JP3631890B2 - Electronic game equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to an electronic game machine, and more particularly to an electronic game machine that can visualize information related to a display object as a three-dimensional stereoscopic image.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a conventional electronic game machine, display image information on a display device is information on a two-dimensional plane, and is displayed as a dynamic continuous video by continuously displaying pictures. According to this conventional display method, all objects to be drawn are drawn two-dimensionally, and there is no concept of the presence of a light source or a viewpoint by a camera.
[0003]
Recently, a method of adopting three-dimensional information as display image information has been developed by developing the conventional display method as described above. That is, according to the method, since it is three-dimensional information, an object expressed by image information can be regarded as a solid and a concept of a viewpoint can be introduced.
[0004]
All displayed objects have three-dimensional information (X, Y, Z), and their arithmetic processing is possible. If a certain point on the three-dimensional coordinate axis is determined as the viewpoint by introducing the concept of the viewpoint (position where the camera is located), the image of the target object viewed from that position is displayed on the display device.
[0005]
Further, by moving the coordinates of the viewpoint, any position in the three-dimensional space can be displayed as a viewpoint on the display device. This is a so-called virtual reality (virtual reality or pseudo world) technology.
[0006]
According to this technology, it becomes possible to simulate an arbitrary three-dimensional world by three-dimensional manipulation of image information, and from the introduction of the concept of viewpoint as described above, camera work that does not actually exist is also possible, Similarly, an image with a light source at an arbitrary position can be realized arbitrarily by the concept of viewpoint. In addition, there is a possibility that various balances such as gravity, atmospheric pressure, and frictional resistance in a three-dimensional space can be set freely. Such technology has begun to be adopted in electronic game machines.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In a conventional electronic game machine that displays two-dimensional image information on a display device, for example, in a so-called driving game, the viewpoint related to the displayed image is fixed at the viewpoint of the driver of the car, that is, the viewpoint of the player. .
[0008]
Even in an electronic game machine having a plurality of such viewpoints, the viewpoint is changed by the programmer at the time of creating the game program and is fixed at the time of creating the program. Will not be reflected. Furthermore, the mutual change of viewpoints was also gradual.
[0009]
If the above-described 3D space display technology is adopted in an electronic game machine, video can be displayed from all viewpoints of the 3D space related to the displayed image information. It is necessary to perform image processing in response, and how to set the viewpoint is an important issue in order to convert the three-dimensional stereoscopic data related to the display object into display image data when creating the game program.
[0010]
An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic game device that can three-dimensionally display a display target in a game and more naturally change the movement of an image displayed on a display device in accordance with the selection of a viewpoint. is there.
[0011]
It is another object of the present invention to provide an electronic game device that improves the operability of a game employing a three-dimensional space display technology.
[0012]
A further object of the present invention is to provide an electronic game machine that can change the image expression and expand the range of operation modes.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An electronic game device according to the present invention includes an operating device, means for holding information relating to a display object operated by the game operator operating the operating device as three-dimensional solid data, and detecting the attitude of the game operator A posture detecting device main body, a sensor group disposed in the posture detecting device main body for detecting left and right movement and forward bending of the game operator to the posture detecting device main body, and whether or not the sensor group is activated. And a step of changing to viewpoint data corresponding to the operating state when it is determined that the sensor group has been operated, and the display processed by the arithmetic processing unit. possess means for outputting an image according to the target, and of the individual sensors constituting the sensor group, a sensor for detecting the lateral movement of the game operator Sensors that are arranged on the left and right of the posture detection device main body and detect the forward bending of the game operator are arranged at the center of the game operator's back, and the arithmetic processing means detects the forward bending of the game operator. When the sensor detects the forward bending of the game operator, the viewpoint data is set so that the displayed video slides upward on the screen .
[0014]
In another aspect of the present invention, the arithmetic processing means further selects one of viewpoints set in advance in a three-dimensional space according to the operating state of the sensor group, and the current viewpoint Determining whether the position matches the viewpoint position of the selected viewpoint, and, if determined not to match, moving the current viewpoint position closer to the data of the selected viewpoint; An electronic game device to be executed.
[0015]
[Action]
In the configuration described above, the game operator's competition posture is detected, and the viewpoint corresponding to the detected state is automatically selected by the game device. The video will change from the point of view. Therefore, the viewpoint of the display image is not fixed, the image expression is changed, a display screen full of a sense of reality is obtained, and the range of operation modes is expanded.
[0016]
【Example】
According to the present invention, information related to a display object is held as three-dimensional solid data, and the display object can be viewed from any viewpoint by performing a three-dimensional calculation process on the information related to the display object based on the selected viewpoint information. It is about an electronic game device that can be imaged as such an object.
[0017]
All the objects displayed as described above have three-dimensional information (X, Y, Z), and their arithmetic processing is possible. If a certain point on the three-dimensional coordinate axis is determined as the viewpoint by introducing the concept of the viewpoint (position where the camera is located), the image of the target object viewed from that position is displayed on the display device.
[0018]
Further, by moving the coordinates of the viewpoint, the viewpoint can be changed continuously or stepwise, so that any position in the three-dimensional space can be displayed as a viewpoint on the display device.
[0019]
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the electronic game device of the present invention. The substrate 1 has means for holding information relating to the display object as three-dimensional solid data, means for presetting viewpoint information relating to a plurality of viewpoints, and information relating to the display object based on the viewpoint information relating to the selected viewpoint. An image processing means such as an arithmetic processing means for performing three-dimensional arithmetic processing on the image and an image information generating means for generating display image information based on the information subjected to the three-dimensional arithmetic processing are incorporated. The output of the image processing means is sent to the display device 4 and an image is displayed on the display device 4 based on the processing result.
[0020]
The configuration and operation of the electronic game device will be described taking a case where a driving game is executed as an example. An operation device 5 such as a handle or an accelerator for a player to perform a game operation is connected to the board 1, and the player can use the operation device 5 while watching a game image displayed on the monitor screen of the display device 4. Operate and perform game operations.
[0021]
In the case of a driving game, the operation device 5 is a device that performs a driving operation including a handle, an accelerator, and the like. For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, images such as a race course, a car, a landscape, a background, and a character display are displayed on the monitor screen, and the screen changes according to the driving operation of the athlete.
[0022]
The viewpoint information setting means incorporated in the substrate 1 holds viewpoint information relating to several viewpoints set in advance. For example, in the case of a driving game, for example, four viewpoints can be set in advance as shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4B.
[0023]
That is, as shown in FIG. 3 (A) as the viewpoint (1), the “viewpoint seen from slightly behind the host vehicle” and as shown in FIG. 3 (B) as the viewpoint (2) As seen in FIG. 4 (A), the “viewed viewpoint” is the “viewpoint seen from the low sky behind the own vehicle” as shown in FIG. 4 (A), and the “own vehicle” is shown as the viewpoint (4) in FIG. Can be set in advance. Setting of the viewpoint information related to these viewpoints to the apparatus is performed by giving specific three-dimensional coordinates of each viewpoint.
[0024]
3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, the screen configuration is such that a camera is virtually installed at a position where the screen can be seen as shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B. In the following description, the viewpoint position may be referred to as “camera position”.
[0025]
3 (A) and 3 (B) are screens displayed in a normal game progress state, and FIG. 3 (A) is a case where the camera is installed behind the vehicle at a certain distance from the vehicle. FIG. 3B shows a case where the camera is installed at the eye position of the driver. In other words, the camera (viewpoint) is placed at a fixed position with respect to the vehicle. On the other hand, by adding FIGS. 4A and 4B, it is possible to add an image shot by moving the camera in a position and a viewing direction at an arbitrary distance from the own vehicle.
[0026]
For example, while the game is in progress, as shown in Fig. 3 (A), the competitor usually takes an image of a camera placed behind the car he is operating, or the driver's eyes in Fig. 3 (B). The camera position is operated sequentially while viewing the image as if it was taken from the viewing direction from the position of the camera, and the camera position is sequentially viewed from the viewpoint (1) → the viewpoint (2) → the viewpoint (3) → the viewpoint. You can switch to (4).
[0027]
The movement of the viewpoint not limited to Shikesharu a method as described above, the viewpoint from the process (e.g. viewpoint (2) arbitrarily selected in accordance with any game situation among preset viewpoints (4) Move to).
[0028]
The movement from one viewpoint to the next viewpoint is continuously performed by a method in which the viewpoint gradually moves from the current viewpoint to the selected new viewpoint while processing the three-dimensional data. Since the processing is performed while processing the three-dimensional data based on the coordinate information that changes according to the moving viewpoint, the image is continuously and smoothly displayed as an image that is taken while the camera position is gradually moved.
[0029]
In this case, it is determined whether or not the current camera position matches the camera position based on the selected next viewpoint data. If it is determined that they do not match, the camera position is set to the current viewpoint position data. 3D calculation processing is performed while changing the viewpoint data so as to approach the position data of the viewpoint selected from. By the way, the relationship between the concept of the viewpoint and the operation of the present invention is, for example, when applied to a driving game, the screen display can be controlled by providing two modes as the concept of the viewpoint.
[0030]
That is, one is a “game external watching viewpoint” mode and the other is a “driver viewpoint” mode. In the former, as shown in FIG. 7, even if the own vehicle spins or the like, the viewing direction does not change because the viewing direction is set to be viewed from a third party from the outside. . In the latter case, when the vehicle spins, the viewing direction is set to change together with the spinned vehicle, so there is a possibility that the driving direction is lost and the operation is confused. If the viewpoint shown in FIG. 4B is selected when the vehicle spins during the game operation, an image as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the display screen.
[0031]
In the image examples shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the viewpoint (4) shown in FIG. 4 (B) is the “viewing point outside the game” mode, and the viewpoint (2) shown in FIG. 3 (B). Is the "driver's point of view" mode.
[0032]
Next, an example of means for inputting a viewpoint switching timing signal will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the viewpoint change switch 2 or the posture detection sensor group 3 is connected to the image processing means 1 so that it is automatically selected according to the player's selection or automatically according to the player's competition posture by the electronic game device. Accordingly, one viewpoint is selected, and a three-dimensional calculation process is performed based on the selected viewpoint information, and an image viewed from the selected viewpoint is displayed.
[0033]
First, a case where the viewpoint change switch 2 is used will be described. That is, it is a case where the viewpoint of a display image is changed based on a player's intention. The viewpoint change switch 2 can be provided in parallel with the game start switch separately from the game start switch. Alternatively, the handle may be provided. Alternatively, the game start switch may be configured to function as the viewpoint change switch 2 after the game is started.
[0034]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure executed in the image processing unit 1 in response to an input from the viewpoint change switch 2. First, it is determined whether or not the viewpoint change switch 2 has been pressed (step S21). If it is determined that the viewpoint has been pressed, the viewpoint data is changed to the next viewpoint data (step 22). On the other hand, if not pressed, the process proceeds to step S23. In step S23, the current camera position and the camera position based on the data relating to the selected viewpoint are compared to determine whether or not they match. If it is determined that they do not match, the camera position is moved closer to the position based on the selected viewpoint data (step S24).
[0035]
Next, the case of the posture detection photoelectric sensor group 3 will be described. FIG. 5 shows an example of a posture detection device. In the body 90 of the posture detection device, posture detection photoelectric sensors 31, 32, 33 are arranged. For example, in order to detect the left and right movements of the athlete, the sensors 31, 32 are placed at positions corresponding to both shoulders. In addition, a sensor 33 is provided corresponding to the position of the center of the back in order to detect the player's back and forth movement. Then, several viewpoints are determined and set in advance. For example, when the player's posture is tilted to the right and the amount of light detected by the left sensor 32 is increased, the viewpoint is set so that the display image is also tilted to the right. In addition, when the player bends forward and the amount of light detected by the sensor 33 increases, a viewpoint is set such that the position of the displayed horizontal line slides upward on the screen. As a result, the video changes from the viewpoint that matches the competition posture of the athlete. In this case, the movement from one viewpoint to another viewpoint is performed smoothly.
[0036]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure executed in the image processing and arithmetic processing board 1 in accordance with the posture of the athlete detected by the sensor group. First, it is determined whether or not the posture detection photoelectric sensor group 3 is operated (step S61). If it is determined that the posture detection photoelectric sensor group 3 is operated, the viewpoint data is changed to viewpoint data corresponding to the operating state (step S62). On the other hand, if not activated, the process proceeds to step S63.
[0037]
In step S63, it is determined whether or not the current camera position matches the camera position based on the selected viewpoint data. If it is determined that they do not match, the camera position is set to the selected viewpoint. When approaching the position based on the data , for example, when the athlete bends forward and the amount of light detected by the sensor 33 increases, the position of the displayed horizontal line slides upward on the screen (step S64). Note that the position of the sensor is not limited to the above-described mode, and various types of positions can be considered according to the type of game. Further, the viewpoint change switch 2 and the attitude detection photoelectric sensor group may be used in combination, or one of them may be performed alone. In the case of using both, priority processing may be performed.
[0038]
In the above embodiment, the present invention has been described by taking a driving game as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to any other game. Further, the present invention can be applied to a commercial electronic game device such as a game center and a general home game device. In any case, it is obvious that the procedure for executing the flowchart of FIG. 2 or FIG. 6 and data for image processing are stored in the image processing means 1 (image processing and arithmetic processing board).
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
According to the electronic game device of the present invention, the attitude of the game operator of the game operator is detected, and the viewpoint according to the state of the display target is automatically selected by the electronic game device, thereby displaying the display image. The viewpoint is not fixed, the image expression is changed, a display screen full of realism is obtained, and the range of operation modes is expanded.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of an electronic game device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when a viewpoint change switch is used.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of setting a viewpoint in an example of a driving game.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a viewpoint setting example in an example of a driving game.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a posture detection device.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the case of the posture detection apparatus.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a viewpoint of external watching in an example of a driving game.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image processing and arithmetic processing board 2 Viewpoint change switch 3 Photoelectric sensor group 4 attitude | position detection display device 5 Driving | operation operation apparatus 31 thru | or 33 Sensor 90 Attitude detection apparatus main body

Claims (2)

An operating device;
Means for holding, as three-dimensional solid data, information relating to a display object operated by a game operator operating the operating device;
A posture detection device main body for detecting the posture of the game operator;
A sensor group disposed on the posture detection device main body for detecting left and right movements and forward bending of the game operator to the posture detection device main body,
Arithmetic processing means for determining whether or not the sensor group has been activated; and when determining that the sensor group has been activated, changing to viewpoint data corresponding to the activated state; and
And means for outputting an image related to the display object processed by the arithmetic processing means,
Among the individual sensors constituting the sensor group, sensors for detecting the left and right movements of the game operator are arranged on the left and right of the posture detection device main body, and the sensors for detecting the forward bending of the game operator are Placed in the center of the game operator's back,
The electronic game device, wherein the arithmetic processing means sets the viewpoint data so that a displayed image slides upward on a screen when a sensor for detecting the forward bending of the game operator detects the forward bending of the game operator. The arithmetic processing unit further includes a step of selecting one of viewpoints set in advance in a three-dimensional space in accordance with the operating state of the sensor group, a current viewpoint position, and a viewpoint of the selected viewpoint. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein a step of determining whether the positions match and a step of bringing the current viewpoint position closer to the data of the selected viewpoint when it is determined that they do not match are executed. Amusement equipment.

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