JP3016741B2 - Image synthesis display device and image synthesis display method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention sets a reference curve for forming a virtual three-dimensional space, a reference curve for forming a two-dimensional space, a curve drawn by moving a character, and the like. , Combine the images based on each curve,
The present invention relates to an image synthesizing and displaying device for displaying a synthesized image on a screen, an image synthesizing and displaying method, and a machine-readable recording medium storing a computer program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a fighter or the like (own character) that can be operated by a game player is flown in a three-dimensional virtual game space, and how much a fighter (enemy character) or the like appearing in the game space can be destroyed. There are video game consoles that run shooting games to compete.

[0003] In this type of video game machine, a course in which the own character proceeds is set in advance, and a game space as a space in which a three-dimensional virtual object such as a building, sea, or mountain is arranged around the course. Is set. And
The own character moves while flying around within a predetermined range around the course by the operation of the game player. In this case, a method of displaying a scene in a virtual three-dimensional space photographed by a virtual camera moving at a predetermined speed along the course described above is adopted on a display such as a CRT. And the game player
The player can freely control his own character within a predetermined range within the field of view of the camera.

In the case of employing the above-described method, the video game machine sets the course as a line in the world three-dimensional space in the virtual three-dimensional space, and sets the origin of the local coordinate system at a predetermined speed along the course. To move the virtual camera and fix the virtual camera at a predetermined point in the local coordinate system, or shift or rotate the virtual camera up, down, left, or right within a predetermined range according to the position of the own character, thereby proceeding with the game. Let it. Here, the world coordinate system is a coordinate system common to all things related to a game such as a course, a game space, a character, a camera, and the like, and the local coordinate system is a video game machine that displays images properly. This is a coordinate system provided exclusively for a game space portion related to image display. For this reason, in addition to the space information for displaying the virtual three-dimensional space such as the position and shape of the three-dimensional virtual object arranged around the course, the storage device provided in the video game machine includes Course data must also be stored.

However, when the course is straight, the course data only needs to store only the start point and the end point of the straight line. However, since the course may be set by a curve, all the data forming the curve may be set. If the points are stored one by one, an enormous storage capacity is required. Therefore, when storing data of a course for drawing a curve, a method of interpolating a representative point by a curve can be considered. As described above, when interpolating between points in space with a curve, spline interpolation may be used.

[0006]

However, performing interpolation between representative points using spline interpolation has been inappropriate for the following reasons. That is, in spline interpolation, a tangent vector cannot be set for two representative points (an interpolation start point and an interpolation end point), and a curve formed by interpolation does not always pass each representative point. Absent. Therefore, it was difficult to form the entire course into one linear shape.

[0007] Therefore, data of a large number of points must be set for the curved portion of the course and stored in the storage device. For this reason, if a course formed by many curves is adopted, there is a problem that the data stored in the storage device becomes enormous.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and can perform interpolation processing of a curve forming a course more appropriately than in the past, and can reduce the amount of data stored in a storage device. An object of the present invention is to provide an image synthesizing display device, an image synthesizing display method, and a machine-readable recording medium storing a computer program.

[0009]

The present invention employs the following configuration to solve the above-mentioned problems. In other words, the invention according to claim 1 is an apparatus for displaying a state of moving while drawing a smooth curve in a virtual space on a screen, wherein image data for generating an image in the virtual space is stored. Image data storage means, first data storage means storing data of the start point position and end point data of the curve, and tangent data of the start point position and end point position of the curve are stored. Second data storage means;
Curve setting means for obtaining the curve based on the data of the start point position, the data of the end point position, the tangent data of the start point position, and the tangent data of the end point position, and applying a time parameter to the curve obtained by the curve setting means. Moving position setting means for obtaining the position and direction of a point moving on the leverage curve; and an image relating to the position and direction based on the position and direction of the point obtained by the moving position setting means, using the image data. Image combining means for combining
Display means for changing the synthesized image by changing the time parameter in accordance with the elapse of a minute time, and displaying on the screen a state of moving while drawing a smooth curve in the virtual space. It is characterized by having.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the curve setting means sets the moving position based on the data of the start position, the data of the end position, the tangent data of the start position, and the tangent data of the end position. Is obtained, and the images are synthesized based on the set moving position. Therefore, it is possible to obtain an image that moves while drawing a smooth curve without storing a lot of point data related to the moving position.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image synthesizing and displaying apparatus for displaying a state of moving while drawing a smoothly continuous curve in a virtual space on a screen, wherein an image for generating an image in the virtual space is displayed. Image data storage means for storing data, first data storage means for storing position data of a plurality of representative points set on the curve, and a first data storage means for storing tangent data at the plurality of representative points, respectively. (2) data storage means; curve setting means for obtaining the curve by obtaining curves connecting adjacent representative points based on the position data of the plurality of representative points and tangent data at each representative point; Moving position setting means for applying a time parameter to the curve obtained by the setting means to obtain the position and direction of a point moving on the curve; Means for synthesizing an image relating to the position and direction based on the position and direction of the point determined by the means; and changing the synthesized image by changing the time parameter according to the elapse of a minute time. Display means for displaying, on the screen, a state of moving while drawing a smoothly continuous curve in the virtual space.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the virtual space according to the first aspect is a virtual three-dimensional space, and the virtual space moves in the virtual three-dimensional space while drawing a smooth curve.
It is specified by displaying a dimensional image. However, the virtual space may be a two-dimensional space.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the data of the starting point of the curve, the data of the ending point of the curve, the tangent data of the starting point, and the tangent data of the ending point are vector data. The value of the tangent vector forming the tangent data at the start point of the curve is a value obtained by multiplying the speed vector at the start point of the curve by n, and the value of the tangent vector forming the tangent data at the end point of the curve is This is specified by the value obtained by multiplying the speed vector at the end point position of the curve by n.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the data of the plurality of representative points and the tangent data at each of the plurality of representative points are vector data, and the tangents forming the respective tangent data are provided. This is specified by the fact that the value of the vector is a value obtained by multiplying the speed vector at each representative point by n.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of displaying a state in which a moving object is drawn on a screen while drawing a smooth curve in a virtual space, and reads out image data for generating an image in the virtual space. Reading the data of the start point position and the data of the end point position of the curve, reading the tangent data of the start point position and the tangent data of the end point position of the curve, reading the data of the start point position, the data of the end point position, and the tangent line of the start point position Based on the data and the tangent data at the end point, the curve is obtained, a time parameter is applied to the obtained curve to determine the position and direction of a point moving on the curve, and based on the position and direction of the obtained point, The image related to the position and the direction is synthesized using the image data, and the synthesized image is changed by changing the time parameter according to the elapse of a minute time. Thereby, a state in which moves while drawing a smooth curve the virtual space, characterized in that to be displayed on the screen.

A seventh aspect of the present invention is a method for displaying a state of moving while drawing a smoothly continuous curve in a virtual space on a screen, and reads out image data for generating an image in the virtual space. Reading the position data of the plurality of representative points set on the curve, reading the tangent data at the plurality of representative points, respectively, based on the position data of the plurality of representative points, and the tangent data at each representative point. The curve is obtained by obtaining a curve connecting between adjacent representative points, and a time parameter is applied to the obtained curve to obtain a position and a direction of a point moving on the curve, and based on the obtained position and direction of the point. Then, the images related to the position and the direction are synthesized, and the synthesized image is changed by changing the time parameter according to the elapse of a minute time. Wherein the displaying the state that moves while drawing a curve which smoothly continuous to the virtual space on the screen.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a machine-readable recording medium storing a computer program for causing a computer to execute a process of displaying a state of moving while drawing a smooth curve in a virtual space on a screen. Reading the image data for generating an image in the virtual space, reading the data of the start point position and the data of the end point of the curve to the computer, tangent data of the start point position of the curve, and Reading the tangent data at the end position; obtaining the curve based on the data at the start position, the data at the end position, the tangent data at the start position, and the tangent data at the end position;
Applying a time parameter to the determined curve to determine the position and direction of a point moving on the curve; and combining the image related to the position and direction using the image data based on the determined position and direction of the point. And changing the synthesized image by changing the time parameter in accordance with the elapse of a minute time, and displaying on the screen a state of moving while drawing a smooth curve in the virtual space. Is a machine-readable recording medium on which a program for executing the above is recorded.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a machine-readable recording medium which stores a computer program for causing a computer to execute a process of displaying a state of moving while drawing a smoothly continuous curve in a virtual space on a screen. Reading out image data for generating an image in the virtual space, and reading out position data of a plurality of representative points set on the curve,
Reading the tangent data at each of the plurality of representative points; and obtaining the curves connecting adjacent representative points based on the position data of the plurality of representative points and the tangent data at each representative point. Obtaining a position, applying a time parameter to the obtained curve to obtain the position and direction of a point moving on the curve, and synthesizing an image related to the position and direction based on the obtained position and direction of the point. Changing the synthesized image by changing the time parameter in accordance with the elapse of a minute time, and displaying on the screen a state of moving while drawing a smoothly continuous curve in the virtual space. Is a machine-readable recording medium on which a program for executing the above is recorded.

Here, the recording medium includes RAM, ROM,
CD-ROM, floppy disk, hard disk,
Magneto-optical disks and the like are included.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the configuration of a video game machine provided with the image synthesizing and displaying device according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the video game machine. This video game machine includes an apparatus main body and a controller 21. In addition, a CD-ROM 23 as a machine-readable recording medium on which a game program (computer program) is recorded is mounted on the main body of the apparatus.
A television monitor 22 is connected.

The apparatus main body includes a CPU 1, a graphics data generation processor 3 directly connected to the CPU 1,
An interface circuit 4, a main memory 5, a ROM 6, a decompression circuit 7, a parallel port 8, a serial port 9, and a drawing processor 10, which are mutually connected to the CPU 1 via a bus (address bus, data bus and control bus) 2. , Audio processor 12, decoder 1
4, an interface circuit 19, a buffer 11 connected to the rendering processor 10, and a buffer 13 and an amplifier 17 connected to the audio processor 12.
, A speaker 18 connected to the amplifier circuit 17, a buffer 15 and a CD-ROM connected to the decoder 14.
It comprises a driver 16 and a memory 20 connected to an interface circuit 19. Controller 2 described above
1 is connected to the interface circuit 19. The above-described television monitor 22 is connected to the drawing processor 10.

Here, the graphics data generation processor 3 plays a role as a so-called coprocessor of the CPU 1. That is, the graphics data generation processor 3 performs coordinate transformation and light source calculation, for example, calculation of a matrix or vector in a fixed-point format by parallel processing.
The main processing executed by the graphics data generation processor 3 is a processing target based on coordinate data, movement amount data and rotation amount data of each vertex in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional plane of image data supplied from the CPU 1. The processing includes obtaining an address on the display area of the image and returning the address data to the CPU 1 again, and calculating the luminance of the image in accordance with the distance and angle from the virtually set light source.

The interface circuit 4 is an interface circuit for a peripheral device, for example, a pointing device such as a mouse or a trackball. ROM
Reference numeral 6 stores program data as an operation system of the apparatus main body. The main memory 5 is a CD
-A memory in which the game program from the ROM 23 is loaded. Programs and data are appropriately paged from the main memory 5 to the CPU 1 and processed by the CPU 1.

In the expansion circuit 7, MPEG (Moving Pictur)
e Engineering Group) and JPEG (Joint Pincture Engi)
A decompression process is performed on a compressed image that has been compressed by intra-coding conforming to the NNering Group. Decompression processing includes decoding processing (decoding of data encoded by VLC: Valid Length Code), inverse quantization processing, ID
These include CT (Inverse Discrete Cosine Transform) processing, intra-image restoration processing, and the like.

The drawing processor 10 performs drawing processing on the buffer 11 based on a drawing command issued by the CPU 1, and outputs an image drawn in the buffer 11 to the television monitor 22. The buffer 11
It consists of a display area and a non-display area. The display area is an area for developing data displayed on the display surface of the television monitor 22. The non-display area is an area for storing texture data, color pallet data, and the like. Here, the texture data is two-dimensional image data. The color pallet data is data for specifying a color such as texture data. The drawing command issued by the CPU 1 includes, for example, a drawing command for displaying a line, a drawing command for drawing a three-dimensional image using polygons, a drawing command for drawing a normal two-dimensional image, and the like. It is.

The audio processor 12 is a CD-ROM
PCM audio data read from
Convert to data. The ADPCM data processed by the audio processor 12 is output from the speaker 18 as audio.

The CD-ROM driver 16 is a CD-RO
The data such as program data and map information and audio data are read from M23, and the read data is supplied to the decoder 14.

The decoder 14 is a CD-ROM driver 1
ECC (Error Correction)
(n Code), and supplies the error-corrected data to the main memory 5 or the audio processor 12.

The memory 20 is a card type memory,
In order to maintain the state at the time of the game interruption, various parameters at the time of the game interruption are stored. Controller 21
Is a cross key 21g integrating a left key, a right key, an up key, and a down key, a left button 21L and a right button 21R.
, Start button 21a, select button 21b
And first to fourth buttons 21c to 21f. The cross key 21g is a key for the game player to give commands indicating up, down, left, and right to the CPU 1. The start button 21a indicates that the game player
-A key for instructing the CPU 1 to start a game program loaded from the ROM 23. The select button 21 b allows the game player to make various selections regarding the game program loaded on the main memory 5.
These are keys for instructing the CPU 1.

In the above-described CD-ROM 23, a fighter is displayed in a pseudo three-dimensional manner in a pseudo three-dimensional game space.
A game player operates the (own character), and a game program of a shooting game in which a fighter or the like (enemy character) appearing in the game space is destroyed, and data used for executing the game program are recorded.

When the CD-ROM 23 is loaded in the main body of the apparatus and the power is turned on, the CPU 1 of the video game machine is turned on.
Reads the game programs and data recorded on the CD-ROM 23 one after another and loads them into the main memory 5. Then, the CPU 1 appropriately executes the game program. Thereby, first, the television monitor 22
Displays a title screen (not shown) of the game. When the start button 21b of the controller 21 is pressed in this state, the screen of the television monitor 22 is switched from the title screen to the game play screen, and the above-described shooting game is executed.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display example of a game play screen displayed on the television monitor 22 by executing the game program. In FIG. 2, a pseudo three-dimensional game space when viewed from a bird's eye (when photographed by a virtual camera C1 (see FIG. 3) arranged at a bird's eye position) is displayed on the television monitor 22. Have been. In this game space, a sea surface 31 is set at a portion corresponding to a bottom surface, and a sky 32 is displayed with a horizontal line of the sea surface 31 as a boundary. A fighter (own character) that can be operated by a game player is above the sea surface 31.
30 is displayed in a pseudo three-dimensional manner, and an enemy character 36 to be destroyed by the own character 30 is displayed.
In addition, a bullet release button of the controller 21 (for example, the fourth
When the button 21f is pressed), the character 30
A missile (bullet character) 37 is fired from the camera, and moves toward the far side of the game space.

The self-character 30 is set to forcibly move toward the far side of the game space displayed on the television monitor 22. The game space displayed on the television monitor 22 is It relatively moves toward the near side. Thereby, the own character 30
Is displayed flying over the sea surface 31.

Next, the game space shown in FIG. 2 will be described. 3 and 4 are explanatory diagrams of the game space.
As shown in FIG. 3, a map 34 is set in a range that can be displayed on the television monitor 22 to the left and right with the course 29 as a center.
A virtual three-dimensional object representing a terrain such as a mountain, sea, or forest is arranged to form a virtual three-dimensional space. In this game space, the own character 30 is set, and a virtual camera C1 is set behind the own character 30 in a state of looking down at the own character 30. The area photographed by the camera C1 (the area within the field of view of the camera C1) is the game space displayed on the television monitor 22.

The course 29 is set as a trajectory drawn by moving the origin of the local coordinates, and the own character 30 moves freely within a predetermined range in front of the origin of the local coordinates and in the left-right direction. be able to. Then, the camera C1 is set above the origin of the local coordinates at an angle at which the origin of the local coordinates is slightly looked down from behind, and the range in which the self-character 30 can move around and the angle at which the front of the self-character 30 is always photographed. Is set with Also, the camera C1
The character 30 slightly shifts (horizontal movement) to the left and right so as to follow the left and right movements with respect to the origin of the own character 30. Since the camera C1 is set in this manner, the television monitor 22 moves toward the near side of the screen as the origin of the local coordinates advances on the course 29 (as the game progresses). Game space (terrain) that moves relatively
The player character 30 moving around in the game space forward, backward, left and right by the operation of the game player is displayed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the course 29 is set to include a straight line portion and a curved portion.
Then, the video game machine performs an interpolation process of the course 29 between the representative points α (only α _{0 to} α ₄ are shown in FIG. 4) according to the progress of the game, and a local coordinate system that moves with the progress of the game. The position of the origin is obtained in real time, and the image captured by the virtual camera C1 as described above is synthesized. At this time, of the representative points α _{0 to} α ₄ shown in FIG. 4, between the representative point α ₂ and the representative point α ₃ (α ₂ α ₃
During), interpolation between (alpha ₃ alpha ₄ between) the representative point alpha ₄ and the representative point alpha ₃ is carried out by a so-called Hermitian interpolation, there is a set of curved portions of the course 29 is formed.

In principle, the interpolation process between the representative points α is performed when two points exist in the space and a tangent vector is set at each point. This is done by finding the curve pointing in the direction. Specifically, for example, the interpolation start point P0 (x0, y0, z0)
And the interpolation end point P1 (x1, y1, z1) exists,
The tangent vector of the course 29 at the interpolation start point P0 is represented by T
It is assumed that 0 (tx0, ty0, tz0) and the tangent vector of the course 29 at the interpolation end point P1 is T1 (tx1, ty1, tz1). At this time, an equation of a curve passing through the interpolation start point P0 and the interpolation end point P1 and pointing in the tangential direction at the interpolation start point P0 and the interpolation end point P1 is expressed as P = P ( t). At this time, since the elements for determining the equation of the curve P are the four elements P0, P1, T0, and T1, the equation of the curve P (Equation 1) is expressed by a cubic equation of the parameter t. In addition, the equation (Equation 2) of the tangent vector T can be expressed from the cubic equation. ^{That, P = k3 × t 3 +} k2 × t 2 + k1 × t + k0 ··· ( Equation 1) T = dP / dt = 3 × k3 × t 2 + 2 × k2 × t + k1 ··· ( Formula 2) (where, k0 , k1, k2, k3 are coefficients). Here, for example, if the curve P is set to extend from the interpolation start point P0 to the interpolation end point P1 as the value of t changes from 0 to 1, when t = 0, k0 = P0 (P0 = P) k1 = T0 (T0 = T) When t = 1 k3 + k2 + k1 + k0 = P1 (P1 = P) 3 × k3 + 2 × k2 + k1 = T1 (T1 = T) Therefore, k0 = P0 (Equation 3) k1 = T0 (Equation 4) k2 = 3 × (P1-P0) −T1-2 × T0 (Equation 5) k3 = −2 × (P1-P0) + T1 + T0 (Equation 6) The value of the coefficient is determined. And the above (Equation 1)
To the values of k0 to k3, and any value of t (0
If <t <1) is substituted, an interpolation point between the interpolation start point P0 and the interpolation end point P1 is calculated. Therefore, if a plurality of interpolation points are obtained while changing the value of t, a curve P that interpolates between the interpolation start point P0 and the interpolation end point P1 is obtained.

Here, the representative point α ₂ α ₃ of the actual course 29
When interpolating between α and α ₃ α _4, it is necessary to consider the relationship between the tangent vector T0 and the velocity vector V0 at the local coordinate origin. Therefore, for example, P1-P0 = T0 (Equation 7) is set. Here, (Equation 7) means that the change in the position vector per unit time is the tangent vector T0. In the case of such setting, the above (Equation 5)
From (Equation 6), k2 = k3 = 0 Therefore, from (Equation 1), (Equation 3), and (Equation 4), the following (Equation 8) is obtained.

P = T0 × t + P0 (Equation 8) According to (Equation 8), the tangent vector T0 becomes T0 = A × V0 (A is a constant). = A × V0 (Equation 9) The value of the constant A is set. That is, the tangent vector T0 is set so that the value obtained by adding an arbitrary value to the speed vector V0 becomes the tangent vector T0.

In the present embodiment, the setting is made such that the curve P extends from the interpolation start point P0 to the interpolation end point P1 as the value of t in the above (Equation 1) changes from 0 to 1. The video game machine holds fixed values of the coefficients k0 to k3. The video game machine also holds fixed values for each tangent vector at each of the representative points α _{2 to} α ₄ . That is, for each representative point alpha ₂ to? _4, fixed value of velocity vector V0 and the constant A that satisfies the above-described (Equation 9) is set.

[0041] Specifically, the position (coordinate) data of each representative point alpha ₂ to? ₄ as described above, the value of the tangent vector at each representative point alpha ₂ to? ₄ (tangent vector T0, is set as the tangent vectors T1 value), the coefficient is used for interpolation between α ₂ α ₃ k0~
The value of k3, and coefficients used to interpolate between α ₃ α ₄ k0~k
The value of 3 is loaded from the CD-ROM 23 to the main memory 5 when the video game machine is turned on (corresponding to first and second data storage means). These data are appropriately used when the CPU 1 executes the game program.

Therefore, for example, when an interpolation process between α _{2 and} α ₃ is performed, the representative point α ₂ is set as the interpolation start point P0, and the representative point α ₃ is set as the interpolation end point P1. Subsequently, a coefficient k for interpolating between α _{2 and} α ₃ is calculated in the above (Equation 1).
0 to k3 are substituted, and the value of t (0 <t <1) is substituted. Thus, the interpolation points between the alpha ₂ alpha ₃ (coordinate) is calculated. Here, the parameter t is set as a time variable, and t = 1 is set as one second after the start of interpolation (t = 0). The interpolation point is
It is set to be calculated every 1/60 second, whereby the value of t substituted in (Equation 1) is 1/60, 1/60, 2/60,. 59 is set. Therefore, the value of P (interpolation point) is calculated 59 times in one second, and the interval between α _{2 and} α ₃ is interpolated by 59 interpolation points. When the interpolation process between α _{3 and} α ₄ is performed, the representative point α
₃ is set to the interpolation start point P0, the representative point alpha ₄ is set to the interpolation end point P1. Subsequently, coefficients k0 to k3 for interpolating between α _{3 and} α ₄ are substituted into the above (Equation 1),
The value of t (0 <t <1) is substituted. This gives α
Interpolation points between ₃ alpha ₄ is calculated.

Next, a description will be given of a game space interpolation process performed by the video game machine executing a game program. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the interpolation processing of the game space. This interpolation processing is started, for example, at the same time as the start of the game, where the origin of the local coordinates is set as the representative point α ₀ and the origin moves along the course 29. Then, each time the origin of the local coordinates passes through the representative point α, the interpolation processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is repeated. In addition,
Here, a description will be given as an example an interpolation process in the game space between the alpha ₂ alpha _3.

In S01, 1/60 is added to the time variable t. The initial value of t at the start of the interpolation processing is set to t = 0, and in the first processing of S01,
The value of t is set to t = 1/60, t = 2/60 in the second processing of S01, and t = 3 in the third processing of S01.
/ 60... Are set. Then, the process proceeds to S02. In S02, the main memory 5, the value of the coefficient k0~k3 for interpolating between the representative point alpha ₂ is an interpolation start point P0 and the representative point alpha ₃ is an interpolation end point P1 of the course 29 is read out , And these values and the value of t set in S01 are substituted into the above (Equation 1), and the coordinates of the interpolation point between α _{2 and} α ₃ are calculated. For example, in the first process of S02, t = 1/60 is substituted into (Equation 1), and the coordinates of the interpolation point when t = 1/60 are calculated. As the coordinates of the interpolation point obtained in S02, a coordinate value in the world coordinate system is calculated (corresponding to a curve setting unit and a movement position setting unit). Then, the process proceeds to S03.

In S03, the coordinate values of the interpolation point obtained in S02 are converted into coordinate values in the local coordinate system. Then, the process proceeds to S04. In S04, an image of the game space is synthesized based on the coordinates of the interpolation point obtained in S03 and the image data of the terrain stored in the main memory 5.
(Corresponding to image combining means). For example, in the first process of S04, the map 34 is set based on the interpolation point when t = 1/60. Subsequently, the map 34
Among them, an image of a pseudo three-dimensional object (building or sea) forming the terrain is synthesized in a range within the view of the virtual camera C1. Then, the synthesized image is displayed on the television monitor 22 by the drawing processor 10. And
The process proceeds to S05.

In S05, it is determined whether or not the value of t set in S01 is 59/60. At this time,
If it is determined that t is not 59/60, the process proceeds to S
Returning to S01, the processing of S01 to S05 is repeatedly performed until a determination of YES is made in S05. Thus, with the moving origin of the local coordinate toward the representative point alpha ₂ to the representative point alpha _3, the game space between alpha ₂ alpha ₃ is in each case be interpolated generated, the television monitor 22
Will be displayed. Therefore, the television monitor 22 has
The state of the game space moving along a smooth curve is displayed (corresponding to display means). On the other hand, t = 59/60
If it is determined that this is the case, the game space interpolation process ends. Also in the interpolation process of the game space between the alpha ₃ alpha _4, the process of S01~S05 are performed similarly.

According to this embodiment, since the interpolation processing is performed using Hermite interpolation, it is possible to perform the interpolation processing in which the tangent vectors T0 and T1 are set at the interpolation start point P0 and the interpolation end point P1, respectively. For this reason, it is possible to interpolate the curved portion of the course 29 that properly connects the interpolation start point P0 and the interpolation end point P1, and to draw a smooth curve based on the interpolated course 29 while moving in the game space. An image can be displayed on the television monitor 22. Therefore, the data of the curved portion of the game space, which had to be conventionally held as many point data, can be generated by the interpolation processing. Therefore, the amount of data stored in the CD-ROM 23 can be reduced.

The coefficients k0 to k3 are determined by the interpolation start points P0, P0,
Interpolation end point P1, tangent vector T0, tangent vector T1
May be set based on the value of. Further, the speed vector V0 at the interpolation start point P0 and the speed vector at the interpolation end point P1 are set to be held by the video game machine as fixed data, and the video game machine performs the interpolation processing, and the constant A that satisfies the above (Equation 9) May be set to calculate the tangent vector T0 and the tangent vector T1.

In this embodiment, the parameter t is t =
1 is set as a variable of time when 1 second elapses from the start of interpolation. However, t and time have other relationships, for example, t
It may be set to take a value such as 0.5 seconds or 2 seconds when = 1 (for example, when t = 1, it is set to be 0.5 seconds from the start of interpolation. , 1/60
The value of t substituted into (Equation 1) every second is 1/30, 30
2/30, 30/30 ... 29/30. ). Further, the value of the time taken when the value of t is a predetermined value may be gradually changed with the lapse of time (for example, when t = 1, one second elapses from the start of interpolation, and t = (2) when 1.5 seconds elapses from the start of interpolation. In addition, by making such a setting, the speed of the origin of the local coordinates moving on the course 29 can be gradually changed, and accordingly, the moving speed of the game space in which the moving state is displayed on the screen is displayed. Can be gradually changed.

In this embodiment, the case where the game space is a virtual three-dimensional space (pseudo three-dimensional space) has been described. However, the case where the game space is a two-dimensional space (a space viewed from above). Also, a game space can be set using the image synthesis display device according to the present invention.

Further, the image synthesizing and displaying apparatus according to the present invention
In the present embodiment, the present invention can also be applied to the image synthesis display of the enemy character 36 and the bullet character 37 in which a state of moving along a curved path is displayed on the screen of the television monitor 22. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the enemy character 36 is set to move on a curved course 29a, representative points β _{1 to} β ₃ are set on the course 29a, Between the representative point β ₁ and the representative point β ₂ ,
An interpolation point between the representative point β ₂ and the representative point β ₃ is obtained by the above-described interpolation processing, and an image of the enemy character 36 is synthesized based on the interpolation point, and the image is displayed on the television monitor 22. May be set to be performed. Also, when the character is set to move on a curved course in a two-dimensional game space,
It is possible to perform the image synthesis display processing according to the present invention.

Further, the embodiment of the image synthesizing and displaying apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to a video game machine for executing a shooting game, but may be, for example, a video game machine for executing an action game, a role playing game, an adventure game, a puzzle game, or the like. It is also possible to carry out.

[0053]

According to the image synthesizing and displaying apparatus, the image synthesizing and displaying method, and the machine-readable recording medium on which the computer program is recorded according to the present invention, the curve formed by the interpolation processing can be properly adjusted to the interpolation start point and the interpolation end point. Therefore, more appropriate interpolation processing can be performed as compared with the related art. From this, it is possible to generate the data of the curve conventionally held as a large number of point data by interpolation processing,
The amount of data stored in the storage device can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a video game machine equipped with a curve setting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display example of a game play screen.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a game space.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a game space.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a game space interpolation process;

[Explanation of symbols]

 α, β Representative point H Interpolation point 1 CPU 5 Main memory 23 CD-ROM 29 Course 30 Own character 34 Map 36 Enemy character 37 Bullet character

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. A device for displaying a state of moving on a screen while drawing a smooth curve in a virtual space, wherein image data storage for storing image data for generating an image in the virtual space is provided. Means, first data storage means for storing data of a start point position and end point data of the curve, and second data storage for storing tangent data of a start point position and end point position of the curve. Means for setting the curve based on the data of the start point position, the data of the end point position, the tangent data of the start point position, and the tangent data of the end point position; Moving position setting means for determining the position and direction of a point moving on this curve by applying parameters, and the position and direction of the point determined by the moving position setting means. Image synthesizing means for synthesizing an image relating to the position and direction using the image data; and changing the synthesized image by changing the time parameter in accordance with the elapse of a minute time, thereby changing the synthesized image in the virtual space. Display means for displaying on the screen a state in which the object moves while drawing a smooth curve. 2. An image synthesizing display device for displaying a state of moving while drawing a smoothly continuous curve in a virtual space on a screen, wherein image data for generating an image in the virtual space is stored. Image data storage means, first data storage means storing position data of a plurality of representative points set on the curve, and second data storage means storing tangent data at the plurality of representative points, respectively. A curve setting unit that obtains the curve by respectively obtaining a curve connecting adjacent representative points based on the position data of the plurality of representative points and the tangent data at each representative point; Moving position setting means for determining the position and direction of a point moving on this curve by applying a time parameter to the curve, Image synthesizing means for synthesizing an image relating to the position and direction based on the position and direction of the obtained point, and changing the synthesized image by changing the time parameter according to the elapse of a minute time, Display means for displaying, on the screen, a state of moving while drawing a smoothly continuous curve in the virtual space. 3. The virtual three-dimensional space is a virtual three-dimensional space, and a pseudo three-dimensional image is displayed showing a state of moving while drawing a smooth curve in the virtual three-dimensional space. 3. The image composition display device according to 2. 4. The data at the start point of the curve, the data at the end point of the curve, the tangent data at the start point, and the tangent data at the end point are all vector data, and constitute the tangent data at the start point of the curve. The value of the tangent vector is a value obtained by multiplying the velocity vector at the start point of the curve by n, and the value of the tangent vector forming the tangent data at the end point of the curve is n times the velocity vector at the end point of the curve. The image synthesizing and displaying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the value is a value. 5. The data of the plurality of representative points and each tangent data at the plurality of representative points are vector data, and a value of a tangent vector forming each of the tangent data is a velocity vector at each representative point. 4. The image synthesizing and displaying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the value is n times. 6. A method for displaying a state of moving on a screen while drawing a smooth curve in a virtual space, wherein image data for generating an image in the virtual space is read, and a starting point of the curve is read. Reading the data of the position and the data of the end point, reading the tangent data of the start point position and the tangent data of the end point of the curve, the data of the start point position, the data of the end point position, the tangent data of the start point position, and the end point position The curve is obtained based on the tangent data of the above, and the time parameter is applied to the obtained curve to obtain the position and direction of a point moving on the curve. Based on the obtained position and direction of the point, The image is synthesized using the image data, and the synthesized image is changed by changing the time parameter in accordance with the elapse of a minute time. An image synthesis display method, wherein a state of moving while drawing a smooth curve in space is displayed on the screen. 7. A method for displaying a state of moving while drawing a smoothly continuous curve in a virtual space on a screen, comprising reading image data for generating an image in the virtual space, The position data of the plurality of representative points to be set is read, the tangent data at the plurality of representative points are read, and the position data of the plurality of representative points and the tangent data at each representative point are used to determine the position between the adjacent representative points. Are obtained by respectively obtaining the curves connecting the above.The time parameters are applied to the obtained curves to obtain the positions and directions of points moving on the curves.Based on the obtained positions and directions of the points, the positions and the directions are determined. Combining the images related to the directions, changing the time parameter according to the elapse of a minute time, changing the combined image, An image synthesis display method, wherein a state of moving while drawing a smoothly continuous curve in the inside is displayed on the screen.