JP5325957B2 - Image processing apparatus, image processing apparatus control method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, a control method for the image processing apparatus, and a program.

  There is known an image processing apparatus that displays on a display unit a screen representing a state in which an object moving in a virtual space is viewed from a virtual camera. For example, a game device is known as the image processing device as described above. For example, in a game device that executes a soccer game, a game screen representing a state in which a ball (ball object) and a player character (player object) moving in the game space are viewed from a virtual camera is displayed.

JP 2011-110323 A

  In the soccer game as described above, the movement of the virtual camera is controlled based on the movement of the ball so that the ball is displayed in the game screen. In this case, if the virtual camera is moved so that the positional relationship between the ball and the virtual camera is constant, the ball is always displayed at the same position in the game screen. As a result, the user's eyes do not appear to move the ball in the virtual space, as if the background portion is moving, and the game screen display is unnatural. May feel.

  As a method for preventing the user from feeling such unnaturalness as described above, for example, when a shot or pass is performed by a player character, the movement of the virtual camera is delayed after the start of the movement of the ball. A method of starting is conceivable. That is, when the movement of the ball is started, a method of starting the movement of the virtual camera after a waiting time (for example, several frames) has elapsed can be considered. However, in the case of adopting such a method, not only the movement of the virtual camera is started after the start of the movement of the ball, but also the manner of movement of the ball (for example, distance, etc.) is understood from the user. In order to facilitate, it is necessary to further improve the movement control of the virtual camera. Specifically, for example, when the ball is greatly kicked out by the player character, it is necessary to improve the movement control of the virtual camera so that the user can easily see that the ball moves greatly.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its purpose is to control movement of a virtual camera when a screen representing a state in which an object moving in a virtual space is viewed from a virtual camera is displayed on a display unit. An object is to provide an image processing apparatus, a control method for the image processing apparatus, and a program that can be improved.

  In order to solve the above problems, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes an object control unit that moves an object in an image processing apparatus that generates an image representing a state in which an object moving in a virtual space is viewed from a virtual camera. Virtual camera control means for moving the virtual camera based on the movement of the object, and image generation means for generating an image representing the appearance of the virtual space viewed from the virtual camera, the virtual camera The control means includes a movement direction determining means for determining a direction corresponding to the movement direction of the object as the movement direction of the virtual camera, and the movement direction determining means until a standby time elapses after the movement of the object is started. Standby means for waiting for the movement of the virtual camera in the movement direction determined by An acceleration means for accelerating the virtual camera in the movement direction determined by the movement direction determination means, and the object is a result of the character object performing an action for moving the object, The waiting means moves in the virtual space, and the waiting means includes waiting time setting means for setting the waiting time based on the type of the action performed by the character object for moving the object. Features.

  The image processing apparatus control method according to the present invention includes an object control step for moving the object in the image processing apparatus control method for generating an image representing a state in which an object moving in a virtual space is viewed from a virtual camera. And a virtual camera control step of moving the virtual camera based on the movement of the object, and an image generation step of generating an image representing a state of the virtual space viewed from the virtual camera, the virtual camera The control step includes a moving direction determining step for determining a direction corresponding to the moving direction of the object as a moving direction of the virtual camera, and the moving direction determining step until a standby time elapses after the movement of the object is started. Waiting for the movement of the virtual camera in the moving direction determined in And an acceleration step of accelerating the virtual camera in the movement direction determined in the movement direction determination step when the standby time has elapsed, wherein the object is a character that moves the object. The object moves as a result of moving in the virtual space, and the waiting step sets the waiting time based on the type of movement performed by the character object for moving the object. A time setting step is included.

  The program according to the present invention is a program for causing a computer to function as an image processing apparatus that generates an image representing a state in which an object moving in a virtual space is viewed from a virtual camera, the object moving the object The computer functions as a control unit, a virtual camera control unit that moves the virtual camera based on the movement of the object, and an image generation unit that generates an image representing the virtual space viewed from the virtual camera. The virtual camera control means, a movement direction determination means for determining a direction corresponding to the movement direction of the object as a movement direction of the virtual camera, and until a standby time elapses after the movement of the object is started. The virtual to the moving direction determined by the moving direction determining means Standby means for waiting for movement of the camera, and acceleration means for accelerating the virtual camera in the moving direction determined by the moving direction determining means when the waiting time has elapsed, wherein the object includes the object As a result of the character object performing an action to move, the character object moves in the virtual space, and the waiting means is performed by the character object based on the type of the action for moving the object, The program includes a standby time setting means for setting the standby time.

  An information storage medium according to the present invention is a computer-readable information storage medium recording the above program.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible to improve the movement control of a virtual camera in the case of displaying the screen showing the state which looked at the object which moves in a virtual space from the virtual camera on a display part.

  In the aspect of the invention, the acceleration unit includes an acceleration upper limit speed setting unit that sets an upper limit speed when the virtual camera is accelerated by the acceleration unit based on the speed of the object. The virtual camera may be accelerated while preventing the camera speed from exceeding the upper limit speed.

  Also, in one aspect of the present invention, the acceleration upper limit speed setting means is based on a speed obtained by multiplying the speed of the object by a coefficient that is greater than 1 and 2 or less. You may make it set the upper limit speed in case a camera is accelerated.

  Moreover, in one aspect of the present invention, the virtual camera control unit is configured such that when the virtual camera is accelerated by the acceleration unit and the positional relationship between the virtual camera and the object is a predetermined positional relationship, A deceleration means for decelerating the virtual camera, wherein the deceleration means has an upper limit speed when the camera is decelerated by the deceleration means, a speed of the virtual camera when the speed of the virtual camera is the fastest, A deceleration upper limit speed setting unit that is set based on the speed of the object may be included, and the virtual camera may be decelerated while the speed of the virtual camera is lower than the upper limit speed.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the deceleration upper limit speed setting means is based on an intermediate value between the speed of the virtual camera when the speed of the virtual camera is fastest and the current speed of the object. The upper limit speed when the camera is decelerated by the decelerating means may be set.

  In the aspect of the invention, the predetermined positional relationship projects the position of the object on the movement path of the virtual camera when the virtual camera moves in the movement direction determined by the movement direction determination unit. The positional relationship may be such that the distance information regarding the distance between the projected position and the position of the virtual camera is within a reference value.

  In the aspect of the invention, the predetermined positional relationship projects the position of the object on the movement path of the virtual camera when the virtual camera moves in the movement direction determined by the movement direction determination unit. A positional relationship in which the position of the virtual camera is closer to the direction of travel of the virtual camera than the projected position and the distance information regarding the distance between the virtual camera and the moving object is greater than or equal to a reference value It may be.

It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the game device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of game space. It is a figure which shows an example of a game screen. It is a functional block diagram of the game device concerning the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the determination method of the moving direction of a virtual camera. It is a figure which shows an example of waiting time data. It is a figure which shows an example of the positional relationship of a ball | bowl and a virtual camera when waiting time passes after the movement of a ball | bowl is started. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the predetermined positional relationship of a virtual camera and a ball | bowl. It is a figure for demonstrating another example of the predetermined positional relationship of a virtual camera and a ball | bowl. It is a figure which shows an example of the positional relationship of the ball | bowl after the deceleration of a virtual camera is started, and a virtual camera. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process which a game device performs. It is a figure for demonstrating another example of the predetermined positional relationship of a virtual camera and a ball | bowl.

  Hereinafter, examples of embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Below, the case where this invention is applied to the game device which is one aspect | mode of an image processing apparatus is demonstrated. The game device according to the embodiment of the present invention is realized by, for example, a consumer game machine (stationary game machine), a portable game machine, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or a personal computer. Here, a case where the game device according to the embodiment of the present invention is realized by a consumer game machine will be described.

  FIG. 1 shows a hardware configuration of a game device according to an embodiment of the present invention. A game apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a consumer game machine 11, a display unit 32, an audio output unit 34, and an optical disc 36 (information storage medium). The display unit 32 and the audio output unit 34 are connected to the consumer game machine 11. For example, a home television receiver or a liquid crystal display is used as the display unit 32, and for example, a speaker or headphones incorporated in the home television receiver is used as the audio output unit 34.

  The home game machine 11 is a known computer system. The home game machine 11 includes a bus 12, a control unit 14, a main memory 16, an image processing unit 18, an input / output processing unit 20, an audio processing unit 22, an optical disk drive 24, a hard disk 26, a communication interface 28, and a controller 30. .

  The control unit 14 includes one or a plurality of microprocessors. The control unit 14 executes control processing and information processing of each unit based on a program read from the optical disc 36. The main memory 16 includes, for example, a RAM, and a program and data read from the optical disk 36 are written into the main memory 16. The main memory 16 is also used as a working memory for the control unit 14. The bus 12 is for exchanging addresses and data among the units of the consumer game machine 11.

  The image processing unit 18 includes a VRAM, and draws a screen on the VRAM based on the image data supplied from the control unit 14. The screen drawn on the VRAM is converted into a video signal and output to the display unit 32.

  The input / output processing unit 20 is an interface for the control unit 14 to access the audio processing unit 22, the optical disk drive 24, the hard disk 26, the communication interface 28, and the controller 30. The sound processing unit 22 includes a sound buffer, and outputs sound data read from the optical disc 36 to the sound buffer from the sound output unit 34. The communication interface 28 is an interface for connecting the consumer game machine 11 to a communication network such as the Internet by wire or wireless.

  The optical disk drive 24 reads programs and data recorded on the optical disk 36. Here, the optical disc 36 is used to supply the program and data to the consumer game machine 11, but other information storage media such as a memory card may be used. Further, for example, a program or data may be supplied to the consumer game machine 11 from a remote place via a communication network. The hard disk 26 is a general hard disk device (auxiliary storage device). Note that programs and data described as being stored on the optical disk 36 may be stored on the hard disk 26. Further, instead of the hard disk 26, a solid state drive may be provided in the game apparatus 10.

  The controller 30 is an operation unit for a user to perform an operation. A plurality of controllers 30 can be wired or wirelessly connected to the home game machine 11. The input / output processing unit 20 scans the operation state of each operation member of the controller 30 at regular intervals (for example, every 1/60 seconds), and supplies an operation signal representing the scan result to the control unit 14 via the bus 12. . The control unit 14 determines the user's game operation based on the operation signal.

  Various games are executed on the game apparatus 10. For example, a game in which an object moves in the virtual space is executed.

  Below, the case where the game imitating the sport competition performed using a moving object (for example, a ball | bowl or a pack) is performed is demonstrated. Specifically, an example where a soccer game is executed will be described. In this soccer game, a soccer game is played between a user team (user character group) operated by a user and an enemy team (enemy character group). Note that the enemy team may be operated by a computer or another user. However, a case where an enemy team is operated by a computer will be described below.

  When a soccer game is executed, a virtual space is constructed in the main memory 16. FIG. 2 shows an example of a virtual space. The virtual space 40 shown in FIG. 2 is a virtual three-dimensional space in which three coordinate axes (Xw axis, Yw axis, and Zw axis) orthogonal to each other are set. The position of the object arranged in the virtual space 40 is indicated by these three coordinate axes.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a field 42 that is an object representing a soccer field is arranged in the virtual space 40. On the field 42, two goal lines 43A and two touch lines 43B are represented. A soccer game is played in the pitch 45, which is an area surrounded by the two goal lines 43A and the two touch lines 43B.

  Further, on the field 42, a goal 44 that is an object representing a soccer goal, a ball 46 (moving object object) that is an object representing a soccer ball, and a player character that is an object representing a soccer player belonging to the user team. 48 and a player character 50, which is an object representing a soccer player belonging to an enemy team, are arranged. Although omitted in FIG. 2, eleven player characters 48 belonging to the user team and eleven player characters 50 belonging to the enemy team are arranged on the field 42.

  One of the goals 44 is associated with the user team and the other is associated with the enemy team. When the ball 46 moves into the goal 44 associated with one of the teams, a scoring event for the other team occurs.

  When the player character 48 (50) approaches the ball 46, the player character 48 (50) and the ball 46 are associated under a predetermined condition. In this case, the movement action of the player character 48 (50) is a dribbling action. Hereinafter, the state in which the ball 46 is associated with the player character 48 (50) is described as “the player character 48 (50) holds the ball 46”.

  A virtual camera 52 (viewpoint) is set in the virtual space 40. A game screen representing the virtual space 40 viewed from the virtual camera 52 is displayed on the display unit 32. For example, the virtual camera 52 moves based on the movement of the ball 46 so that the ball 46 is always displayed on the game screen.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the game screen. Four player characters 48A, 48B, 50A, and 50B are displayed on the game screen shown in FIG. Among them, the two player characters 48A and 48B are player characters 48 belonging to the user team, and the remaining two player characters 50A and 50B are player characters 50 belonging to the enemy team.

  In this soccer game, one of the player characters 48 belonging to the user team is set as the user's operation target. In the game screen shown in FIG. 3, a cursor 54 is displayed above the player character 48A. The cursor 54 plays a role of guiding the player character 48 that is the operation target of the user. Note that the user's operation target is switched among the player characters 48 belonging to the user team.

  The player character 48 that is the user's operation target behaves based on the user's operation. For example, the player character 48 that is the operation target of the user moves in the direction instructed by the direction instruction operation performed by the user. Of the player characters 48 belonging to the user team, the player character 48 that is not the user's operation target behaves according to AI (artificial intelligence). The player character 50 belonging to the enemy team also acts according to the AI.

  Hereinafter, a technique for suitably moving the virtual camera 52 in accordance with the movement of the ball 46 (moving object object) in the above-described soccer game will be described. Here, in particular, when the ball 46 is kicked out by the player character 48 (50) performing a short pass, a long pass, or a shot, the virtual camera 52 is preferably moved in accordance with the movement of the ball 46. The technology will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing functional blocks related to the present invention among the functions realized by the game apparatus 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the game apparatus 10 includes a data storage unit 60, a moving object object control unit 62, a virtual camera control unit 64, and an image generation unit 79. The data storage unit 60 is realized by, for example, the main memory 16 and the optical disc 36, and other functional blocks are realized by the control unit 14 executing a program read from the optical disc 36.

  First, the data storage unit 60 will be described. The data storage unit 60 stores data regarding each object arranged in the virtual space 40. For example, model data of each object is stored in the data storage unit 60. Further, for example, state data (position, moving direction, speed, etc.) of a dynamic object whose position, posture, and the like change are stored in the data storage unit 60. In the present embodiment, the ball 46 and the player characters 48 and 50 correspond to “dynamic objects”. Further, for example, status data (position, line-of-sight direction, angle of view, etc.) of the virtual camera 52 is also stored in the data storage unit 60.

  In addition to the above, for example, the motion data of the player characters 48 and 50, the parameter data of the player characters 48 and 50, the score data indicating the score status of both teams, and the elapsed time data indicating the elapsed time of the game are stored in the data storage unit. 60.

  The moving object object control unit 62 will be described. The moving object object control unit 62 moves the moving object object in the virtual space 40. For example, when the character object performs an action for moving the moving object, the moving object object controller 62 moves the moving object in the virtual space 40.

  In the present embodiment, the ball 46 corresponds to a “moving object object”. For example, when the player character 48 (50) performs an action for moving the ball 46, the moving object object control unit 62 moves the ball 46 in the virtual space 40. The “operation for moving the ball 46” is a short pass, a long pass, a shot, or a clear. “Clear” is an operation of moving the ball 46 away from the goal 44 of the own team by kicking the ball 46 greatly to avoid losing when the ball 46 is near the goal 44 of the own team.

  The virtual camera control unit 64 will be described. The virtual camera control unit 64 moves the virtual camera based on the movement of the moving object. The virtual camera control unit 64 includes a moving direction determination unit 66, a standby unit 68, an acceleration unit 72, and a deceleration unit 76. Hereinafter, these functional blocks will be described.

  The moving direction determination unit 66 will be described. When the moving object starts to move or the moving direction of the moving object changes, the moving direction determination unit 66 determines the direction corresponding to the moving direction of the moving object as the moving direction of the virtual camera 52. .

  The “direction corresponding to the moving direction of the moving object” is a direction having a predetermined relative relationship with the moving direction of the moving object. For example, the “direction corresponding to the moving direction of the moving object” is a direction parallel to the moving direction of the moving object. Further, for example, when the movement path of the virtual camera 52 is predetermined, the “direction corresponding to the movement direction of the moving object object” is to project the movement direction of the moving object object onto the movement path of the virtual camera 52. (See FIG. 5 described later).

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of a method for determining the moving direction of the virtual camera 52. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the pitch 45 is viewed from directly above. In the case of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the virtual camera 52 moves in parallel with the touch line 43B (in other words, the Xw axis direction). That is, the movement path 80 of the virtual camera 52 is parallel to the touch line 43B (in other words, the Xw axis direction). As shown in FIG. 5, the movement direction determination unit 66 determines a direction 84 obtained by projecting the movement direction 82 of the ball 46 onto the movement path 80 of the virtual camera 52 as the movement direction of the virtual camera 52.

  The standby unit 68 will be described. The standby unit 68 moves the virtual camera 52 in the movement direction determined by the movement direction determination unit 66 (that is, the movement of the moving object object) until the standby time elapses after the movement of the moving object object starts. The corresponding virtual camera 52 is moved).

  The standby unit 68 includes a standby time setting unit 70. When the moving object moves as a result of the character object performing an action for moving the moving object, the standby time setting unit 70 moves the moving object performed by the character object. Set the waiting time based on the type of action.

  The waiting time setting unit 70 according to the present embodiment waits based on the type of action performed by the player character 48 (50) when the player character 48 (50) performs an action for moving the ball 46. Set.

  In the case of this embodiment, standby time data for setting the standby time based on the type of action performed by the player character 48 (50) is stored in the data storage unit 60. FIG. 6 shows an example of the standby time data. The waiting time data shown in FIG. 6 is data indicating the correspondence between the type of action for moving the ball 46 and the waiting time. In this waiting time data, the waiting time when “short pass” or “long pass” is performed is defined. In FIG. 6, “T1” and “T2” indicate predetermined times, and “T2” indicates a time longer than “T1”. In the standby time data shown in FIG. 6, the “long pass” standby time (T2) for moving the ball 46 farther than the “short pass” is longer than the “short pass” standby time (T1). Yes. That is, the waiting time data shown in FIG. 6 is set so that the waiting time becomes longer when the player character 48 (50) performs an action that may cause the ball 46 to move greatly.

  The waiting time setting unit 70, when the player character 48 (50) performs an action for moving the ball 46, the type of action performed by the player character 48 (50), the above-described waiting time data, Set the waiting time based on. That is, the standby time setting unit 70 refers to the standby time data, and acquires the standby time associated with the type of action performed by the player character 48 (50). Then, the standby section 68 starts after the movement of the ball 46 is started (in other words, after the player character 48 (50) performs an action for moving the ball 46) until the acquired standby time elapses. The movement of the virtual camera 52 in the movement direction determined by the movement direction determination unit 66 is waited.

  The acceleration unit 72 will be described. When the standby time has elapsed since the start of the movement of the moving object, the acceleration unit 72 causes the virtual camera 52 to start moving in the movement direction determined by the movement direction determination unit 66. The acceleration unit 72 accelerates the virtual camera 52 in the movement direction determined by the movement direction determination unit 66 while preventing the speed of the virtual camera 52 from exceeding the first upper limit speed.

  The acceleration unit 72 includes an acceleration upper limit speed setting unit 74. The acceleration upper limit speed setting unit 74 sets the first upper limit speed based on the speed of the moving object. For example, the acceleration upper limit speed setting unit 74 sets the first upper limit speed based on a speed obtained by multiplying the speed of the moving object object by a coefficient that is greater than 1 and equal to or less than 2.

  Hereinafter, specific operation examples of the acceleration unit 72 and the acceleration upper limit speed setting unit 74 will be described in detail. FIG. 7 shows an example of the positional relationship between the ball 46 and the virtual camera 52 when the standby time has elapsed since the movement of the ball 46 was started. In the present embodiment, when the standby time has elapsed since the movement of the ball 46 has started, the acceleration unit 72 starts moving the virtual camera 52 in the movement direction (direction 84) determined by the movement direction determination unit 66.

For example, the acceleration unit 72 sets the speed (VC) of the virtual camera 52 according to the following equation (1). In the following formula (1), “VCo” indicates the initial speed of the virtual camera 52. “A1” indicates a constant acceleration, and “T” indicates an elapsed time since the movement of the virtual camera 52 is started.
VC = VCo + A1 * T (1)

  As the initial speed (VCo) and acceleration (A1) of the virtual camera 52, an initial speed and acceleration that allow the virtual camera 52 to catch up with and overtake the ball 46 are set. Note that “the virtual camera 52 catches up with the ball 46” means, for example, that the ball 46 is currently on the movement path 80 of the virtual camera 52 when the virtual camera 52 moves in the movement direction determined by the movement direction determination unit 66. This means that the position of the virtual camera 52 coincides with the projected position obtained by projecting the position. Details will be described later (see FIG. 8). Further, “the virtual camera 52 overtakes the ball 46” means, for example, that the position of the virtual camera 52 is closer to the traveling direction of the virtual camera 52 than the projection position.

Further, the acceleration upper limit speed setting unit 74 sets a first upper limit speed (V1max) that is an upper limit speed when the virtual camera 52 is accelerated according to the following equation (2). In the following equation (2), “K” represents a coefficient that is greater than 1 and less than or equal to 2. For example, “K” is set to “2”. “VB” indicates the current speed of the ball 46. More specifically, “VB” indicates the Xw-axis direction component of the current speed of the ball 46 (that is, the moving direction of the virtual camera 52).
V1max = K * VB (2)

  When the speed (VC) calculated by the above expression (1) exceeds the first upper limit speed (V1max) calculated by the above expression (2), the accelerating unit 72 sets the speed of the virtual camera 52 to the first upper limit. Set to speed (V1max).

  The deceleration part 76 is demonstrated. When the virtual camera 52 is controlled by the acceleration unit 72, the control of the virtual camera 52 by the acceleration unit 72 is stopped when the positional relationship between the virtual camera 52 and the moving object object becomes a predetermined positional relationship. . In this case, the deceleration unit 76 decelerates the virtual camera 52 while making the speed of the virtual camera 52 fall below the second upper limit speed.

  The deceleration unit 76 includes a deceleration upper limit speed setting unit 78. The deceleration upper limit speed setting unit 78 sets the second upper limit speed based on the speed of the virtual camera 52 when the speed of the virtual camera 52 is the fastest and the current speed of the moving object. Specifically, the deceleration upper limit speed setting unit 78 sets the speed between the speed of the virtual camera 52 when the speed of the virtual camera 52 is the fastest and the current speed of the moving object object to the second upper limit speed. Set as. For example, the deceleration upper limit speed setting unit 78 sets the second upper limit speed based on an intermediate value between the speed of the virtual camera 52 when the speed of the virtual camera 52 is the fastest and the current speed of the moving object object. Set. More specifically, the deceleration upper limit speed setting unit 78 sets the intermediate value between the speed of the virtual camera 52 when the speed of the virtual camera 52 is the fastest and the current speed of the moving object to the second upper limit speed. Set as.

  Hereinafter, specific operation examples of the deceleration unit 76 and the deceleration upper limit speed setting unit 78 will be described in detail.

  When the virtual camera 52 is controlled by the acceleration unit 72, the game apparatus 10 determines whether or not the positional relationship between the virtual camera 52 and the ball 46 has become a predetermined positional relationship. The “predetermined positional relationship” is, for example, a positional relationship between the virtual camera 52 and the ball 46 that can be considered that the virtual camera 52 has caught up with the ball 46.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an example of the “predetermined positional relationship”. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 46 </ b> A indicates a position obtained by projecting the current position of the ball 46 onto the movement path 80 of the virtual camera 52 when the virtual camera 52 moves in the movement direction determined by the movement direction determination unit 66. ing. The game apparatus 10 determines whether or not the projection position 46A matches the current position of the virtual camera 52. If the projection position 46A matches the current position of the virtual camera 52, the game apparatus 10 determines that the positional relationship between the virtual camera 52 and the ball 46 has become a predetermined positional relationship.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining another example of the “predetermined positional relationship”. The game apparatus 10 may determine whether the distance (L) between the projection position 46A and the current position of the virtual camera 52 is equal to or less than a reference value. When the distance (L) is equal to or less than the reference value, the game apparatus 10 may consider that the virtual camera 52 has caught up with the ball 46. That is, when the distance (L) is equal to or less than the reference value, the game apparatus 10 may determine that the positional relationship between the virtual camera 52 and the ball 46 has become a predetermined positional relationship. If the reference value is set to zero, the game apparatus 10 determines whether or not the positional relationship between the virtual camera 52 and the ball 46 is the positional relationship shown in FIG.

When the positional relationship between the virtual camera 52 and the ball 46 becomes a predetermined positional relationship, the deceleration unit 76 starts the deceleration of the virtual camera 52. For example, the deceleration unit 76 sets the speed (VC) of the virtual camera 52 according to the following equation (3). In the following equation (3), “VCmax” is the speed of the virtual camera 52 immediately before the virtual camera 52 starts to be decelerated (that is, the virtual camera 52 speed when the speed of the virtual camera 52 becomes the fastest). Speed, in other words, the speed of the virtual camera 52 when the positional relationship between the virtual camera 52 and the ball 46 becomes a predetermined positional relationship. “A2” indicates a constant deceleration, and “T” indicates an elapsed time after the virtual camera 52 starts decelerating.
VC = VCmax−A2 * T (3)

Further, the deceleration upper limit speed setting unit 78 sets a second upper limit speed (V2max) that is an upper limit speed when the virtual camera 52 is decelerated according to the following equation (4). In the following formula (4), “VB” indicates the current speed of the ball 46.
V2max = (VCmax + VB) / 2 (4)

  When the speed (VC) calculated by the above expression (3) exceeds the second upper limit speed (V2max) calculated by the above expression (4), the deceleration unit 76 sets the speed of the virtual camera 52 to the second upper limit. Set to speed (V2max).

  Since the speed of the virtual camera 52 is higher than the speed of the ball 46 when the positional relationship between the virtual camera 52 and the ball 46 reaches a predetermined position (for example, when the virtual camera 52 catches up with the ball 46), for example, As shown in FIG. 10, the virtual camera 52 overtakes the ball 46. Then, the distance between the virtual camera 52 and the ball 46 gradually increases until the speed of the virtual camera 52 is decelerated below the speed of the ball 46. However, when the speed of the virtual camera 52 is reduced to less than the speed of the ball 46, the distance between the virtual camera 52 and the ball 46 gradually decreases. Then, when the positional relationship between the virtual camera 52 and the ball 46 becomes a predetermined positional relationship, the deceleration of the virtual camera 52 is terminated. Here, the “predetermined positional relationship” is, for example, a positional relationship in which the distance (L) between the projection position 46A and the current position of the virtual camera 52 is equal to or less than a reference value. When the deceleration of the virtual camera 52 is finished, the control method of the virtual camera 52 is a normal control method.

  The image generation unit 79 will be described. The image generation unit 79 generates an image representing a state where a moving object object moving in the virtual space 40 is viewed from the virtual camera 52. That is, in the case of the present embodiment, the image generation unit 79 generates an image representing a state in which the ball 46 moving in the virtual space 40 is viewed from the virtual camera 52.

  Next, processing executed by the game apparatus 10 will be described. Here, the control process of the virtual camera 52 executed when a pass is made by the player character 48 (50) will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the control process of the virtual camera 52 executed when a pass is made by the player character 48 (50). When the control unit 14 executes the process shown in FIG. 11 according to the program read from the optical disc 36, the control unit 14 functions as the virtual camera control unit 64. In parallel with the processing shown in FIG. 11, processing for updating the state of the ball 46 and the player characters 48 and 50 and updating the screen displayed on the display unit 32 is performed for a predetermined time (for example, 1 / 60 seconds).

  As shown in FIG. 11, when a pass is made by the player character 48 (50), the control unit 14 (moving direction determining unit 66) first determines the moving direction of the virtual camera 52 (S101). For example, as described with reference to FIG. 5, the control unit 14 projects the vector indicating the moving direction 82 (that is, the pass direction) of the ball 46 onto the moving path 80 of the virtual camera 52 and the direction 84 indicated by the vector. Is determined as the moving direction of the virtual camera 52.

  Here, it is assumed that the virtual camera 52 moves on the predetermined movement path 80, but the movement path of the virtual camera 52 may not be predetermined. For example, the virtual camera 52 may move in parallel with the moving direction of the ball 46. In that case, the control unit 14 determines the direction indicated by the vector parallel to the vector indicating the moving direction of the ball 46 as the moving direction of the virtual camera 52.

  After the process of step S101 is executed, the control unit 14 (standby time setting unit 70) determines a standby time until the movement of the virtual camera 52 is started (S102). For example, the control unit 14 refers to the standby time data (FIG. 6), and acquires the standby time associated with the type of pass made by the player character 48 (50). In addition, whichever of the processes of step S101 and step S102 may be executed first.

  After the process of step S102 is executed, the control unit 14 (standby unit 68) waits after the ball 46 starts moving (in other words, after a pass is made by the player character 48 (50)). It is determined whether or not it has elapsed (S103). The “waiting time” used here is the waiting time determined in step S102.

  When it is determined that the standby time has not elapsed, the control unit 14 (standby unit 68) continues to monitor whether or not the standby time has elapsed without executing the process of step S104 described later (S103). ). On the other hand, when it is determined that the standby time has elapsed, the control unit 14 (acceleration unit 72) starts the movement of the virtual camera 52 (S104). That is, the control unit 14 accelerates the virtual camera 52 in the movement direction determined in step S101.

  In this case, the acceleration of the virtual camera 52 is continued until it is determined that the virtual camera 52 has caught up with the ball 46 in step S105 described later. During this time, the control unit 14 sets the speed of the virtual camera 52 according to the above equation (1), and updates the position of the virtual camera 52 based on the speed. During this time, the control unit 14 (acceleration upper limit speed setting unit 74) sets the upper limit speed (first upper limit speed) of the virtual camera 52 according to the above equation (2). And the control part 14 determines whether the speed calculated according to said Formula (1) exceeds this upper limit speed. When the speed calculated according to the above equation (1) exceeds the upper limit speed, the control unit 14 sets the speed of the virtual camera 52 to the upper limit speed.

  After the movement of the virtual camera 52 is started (that is, after the acceleration of the virtual camera 52 is started), the control unit 14 determines whether or not the virtual camera 52 has caught up with the ball 46 (S105).

  For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the control unit 14 matches the projection position 46 </ b> A obtained by projecting the current position of the ball 46 onto the moving path 80 of the virtual camera 52 and the current position of the virtual camera 52. It is determined whether or not. Then, when the projection position 46 </ b> A matches the current position of the virtual camera 52, the control unit 14 determines that the virtual camera 52 has caught up with the ball 46.

  Alternatively, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the control unit 14 determines whether the current position of the ball 46 is projected onto the movement path 80 of the virtual camera 52 and the current position of the virtual camera 52. It may be determined whether the distance (L) is equal to or less than a reference value. When the distance (L) is equal to or smaller than the reference value, the control unit 14 may determine that the virtual camera 52 has caught up with the ball 46.

  If it is not determined in step S105 that the virtual camera 52 has caught up with the ball 46, the control unit 14 continues to monitor whether or not the virtual camera 52 has caught up with the ball 46 (S105). In this case, the acceleration of the virtual camera 52 is also continued.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S105 that the virtual camera 52 has caught up with the ball 46, the control unit 14 stops the acceleration of the virtual camera 52. Then, the control unit 14 (deceleration unit 76) decelerates the virtual camera 52 (S106). In this case, the control unit 14 sets the speed of the virtual camera 52 according to the above equation (3), and updates the position of the virtual camera 52 based on the speed. During this time, the control unit 14 (deceleration upper limit speed setting unit 78) sets the upper limit speed (second upper limit speed) of the virtual camera 52 according to the above equation (4), and the control unit 14 sets the above equation (3). It is determined whether the speed calculated according to the above exceeds the upper limit speed. When the speed calculated according to the above equation (3) exceeds the upper limit speed, the control unit 14 sets the speed of the virtual camera 52 to the upper limit speed.

  The deceleration of the virtual camera 52 is continued until the positional relationship between the virtual camera 52 and the ball 46 becomes a predetermined positional relationship. For example, when the distance between the virtual camera 52 and the ball 46 becomes a reference value or less, the deceleration of the virtual camera 52 is terminated. More specifically, the deceleration of the virtual camera 52 is terminated when the distance (L) between the projection position 46A and the current position of the virtual camera 52 is equal to or less than a reference value. In this case, the control method of the virtual camera 52 returns to the normal control method. This is the end of the description of the processing illustrated in FIG.

  In the game apparatus 10 described above, when the player character 48 (50) makes a pass or shoot, the movement of the virtual camera 52 is started after the start of the movement of the ball 46. That is, when the movement of the ball 46 is started, acceleration of the virtual camera 52 is started after a standby time (for example, several frames) has elapsed, and the virtual camera 52 catches up with the ball 46.

  In particular, in the game apparatus 10, not only the movement of the virtual camera 52 is started after the start of the movement of the ball 46 but also a configuration for further improving the movement control of the virtual camera 52 is realized.

  That is, in the game apparatus 10, the standby time is set according to the type of action performed by the player character 48 (50). Specifically, when the player character 48 (50) performs an action that may cause the ball 46 to move greatly, the waiting time is extended (see FIG. 6). Therefore, for example, when the player character 48 (50) makes a long pass, the distance between the ball 46 and the virtual camera 52 when the virtual camera 52 starts accelerating is set by setting a long standby time. Therefore, the large movement of the ball 46 is emphasized on the game screen. As a result, it is easy for the user to understand that the ball 46 moves greatly.

  In the game apparatus 10, the upper limit speed when the virtual camera 52 is accelerated is set based on the speed of the ball 46, and as a result, until the virtual camera 52 catches up with the ball 46. In other words, the movement of the virtual camera 52 during the acceleration of the virtual camera 52 is ensured not to be unnatural. For example, if the virtual camera 52 becomes too fast compared to the speed of the ball 46, the user may feel that the movement of the virtual camera 52 is unnatural. By setting the upper limit speed of 52 based on the speed of the ball 46, it is possible to prevent the above-described inconvenience.

  Further, in the game apparatus 10, the virtual camera 52 is decelerated when the virtual camera 52 catches up with the ball 46. In particular, in the game apparatus 10, the upper limit speed when the virtual camera 52 is decelerated is set based on the speed when the virtual camera 52 is fastest and the current speed of the ball 46. As described above, the movement of the virtual camera 52 while the virtual camera 52 is decelerated is ensured not to be unnatural.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above.

  For example, in the embodiment described above, the deceleration of the virtual camera 52 is started when the virtual camera 52 catches up with the ball 46 (see FIGS. 8 and 9). However, the deceleration of the virtual camera 52 may be started when the virtual camera 52 passes the ball 46. That is, in step S105 in FIG. 11, the control unit 14 may determine whether or not the virtual camera 52 has passed the ball 46.

  The control unit 14 determines whether or not the positional relationship between the virtual camera 52 and the ball 46 is a predetermined positional relationship that allows the virtual camera 52 to be regarded as having passed the ball 46. It is determined whether or not the ball has overtaken the ball 46. FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining an example of the “predetermined positional relationship” in this case. For example, in the game apparatus 10, the current position of the virtual camera 52 is closer to the traveling direction of the virtual camera 52 than the projection position 46A, and the distance between the projection position 46A and the current position of the virtual camera 52 is It is determined whether (L) is greater than or equal to a reference value. The current position of the virtual camera 52 is closer to the traveling direction of the virtual camera 52 than the projection position 46A, and the distance (L) between the projection position 46A and the current position of the virtual camera 52 is a reference. If the value is greater than or equal to the value, the game apparatus 10 determines that the virtual camera 52 has overtaken the ball 46.

  Note that the reference value may be set to zero. In this case, the game apparatus 10 determines whether or not the current position of the virtual camera 52 is closer to the traveling direction of the virtual camera 52 than the projection position 46A.

  Further, for example, the present invention can be applied to a sports game other than a soccer game. The present invention can be applied to a game (for example, a basketball game, an ice hockey game, a baseball game, or the like) simulating a sports competition performed using a moving object (for example, a ball or a pack). The present invention can also be applied to games other than the above sports games. The present invention can be applied to a game in which a game screen representing a state in which an object moving in a virtual space is viewed from a virtual camera is displayed. The present invention can also be applied to image processing devices other than game devices. The present invention can be applied to an image processing apparatus that generates an image representing a state in which an object moving in a virtual space is viewed from a virtual camera.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Game device, 11 Home-use game machine, 12 Bus, 14 Control part, 16 Main memory, 18 Image processing part, 20 Input / output processing part, 22 Sound processing part, 24 Optical disk drive, 26 Hard disk, 28 Communication interface, 30 Controller , 32 display unit, 34 audio output unit, 36 optical disc, 40 game space, 42 field, 43A goal line, 43B touch line, 44 goal, 45 pitch, 46 ball, 48, 48A, 48B, 50, 50A, 50B player character , 52 virtual camera, 54 cursor, 60 data storage unit, 62 moving object object control unit, 64 virtual camera control unit, 66 moving direction determination unit, 68 standby unit, 70 standby time setting unit, 72 acceleration unit, 74 upper limit at acceleration Speed setting part, 76 Deceleration part, 8 deceleration upper limit speed setting unit, 79 image generating unit, 80 moving path of the virtual camera, 82 a moving direction of the ball, 84 the moving direction of the virtual camera.

Claims (9)

In an image processing apparatus that generates an image representing a state where an object moving in a virtual space is viewed from a virtual camera,
Object control means for moving the object;
Virtual camera control means for moving the virtual camera based on the movement of the object;
Image generating means for generating an image representing the virtual space as viewed from the virtual camera;
Including
The virtual camera control means includes
A moving direction determining means for determining a direction corresponding to the moving direction of the object as a moving direction of the virtual camera;
Waiting means for waiting for the movement of the virtual camera in the moving direction determined by the moving direction determining means until a waiting time elapses after the movement of the object is started;
Accelerating means for accelerating the virtual camera in the moving direction determined by the moving direction determining means when the standby time has elapsed,
The object moves in the virtual space as a result of the character object performing an action to move the object,
The waiting means includes a waiting time setting means for setting the waiting time based on the type of the action performed by the character object for moving the object.
An image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.
The acceleration means includes an acceleration upper limit speed setting means for setting an upper limit speed when the virtual camera is accelerated by the acceleration means based on the speed of the object, and the speed of the virtual camera sets the upper limit speed. An image processing apparatus characterized by accelerating the virtual camera while not exceeding. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2,
The acceleration upper limit speed setting means is an upper limit when the camera is accelerated by the acceleration means based on a speed obtained by multiplying the speed of the object by a coefficient that is greater than 1 and less than or equal to 2. An image processing apparatus characterized by setting a speed. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The virtual camera control means includes
In the case where the virtual camera is accelerated by the acceleration means, when the positional relationship between the virtual camera and the object is a predetermined positional relationship, the vehicle includes a deceleration unit that decelerates the virtual camera,
The deceleration means sets an upper limit speed when the camera is decelerated by the deceleration means based on the speed of the virtual camera when the speed of the virtual camera is the fastest and the speed of the object. Decelerating upper limit speed setting means, decelerating the virtual camera while making the speed of the virtual camera less than the upper limit speed,
An image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4.
The deceleration upper limit speed setting means is configured to determine whether the camera is controlled by the deceleration means based on an intermediate value between the speed of the virtual camera when the speed of the virtual camera is the fastest and the current speed of the object. An image processing apparatus that sets an upper limit speed when the vehicle is decelerated. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4 or 5,
The predetermined positional relationship includes a projected position obtained by projecting the position of the object on a moving path of the virtual camera when the virtual camera moves in the moving direction determined by the moving direction determining means, and the virtual position An image processing apparatus having a positional relationship such that distance information relating to a distance between a camera position and a distance is within a reference value. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4 or 5,
The predetermined positional relationship is such that the virtual position is more than the projected position formed by projecting the position of the object on the moving path of the virtual camera when the virtual camera moves in the moving direction determined by the moving direction determining means. An image characterized in that the position of the camera is on the traveling direction side of the virtual camera and the positional information is such that distance information regarding the distance between the virtual camera and the moving object is equal to or greater than a reference value. Processing equipment. In a control method of an image processing apparatus for generating an image representing a state where an object moving in a virtual space is viewed from a virtual camera,
An object control step of moving the object;
A virtual camera control step of moving the virtual camera based on the movement of the object;
An image generation step of generating an image representing a state of viewing the virtual space from the virtual camera;
Including
The virtual camera control step includes
A moving direction determining step of determining a direction corresponding to the moving direction of the object as a moving direction of the virtual camera;
A standby step of waiting for the movement of the virtual camera in the movement direction determined in the movement direction determination step until a standby time elapses after the movement of the object is started;
An acceleration step of accelerating the virtual camera in the movement direction determined in the movement direction determination step when the standby time has elapsed,
The object moves in the virtual space as a result of the character object performing an action to move the object,
The standby step includes a standby time setting step for setting the standby time based on the type of the action for moving the object performed by the character object.
And a control method for the image processing apparatus. A program for causing a computer to function as an image processing apparatus that generates an image representing a state in which an object moving in a virtual space is viewed from a virtual camera,
Object control means for moving the object;
Virtual camera control means for moving the virtual camera based on the movement of the object; and
Image generating means for generating an image representing the virtual space as viewed from the virtual camera;
Function the computer as
The virtual camera control means includes
A moving direction determining means for determining a direction corresponding to the moving direction of the object as a moving direction of the virtual camera;
Waiting means for waiting for the movement of the virtual camera in the moving direction determined by the moving direction determining means until a waiting time elapses after the movement of the object is started;
Accelerating means for accelerating the virtual camera in the moving direction determined by the moving direction determining means when the standby time has elapsed,
The object moves in the virtual space as a result of the character object performing an action to move the object,
The waiting means includes a waiting time setting means for setting the waiting time based on the type of the action performed by the character object for moving the object.
A program characterized by that.

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