterance reference point 72 to the indicator base point 70. Small indicators having a large size are sequentially arranged from the body base point side (step S53). At this time, it is preferable that the mutual interval between the small indicators is narrow on the virtual camera side and widened toward the heel. Further, the surface normal vectors Vna, Vnb,... (See FIG. 14) of the plurality of arranged small indicators 64a, 64b,.

[Part 4]
Further, the outline expression of the balloon object 6 is not limited to an expression having a clear outline as in the above embodiment. For example, as shown in the utterance event screen W4c in FIG. 16, the outline portion of the balloon object 6 may be “blurred”. “Blur” can be realized, for example, by setting the contour portion to have higher transparency. In FIG. 16, “blur” is expressed by enclosing the outline of the balloon body 61 with an oval that is shaded from the background.

Specifically, instead of step S70 (see FIG. 11) in the above embodiment, a process as shown in FIG. 17 is executed.
In this process, the processing unit 200 first selects the left virtual camera C1 or the right virtual camera C2 in the event space as a viewpoint according to the left / right flag 525 (step S72), and the left eye game space image or the right eye game space. An image is generated (step S74).

  Next, based on the positional relationship between the balloon main body 61 and other objects, the processing unit 200 determines that a part or all of the other objects are part of the balloon main body 61 as viewed from the viewpoint, that is, the left virtual camera C1 and the right virtual camera C2. The determination of whether or not to hide, that is, the hiding determination is executed (step S76). If it is determined that the object is hidden by the concealment determination (YES in step S76), the processing unit 200 performs a predetermined process in order to reduce the visibility of the outline of the balloon body 61 that hides part or all of the other objects. The blurring process is executed (step S78), and the event space game space image generation process is terminated.

  That is, when the stereoscopic image is generated, the balloon body 61 is drawn by performing a process of reducing the visibility of the outline of the balloon body 61.

  Alternatively, steps corresponding to steps S76 to S78 are executed before step S44 (see FIGS. 12 and 15) of the balloon management process or balloon management process B, and if an affirmative determination is made in that step, step S44 is performed. Thus, the transparency of the outline of the balloon body 61 may be set to be increased.

[Part 5]
Moreover, in the said embodiment, although it was set as the structure which synthesize | combines the statement content 5 which is the content of the balloon object 6 with the texture of the balloon object 6, it is not restricted to this.
For example, as shown in FIG. 18, a speech content arrangement reference plane 14 parallel to the balloon main body 61 is set in front of the camera arrangement reference system 12 relative to the main body arrangement reference plane 12, and viewed from the virtual camera along the reference plane. A plate polygon 16 in which the content 5 of speech is drawn on a transparent plate may be arranged at a position overlapping the balloon body 61. The statement content arrangement reference surface 14 may be a region (reference region) having a predetermined width in the depth direction instead of a surface.

Specifically, step S44 is omitted (see FIG. 12 or FIG. 15).
On the other hand, the speech balloon management unit 220 (1) between the steps S48 and S50, (1) a speech content placement reference parallel to the speech blower body 61, a predetermined distance from the body placement reference plane 12 to the virtual camera side. A step of setting the surface 14 as a surface satisfying the content part depth arrangement criterion, and (2) a step of arranging the surface 14 so that the board polygon 16 on which the statement content 5 is drawn overlaps the statement content arrangement reference surface 14. It is better to configure to execute.

  That is, the balloon management unit 220 is a position that overlaps the balloon body 61 when viewed from the viewpoint of generating the game space image of the event space, and the depth position is the viewpoint when the speech content 5 (balloon content unit) is arranged. It is preferable to further function as a functional unit that is arranged at a depth position (a position of the statement content arrangement reference plane 14) in accordance with a content part depth arrangement reference that defines a reference plane or a reference area of the depth position based on.

  Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 19, the statement content arrangement reference plane 14 (14b) is set on the camera coordinate system side of the main body arrangement reference plane 12 and slightly before the player character 2 as the comment character. It is also possible to set the highest priority in the concealment processing of the plate polygon while arranging the plate polygon 16 in which the content 5 of speech is drawn.

  In other words, the balloon management unit 220 sets the balloon contents (in the depth position between the depth position of the arrangement reference plane of the balloon main body 61 and the depth position of the comment character, at a position overlapping the image of the balloon main body 61 as viewed from the viewpoint. A plate polygon 16) is arranged and functions as a function unit for drawing a balloon content part after drawing of the balloon body 61.

In this case, the depth information of the statement content 5 is close to the depth information of the statement character (player character 2 in the example of FIG. 19). Therefore, the remark character can be clearly seen only by shifting the attention point to the position where the remark character is drawn while keeping the focus adjustment of the eyes in accordance with the remark content 5.
In this case, it is more preferable to add the “blurring” process for the outline of the balloon object 6 described in [Part 4].

[Part 6]
Further, the balloon object 6 can be used not only for a production event prepared in advance but also for a chat function. Further, an arbitrary image such as an image of the player itself can be used as the content of the balloon object 6.

  Specifically, a stationary home game device 1200F as shown in FIG. 20 is configured as a stereoscopic image generation device. The apparatus is based on the stationary home-use game apparatus 1200 of the first embodiment, and includes an image sensor module 1227 for photographing the player himself, and a chat headset 1270 integrally including a microphone 1272 and headphones 1274. Prepare. The stationary home game device 1200F realizes data communication with another similar home game device used by another player via the communication line 1, and can perform so-called communication play. .

  The player wears stereoscopic glasses 1226 and a headset 1270 to play a game. When a predetermined chat operation start operation is input by the game controller 1230 during the game, an audio signal generated by the player and an image of the player captured by the image sensor module 1227 are transmitted to another stationary home via the communication line 1. Sent to the game device. On the other hand, if a chat operation start operation is input in another home game device, it is possible to receive a sound produced by another player, a player image, and a sound signal. That is, in a communication play type video game, a chat function using sound and a player image can be realized. Note that the technology of using such voice and image as chat information can be realized by appropriately using a known chat related technology.

  In the above embodiment, the audio received from the other home game device is reproduced by the speaker 1224 of the video monitor 1220, and the received player image is stereoscopically displayed on the flat panel display 1222 as the contents of the balloon object 6. Can be added.

For example, if a communication play type FPS (First Person Shooting) game is executed as a video game that can be chatted during the game, for example, a game screen W6 as shown in FIG. 21 is displayed.
That is, the game screen W6 can give a stereoscopic effect to the player wearing the stereoscopic glasses 1226 by using the left-eye stereoscopic image and the right-eye stereoscopic image, similarly to the main game screen W2 of the first embodiment. it can. The player aims to destroy all enemies 4 in the game field in cooperation with other players. In the illustrated example, other player characters 30 and 32 operated by other players are shown in the game screen W6. When the chat information is received from the game device of another player, the balloon object 6 associated with the corresponding other player character is displayed, and the image 34 of the other player is displayed therein.

More specifically, data similar to the balloon main body arrangement reference information 522h (see FIG. 9) (referred to as “chat main arrangement reference information”) is stored in the storage unit 500 independently.
The data sets a condition for setting a “chat balloon main body arrangement reference plane” (corresponding to the main body arrangement reference plane 12 of FIG. 3) applied to the chat balloon object 6 in the main game space. .

  The “chat balloon main body arrangement reference plane” itself is arranged in the main game space, and the positional relationship in the camera coordinate system Zc axis direction (depth direction) of the virtual camera is the same as that of the main body arrangement reference plane 12 in the above embodiment. , It is set closest to the virtual camera.

  Also, in the speech balloon data set 542 (see FIG. 10) prepared in association with the chat speech balloon object 6, the speech ID 546 is omitted, and the game apparatus ID that is the source of chat information is stored instead. Further, the balloon-corresponding character ID 548 stores the IDs of other player characters (in the example of FIG. 21, the other player characters 30 and 32) associated with the transmission source game device.

  And the process part 200 performs the chat balloon management process shown in FIG. 22, when chat information is received during a game play. In this process, the processing unit 200 first determines whether or not the object 6 associated with the chat information received this time has already been arranged (step S200). For example, if the balloon management data 540 includes the balloon data set 542 including the game apparatus ID that is the transmission source of the chat information received this time, an affirmative determination is made, and if not, a negative determination is made.

  If step S200 is negative (NO in step S200), the processing unit 200 next obtains a “chat body position reference plane for chat” in the game space based on the “chat body position reference information”, and there A new speech balloon object 6 that is set in the speech balloon template data 514 is placed in (Step S202).

  If the balloon object 6 associated with the chat information received this time has already been placed (YES in step S200), step S202 is skipped.

  Next, the processing unit 200 trims the player image included in the chat information received this time to a predetermined size (step S206), and optimizes the vertical and horizontal widths of the chat balloon object 6 to the player image after trimming. An appropriate width is set (step S208). Then, with reference to the standard color arrangement data 514e of the balloon template data 514, the trimmed player image is combined with the balloon body 61 to generate a balloon texture 560 (see FIG. 10) (step S210).

Next, the processing unit 200 optimizes the indicator tip apex P9 to an appropriate position for indicating the speaking character (step S212).
Specifically, since another player character associated with the game apparatus ID that is the transmission source of the chat information received this time is set for the comment character, the comment character is set from the character initial setting data 512. With reference to a character data set 512a (see FIG. 7) corresponding to the other player character to be the character, the utterance reference point 72 indicated by the utterance reference point coordinate 512e in the other player character to be the utterance character is obtained. Then, a straight line L1 connecting the current indicator base point 70 to the utterance reference point 72 is obtained, and a spherical boundary surface 74 having a boundary surface radius 512f is obtained from the utterance reference point 72, and the intersection of the straight line L1 and the spherical boundary surface 74 is obtained. The position of the indicator tip apex P9 is changed.

  Next, the processing unit 200 calculates a left / right offset distance D2 (see FIG. 4) from the left / right center line L3 of the balloon body 61 of the chat balloon object 6 to the optimized indicator tip apex P9 (step S214). ), The two vertices P7 and P8 at the lower end of the indicator connecting portion 63 are offset to the left or right where the indicator tip apex P9 is located by an amount corresponding to the left-right offset distance D2 (step S216).

In addition, it is determined that the chat speech balloon object 6 that has been arranged is appropriately terminated after the chat utterance has ended. For example, when the chat information from the same game device ID is not updated for a predetermined time or longer, the display of the chat balloon object 6 associated with the game device ID may be canceled.
As for display control of the speech balloon object 6 for chatting, the first to fifth examples of modifications can be applied.

[Part 7]
In the above embodiment, the length, which is one of the form elements of the balloon indicator 62, is optimized for each character according to the generation reference point coordinates 512e and the boundary radius 512f optimized according to the character size. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the balloon indicator 62 may be configured to be variable with respect to other elements.

For example, the width of the indicator connecting portion 63 in the above embodiment is fixed by the standard indicator connecting portion vertex coordinates 514b of the balloon template data 514, but may vary depending on the horizontal width and vertical width of the balloon main body 61. Good. Specifically, the left-right distance from the left-right center line L3 (see FIG. 4) of the balloon body 61 to the vertices P5 to P8 is defined by a function having the horizontal width and the vertical width of the balloon body 61 as variables. (Refer to FIG. 12), after optimizing the vertical and horizontal widths of the balloon object 6 according to the statement content 5, the indicator connecting unit according to the function based on the optimized horizontal and vertical widths of the balloon body 61 A step for optimizing the width of 63 is provided. In this case, for example, the width of the indicator connecting portion 63 is increased in accordance with the increase in the horizontal width or the vertical width until the horizontal width or the vertical width of the balloon main body 61 reaches a certain reference value. If the rate of increase in the width of the indicator connecting portion 63 beyond this reference value is suppressed or not increased, a well-balanced “balloon” can be created.
In addition, for example, it is preferable to set the number of the indicator connection parts 63 so as to increase as the horizontal width and vertical width of the balloon main body 61 and the character size increase. is there.
Of course, the element which changes the form of the balloon indicator 62 may be used either alone or in combination.

2 ... Player character 5 ... Message content 6 ... Balloon object 61 ... Balloon body 62 ... Balloon indicator 63 ... Indicator connection part 12 ... Main body arrangement reference plane 200 ... Processing part 210 ... Game calculation part 212 ... Game space setting part 218 ... Speech event management unit 220 ... balloon management unit 222 ... body control unit 224 ... indicator control unit 226 ... connection control unit 228 ... speech content control unit 261 ... stereoscopic image generation unit 361 ... stereoscopic image display unit 500 ... storage unit 502 ... game program 514 ... balloon template data 520 ... speech event setting data 522 ... event data set 522a ... speech ID
522b ... Event trigger condition 522c ... Speaking character ID
522d ... content of statement 522f ... event space setting data 522h ... main body arrangement reference information 524 ... play data 540 ... balloon management data 542 ... balloon data set 544 ... balloon ID
546 ... Statement ID
548 ... Balloon compatible character ID
552... Body vertex coordinates 554. Pointer connecting portion vertex coordinates 556. Pointer reference point coordinates 558. Pointer tip vertex coordinates C1. Left virtual camera C2. Right virtual camera P9 ... Pointer tip vertex W2 ... Main game screen W4. Screen 1200 ... Home game device 1201 ... Game device main body 1210 ... Control unit 1220 ... Video monitor 1226 ... Stereoscopic glasses

Claims (13)

A program for causing a computer to generate a stereoscopic image in which a virtual three-dimensional space in which characters are arranged is viewed from a given viewpoint,
A main body arrangement means for arranging a balloon main body at a depth position in accordance with a depth arrangement standard that defines a reference plane or reference area of a depth position based on the viewpoint when the balloon main body is arranged;
A pointer arrangement means for arranging a balloon indicator indicating a correspondence relationship between the balloon main body and the character arranged by the main body arrangement means along the depth direction so as to connect the balloon main body and the character;
A program for causing the computer to function as The indicator arrangement means arranges and configures the balloon indicator with a plate-like body that is gradually bent in the depth direction from the predetermined position on the periphery of the balloon body toward the character.
The program according to claim 1 for causing the computer to function. The indicator arrangement means arranges and configures the plate-like body so that the maximum bent portion is located on the side close to the blowing body.
The program according to claim 2 for causing the computer to function. The indicator arrangement means arranges and configures the balloon indicator by discretely arranging a plurality of small indicators at different depth positions between the balloon main body and the character.
The program according to claim 2 for causing the computer to function. The indicator arrangement means arranges the arrangement interval of the plurality of small indicators so that the one closer to the balloon main body is narrower,
The program according to claim 4 for causing the computer to function as described above. The indicator arrangement means changes and arranges the form of the balloon indicator according to the size of the balloon main body and / or the size of the character.
The program according to any one of claims 1 to 5 for causing the computer to function as described above. Color arrangement changing means for changing the color arrangement of the balloon indicator according to the relative positional relationship between the balloon indicator and the character in the depth direction;
The program as described in any one of Claims 1-6 for making the said computer further function as. A concealment determining means for determining whether or not a part or all of the other object is hidden by the balloon body as viewed from the viewpoint based on the positional relationship between the balloon body and the other object.
A body portion that renders the balloon body by performing a predetermined blurring process to reduce the visibility of the outline of the balloon body when generating the stereoscopic image when it is determined to be hidden by the concealment determining means Drawing means,
The program as described in any one of Claims 1-7 for making the said computer further function as. A content part that defines the speech bubble content part as viewed from the viewpoint and overlaps the speech bubble body, and the depth position defines a reference plane or reference area of the depth position based on the viewpoint when the speech content part is arranged Content placement means for placing at a depth position according to the depth placement criteria,
The program as described in any one of Claims 1-8 for making the said computer further function as. The depth placement reference defines a depth position between the depth placement reference and the depth position of the character;
Content part drawing means for drawing the balloon content part after drawing of the balloon body;
The program according to claim 9 for causing the computer to further function as: The balloon content part includes at least a given player image,
The main body portion arranging means and the content portion arranging means are arranged and configured by changing the size of the balloon main body and the balloon content portion according to the depth position of the character based on the viewpoint.
The program according to claim 9 or 10 for causing the computer to function as described above.   The computer-readable information storage medium which memorize | stored the program as described in any one of Claims 1-11. A stereoscopic image generation device for generating a stereoscopic image in which a virtual three-dimensional space in which a character is arranged is viewed from a given viewpoint,
A main body arrangement means for arranging a balloon main body at a depth position in accordance with a depth arrangement standard that defines a reference plane or reference area of a depth position based on the viewpoint when the balloon main body is arranged;
A pointer placement means for placing a balloon indicator indicating the correspondence between the balloon body and the character placed by the body portion placement means along the depth direction so as to connect the balloon body and the character; ,
A stereoscopic image generating apparatus comprising:

Images