JP2024041372A - Game program and game device - Google Patents

Abstract

To enhance a feeling of devotion by sound reproduction in a virtual space.SOLUTION: A computer is caused to function as, in response to an operation of a user U, a game progressing unit 561 for operating a character P in a virtual space having a plurality of areas, and an acoustic processing unit 562 for reproducing a sound in the virtual space. The acoustic processing unit 562 executes first reproduction by which an environmental sound is reproduced in a normal manner, and executes second reproduction by which the environmental sound is reproduced as an environmental sound having directivity of a direction from an opening D to a virtual microphone L. When the virtual microphone L is in an area B, the acoustic processing unit executes the first reproduction of an environmental sound S2 associated with the area B, and executes the second reproduction of an environmental sound S1 associated with an area A. When the virtual microphone L is in the area A, the acoustic processing unit executes the first reproduction of the environmental sound S1, and executes the second reproduction of the environmental sound S2. The reproduction of the environmental sound S1 is gradually changed from the second reproduction to the first reproduction as the virtual microphone L moves from the area B to the opening D.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present disclosure relates to a game program and a game device.

Some game programs play environmental sounds corresponding to game scenes in order to enhance the sense of realism (for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-209604

In a game, in order to enhance the sense of realism, it is required that audio corresponding to the game scene be played.

An object of the present disclosure is to improve the sense of immersion through audio playback in a virtual space.

The first aspect is that the computer is
a game progression unit that causes a character to move in a virtual space having a plurality of subspaces in response to a user's operation;
an audio processing unit that reproduces audio in the virtual space;
function as
The plurality of partial spaces have at least a first space and a second space connected to the first space by an opening,
The sound processing section includes:
A first playback in which the sound is normally played is performed, and the sound is played back as a sound having directivity in a direction corresponding to a first direction that is a direction from the aperture to a reference point for sound image localization of the character. Perform the second playback,
When the reference point is in the first space, the first sound, which is the sound associated with the first space, is played back, and the first sound, which is the sound associated with the second space, is played back. 2 audio is played back in the second manner;
when the reference point is in the second space, the second audio is played back in the first way, and the first sound is played back in the second space;
The game program gradually changes reproduction of the second sound from the second reproduction to the first reproduction as the reference point moves from the first space to the opening.

In the first aspect, as the reference point moves from the second space to the opening, the sound processing unit reproduces the sound according to a first distance that is a distance between the opening and the reference point. may be gradually changed from the second reproduction to the first reproduction.

A second aspect includes a storage unit storing the game program of the first aspect;
a control unit that executes the game program;
It is a game device equipped with.

According to the present disclosure, an immersive feeling due to audio reproduction is improved in a virtual space.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a game device. The figure which shows an example of a game screen. The figure which shows the example of arrangement|positioning of a speaker.

[Embodiment]
Hereinafter, embodiments of a game program and a game device will be described.

A game based on this game program is played in a virtual space (three-dimensional). There are no restrictions on the type of game. For example, the game can be a competitive action game in which the player character attacks and defeats enemy characters.

《Game device configuration》
<Hardware configuration>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the game device 5. As shown in FIG. The game device 5 executes a predetermined game based on a user's operation. A display 61, a speaker 62, and a controller 63 are externally connected or built into the game device 5.

As the game device 5, commercially available devices such as a personal computer, PlayStation (registered trademark), XBox (registered trademark), PlayStation Vita (registered trademark), and Nintendo Switch (registered trademark) can be used.

In the game device 5, the game progresses based on the installed game program and game data. The game devices 5 can also perform data communication with each other using a communication network (not shown) or a short-range wireless communication device (not shown).

The game device 5 includes a network interface 51, a graphic processing section 52, an audio processing section 53, an operation section 54, a storage section 55, and a control section 56. The network interface 51, the graphic processing section 52, the audio processing section 53, the operation section 54, and the storage section 55 are electrically connected to the control section 56 via a bus 59.

The network interface 51 is communicably connected to the communication network in order to transmit and receive various data with, for example, other game devices 5 and an external server device (not shown).

The graphic processing unit 52 draws a game image including a player character and various objects in the virtual space in a moving image format according to the game image information output from the control unit 56. The graphic processing unit 52 is connected to a display 61 (for example, a liquid crystal display). The game image drawn in a moving image format is displayed on the display 61 as a game screen.

The audio processing section 53 is connected to the speaker 62. The audio processing unit 53 reproduces digital game audio according to instructions from the control unit 56. Specifically, the audio processing unit 53 converts the audio data output by the control unit 56 into an analog signal and outputs it to the speaker 62.

The audio processing unit 53 is configured to output multi-channel audio in order to reproduce three-dimensional sound. Accordingly, a plurality of speakers 62 are connected to the game device 5. These speakers 62 may be placed on the left, right, front, back, or above the listener (for example, a game player) so that three-dimensional sound can be reproduced.

The operation unit 54 is connected to the controller 63. The operation unit 54 transmits and receives signals to and from the controller 63. A game player inputs signals (commands, data, etc.) to the game device 5 by operating various operators such as buttons on the controller 63.

The storage unit 55 includes an HDD, SSD, RAM, ROM, and the like. The storage unit 55 stores game data, various programs including game programs, and the like. Examples of game data include game media and user account information.

The control unit 56 controls the operation of the game device 5. The control unit 56 includes a CPU (microcomputer) and a semiconductor memory. The semiconductor memory stores programs, data, etc. for operating the CPU.

<Functional configuration of control unit 56>
The control unit 56 functions as a game progression unit 561 and a sound processing unit 562 by executing a game program (see FIG. 1).

-Game progress section 561-
The game progression unit 561 causes the player character to move within the virtual space in response to operations by the user (here, the game player). The game progression unit 561 also causes non-player characters and predetermined objects (such as vehicles) to operate in the virtual space.

The game progress unit 561 controls the actions of non-player characters and predetermined objects using, for example, AI (artificial intelligence). The game progression unit 561 advances the game according to the actions of the player character and the non-player character.

-Sound processing section 562-
In this game program, various audio data are prepared in advance. The audio processing unit 562 reproduces audio data according to the progress of the game. Specifically, the audio processing unit 562 selects audio data according to the progress of the game, and outputs the selected audio data to the audio processing unit 53.

When outputting audio data, the audio processing unit 562 instructs the audio processing unit 53 about the volume. The audio processing unit 53 converts the audio data output by the audio processing unit 562 into an analog signal of a specified volume, and outputs it to the speaker 62.

The sound processing unit 562 performs sound image localization during audio reproduction. In order to perform sound image localization, the acoustic processing unit 562 sets a virtual sound receiving point (hereinafter referred to as virtual microphone L) at which audio is heard in the virtual space. In this example, the virtual microphone L is set near the player character (character P). The virtual microphone L moves as the player character moves.

In this game, an acoustic presentation is performed to make the sound appear to be coming from a virtual sound source existing in a virtual space. The sound processing unit 562 outputs the sound emitted from a virtual sound source (such as a weapon owned by the player character) to the speaker 62 in an acoustic representation as if the sound was collected by the virtual microphone L. The virtual microphone L is a virtual listener and is a reference point for sound image localization by the acoustic processing unit 562.

In the game progressed by the game progression unit 561, in response to operations from each user, the player characters are made to act in a three-dimensional virtual space, or the player characters are formed into groups to perform various actions. More specifically, this game is an action game in which the player character attacks and defeats enemy characters.

In this game, BGM (Background Music) is played when a predetermined trigger condition is met during the movement process or action of the player character. The predetermined trigger conditions include, for example, movement of the player character to a predetermined location, appearance of an enemy character, defeat of an enemy character, and the like. This game also includes so-called environmental sounds as acoustic expressions.

Such environmental sounds include, for example, the sound of water drops falling from the ceiling into a puddle in a cave, the sound of wind blowing from the entrance to the exit of a cave, and the noise of the hustle and bustle of the town (voices of passersby and cars passing nearby). sounds, etc.), the sound of the wind blowing in forests and grasslands, and the sounds of small animals such as birds and insects.

In this game, the virtual space has a plurality of partial spaces (areas) separated from each other by walls with openings. An example of the partial space is a room in a building. In this example, the "wall" is a wall that separates rooms. An "opening" is a doorway (for example, an open door) provided between rooms.

In this game, each area has environmental sounds set. The sound processing unit 562 normally reproduces the environmental sound set in the area located at the virtual microphone L (reference point for sound image localization) (first reproduction). For example, in FIG. 2, when the virtual microphone L exists in area A, the sound processing unit 562 reproduces the environmental sound S1 (second sound) set in area A (second space). Similarly, when the virtual microphone L exists in area B (first space), the sound processing unit 562 reproduces the environmental sound S2 (first sound) set in area B.

Furthermore, the sound processing unit 562 reproduces the environmental sound set in the area adjacent to the area located at the virtual microphone L (reference point for sound image localization). At this time, the sound processing unit 562 reproduces the environmental sound using a virtual sound source on the opening between the adjacent area as the sound source (second reproduction). That is, the sound processing unit 562 reproduces environmental sound having directivity in the first direction, which is the direction from the opening to the position of the virtual microphone L.

For example, in FIG. 2, when the virtual microphone L exists in the area B, the environmental sound S1 set in the area A is reproduced using the virtual sound source S on the opening D in front as the sound source. That is, the environmental sound S1 is reproduced as sound having directionality in the backward direction. Similarly, when the virtual microphone L exists in the area A, the environmental sound S2 set in the area B is reproduced using the virtual sound source S above the opening D as the sound source.

Specifically, when the virtual microphone L exists within the area A, the environmental sound S1 is reproduced as surround sound during normal reproduction. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when speakers FL, FR, BL, and BR are arranged around the user U, each speaker reproduces the sound (surround sound) corresponding to the environmental sound S1.

Then, when the virtual microphone L exists within the area B, the environmental sound S1 is reproduced as sound having directionality. For example, the environmental sound S1, which is surround sound, is downmixed to monaural sound and reproduced from speakers FL and FR placed in front of the user U. As a result, the user U feels as if the environmental sound S1 is coming from the area A in front of him.

Here, suppose that when the character P (virtual microphone L) moves from area B to area A via opening D, the sound processing unit 562 changes the reproduction of the environmental sound S1 from the second reproduction to the first reproduction. . In this case, for example, in FIGS. 2 and 3, the user U hears the environmental sound S1 only from the speakers FL and FR immediately before passing through the aperture D, whereas the user U hears the environmental sound S1 only from the speakers FL and FR immediately after passing through the aperture D. The environmental sound S1 can be heard from. For this reason, there is a possibility that the user U may feel uncomfortable.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the character P (virtual microphone L) moves from area B to area A via opening D, the sound processing unit 562 changes the reproduction of the environmental sound S1 to the second The playback is gradually changed from the playback to the first playback.

《Operation example》
Here, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the processing of the audio processing unit 562 when the virtual microphone L moves from area B to area A will be described.

First, when the virtual microphone L exists in the area B (first space), the acoustic processing unit 562 generates an environment having directivity in the direction from the opening D to the virtual microphone L (corresponding to the rear direction, the first direction). Sound S1 (second audio) is played back (second playback). In FIG. 3, monaural environmental sound S1 is reproduced from speakers FL and FR. As a result, the user U feels as if the environmental sound S1 is coming from the area A in front of him. Note that the volume of the environmental sound S1 reproduced by the speakers FL and FR at this time has a magnitude corresponding to the distance d (first distance) from the opening D to the virtual microphone L.

Furthermore, when the virtual microphone L is present in the area B, the sound processing unit 562 normally reproduces the environmental sound S2 (first sound) (first reproduction).

When the virtual microphone L moves toward the opening D, the acoustic processing unit 562 gradually changes the reproduction of the environmental sound S1 from the second reproduction to the first reproduction according to the distance d between the virtual microphone L and the opening D. . In FIG. 3, as the virtual microphone L moves toward the opening D, the environmental sound S1 is reproduced from the speakers BL and BR in addition to the speakers FL and FR. At this time, the volume of the environmental sound S1 reproduced by the speakers BL and BR increases as the distance between the virtual microphone L and the aperture D becomes shorter.

Furthermore, when the virtual microphone L moves toward the opening D, the sound processing unit 562 gradually changes the reproduction of the environmental sound S2 from the first reproduction to the second reproduction according to the distance d between the virtual microphone L and the opening D. change. In FIG. 3, as the virtual microphone L moves toward the opening D, the volume of the environmental sound S2 reproduced from the speakers BL and BR is reduced. Note that at this time, the environmental sound S2 reproduced from the speakers FL and FR may be gradually changed from surround sound to monaural sound.

Then, when the virtual microphone L moves into the area A, the sound processing unit 562 normally reproduces the environmental sound S1 as surround sound (first reproduction).

Furthermore, when the virtual microphone L moves into the area A, the acoustic processing unit 562 reproduces the environmental sound S2 (first sound) as an environmental sound having directionality in the direction from the opening D to the virtual microphone L (the first sound). 2 plays).

To summarize the above, the computer (control unit 56) is connected to a game progress unit 561 that operates the character P in a virtual space having a plurality of areas (partial spaces) in response to the operation of the user U, and an environmental sound (control unit 56) in the virtual space. The plurality of areas includes at least area A (second space) and area B (first space) connected to area A by an opening D, The sound processing unit 562 performs a first reproduction in which the environmental sound is normally reproduced, and also reproduces the environmental sound as an environmental sound having directionality in the direction from the opening D to the virtual microphone L (the reference point for sound image localization of the character). When the virtual microphone L is in area B, the environmental sound S2 (first sound) associated with area B is played first, and the environmental sound S1 (first sound) associated with area A is played back. When the virtual microphone L is in the area A, the environmental sound S1 is first reproduced, the environmental sound S2 is second reproduced, and the virtual microphone L is moved from the area B to the opening D. This is a game program that gradually changes the playback of the environmental sound S1 from the second playback to the first playback as the player moves from the second playback to the first playback.

《Effects of this embodiment》
In this game, in area A, environmental sound S1 is normally played (first playback), in area B, environmental sound S1 is played as a directional environmental sound (second playback), and from area B to opening D. When moving, the reproduction of the environmental sound S1 gradually changes from the second reproduction to the first reproduction. As a result, it is possible to provide the environmental sound S1 with directivity while achieving an acoustic effect that does not make the user feel uncomfortable. Therefore, it is possible to improve the sense of immersion due to audio reproduction in the virtual space.

Furthermore, when the virtual microphone L moves from the area B to the aperture D, the acoustic processing unit 562 controls the reproduction of the environmental sound S1 to the first position according to the distance d (first distance) between the aperture D and the virtual microphone L. Gradually change from 2nd playback to 1st playback. For example, the volume of each speaker placed around the user U is changed depending on the distance d1. Thereby, it is possible to realize an acoustic effect that does not make the user feel uncomfortable.

[Other embodiments]
Note that in the second reproduction, the sound processing unit 562 may perform any processing as long as the environmental sound S1 is reproduced as sound having directionality.

Furthermore, the environmental sound S1 may be surround sound, stereo sound, monaural sound, or the like.

Further, the arrangement example of the speakers is not limited to that shown in FIG. 3, and the number of speakers may be plural.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the sound processing unit 562 reproduces environmental sound as sound is explained as an example, but the present invention also applies when playing other sounds such as when the sound is a sound effect. Can be used.

Moreover, the processing by this program may be performed by a server device to which the user device (game device 5) is connected, or may be shared between the user device and the server device. This form is a form assumed when this program is implemented as a game program for online games.

Even when these other embodiments are adopted, the effects of this aspect can be achieved. Moreover, it is also possible to combine this embodiment with other embodiments, or with other embodiments, as appropriate.

5 gaming device
55 Storage section
56 Control unit (computer)
561 Game progress department
562 Sound processing section

Claims (3)

computer,
a game progression unit that causes a character to move in a virtual space having a plurality of subspaces in response to a user's operation;
an audio processing unit that reproduces audio in the virtual space;
function as
The plurality of partial spaces have at least a first space and a second space connected to the first space by an opening,
The sound processing section includes:
A first playback in which the sound is normally played is performed, and the sound is played back as a sound having directivity in a direction corresponding to a first direction that is a direction from the aperture to a reference point for sound image localization of the character. Perform the second playback,
When the reference point is in the first space, the first sound, which is the sound associated with the first space, is played back, and the first sound, which is the sound associated with the second space, is played back. 2 audio is played back in the second manner;
when the reference point is in the second space, the second audio is played back in the first way, and the first sound is played back in the second space;
A game program that gradually changes reproduction of the second sound from the second reproduction to the first reproduction as the reference point moves from the first space to the opening. The game program according to claim 1,
When the reference point moves from the second space to the opening, the sound processing unit controls the reproduction of the sound to the second space according to a first distance that is a distance between the opening and the reference point. A game program that gradually changes from playback to the first playback. A storage unit storing the game program according to claim 1 or claim 2;
a control unit that executes the game program;
A game device equipped with