JP2999455B1 - Animation display method in video game, video game device using the same, and computer-readable medium recording animation display program in video game - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for creating and displaying a clear and real-time animation of a plurality of animations, a video game apparatus using the method, and a computer-readable medium storing the program. SOLUTION: A relative conversion matrix of a node forming an image corresponding to a first animation display of a character is calculated (s3), and a relative conversion matrix calculation of a node forming an image corresponding to a second animation display of the character is calculated. (S4), these are linearly combined with a preset weight value (s5), and this is repeated for all nodes, so that a display combining the first and second animation displays is performed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for displaying an animation in a video game, a video game apparatus using the same, and a computer-readable medium recording an animation display program in a video game.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art If the type of movement to be given is determined in advance, such as a character in a normal TV broadcast or video, a slightly different image obtained by decomposing the movement to be given into each frame. By drawing,
Animated images can be displayed by adding motion to the images.

[0003] However, when it is not possible to predict what kind of movement must be made next by a player's operation, such as a character in a video game, several image units of a character or the like to be given a movement are used. A series of animation images of the pattern are prepared in advance, and the animation images are switched and selected according to the operation of the player and displayed.

In this case, how to display an intermediate animation image between a certain series of animation images and another series of animation images, and to display another series of animation images successively to a certain series of animation images It has been an issue how to display the connection when performing the operation.In such a case, conventionally, in such a case, an interpolation image is created and displayed between a certain series of animation images and another series of animation images. Also, a plurality of interpolated images are created and displayed between the last image of the previous series of animation images and the first image of the next series of animation images.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional method, it takes a long time to create an interpolated image, and it is difficult to immediately display the image in response to a player's operation. There was a problem that the real-time property was impaired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an animation display method in a video game capable of clearly and in real time creating and displaying intermediate and continuous animations of a plurality of animations and a video game apparatus using the same. An object of the present invention is to provide a computer-readable medium recording an animation display program in a video game.

[0007]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, an image of a character is represented by at least two nodes in which a node belonging to one layer is represented by a transformation matrix relative to a node belonging to a layer above it. In an animation display method in a video game in which a character is animated by changing the relative transformation matrix of each node, the image corresponding to the first animation display of the character is constituted by a plurality of nodes belonging to one of the two hierarchies. A linear combination of the relative transformation matrix of one of the constituent nodes and the relative transformation matrix of the one of the nodes constituting the image corresponding to the second animation display of the character, and all the nodes constituting the image of the character Is performed.

According to the above configuration, it is only necessary to perform a matrix operation on a plurality of nodes, and unlike the conventional case of creating an interpolated image, it is possible to display a composite animation with good response in real time.

At this time, a relative transformation matrix of a node constituting an image corresponding to the first animation display,
By combining, at a predetermined ratio, a relative transformation matrix of a node constituting an image corresponding to the second animation display, an intermediate animation display between the first animation display and the second animation display can be performed. it can.

[0010] Further, the relative conversion matrix of the node forming the image corresponding to the first animation display and the relative conversion matrix of the node forming the image corresponding to the second animation display are continuously determined as the ratio of connection. By changing and combining, it is possible to perform an animation display with a good connection between the first animation display and the second animation display.

Here, the first animation display is changed to the second animation display.
When switching to the animation display, the first and second animation displays may be performed simultaneously. However, if the first animation display is stopped and then the second animation display is performed, smoother and faster display is possible. Switching can be performed.

Further, the video game device of the present invention converts an image of a character into one of at least two layers in which a node belonging to one layer is represented by a transformation matrix relative to a node belonging to a layer above it. In a video game device which is composed of a plurality of nodes and which displays an animation of a character by changing a relative transformation matrix of each node, a value of a relative transformation matrix of a node constituting an image corresponding to the first animation display of the character , First matrix calculating means for calculating the value of a relative transformation matrix of a node constituting an image corresponding to the second animation display of the character, and corresponding to the first animation display The value of the relative transformation matrix of the node constituting the image to be rendered and the image corresponding to the second animation display Characterized in that a matrix operation means for combining the values of over de relative transformation matrix.

[0013] At this time, the matrix calculation means calculates a relative conversion matrix value of a node forming an image corresponding to the first animation display and a relative conversion matrix of a node forming an image corresponding to the second animation display. By combining the values with a predetermined ratio, an arbitrary intermediate animation display can be performed, and the value of the relative transformation matrix of the node constituting the image corresponding to the first animation display and the second By connecting the values of the relative transformation matrices of the nodes constituting the image corresponding to the animation display with the ratio of the connection being continuously changed, the animation display with good connection can be performed.

When the first animation display is switched to the second animation display, display control means for simultaneously performing the first and second animation displays may be provided, but the first animation display is stopped. Therefore, if the display control means for performing the second animation display is provided, smoother and faster switching display can be performed.

Here, a weight value holding means for holding an arbitrary weight value indicating the combination ratio or a weight value changing means for continuously changing the weight value may be provided.

Further, the computer readable medium storing the animation display program in the video game of the present invention stores the image of the character in a conversion matrix in which a node belonging to one layer is relative to a node belonging to a layer above it. A computer-readable medium having a plurality of nodes belonging to any of at least two hierarchies represented, and recording an animation display program in a video game in which a character is animated by changing a relative transformation matrix of each node. When the animation display program in the video game is read by a computer, the computer calculates the value of a relative transformation matrix of one node forming an image corresponding to the first animation display of the character, and The value of the relative transformation matrix of the one node constituting an image corresponding to the display a second animation to calculate, by linearly combining the values of these matrices at a predetermined ratio,
It is characterized in that an operation of performing this for all nodes constituting the character image is executed.

Further, the image of the character is composed of a plurality of nodes belonging to one of at least two hierarchies in which a node belonging to one hierarchy is represented by a transformation matrix relative to a node belonging to a hierarchy above the node. In a computer-readable medium recording an animation display program in a video game in which characters are animated by changing the relative transformation matrix of each node, when the animation display program in the video game is read by a computer, Calculating a value of a relative conversion matrix of one node forming an image corresponding to the first animation display of the character, and calculating a relative conversion matrix of the one node forming an image corresponding to the second animation display of the character Calculate the value of The values of the columns are linearly combined, and this is performed for all nodes forming the image of the character, and the operation of repeating the above-mentioned processing while continuously changing the ratio of the combination from 0 to 1 is performed. .

When the first animation display is switched to the second animation display, an operation for simultaneously performing the first and second animation displays is executed, or after the first animation display is stopped, the second animation display is stopped. An operation for performing an animation display is executed.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an example of a video game apparatus to which the present invention is applied, here, an outline of a home video game machine, in which 1 is a game machine main body, 2 is a plurality of operation keys. A controller for inputting various commands to the game machine main body 1; a monitor 3 such as a TV connected to the game machine main body 1 for outputting a game screen and music;
Is an external storage device which is mounted on the game machine main body 1 and stores game save data and the like, here a memory card, 5 is a game program executable on the game machine main body 1, a computer-readable medium storing data, and Is a CD-ROM.

The CD-ROM 5 is mounted on a CD-ROM drive (not shown) in which a detachable opening / closing lid 1a is arranged on the upper surface of the game machine main body 1, and its programs and data are read. 1b is a power switch, 1c is a reset switch, and 1d is an open / close button of the open / close lid 1a.

FIG. 2 shows a detailed circuit configuration inside the game machine main body 1. This device is a CPU (central processing unit) 11.
And an image data generation processor (GTE) 12 directly connected to the CPU 11, a system controller 14, a main memory 15, a system ROM 16, and an image data decompression decoder (MDEC) connected to the CPU 11 via a main bus 13. 17, parallel interface (I / O) 18, serial interface (I / O) 1
9, image processor (GPU) 20, audio processor (SPU) 21, CD-ROM decoder 22, communication interface 23, frame buffer 24 connected to image processor 20, audio processor 2
1, a CD-ROM drive 26 and a CD-ROM buffer 27 connected to the CD-ROM decoder 22.

The image data generation processor 12 includes a CP
Based on the instruction from U11, a large data amount operation such as coordinate conversion or light source calculation is performed. System controller 14
Performs interrupt control, memory access control, and the like. The system ROM 16 stores basic programs and the like. The image data decompression decoder 17 decodes image data compressed and encoded by MPEG, JPEG, or the like.

The image processor 20 creates a video signal of a game screen using the frame buffer 24 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 11, and outputs the video signal to the monitor 3. The sound processor 21 creates a sound signal including BGM and sound effects using the sound buffer 25 according to an instruction from the CPU 11, and outputs the sound signal to the monitor 3 (or another audio system or the like).
Output to

The CD-ROM decoder 22 is a CD-ROM
5 is read via the CD-ROM drive 26, and is temporarily stored in the CD-ROM buffer 27, and is decoded into the original program and data.

The communication interface 23 is the controller 2
And various signals and data are exchanged with the memory card 4.

FIG. 3 shows the flow of processing of the animation display method of the present invention.

In the method of the present invention, the image of the character is represented by a plurality of nodes belonging to any one of at least two layers in which a node belonging to one layer is represented by a transformation matrix relative to a node belonging to the layer above. When a character is animated and displayed by changing the relative transformation matrix of each node, a node corresponding to the first animation display and a node corresponding to the second animation display are compared with each other by their relative transformation matrices. Are linearly combined to perform an animation display in which the first animation display and the second animation display are combined.

Here, the node is the head of the character,
It represents individual images of the torso, upper and lower arms, forearms and left and right hands, left and right thighs, lower knees, and feet, and each node is one of at least two layers forming a hierarchical structure. Belongs to.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a hierarchical structure, in this case, an example of a hierarchical structure of the upper body.
The left and right upper arms (LEFT # ARM # U, RIGHT # ARM # U) are on the second level,
The left and right forearms (LEFT # ARM # L, RIGHT # ARM # L) are at the third level,
The left and right hand parts (LEFT # HAND, RIGHT # HAND) are the fourth hierarchy.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

First, a value i representing each node constituting an image of a character to be displayed is set to an initial value "1" (s1). Next, it is determined whether or not the total number of nodes is equal to or greater than i (s2). Since the total number of nodes cannot be less than i (= 1) at first, the following processing is performed.

That is, the value of the relative transformation matrix of the i-th node constituting the image corresponding to the first animation display of the character, for example, M1, is calculated (s3), and the image corresponding to the second animation display of the character is calculated. , The value of the relative transformation matrix of the i-th node, for example, M2 is calculated (s4).

Here, the first animation display and the second animation display
Is an animation display related to the operation from which the intermediate animation display is to be performed (for example, when an animation display between jump and kick is performed,
It means "animation display related to jump" and "animation display related to kick". ).

Next, the calculated matrix value M1 and matrix value M
2 are linearly combined with a preset weight value w (s5). That is, assuming that the value of the combined transformation matrix is M, M = (1−w) M1 + wM2. In this equation, when w approaches 0, M approaches M1 and approaches the first animation display, and when w approaches 1, M approaches M2 and approaches the second animation display.

Thereafter, "1" is added to the value i (s6),
The processing of s2 to s5 is repeated for the (i + 1) th node, and is repeated until i becomes larger than the total number of nodes, that is, for all nodes.

The transformation matrices for all the nodes constituting the image of the character obtained in this manner are converted into orthogonal matrices to produce image data (s7), and this is performed in units of frames, so that the first and second animations are obtained. An intermediate animation display is performed.

FIG. 5 shows a flow of processing of another animation display method according to the present invention, in which a second animation display is performed following the first animation display.

In this case, first, the weight value w is set to the initial value “0”.
(S11), and the same processing s1 to s7 as in the case of FIG. 3 described above is performed, that is, an image corresponding to only the first animation display is displayed.

Next, it is determined whether or not the weight value w is equal to or more than the upper limit value "1" (s12). If not equal, an appropriate value α (for example, 0.02) after the decimal point is added to the weight value w. Then, the same processing s1 to s7 is performed, that is, an image in which the second animation display is slightly added to the first animation display is displayed.

Hereinafter, by repeating such processing until the weight value w becomes equal to or more than the upper limit value “1”, an animation display with good connection from the first animation display to the second animation display can be performed. .

FIG. 6 shows a transition from the first animation display to the second animation display due to the change in the weight value w.

Here, the first animation display is continued even after the start of the second animation display, but actually, in order to speed up the animation display,
The first and second animation displays are not played simultaneously, that is, the first animation display is stopped (frozen) when the second animation display is played.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of a video game device using the animation display method of the present invention. In the figure, 31 is an animation display control unit, 32 is a first matrix calculation unit, and 33 is a second matrix calculation unit. , A weight value holding unit, 35 a weight value variable unit, 36 a matrix operation unit,
Reference numeral 7 denotes a character image generation unit.

The animation display control unit 31 determines what action is to be given to the character based on the game program stored in the CD-ROM 5 and the key input operation on the controller 2, and combines a plurality of animation displays. When displaying the first character
Output the data related to the animation display and the data related to the second animation display to the first matrix calculator 32 and the second matrix calculator 33, respectively.
The weight value w is set in the weight value holding unit 34, and the value α is set in the weight value changing unit 35 as necessary. When switching between the first and second animation displays, the first
When the animation display is stopped, data relating to the first animation display is fixed.

The first matrix calculation unit 32 calculates the value of the relative transformation matrix of the node constituting the image corresponding to the first animation display of the character based on the data from the animation display control unit 31. Second matrix calculator 3
3 calculates the value of the relative transformation matrix of the node forming the image corresponding to the second animation display of the character based on the data from the animation display control unit 31.

The weight value holding section 34 holds a weight value w indicating the ratio of the combination. The weight value changing unit 35 changes the weight value w held in the weight value holding unit 34 in accordance with an instruction from the animation display control unit 31.

The matrix operation unit 36 includes a first matrix calculation unit 32
And the value of the relative conversion matrix of the node forming the image corresponding to the first animation display and the relative conversion matrix of the node forming the image corresponding to the second animation display, calculated by the second matrix calculation unit 33 Are linearly combined with a weight value w.

The character image generation unit 37 converts the conversion matrix obtained by the above-described linear combination into an orthogonal matrix to generate image data, and finishes the character image to be actually displayed on a video screen. Note that this character image is combined with a separately created background image to form an image signal, and further output to the monitor 3 together with a separately created music signal.

FIGS. 8 to 19 show an example of a concrete animation display. FIGS. 8 to 13 show images corresponding to an animation (first animation display) in which a character punches out. 14 to 19 show images corresponding to an animation (second animation display) in which a character is attacked (kicked) by an opponent character (not shown) and is flew backwards by the attack (kick). According to this, the connection between the first animation display and the second animation display can be created and displayed in a clear and real-time manner.

In the above description, the first and the second
Although the case where one animation display is synthesized and displayed has been described, it goes without saying that the same can be applied to the case where three or more animation displays are synthesized and displayed.

In the above description, an example in which the present invention is applied to a home game machine has been described. However, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a business game machine installed in a game center or an amusement facility.

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When animating a character by changing the relative transformation matrix of a plurality of nodes constituting the image of the character, the relative transformation matrix of one node corresponding to the first animation display and the second animation display Linearly combining the relative transformation matrix of the one node and performing this for all nodes, it is only necessary to perform a matrix operation on a plurality of nodes,
A long-time processing is not required unlike the case of creating a conventional interpolation image, and a highly responsive composite animation display can be performed in real time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of an example of a video game apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a detailed circuit configuration diagram inside the game machine main body.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of processing of an animation display method according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a hierarchical structure.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of processing of another animation display method according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a transition from a first animation display to a second animation display due to a change in weight value.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of a video game device using the animation display method of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows an example of an animation display.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of an animation display.

FIG. 10 shows an example of an animation display.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an animation display.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of an animation display.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an animation display.

FIG. 14 shows an example of an animation display.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of an animation display.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of an animation display.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of an animation display.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of an animation display.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of an animation display.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Game console body, 1a: Open / close lid, 1b: Power switch, 1c: Reset switch, 1d: Open / close button, 2:
Controller, 2a: operation keys, 3: monitor, 4: memory card, 5: CD-ROM, 11: CPU, 12: processor for generating image data, 13: main bus, 14:
System controller, 15: main memory, 16: system ROM, 17: image data decompression decoder, 1
8: Parallel interface, 19: Serial interface, 20: Image processor, 21: Audio processor, 22: CD-ROM decoder, 23: Communication interface, 24: Frame buffer, 25: Sound buffer, 26: CD-ROM drive , 27: CD
-ROM buffer, 31: animation display control unit,
32: first matrix calculator, 33: second matrix calculator, 3
4: weight value holding unit, 35: weight value variable unit, 36: matrix operation unit, 37: character image generation unit.

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-9-147134 (JP, A) Principles of three-dimensional computer animation Modeling, rendering, and animation by 3D computer graphics, p. 36-44, by M. Oroke , Toppan Co., Ltd., issued on September 27, 1997 (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06T 13/00 G06T 15/70

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image of a character is composed of a plurality of nodes belonging to one of at least two layers in which a node belonging to one layer is represented by a transformation matrix relative to a node belonging to a layer above the node. In an animation display method in a video game in which a character is animated by changing a relative transformation matrix of each node, a relative transformation matrix of one node forming an image corresponding to the first animation display of the character, image the ratio of coupling and the relative transformation matrix of the one node forming continuously a corresponding to the second animated
Varied by linearly combining, which carries out for all the nodes constituting the image of the character, the first animated second animated
When switching to the first and second animation display
An animation display method in a video game, which is performed simultaneously . 2. An image of a character is composed of a plurality of nodes belonging to one of at least two hierarchies in which a node belonging to one hierarchy is represented by a transformation matrix relative to a node belonging to a hierarchy above the node. In a video game device for displaying an animation of a character by changing a relative conversion matrix of each node, a first matrix calculation for calculating a value of a relative conversion matrix of a node constituting an image corresponding to the first animation display of the character Means, a second matrix calculating means for calculating a value of a relative transformation matrix of a node forming an image corresponding to the second animation display of the character, and a relative position of a node forming an image corresponding to the first animation display binding value of the transformation matrix, and a value of the relative transformation matrix nodes of the image corresponding to the display a second animation A matrix operation means for combining the rate of continuously changed, the first animated second animated
When switching to the first and second animation display
A video game device, comprising: display control means for performing simultaneously . 3. The video game apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising weight value holding means for holding an arbitrary weight value indicating a ratio of the combination. 4. The video game apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising weight value changing means for continuously changing the weight value. 5. An image of a character is constituted by a plurality of nodes belonging to one of at least two layers in which a node belonging to one layer is represented by a transformation matrix relative to a node belonging to a layer above the node. In a computer-readable medium recording an animation display program in a video game in which a character is animated by changing a relative transformation matrix of each node, when the animation display program in the video game is read by a computer, Calculating a value of a relative conversion matrix of one node forming an image corresponding to the first animation display of the character, and calculating a relative conversion matrix of the one node forming an image corresponding to the second animation display of the character; Calculate the value of these rows With the value linear combination is performed which repeats the above process the ratio of the coupling continuously changed from 0 to 1 carries out for all the nodes constituting the image of the character, the first animated second Animation display
When switching to the first and second animation display
Computer readable medium storing an animation display program in a video game, characterized in that to perform the operation at the same time.