JP3052933B2 - Image processing apparatus and image processing method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing technique suitable for a game in which a large number of characters appear and compete with each other, such as a TV game machine such as a soccer game. The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method that make a game more realistic and realistic by executing each process of behavior control and fog control for color adjustment of a screen.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the recent development of computer technology,
2. Description of the Related Art Image processing technologies related to TV game machines, simulation devices, and the like have become widely and widely used. In such a system, the advancement of image processing technology that makes the display screen and display contents look more realistic occupies a very large weight in increasing the commercial value.

As an example of a TV game machine, its components include a peripheral including an operating device such as a pad and a joystick and a display monitor, and a CPU for executing image processing, sound processing, data communication with the peripheral, and the like. It is equipped with a mounted processing device, and can interactively develop a game with the operation device.

[0004] As one field of such TV game machines,
There is a game device that can play a soccer game.
In this soccer game, a soccer stadium in which a field and spectator seats (stands) are provided in a three-dimensional virtual space is usually constructed, and two teams of characters (also referred to as display bodies or objects) are played in a virtual soccer game on the field. Is what you do. Specifically, the game development that reflects the operation of the player by sequentially executing motion calculation, ball processing, collision (hit) processing, robot processing, field processing, and the like according to operation information from the player. Is displayed on the screen.

[0005] At this time, the behavior of the audience at the stand is also an important factor that enhances the atmosphere of the game, and therefore, processing of the behavior of the audience is often adopted. As a method of controlling the behavior of the spectator, 1) As in the case of animation (moving image), a large number of image data of the spectator in motion are prepared in advance for each frame, and the image is pasted with a texture according to the competition scene. 2) polygon data representing the audience is prepared, and the polygon is moved according to the competition scene.

Another important factor that enhances the atmosphere and realism of the game is whether the color level of the display screen matches the actual brightness (such as sunshine) corresponding to the passage of time in a day. is there. Particularly in a soccer game that is often played outdoors, the physical environment related to brightness slightly changes depending on the time of day in which soccer is played. In other words, the brightness differs depending on whether the operation is performed in the morning, afternoon, or evening, or where the operation is performed during the intermediate time. Conventionally, a method of adjusting the brightness of a color screen according to a time zone is known.

[0007]

However, the above-mentioned conventional game machines still have the following shortcomings in terms of realism and realism of the game.

First, assuming, for example, a soccer game as an example, and assuming that a character attacks while dribbling a ball, in the conventional device, it is only necessary to dribble the character with its face facing in the running direction. is there. However, in an actual soccer game, if you shoot while dribbling or pass to an ally, the player who dribble measures the timing to kick out and looks for the zone to kick off and a friendly player, so if it is the same as the running direction, Alternatively, an operation of viewing (looking over) in a different direction is performed. In other words, it is difficult to say that the behavior of a soccer player is realistically simulated only by controlling the motion of running while dribbling, and the movement of the character shown on the display screen is very monotonous and unnatural. The control of the face direction (that is, the line of sight) was the same not only for the competitor running while dribbling, but also for the competitor having no other ball. Furthermore, it is natural that the character on the defensive side actually has a face direction (line of sight) that depends on the motion of the character on the attacking side, but such control has not been performed conventionally.

Second, the behavior of the spectator is also an important factor that enhances the realism of the game. In the conventional case, however, a variety of motions of the spectator (more realistic behavior), the simplicity of software program design, These problems cannot be satisfied at the same time in terms of a reduction in calculation load and a reduction in memory capacity.

[0010] As in the prior art, when displaying a spectator with a moving image of texture, if the number of frames representing the motion is small, the spectator's motion becomes coarse or uneven, so that it is necessary to avoid this. If you think about it, the number of frames will increase. Therefore, the amount of image data to be handled is large, the required memory capacity is increased, the effort for designing a software program is increased, and the calculation load is also increased. If this load increases too much, the control of the character will be hindered, so the audience wants to save labor. However, if labor saving is performed by thinning out the control processing of the audience, the displayed screen is not powerful and lacks a sense of reality.

On the other hand, when a spectator is represented by a polygon, the number of spectators that can be represented by a polygon is significantly limited in view of the control load. If the calculation load for control is neglected, it may be possible to represent each spectator by a polygon and control the movement of each spectator individually, but it is practically difficult for a large number of spectators. Therefore, only the specific (selected) audience that is the main audience is inevitably represented by polygons. In practice, however, the audiences make different movements individually, but sometimes the same movements are made in groups. For this reason, even if only a specific audience is moved to the main, it is not powerful and lacks a sense of reality.

Third, in the case of the conventional device, the control of the physical environment relating to the actual brightness within a day does not satisfy the needs required of the game machine these days. For example, for a player (player) who enjoys a soccer game while sitting in front of a game machine in the middle of the morning, afternoon, and evening, it is desirable that the display screen matches such a physical environment. However, in the case of a process that simply adjusts the luminance as in the conventional device, the screen becomes darker as the night approaches, and the operation becomes rather difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has been developed in image processing of a soccer game or the like.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus and a method thereof that can perform processing that further enhances the realism and realism of a game, and that can sufficiently respond to the recent needs of game apparatuses. And

Further, the present invention provides a method of improving the realism of a game by making the movement of a character more accurately simulate that of a real player in image processing of a game related to a soccer game or the like. The purpose of.

It is another object of the present invention to express the movement of spectators more realistically in image processing of a game related to a soccer game or the like, and to significantly improve the sense of reality of the game.

Further, the present invention provides a color display screen which more accurately reflects the real time at which a player operates a game device and plays a game in image processing of a game related to a soccer game or the like. Another object is to significantly improve the feeling.

Still further, the present invention provides a new means for communicating a game situation to a player using the above-described accurately simulated character movement, and a new means for adjusting the difficulty of the game. It is intended to provide a simple means.

[0018]

[0019]

[0020]

[0021]

[0022]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention is arranged in a virtual three-dimensional space.
In an image processing apparatus for displaying the behavior of a plurality of display objects on a screen, a plurality of polygons are treated as one object in association with each other, and each of the plurality of polygons constituting the object constitutes another object In a state where it is overlapped alternately with multiple polygons,
The direction in which the objects are superimposed in object units
A swinging means for periodically swinging along a direction intersecting with. It is preferable that the swing means swings the object vertically or horizontally. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of polygons are prepared in a plurality of groups or a plurality of rows. Further, symbols related to each other may be drawn on a plurality of polygons constituting the object.

The image processing method of the present invention provides a virtual three-dimensional space
In an image processing method for displaying the behavior of a plurality of display objects arranged in a screen on a screen, a plurality of polygons are treated as one object in association with each other, and each of the plurality of polygons constituting the object is treated as another object. The object is superimposed on an object-by-object basis while being alternately superimposed on a plurality of polygons
It is characterized by periodically swinging along a direction intersecting the shifting direction . As a preferred mode of the present invention, the object is swung in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction. Also, a plurality of polygons may be prepared in a plurality of groups or a plurality of rows.
Further, symbols related to each other may be drawn on a plurality of polygons constituting the object.

The present invention also relates to the image processing method of the present invention.
ROM that stores programs to be executed by the computer
I will provide a.

[0025]

[0026]

[0027]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. This embodiment relates to a game device in which the image processing device of the present invention is integrated. Although the application software here is an example of software of a soccer game, other application software such as a baseball game, softball, and basketball can be similarly implemented.

FIG. 1 shows an outline of a block configuration of a game device according to the present embodiment. This game device has a CPU
(Central processing unit) 1 and a bus BUS
, A ROM 2, a working RAM 3, an input device 4, and a video display processor (VDP) 5 are connected. The CPU 1 sequentially executes a game program stored in the ROM 2 in advance. Various processes relating to the present invention are performed by executing a program stored in the ROM 2 by VD
This is realized while P5 is executed at a constant period. The processing according to the present invention includes processing of gaze control of the character,
There are three types of processing: spectator behavior control processing and fog control processing as color adjustment of the display screen. Therefore, in addition to the programs processed by the CPU 1 and the VDP 5, the ROM 2 previously stores character polygon data, and programs and fixed data (such as polygon data of a spectator and reference data of fog) necessary for the three processes. ing.

The work RAM 3 temporarily stores various data during execution of the game. The input device 4 includes an operating device operated by the player, such as a joystick, and is used to input data necessary for the progress of the game, for example, when controlling the movement and motion of a character.

The VDP 5 has a video RAM (VRAM)
6, a drawing device 7, and a working RAM 8 are connected. V
The RAM 6 stores polygon data from the ROM 2. Each of the polygon data includes coordinate data for the number of vertices to be displayed and color data given as a color palette of the vertices. VDP5 has a digital signal processor (DSP). This VDP5
Also, a program dedicated to image processing stored in advance in the ROM 2 is started and executed in response to a timing signal having a fixed cycle such as a frame switching timing. VDP5
By the above processing, the polygon data stored in the VRAM 6 is subjected to coordinate conversion processing, and is passed to the drawing device 7.

The drawing device 7 has a texture data ROM 9
And a frame buffer memory 10.
The drawing device 7 pastes a texture on the coordinate-converted polygon data, and the frame buffer memory 10
Is written as pixel data for one frame (screen).

The frame buffer memory 10 is connected via a D / A converter 11 to a display device 12 such as a CRT. The D / A converter 11 functions as a video signal generation circuit, reads pixel data from the frame buffer memory 10, and converts the pixel data into an analog signal. The converted data is sequentially sent to the display device 12 as a video signal, and an image is displayed.

Further, the game device includes a fog circuit 13 and a real time clock 14 connected to the bus BUS. The real-time clock 14 supplies daily actual time data to the CPU 1. As will be described later, the fog circuit 13 masks the color of the display screen with separately set color data called fog data in accordance with the time when the game device is operated (that is, the actual actual time when the player plays the game). The fog data is generated under the instruction of the CPU 1 and sent to the VDP 5.

FIG. 2 shows an example of processing for each frame executed by the CPU 1. First, the CPU 1 determines the motion of the character corresponding to the operation information of the player.
A command (running, changing the running direction, kicking a ball, etc.) is received from the input device 4, and the motion of the character in the three-dimensional virtual space is calculated (step S1).

Next, the CPU 1 performs processing of the ball in the three-dimensional virtual space such as advancing the position of the soccer ball (step S2), and further performs processing of collision (hit) in the three-dimensional virtual space (step S2).
3). This collision processing is performed between the character and the ground, between the characters, between the character and the ball, etc.
Various collision determinations and processing are performed. Next, the CPU 1 performs a behavior process of the character (robot) operated by the player in the virtual three-dimensional space corresponding to the operation information from the player (step S4).

Further, the CPU 1 performs a process of controlling the line of sight of the character (step S5). This gaze control is one of the features of the present invention, and is intended to increase the realism of a soccer game by diversifying the movements of the characters during the game. Details of this processing will be described later.

When the line-of-sight control processing is completed, the CPU 1
Perform the processing of the field of the soccer stadium (step S
6). The processing of this field refers to the position of each character in the field of the virtual three-dimensional space, determines which character is in the offset line, which character is in the goal area, and so forth, and plays the game. It is a command for necessary processing related to tactics in proceeding.

Thereafter, the CPU 1 performs a process for controlling the behavior of the audience (step S7), and further issues a command for fog control (step S8). These two processes also form part of the features of the present invention. The process of controlling the behavior of the spectator is to express the behavior of the spectator in a variety of ways while suppressing the calculation load, and to improve the sense of realism and presence, which will be described later in detail. Also, the processing of fog control is
Using the above-described fog function, control of the brightness of the color screen (color adjustment depending on whether the game is a daytime game or a nighttime game) according to the actual time of the day when the player is actually playing the game. In order to enhance the sense of realism and the sense of reality, the details of which will be described later.

Finally, other necessary processing is executed (step S9). Note that the viewpoint control in step S5 may determine only the gazing point of the character, and the motion of actually turning the character may be performed in the next processing time S1. The same may be applied to step S4. In other words, a time lag of up to 1/60 second can be provided from the data acquisition and determination of the point of gaze to the actual motion directed to that point.

The CPU 1 repeats the above processing for each frame. For this reason, as the game progresses, the CPU 1 issues commands such as motions corresponding to player operations to the VD.
Send to P5. Under the control of the CPU 1, necessary polygon data is passed to the VDP 5 from the ROM 2. Therefore, the VDP 5 temporarily stores the polygon data in the VRAM 6, converts the coordinates of the polygon data from the virtual three-dimensional space to the perspective two-dimensional space according to the command, and passes the converted coordinates to the drawing device 7. The drawing device 7 pastes a texture on the polygon data subjected to the coordinate conversion,
Write to the frame buffer memory 10. As a result, an image in which the pixel data is updated for each frame is displayed on the display device 12.

The above-described character line-of-sight control processing will be described with reference to FIGS. This process is a process executed in step S5 of FIG. 2 described above.

First, the principle of the angle calculation for determining the gaze direction of the character C will be described. Now, the character C is located at the coordinates (xp, yp, zp) of the three-dimensional virtual space, and the soccer ball B as the target is the coordinates (xt, y) of the same space.
(t, zt). In this case, FIG.
X ′ = xt−xp z ′ = zt−zp can be calculated from the geometry as viewed from the y-axis direction, and x−z between the character C and the ball B can be calculated from the values x ′ and z ′. Angle θy and distance L on the surface
Can be calculated. Similarly, from this geometry, the distance L between the character C and the ball B is taken on the horizontal axis, and the geometry when the vertical axis is the y axis can be assumed as shown in FIG. That is, the coordinates (yp, Lp) of the character C and the coordinates (yt, Lt) of the ball B can be set. In this case, the value of y ′ = yt−Lt L ′ = Lt−Lp can be calculated, and the angle θy at which the character C's ball B on the yL plane can be calculated from y ′ and L ′. That is, for each character, for example, the line of sight when looking at the ball is determined by the parameters θy, L, and θx. The target body is not limited to the ball,
In the case of a referee, the same can be calculated. That is,
The coordinates of the own character, the coordinates of a predetermined point of the opponent player or the referee, and the coordinates of, for example, the center position of the goal may be given.

The direction of the line of sight is thus determined. In the process of the character actually turning the line of sight in that direction, there are various ways of turning (rotating) the body. Figure 5 shows this situation.
Shown in In the present embodiment, the head HD, the torso BD, and the waist HP of the character C are specified as the parts to which the body is turned (rotated) during the gaze control. And 1) the rotation of the head HD (rotation in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction) is preceded, and the rotation of the torso BD follows the rotation of the head HD.
The rotation scene such as following the rotation of P, 2) preceding the simultaneous rotation of the head HD and the torso BD, and following the rotation of the waist HP, 3) rotating only the torso HD, etc. In each case, control can be performed for each situation where the character is placed. In this control, for example, the rotation angles of the units HD, BD, and HP up to that point are stored for each frame, and in the next frame, a motion in which the current rotation angle is increased by a small angle may be commanded. The rotation motion command may end at the frame that has reached the calculation angles θx and θy every time.

In general, human motion has a structural rule, and when a motion is performed, the motion appears to be the most natural when this rule is added. For example, when turning around, as shown in FIG. 5, the rotation speed of the neck is the fastest, then the upper body, and finally the whole body. Therefore, when turning around, it is desirable to rotate the neck faster than the upper body and the upper body faster than the whole body.

Further, the rotation timing of the head → torso → waist may be staggered by a process of starting the rotation of the torso BD when the rotation angle of the head HD reaches a certain value.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show an example of the eye-gaze control processing determined in this way. This process is performed by the CPU 1. Note that since this gaze control method can take various forms, the method shown here is shown only as an example and does not limit the present invention. The gaze control process may be performed on all players (characters) on the field, or may be performed only on characters within the display field of view from the viewpoint of reducing the computational load. Furthermore, even for characters within the display field of view, particularly, only specific characters such as a notable character (for example, a character performing a motion related to a ball or a character operated by a player (player)) are implemented. May be.

As shown in FIG. 5, for example, it is determined whether or not a certain character is currently running, and a case is determined according to YES (running) or NO (not running) (step S21). In the case of YES, it is further determined whether or not the opposing team has the ball (step S22). If this determination is YES (the opponent team has), it is further determined whether or not the character of the opponent team is dribbling (step S23). In this judgment Y
In the case of ES (dribbling), it is further determined from the distance calculation value whether or not the dribbling character is within 3 meters (step S24). If YES in this determination (the player is within 3 meters), the character to be controlled turns his or her gaze toward the ball (step S25). In the process of step 25, the above-described rotation process of FIG. 5 is added. For example, since the character reaching step 25 is running, the mode of 1) is suitable for turning the line of sight to the ball while running.

When the answer to the determination of step S24 is NO (not within 3 meters), the character to be controlled turns its gaze to the opponent character dribbling (step S26). The rotation control at this time may take any of the modes described with reference to FIG. 5, and may be selected according to the angle relationship with the partner at that time.

If NO in step S23 (dribbling is not in progress), and if NO in step S22 (the opposing team does not have the ball), it is determined whether or not the current behavior of the ball is "high ball". Judge (Step S2
7). “Highball” here refers to a state where the position of the ball is higher than the head of the character. This judgment is YES
If it is (high ball), the character to be controlled is instructed to look at the ball (step S28). On the other hand, when the answer is NO (not highball), the gaze control is not performed, and the gaze depending on the motion is maintained (step S29). For example, since this character is running at least, it keeps the line of sight in the running direction. Hereinafter, depending on the motion means that the gaze control is not performed and the motion of the motion pattern (motion) of the character defined in the program is used as it is.

If the determination in step S21 is NO, that is, if it is determined that the vehicle is not running, it is sequentially determined whether the vehicle is dribbling (step S30 in FIG. 7) or in the centering area (step S31). . When it is determined as YES in step S31, it is a case where the vehicle is dribbling and the vehicle is in the centering area, and therefore, it is natural to aim for the goal. Therefore, in this case, the gaze of the character is directed to the goal (step S32).

When it is not within the centering area in step S31, the gaze is directed to the top player, for example, once every four seconds (step S33).
The gaze is directed to the goal once per second (step S34). If NO in step S30 (not dribbling), for example, it is determined whether or not set play is being performed (step S35). This judgment is YES
In the case of (during set play), it is further determined whether or not the opponent of the pass is determined and the player is kicking (step S37). In the case of YES, the gaze is directed to the opponent of the pass (step S37), and NO In this case, no special gaze control is performed, and a gaze depending on the motion is secured (step S38).

Since the gaze control of the character is performed as described above, it is possible to perform a simulation that is very close to a behavior performed by a competitor in an actual soccer game. As in the prior art, the line of sight remains, for example, in the running direction, and the ball is not suddenly kicked out in another direction. In such a case, the character must
Since the player kicks or turns his or her gaze in the direction in which the player wants to kick, it is possible to more realistically express the behavior of the character, enhance the sense of presence, and provide a game device with high game characteristics.
In addition, at the time of gaze control, not only the head is rotated, but also the torso and the waist are followed or rotated at the same time as necessary, so that the behavior of the gaze control is reliably enhanced.

Considering the advantage of the above-mentioned gaze control from another viewpoint, the gaze direction directed by the character implies a hint to the player (player) for performing the next operation. For example, if the character being dribble frequently starts to look behind, the opponent team's character may be approaching from behind, and the player (player) will have to avoid this pursuit. . Therefore, the behavior of the character can convey (implicit) the situation of the game to the player (player).

On the contrary, some flocks can be mixed in the judging steps shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. That is, the gaze is intentionally turned in a direction completely different from the normal judgment. As a result, the determination of the player (player) can be disturbed, and the interest and game characteristics of the game device can be further increased, and the difficulty of the game can be increased.

Next, the processing for controlling the behavior of the audience described above will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, the structure of image data (audience data) representing an audience according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Now
Suppose that the spectator is sitting on the m (> 2) row of stands where the seats are higher as going backward, and n (>) of the m rows of spectators
2) Cut out the line. Of the “m columns × n rows”, the audience of “m ′ columns × n rows” for the m ′ columns (> 0) is represented by pasting textures for a plurality of audiences on one rectangular polygon. . For example, in FIG. 8, A to D, A 'to D', A "
ＤD ″ indicates 12 rectangular polygons, and indicates a data structure in a virtual space in which each polygon is stacked to simulate a state in which each polygon becomes higher as it goes in the depth direction of the stand.
Each of D, A ′ to D ′, and A ″ to D ″ is a single polygon and represents a plurality of spectators of, for example, 3 columns (= m ′) × 4 rows (= n). The second polygon B virtually positioned behind (in the depth direction) the first polygon A is, for example, 1
The initial state is a state in which the column is raised by one row, the initial state is a state in which the third polygon C is raised by one row, for example, and the initial state is a state in which the fourth polygon D is raised by one row, for example. . Therefore, A ~ D, A '~
The 12 polygons D ', A "to D" represent, for example, an audience of "14 columns x 4 rows" standing on the stand.

Twelve polygons A to D, A 'to D',
A "to D", for example, the first four polygons A to D
Are related to each other in the pattern of the spectator, and the next four polygons A ′ to D ′ are related to each other in the pattern of the spectator.
The polygons A "to D" are related to each other in the pattern of the audience. At the same time, 12 polygons A ~ D, A '~
The same object O in which three first, fifth and ninth polygons A, A 'and A "of D', A" to D "are moved in the same manner.
B1. Similarly, the third, second, sixth, and tenth polygons B, B ′, and B ″ constitute the same object OB2 that is moved in the same manner.
The third polygon C, C ′, and C ″ are the same object OB3, and the fourth, eighth, and twelfth third polygons D,
D 'and D "constitute the same object OB4. The design of the audience for each object does not need to be related. That is, in the audience data of the present invention, a plurality (polygons) of polygons are in the virtual space. One feature is that they form the same object while being separated above.
In addition, the design of the audience for each object may be related. Of course, it is also possible to relate them.

The CPU 1 executes an audience behavior control process shown in FIG. That is, the CPU 1 determines a polygon group for controlling the behavior among the polygons of the entire audience data (step S41). Thereby, among the spectators viewed from the viewpoint camera, for example, a group of polygons of spectators set up on the team side that they support (for example, 12 polygons A to
D, A 'to D', A "to D"). Here, a plurality of polygon groups may of course be selected.

Next, the CPU 1 selects a behavior pattern for moving the determined (selected) polygon group (step S4).
2). Here, as the behavior pattern, a pattern is prepared in which one or more groups of polygons are moved in the vertical (vertical) direction or in the horizontal (horizontal) direction. When this behavior pattern is selected, the CPU 1
Performs a process of moving one or more groups of polygons along the selected behavior pattern (step S
43a,..., S43n).

An example of how to move this polygon is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. The polygon group in these figures exemplifies one group, and has the same data configuration in FIG. Assuming that the state before moving the polygon is the state of FIG. 10, the state is changed from this state to the state of the polygon position shown in FIG. 11, FIG. 12, FIG. 13, FIG. 14, FIG. After a plurality of frames, the state returns to the polygon position shown in FIG. 17 (the same polygon position as in FIG. 10) again.

As a specific example, at the time of updating the first frame shown in FIG. 11, three polygons A, A ′, A ′, and A ′, which are the first, fifth, and ninth from before the first object OB1 is formed.
A ″ is raised in the virtual space upward (up). At the time of the next frame update shown in FIG. 12, three polygons A, A ′, and A ″ of the object OB1 are further raised upward (up), and The second, sixth, and tenth three polygons B, B ′, B ″ forming the second object OB2
Is raised upward (up). When the next frame shown in FIG. 13 is updated, polygons A,
A ′ and A ″ are lowered in the virtual space (down), and polygons B and B of the second object OB2 are
B ′, B ″ are further raised upward, and the third, seventh and eleventh three polygons C, C ′, C ″ forming the third object OB3 are raised upward (up). FIG.
4, the polygons B, B ', B "of the second object OB2 and the polygons C, C', C" of the third object OB3 are lowered (down). Raise the three polygons D, D ', D "of OB4 upward (u
p). Then, at the time of updating the next frame shown in FIG. 15, the polygons C, C ′,
C "and the polygons D, D ',
D ”is lowered in the downward direction (down). At the time of the next frame update, 3 of the object OB4 that started to be delayed with a delay is updated.
The two polygons D, D ', D "are further lowered in the downward direction (down). As a result, as shown in Fig. 17, the polygon returns to the initial polygon position state. is there.

Each time the CPU 1 moves one or more groups of polygons (for example, the state from FIG. 10 to FIG. 11), the CPU 1 designates the audience data that can be seen from the viewpoint camera to the VDP 5 (step S44). . Thereafter, the process returns to step S41, and the above-described behavior pattern control process is repeated every frame update. It should be noted that the processing of the audience behavior control is performed for each of a plurality of display frames, and such processing can be thinned out to simplify the processing. The display in the three-dimensional virtual space is
The display screen is perspectively transformed and displayed from a predetermined viewpoint (which can be moved by a player) in the virtual space. In addition, it should be pointed out that the viewpoint corresponding to the position of the virtual camera, the projection center, and the viewpoint in the gaze control of the character are different objects just in case.

As a result, a plurality of polygons are associated as one object, and the polygons of such a plurality of objects are grouped transversely and interleaved, and related patterns are given by texture for each group. By simply moving each polygon on an object-by-object basis, it is possible to more realistically express the variegated behavior of a constantly moving audience. Since the operation is performed on an object basis, the design can be simplified, for example, the number of commands of the software program is reduced. Further, the behavior control itself is simplified, and the calculation load for the control is reduced. The amount of data to be handled can be significantly reduced while expressing realistic behavior that is comparable to the case where individual audiences are displayed by polygons. Therefore, the capacity of the memory for storing the audience data may be small. Naturally, the number of data can be reduced and the expression can be made more realistically with a sense of reality than when the behavior of the audience is displayed as a moving image.

Subsequently, the above-described fog control process is described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. As described above, the fog control is a process of superimposing a type of mask data having a color value on image data, and a change in the degree of brightness due to a change in sunshine of a day using only conventional brightness data. Is an attempt to improve the difficulty.

This processing is performed by the CPU 1, for example, as shown in FIG.
Is performed as shown in FIG. The processing of FIG.
It may be executed by DP5.

First, the CPU 1 reads the real time at that time (ie, the actual time during which the player (player) is operating the game device) from the real time clock 13 (step S51). Then, the real time was predetermined,
It is determined whether there is a deviation from the reference time zones of day, evening, and night (step S52). The reference time periods of day, evening, and night are determined, for example, as shown in FIG. For example, it is relatively long at 6:00 in the daytime reference time zone.
16:30 to 17:00 as the evening reference time zone
~ 18: 30, 19:30 as the reference time zone at night
5:30. Here, the reason why the reference time period in the daytime is made longer is that a difference in the game result occurs between a player who plays near the morning and a player who plays near the evening due to the effect of the screen brightness. This is to prevent it.

If the determination in step S52 is YES, the parameter values of fog data set in advance for the reference time periods of day, evening, and night are read from the ROM 2 (step S53). The three parameters are a color code of red, blue, and green fog, an offset value (representing the density of the fog), and a density (how the fog is applied to the depth). The value is determined in advance so as to be an appropriate value.

Next, CPU 1 calculates fog data and outputs the data to VDP 5 as mask data (steps S54 and S55).

On the other hand, if the answer is NO in step S52, the difference between the real time and the reference time zone is calculated (step S56). For example, if the real time is 5:45 in the morning, then the actual time is 1 in the middle of the reference time zone at night and that at noon.
There is a 5 minute shift.

Next, the CPU 1 determines the fog data parameter values (R, G, B color codes, offset values,
(Density) are read out (step S57). Assuming that the actual time is, for example, 5:45, the parameter values in the nighttime and daytime reference time zones are respectively read.

Then, the interpolation calculation of the parameter value with respect to the offset value and the density is performed (step S5).
8). For example, when the actual time is, for example, 5:45, the offset value and the density are just average values of オ フ セ ッ ト of the offset value and the density in the nighttime and daytime reference time zones. If the actual time is closer to any of the reference time zones, the weight of the closer part is weighted and averaged (interpolated).

As described above, even when the actual time deviates from the reference time zone, the offset value and the density are determined by the interpolation calculation, and the fog data is calculated and output as described above (steps S54 and S55).

As a result, an image fogged according to the sunshine state (physical brightness) when the player (player) plays the game is displayed in real time. For example,
When a game is played in the evening, a dark fog is hung on the background outside the stadium (see diagonal lines in FIG. 20). For example, in the case of playing a game at night, if the moon is present in the background, a dark fog and a yellowish fog shining in moonlight hang on the background (see the oblique lines in FIG. 21).

For this reason, unlike the conventional case where the control of only the brightness value is used to represent the sunshine state (physical brightness) of the image displaying the stadium and its surroundings, the brightness is more realistically controlled. Can express change. In particular, since the color fog data is covered, it is possible to easily adjust the local brightness, for example, at a portion where the moon is appearing. Further, in the present embodiment, for example, subtle brightness between reference time zones such as when a sunrise or a sunset appears can be processed from interpolation parameters using two reference time zones of daytime, evening, and nighttime.

That is, a color state corresponding to a color state most suitable for the day, evening, and night game is created in advance, and a color state suitable for real time is changed to day / evening, evening / night, or night / night. The color state is determined by interpolating between the daytime reference values (specifically, color mixing processing; a luminance value interpolated between the two reference values may be added). For this reason,
The screen is not darkened and the operation is not difficult as in the case where the adjustment is performed only with the luminance value. Since the start point (one reference value) and the end point (the other reference value) of the color adjustment are predetermined, and the state suitable for the game is set, the color of the screen can be displayed at any time. There are no advantages / disadvantages depending on the condition. In other words, because of the uniqueness of being a game, it is important to produce “color changes due to changes in time” and then “do not create unfair feelings due to advantages / disadvantages depending on the time of playing”. Yes, the device of the present embodiment can respond to this. As described above, it is possible to provide an image with an excellent sense of reality regarding the brightness expression of the environment surrounding the stadium and its surroundings.

It is not always necessary to simultaneously execute the above-described three types of character line-of-sight control, spectator behavior control, and fog control. Any one or two controls may be performed.

FIG. 22 schematically shows a screen displayed as a result of the gaze control of the character. Also,
In the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 17, the texture having the spectators facing the stadium, that is, an example of a display object displayed in a three-dimensional virtual space that is a game space is represented by polygons A to D ″, respectively. There is no particular limitation on the mode attached to the surface.For example, among the textures mapped on the polygon surface, the background part other than the display body imitating the audience is the texture of the transparent bit, and the part of the display body is the texture of the opaque bit. can do.

FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram of this texture. The opaque bit texture area including the display body 300 as a spectator and the surrounding area 301 if necessary is used. The other part, for example, the background part 302 is set as a transparent bit texture area. FIG. 24 is an example of a texture related to another audience form. Background 302
Are also transparent bits and character-304 is an opaque bit. This texture is pasted on a polygon other than the polygon to which the texture of FIG. 23 is pasted,
That is, the polygon on which the texture shown in FIG. 24 is pasted is arranged closer to the virtual viewpoint. FIG. 25 shows a state in which these textures are superimposed, that is, superimposed as shown in FIGS. The character 304 of FIG. 24 is displayed on the transparent background portion of FIG. Therefore, when the polygons of FIG. 23 and FIG. 24 are superimposed and displayed, the audiences of both textures are combined, combined, or superimposed and displayed on the screen. In addition, when the spectators who are the characters of each polygon overlap, the spectator lower in the three-dimensional space, that is, the spectator of the low-priority polygon is below the spectator of the high-priority polygon and is not displayed on the screen. Will be.

As shown in FIGS. 8 to 17, a plurality of polygons on which such a texture is pasted are formed along a plane orthogonal to or overlapping with the overlapping direction, or in a three-dimensional space. In the direction intersecting along a virtual camera facing polygons A to D ", or
The movement of the spectator can be reproduced or simulated by moving the spectator in a direction intersecting the superposition direction in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment. 26 and 27 overlap the polygon 400 described in FIG. 23 and the polygon 402 described in FIG. 24, FIG. 26 shows the case where the polygon 400 is moved upward, and FIG. 27 shows the case where the polygon 402 is moved upward.

As described above, according to the present invention, a movement in which a large number of display bodies swings like a spectator in a soccer stadium, a movement of a group of a large number of display bodies, and a large number of display bodies. In a case where it is preferable to divide each block into a plurality of blocks and move each block in a controlled state (movement of a group of animals or insects), the movement can be created more efficiently. Such a movement is performed in a specific mode, for example, in the case of a soccer game, when a ball released by a player reaches a goal. Note that, again, the texture described here is the background (for example,
Of course, it may be picture data including characters such as clouds, waves, and spectators. Further, instead of the background portion of FIG. 23 being composed of a transparent texture, a single color texture may be used, and the character of FIG. 24 may be composed of a color texture that can be distinguished from this single color. Further, it is also possible to make the background part of FIG. 24 a single color texture and leave the background part of FIG. 23 transparent, while at least the outline of the character of FIG. 23 is other than the single color. Further, in the case of FIGS. 8 to 17, the polygons are arranged so as to be gradually positioned diagonally upward in the virtual space. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the polygons may be arranged on a substantially flat surface.

[0081]

As described above, according to one aspect of the present invention, it is determined that the physical relationship or the game content between the target object and the character concerned with the character through the game matches the predetermined condition. The character's line of sight to the target body when
For example, in a soccer game, when a character makes an attack while dribbling a ball, the character performs an action to look (look over) another person in advance to search for a kicking zone or a friendly player. It is possible to simulate more realistically, to make the movement more natural, and to improve the sense of realism and presence.

Further, this viewpoint control can influence 1) how to make a strategy during the game and the difficulty of the game. 2) In the case of a ball game, the behavior of the character holding the ball can It is possible to obtain the effect of being able to grasp the destination to be transferred (should be) and the surrounding situation, and to facilitate the operation.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a plurality of polygons to which textures imitating a plurality of spectators are individually pasted are virtually superimposed, and the plurality of polygons intersect in the superimposing direction. Various movements (more realistic behavior) for each audience because they are moved along the direction
Can simplify the design of software programs, reduce the computational load, reduce the amount of memory, etc., and at the same time almost satisfy these requirements and increase the realism of the game. .

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the actual time of day during which the player executes the game is detected,
According to this actual time, the screen color of the image is obtained by complementing the screen color adjusted in advance so that it is optimal for the game, so after adding the effect of changing the screen color according to the time, , The screen color can always be kept so as not to hinder the game. In addition, it is possible to avoid the inconvenience of adjusting the screen color state only with the luminance as in the conventional case, and to stably and accurately match the color state of the display screen with the change in the brightness within a day, thereby improving the game performance. Realism can be enhanced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a game device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rough flowchart showing an outline of processing by a CPU;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating angle calculation in line-of-sight control.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating angle calculation in line-of-sight control.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state of gaze control of a character.

FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart illustrating an example of line-of-sight control.

FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart showing an example of gaze control together with FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of spectator data using polygons.

FIG. 9 is a schematic flowchart illustrating an example of a process of controlling the behavior of an audience.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing one example of spectator behavior control.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of spectator behavior control.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing another frame of an example of spectator behavior control.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another example of spectator behavior control.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another example of spectator behavior control.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another example of spectator behavior control.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another example of spectator behavior control.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of spectator behavior control.

FIG. 18 is a schematic flowchart according to an example of fog control.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating time division for fog control.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen by fog control.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing another example of a display screen by fog control.

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram of an image displayed on a screen as a result of a gaze control of a character.

FIG. 23 is another example of a texture including an audience.

FIG. 24 is yet another example thereof.

FIG. 25 shows a texture display mode in a case where polygons to which respective textures are pasted are displayed in a superimposed manner.

FIG. 26 shows one mode of moving each polygon surface in the display mode of FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 shows still another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 CPU 2 ROM 3 RAM 4 Input device 5 VDP 6 VRAM 7 Drawing device 9 Texture data ROM 10 Frame buffer memory 11 D / A converter 12 Display device 13 Fog circuit 14 Real time clock

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Shin Yamamoto 1-2-12 Haneda, Ota-ku, Tokyo Co., Ltd. Inside Sega Enterprises (72) Inventor Kaori Yamamoto 1-2-12 Haneda, Ota-ku, Tokyo Sega Co., Ltd. In the enterprises (56) References JP-A-5-249953 (JP, A) JP-A-5-333850 (JP, A) JP-A 9-161095 (JP, A) JP-A-8-54820 (JP) , A) JP-A-7-231985 (JP, A) DOS / V magazine (April 15, 1995), Softbank, April 15, 1995, Vol. 5, No. 5, p. 184-185 ("Magical Carp et", especially the dragon on the right photograph on page 184) Monthly Game Walker (August 1996), Kadokawa Shoten, August 1, 1996, Vol. 3, No. 8, p. 126 (Shima Right bottom: Expression of dragon by superposition of "Space Harrier" sprite) Monthly Game Walker (August 1996 issue), Kadokawa Shoten, August 1, 1996, Vol. 3, No. 8, p. 34-37 (Representation of "NiGHTS", especially rings on page 36, etc.) Monthly Game Walker (November 1996), Kadokawa Shoten, November 1, 1996, Vol. 3, No. 11, p. 127 (upper left "Afterburner II") Monthly Game Walker (December 1996), Kadokawa Shoten, December 1, 1996, Vol. 3, No. 12, p. 136 ("Jikkyou J League Perfect Striker") Monthly Game Walker (June 1995 issue), Kadokawa Shoten, June 1, 1995, Vol. 2, No. 6, p. 46-47 ("virtual striker") "BIT ENTERTAINMENT T", monthly ASCII (July 1996), ASCII, July 1, 1996, Vol. 7, p. 505-508 (especially on p. 506 upper right photo: "NBA Full Court Press", "Micros of Soccer") (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A63F 9/22 G06T 15/70

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus for displaying on a screen the behavior of a plurality of display objects arranged in a virtual three-dimensional space, wherein a plurality of polygons are treated as one object in association with each other, and a plurality of polygons constituting the object are treated. Direction in which the objects intersect in the direction in which the objects are overlapped in units of objects in a state in which each of the polygons is alternately overlapped with a plurality of polygons constituting another object
An oscillating means for periodically oscillating along the line . 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the swing unit swings the object vertically or horizontally. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of polygons have a plurality of groups or a plurality of rows. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein symbols related to each other are drawn on a plurality of polygons constituting the object. 5. An image processing method for displaying, on a screen, behaviors of a plurality of display objects arranged in a virtual three-dimensional space, wherein a plurality of polygons are treated as one object in association with each other, and a plurality of polygons constituting the object are treated. Direction in which the objects intersect in the direction in which the objects are overlapped in units of objects in a state in which each of the polygons is alternately overlapped with a plurality of polygons constituting another object
An image processing method characterized by periodically swinging along an axis. 6. The image processing method according to claim 5, wherein the object is swung vertically or horizontally. 7. The image processing method according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of polygons have a plurality of groups or a plurality of rows. 8. The image processing method according to claim 5, wherein symbols related to each other are drawn on a plurality of polygons constituting the object. 9. A ROM storing a program for causing a computer to execute the image processing method according to claim 5. Description: