JP3611808B2 - GAME DEVICE, GAME CONTROL METHOD, AND PROGRAM - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a game device, a game control method, and a program, and more particularly to a technique for generating a map image that can easily grasp the position of each mapping target object arranged in a three-dimensional game space.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the computer game system, a two-dimensional or three-dimensional game space is set on a memory, and a player game character (game character to be operated by the player) is moved in the same space, and from the viewpoint of following the player game character. Many of them are designed to show what they see on the game screen. In such a game system, the player can enjoy the feeling as if he / she is moving as a player game character in the game space.
[0003]
By the way, normally, the game space is much larger than the space range shown on the game screen, and the player can grasp only a part of the game space from the game screen. In this regard, in a part of a game system in which a two-dimensional game space (plane) is used as a game stage, it is possible to look over the state of the game space over a wider area on the edge of the game screen or on another game screen that appears by button operation. A map image that can be displayed is displayed.
[0004]
In this map image, markers are shown at the positions of objects to be mapped such as player game characters, enemy game characters, obstacles, various game items, etc., and the player sees the map image and is scattered over a wide area of the game space. The position of the mapping target object can be grasped.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the map image described above is provided in a game system that uses a two-dimensional game space as a game stage. However, in a game system that uses a three-dimensional game space as a game stage, the map image has a wide range in the three-dimensional game space. No map has yet been devised so that the player can easily grasp the positions of the objects to be mapped scattered around.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its purpose is to provide a game apparatus and a game control capable of displaying a map image that allows a player to easily grasp the position of a mapping target object arranged in a three-dimensional game space. It is to provide a method and a program.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, a game device according to the present invention is arranged in the three-dimensional game space in a game device having a function of displaying a three-dimensional game space in which a mapping target object to be mapped is arranged. Representative point coordinate acquisition means for acquiring the coordinates of the representative point of each mapping target object, reference point coordinate acquisition means for acquiring the coordinates of the reference point set in the three-dimensional game space, and the three-dimensional game space Mapping direction acquisition means for acquiring a mapping direction based on a reference point; projection position coordinate acquisition means for acquiring position coordinates by projecting each representative point onto a map plane perpendicular to the mapping direction in the three-dimensional game space; Depth of each representative point when viewing the mapping direction from the reference point in the three-dimensional game space A depth acquisition means for acquiring, a map image generation means for generating a map image so that a marker of a display mode based on the depth of the representative point is represented at a position corresponding to a position coordinate where each representative point is projected, and Map image display means for displaying a map image.
[0008]
The game control method according to the present invention is a game control method for displaying a three-dimensional game space in which a mapping target object to be mapped is arranged, wherein each mapping target object arranged in the three-dimensional game space is displayed. A representative point coordinate acquisition step for acquiring the coordinates of the representative point, a reference point coordinate acquisition step for acquiring the coordinates of the reference point set in the three-dimensional game space, and the reference point in the three-dimensional game space as a base point A mapping direction obtaining step for obtaining a mapping direction to be obtained; a projection position coordinate obtaining step for obtaining position coordinates by projecting each representative point onto a map plane perpendicular to the mapping direction in the three-dimensional game space; and the three-dimensional game. Depth of each representative point when viewing the mapping direction from the reference point in space A depth acquisition step to be obtained; and a map image generation step of generating a map image so that a marker of a display mode based on the depth of the representative point is represented at a position corresponding to the position coordinate on which each representative point is projected. It is characterized by that.
[0009]
The program according to the present invention is a program for displaying a three-dimensional game space in which a mapping target object to be mapped is arranged, and represents a representative point of each mapping target object arranged in the three-dimensional game space. A representative point coordinate obtaining step for obtaining coordinates, a reference point coordinate obtaining step for obtaining coordinates of a reference point set in the three-dimensional game space, and a mapping direction based on the reference point in the three-dimensional game space. A mapping direction acquisition step to acquire; a projection position coordinate acquisition step to acquire position coordinates by projecting each representative point onto a map plane perpendicular to the mapping direction in the three-dimensional game space; and the reference in the three-dimensional game space Get the depth of each representative point when viewing the mapping direction from the point And a map image generating step for generating a map image so that a marker of a display mode based on the depth of the representative point is represented at a position corresponding to the position coordinate on which each representative point is projected. It is for execution.
[0010]
Here, as a mapping target object, for example, a player game character, an enemy game character, an obstacle, various game items, or the like can be used as a mapping target when the three-dimensional game space is used as a game stage.
[0011]
In the present invention, mapping target objects are arranged in the three-dimensional game space, and the coordinates of their representative points are acquired. The representative point represents the position of the mapping target object such as the center of the mapping target object, the origin in the body coordinate system of each mapping target object, and the like. Furthermore, a reference point and mapping direction are also acquired. The reference point is set in the three-dimensional game space, and is, for example, a representative point of the player game character or an arbitrary position designated by the player. The mapping direction is a direction based on the reference point in the three-dimensional game space, and is, for example, the front direction of the player game character or an arbitrary direction designated by the player. Then, the depth of each representative point when the mapping direction is viewed from the reference point in the three-dimensional game space is acquired. The depth is, for example, a Z value obtained by converting the coordinates (world coordinate system) of each representative point into a viewpoint coordinate system in which the reference point is the viewpoint coordinate and the mapping direction is the line-of-sight direction.
[0012]
Thereafter, each representative point is projected onto the map plane in the three-dimensional game space, and its position coordinates are acquired. The map plane is a plane perpendicular to the mapping direction in the three-dimensional game space. When the map plane is finite, it is preferable that the center of the map is arranged on an extension line of the mapping direction with the reference point as a base point so that the center of the map matches the mapping direction. Then, a map image is generated so that a marker of a display mode based on the depth of the representative point is represented at a position corresponding to the projection position of each representative point. This map image is displayed, for example, as part or all of the game screen. By doing so, the player can know the depth of each representative point from the display mode of each marker represented in the map image, and the player can easily grasp the position of the mapping target object arranged in the three-dimensional game space. Will be able to.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a game device according to an embodiment of the present invention. A game apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 is configured by connecting a monitor 18 and a speaker 22 to a consumer game machine 11 and mounting a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk; trademark) 25 as an information storage medium. . Here, the DVD 25 is used to supply the game program and game data to the consumer game machine 11, but any other information storage medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory; trademark) or a ROM card is used. be able to. Moreover, you may make it supply a game program and game data to the consumer game machine 11 from a remote place via a communication network.
[0015]
In the home game machine 11, a microprocessor 14, an image processing unit 16, a main memory 26, and an input / output processing unit 30 are connected to each other via a bus 12 so that mutual data communication is possible. A processing unit 20 and a DVD playback unit 24 are connected. Each component of the consumer game machine 11 other than the controller 32 is housed in a housing. For example, a household television receiver is used as the monitor 18, and its built-in speaker is used as the speaker 22, for example.
[0016]
The microprocessor 14 controls each unit of the consumer game machine 11 based on an operating system stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) (not shown) and a game program read from the DVD 25. The bus 12 is for exchanging addresses and data among the units of the consumer game machine 11. In addition, a game program and game data read from the DVD 25 are written in the main memory 26 as necessary. The image processing unit 16 includes a VRAM (Video Random Access Memory), receives image data sent from the microprocessor 14, draws a game screen on the VRAM, and converts the contents into a video signal. The data is output to the monitor 18 at a predetermined timing.
[0017]
The input / output processing unit 30 is an interface for relaying data communication between the controller 32, the audio processing unit 20, the DVD playback unit 24, and the microprocessor 14. The controller 32 is an input means for a player to perform a game operation. The input / output processing unit 30 scans the operation states of the various buttons of the controller 32 at regular intervals (for example, every 1/60 seconds), and passes operation signals representing the scan results to the microprocessor 14 via the bus 12. The microprocessor 14 determines the player's game operation based on the operation signal. The audio processing unit 20 includes a sound buffer, reproduces data such as music and game sound effects read from the DVD 25 and stored in the sound buffer, and outputs the data from the speaker 22. The DVD playback unit 24 reads the game program and game data recorded on the DVD 25 in accordance with instructions from the microprocessor 14.
[0018]
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the controller 32. The controller 32 shown in the figure is a general-purpose game controller, and has a direction button 34, a start button 36, buttons 38X, 38Y, 38A, and 38B on the surface, as shown in FIG. ), Buttons 39L, 39R, 41L, and 41R are further provided on the back side surface. That is, on the back side surface of the controller 32, buttons 41L and 41R are provided on the left and right sides of the front side, respectively, and buttons 39L and 39R are provided on the left and right sides of the back side. The front direction button 34 has a cross shape, and is usually used to specify the moving direction of the character or cursor. The start button 36 is a small push button having a triangular shape, and is usually used for starting a game or forcibly ending a game. The buttons 38X, 38Y, 38A, 38B, 39L, 39R, 41L, 41R are used for other game operations.
[0019]
Hereinafter, a technique for realizing a spacecraft game using the game apparatus 10 having such a configuration will be described. In this game, a three-dimensional game space representing outer space is set, and a spaceship as a player game character moves freely according to an operation by the controller 32. In the three-dimensional game space representing outer space, objects representing planets and other space ships (for example, enemy space ships) are arranged. Other spacecraft move in the 3D game space according to the game program. These objects are represented in a map image, which will be described later, as mapping target objects.
[0020]
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a three-dimensional game space representing outer space. As shown in the figure, a plurality of mapping target objects 52 and a player game character 40 are arranged in the three-dimensional game space. In the drawing, black circles are shown at the positions of the representative point of the mapping target object 52 and the representative point (reference point) of the player game character 40. The representative point is a point that represents the position of the mapping target object 52 or the player game character 40, and here, the origin point in the local coordinate system of the mapping target object 52 or the player game character 40 is arranged. In the three-dimensional game space, a mapping direction 50 is set so as to coincide with the traveling direction of the player game character 40. The mapping direction 50 has a base point (start point) that matches the position of the player game character 40. The position of the player game character 40, that is, the reference point, is translated up and down and left and right by, for example, the direction button 34 of the controller 32, and translated back and forth by the buttons 38Y and 38A. Further, the moving direction of the player game character 40, that is, the mapping direction, is turned left and right by the buttons 38X and 38B of the controller 32, for example, and turned up and down by the buttons 39L and 41L. Therefore, it is possible to change the position of the reference point and the mapping direction 50 by operating the controller 32.
[0021]
In the game apparatus 10, a state in which the mapping direction 50 is viewed from the player game character 40 in the three-dimensional game space is displayed on the monitor 18 as a game screen. Furthermore, a state in which the mapping direction 50 is viewed from a wider field of view to a farther distance is displayed as a map image at the corner.
[0022]
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a map image. The map image 54 shown in the figure is a circular image. For example, markers 58, 60, 62, and 64 representing the position of the mapping target object 52 are superimposed on the black map background 56 and displayed. The markers 58, 60, 62, and 64 are all different in color. This color is determined based on the depth of each mapping target object 52 when the mapping direction 50 is viewed from the player game character 40.
[0023]
For example, marker 58 is red, marker 60 is yellow, marker 62 is green, and marker 64 is blue. Here, the red marker 58 represents the mapping target object 52 belonging to the zone located closest to the front, and the yellow marker 60 represents the mapping target object belonging to the zone next to the player game character 40. 52. Further, the green marker 62 represents the mapping target object 52 belonging to a zone that is next to the player game character 40. The blue marker 64 represents the mapping target object 52 belonging to the deepest zone. In this way, the player only looks at the colors of the markers 58, 60, 62, and 64, and the representative point of each mapping target object 52 (when viewing the mapping direction 50 from the player game character 40 in the three-dimensional game space). ).
[0024]
In addition, the brightness of the markers 58, 60, 62, and 64 may be made different so that the higher brightness marker represents the mapping target object 52 that belongs to the zone located closer to the player game character 40. Alternatively, the transparency of the markers 58, 60, 62, 64 may be made different so that the marker with lower transparency represents the mapping target object 52 belonging to the zone located closer to the player game character 40. Further, the markers 58, 60, 62, and 64 are displayed in a blinking manner, and the blinking speeds are made different so that the mapping target object 52 that belongs to the zone that is closer to the player game character 40 as the blinking speed is faster. You may make it represent.
[0025]
FIG. 5 shows each functional block realized by the game apparatus 10 by executing the game program stored in the DVD 25. In the figure, the functions realized when displaying a map image on the monitor 18 are mainly shown. As shown in the figure, the functions realized by the game apparatus 10 include a representative point coordinate acquisition unit 70, a reference point coordinate acquisition unit 72, a mapping direction acquisition unit 74, a projection processing unit 75, a map image generation unit 80, and A map image display unit 82 is included. The projection processing unit 74 includes a projection position coordinate acquisition unit 76 and a depth acquisition unit 78.
[0026]
Among these, the representative point coordinate acquisition unit 70 acquires the coordinates of the representative point of each mapping target object 52 arranged in the three-dimensional game space. Further, the reference point coordinate acquisition unit 72 acquires the coordinates of the reference point set in the three-dimensional game space, that is, the coordinates of the representative point of the player game character 40. Further, the mapping direction acquisition unit 74 acquires a mapping direction 50 having the reference point as a base point in the three-dimensional game space. For example, in the main game process, all static objects in the three-dimensional game space (those that do not change position or posture as the game progresses) and dynamic objects (in accordance with operation signals input from the game program or the controller 32) Environment processing such as acquiring the position and orientation of the one that changes the position and orientation). Then, the representative point coordinate acquisition unit 70 refers to the result of this environmental processing and acquires the coordinates (world coordinate system) of the representative point of the mapping target object 52. The reference point coordinate acquisition unit 72 acquires the position of the player game character 40 as the reference point coordinates with reference to the result of the environmental processing. Further, the mapping direction acquisition unit 74 refers to the result of the environmental processing and acquires the mapping direction 50 based on the posture of the player game character 40.
[0027]
Further, the projection position coordinate acquisition unit 76 acquires position coordinates obtained by projecting each representative point on a map plane perpendicular to the mapping direction 50 in the three-dimensional game space. For example, the projection position coordinate acquisition unit 76 can be configured to include a known geometry engine. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of calculation processing by the projection position coordinate acquisition unit 76. As shown in the figure, in this example, a map plane 54 perpendicular to the mapping direction 50 is set on an extension line of the mapping direction 50 with the representative point (reference point) of the player game character 40 as a base point. Then, the reference point and the representative point of each mapping target object 52 are connected by a straight line, and the position coordinate is acquired with the position on the map plane intersecting the straight line as the projection position (perspective projection). In addition, various projection transformations such as parallel projection may be employed. Further, the depth acquisition unit 78 acquires the depth of each representative point when the mapping direction is viewed from the reference point in the three-dimensional game space. For example, the depth acquisition unit 78 can be configured to include a known geometry engine, and the coordinates (world coordinate system) of each representative point are set to a viewpoint coordinate system in which the reference point is the viewpoint and the mapping direction 50 is the line-of-sight direction. The Z value obtained at that time is obtained as the depth. In addition, the map image generation unit 80 generates a map image so that a marker of a display mode based on the depth of the representative point is represented at a position corresponding to the position coordinates where the representative points are projected. Further, the map image display unit 82 includes, for example, the monitor 18 and displays the map image generated by the map image generation unit 80. The map image display unit 82 may display the map image beside the main image on the game screen, or may switch the game screen in accordance with an operation signal input from the controller 32 and display the map image on another game screen. A map image may be displayed.
[0028]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining map image drawing processing by the game apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, in the map drawing process, the representative point coordinate acquisition unit 70 first acquires the coordinates of the representative point of each mapping target object 52 (S101). Next, the reference point coordinate acquisition unit 72 acquires the coordinates of the representative point of the player game character 40 as the reference point coordinates used when generating the map image (S102). Next, the mapping direction acquisition unit 74 calculates the front direction of the player game character 40 based on the posture of the player game character 40 and acquires it as the mapping direction 50 (S103).
[0029]
Thereafter, the projection processing unit 75 converts the coordinates of each representative point described in the world coordinate system into a viewpoint coordinate system in which the reference point is the viewpoint and the mapping direction 50 is the line-of-sight direction (S104). Then, the depth acquisition unit 78 acquires the Z value as the depth of each representative point (S105). Further, the projection position coordinate acquisition unit 76 acquires the position coordinates obtained by projecting each representative point onto the map plane 54 based on the coordinates of each representative point represented in the viewpoint coordinate system (S106). Based on the position coordinates obtained in S106 and the Z value obtained in S105, the markers 58, 60, 62, and 64 are overwritten on the map background 56 of the map image 54 in colors corresponding to the Z value (S107). ). Specifically, it is determined which Z value of each representative point belongs to a predetermined number of numerical ranges, and a color corresponding to the numerical range (zone) is attached to a marker representing each representative point. To do.
[0030]
According to the game apparatus 10 described above, the colors of the markers 58, 60, 62, and 64 represented in the map image 54 are viewed, and the depth of each mapping target object 52 corresponding to the markers 58, 60, 62, and 64 is displayed. Therefore, the player can easily grasp the position of each mapping target object 52 arranged in the three-dimensional game space. Further, by operating the controller 32, the position and orientation of the player game character 40, that is, the position of the reference point and the mapping direction 50 can be changed, so that the display range of the map image 54 can be freely changed, thereby The player can grasp the positions of all the mapping target objects 52 scattered throughout the three-dimensional game space.
[0031]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above description, the map image 54 is displayed in the spaceship game developed in the three-dimensional game space. However, the present invention is applied to other types of games and the map image 54 is displayed. May be.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the game device, the game control method, and the program according to the present invention, the player can know the depth of each representative point from the display mode of each marker represented in the map image. The player can easily grasp the position of the object to be mapped arranged in the space.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a game device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an external appearance of a controller.
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a three-dimensional game space.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a map image.
FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the game device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram for explaining representative point projection processing;
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating map drawing processing.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 game machines, 11 consumer game machines, 12 buses, 14 microprocessors, 16 image processing units, 18 monitors, 20 sound processing units, 22 speakers, 24 DVD reproduction units, 25 DVDs, 26 elementary storages, 30 input / output processing units , 32 controller, 34 direction button, 36 start button, 38X, 38Y, 38A, 38B, 39L, 39R, 41L, 41R button, 40 player game character (reference point), 50 mapping direction, 52 mapping target object (representative point) , 54 Map image, 56 Map background, 58, 60, 62, 64 Marker.

Claims (3)

In a game device having a function of displaying a three-dimensional game space in which a mapping object to be mapped is arranged,
Representative point coordinate acquisition means for acquiring the coordinates of the representative point of each mapping target object arranged in the three-dimensional game space;
Reference point coordinate acquisition means for acquiring the coordinates of the reference point set in the three-dimensional game space;
Mapping direction acquisition means for acquiring a mapping direction that is turned by a game operation using the reference point as a base point in the three-dimensional game space;
Projected position coordinate acquisition means for acquiring position coordinates by projecting each representative point onto a map plane perpendicular to the mapping direction swung by the game operation in the three-dimensional game space;
In the three-dimensional game space, an arithmetic process is performed for converting the coordinates of the representative point into a line-of-sight coordinate system with the reference point as the viewpoint and the mapping direction turned by the game operation as the line-of-sight direction. Depth acquisition means for acquiring a value as a depth;
Map image generating means for generating a map image so that a marker of a display mode based on the depth of the representative point is represented at a position corresponding to the position coordinate on which each representative point is projected;
Map image display means for displaying the map image;
A game apparatus comprising: In a game control method for displaying a three-dimensional game space in which a mapping target object to be mapped is arranged,
A representative point coordinate acquisition step of acquiring coordinates of a representative point of each mapping target object arranged in the three-dimensional game space;
A reference point coordinate acquisition step of acquiring coordinates of a reference point set in the three-dimensional game space;
A mapping direction acquisition step for acquiring a mapping direction that is turned by a game operation using the reference point as a base point in the three-dimensional game space;
A projected position coordinate acquisition step of projecting each representative point onto a map plane perpendicular to a mapping direction swung by the game operation in the three-dimensional game space, and acquiring a position coordinate;
In the three-dimensional game space, an arithmetic process is performed for converting the coordinates of the representative point into a line-of-sight coordinate system with the reference point as the viewpoint and the mapping direction turned by the game operation as the line-of-sight direction. A depth acquisition step of acquiring a value as a depth;
A map image generation step of generating a map image so that a marker of a display mode based on the depth of the representative point is represented at a position corresponding to a position coordinate on which each representative point is projected;
A game control method comprising: In a program for displaying a three-dimensional game space in which mapping target objects to be mapped are arranged,
A representative point coordinate acquisition step of acquiring coordinates of a representative point of each mapping target object arranged in the three-dimensional game space;
A reference point coordinate acquisition step of acquiring coordinates of a reference point set in the three-dimensional game space;
A mapping direction acquisition step for acquiring a mapping direction that is turned by a game operation using the reference point as a base point in the three-dimensional game space;
A projected position coordinate acquisition step of projecting each representative point onto a map plane perpendicular to a mapping direction swung by the game operation in the three-dimensional game space, and acquiring a position coordinate;
In the three-dimensional game space, an arithmetic process is performed for converting the coordinates of the representative point into a line-of-sight coordinate system with the reference point as the viewpoint and the mapping direction turned by the game operation as the line-of-sight direction. A depth acquisition step of acquiring a value as a depth;
A map image generation step of generating a map image so that a marker of a display mode based on the depth of the representative point is represented at a position corresponding to a position coordinate on which each representative point is projected;
A program that causes a computer to execute.

Images