JP5843679B2 - Image reproduction program and game system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention is a game program in which objects (objects) and characters (people and organisms) appearing in a game space are represented by three-dimensional computer graphics (hereinafter referred to as “3DCG”). The present invention relates to an image reproduction program for displaying a non-standard object or character created by modifying a standard basic model on a game screen and a game system using the image reproduction program.

  When a human-type character is expressed by 3DCG animation on a game device, as data for drawing the character, for example, as disclosed in JP 2012-8893 A, character data and motion data (for animation display) are used. Data).

  The character data includes model data that expresses the surface shape of a character in a basic posture (for example, a T-shaped posture with both feet vertically lowered and both hands spread horizontally) using a polygon model, and the skeleton of the polygon model. This is data including model data of a skeleton model that expresses a structure and image data such as a texture for applying a color to a polygon model of an element. In the skeleton model, a plurality of polygon vertices constituting a polygon mesh (a plurality of polygons (polygonal vertices connected in a mesh)) covering the bone is linked to the movement of the bone with a joint as a fulcrum. This is a model provided in the polygon model in order to change the posture of the polygon model.

  The model data of the polygon model is data regarding a large number of polygon vertices constituting the polygon model. Each polygon vertex includes data on a position (coordinates) in the local coordinate system and data on a joint affected by the rotation (bone movement) of the joint of the skeleton model. The local coordinate system is a coordinate system set for each character in order to define a polygon model. The game space has a world coordinate system. By placing the character's local coordinate system at an arbitrary position in the world coordinate system, the animation of the character operating in the local coordinate system can be placed at an arbitrary position in the game space. Can be displayed.

  Data related to joints (hereinafter referred to as “joint information”) is data that specifies the joint (for example, the joint number) that is linked to the displacement of the skeleton model joint, and the influence of the displacement of the joint. It is data indicating the degree. Some polygon vertices may be affected by the displacement of a plurality of joints, and the displacement positions of the polygon vertices linked to the displacements of these joints are determined using the displacement positions based on the displacements of the respective joints. The data indicating the degree of the influence of the displacement indicates the addition percentage (%) of each displacement position when calculating the displacement position of the polygon vertex by adding the displacement position based on the displacement of each joint. This is a weighting value (weight value) multiplied by the displacement position based on the displacement.

  The model data of the skeleton model is data regarding a plurality of joints (joints) constituting the skeleton model. Each joint includes data for specifying a position in the local coordinate system and data for specifying a connected upper joint (parent joint). A plurality of joints constituting the skeleton model are connected in a hierarchical structure with an arbitrary joint as a base point. This connection structure is a structure in which when a joint rotates, a plurality of joints below the joint maintain a connected posture and are displaced in the local coordinate system.

  Accordingly, the position of each joint in the local coordinate system is defined to be determined relative to the position of the parent joint. That is, the position of each joint is defined as a position obtained by geometrically transforming the position of the parent joint (three-dimensional affine transformation). The data specifying the parent joint is data for referring to the position of the parent joint, and the data specifying the position in the local coordinate system is data indicating the content of the geometric transformation (determinant data). is there.

  The joint information is set, for example, in an envelope setting step after creating a polygon model (setting the position of the polygon vertex in the local coordinate system) and creating a skeleton model (setting the position of the joint in the local coordinate system).

  The motion data is data obtained by changing the joint of the skeleton model related to the motion in units of frames in order to cause the polygon model to perform a predetermined motion. Since the process for changing the joint corresponds to the process for rotating the bone connected to the joint, the motion data is data for minutely changing the skeleton structure of the skeleton model in units of frames. Therefore, on the game device, the skeleton structure of the skeleton model is changed for each frame based on the motion data, and the character is drawn by displacing each polygon vertex of the polygon model in conjunction with the change. An image of a character that changes is generated. Then, by converting the image of each frame in the local coordinate system from the local coordinate system to the world coordinate system, an animation of a character that performs a predetermined action in the game space is displayed on the game screen.

JP 2012-8893 A

3DCG animation (March 25, 2003, first edition issued, first issue: Technical Review Co., Ltd., see “Part 2” chapter) Computer Graphics (March 1, 2006, 2nd edition, 1st edition issuance issued by: Association for Promotion of Image Information Education (CG-ARTS Association), see chapter “5. Animation”)

  For example, in a role-playing game (a game in which a player operates a player character to search the game space or play against enemy characters to achieve a given purpose), a large number of characters (player characters and enemies) There are characters, mobs characters (characters such as people and animals for expressing crowds and living creatures), objects, and the like.

  Such a large amount of character and object character data is created, for example, by deforming the posture and body shape of the basic model by the shape target method. In the shape target method, the shape to be deformed with respect to the basic model is registered as a shape target, the degree of deformation of the basic model with respect to the shape target is set, and the displacement position of each polygon vertex of the basic model is determined based on the degree of deformation. In this method, a deformation model is created by calculating and moving each polygon vertex to the displacement position.

  In the shape target method, the image editing mode incorporated in the game software (the character body type selected by the player as the player character is changed to a desired body type (such as obese type or thin type) because of the ease of work for deforming the character or object. In some cases, it is employed in an image editing process in a mode that can be transformed into a figure).

  In addition, in the case of a humanoid character, the shape of the polygon model is deformed separately from the joint that represents the skeleton structure in the skeleton model (joint for deforming the posture of the polygon model; hereinafter referred to as “posture deformation joint”). There is also known a technique for providing a joint (hereinafter referred to as a “body deformation joint”) for deforming the body model of the basic model by displacing the body deformation joint. For example, this technique connects multiple body deformation joints using the right shoulder joint as the parent joint, and connects this joint to the upper right arm bone (the bone connecting the right shoulder joint and the right elbow joint). This is a technique for making the upper right arm part thicker or thinner by displacing a plurality of polygon vertices constituting the upper right arm part by moving it outward or inward.

  The body deformation joint is described as a joint that is affected by the joint information of the polygon vertex as well as the posture deformation joint. When the body deformation joint is displaced, the posture deformation is performed in that the polygon vertex is displaced based on the displacement information. Performs the same function as the joint for use. Therefore, in the technology that deforms the body shape of the basic model using the body deformation joint, the body deformation joint is provided separately from the posture deformation joint in the skeleton model, so the number of joints is larger than that of the skeleton model that does not include the body deformation joint. To increase.

  When displaying animations of characters and objects whose basic model has been deformed (hereinafter referred to as “non-standard characters”) on a game device, the basic model (standard polygon model) in the local coordinate system for each frame A process of calculating the displacement position of the polygon vertex based on the motion data is performed. In this process, since the joint information set for each polygon vertex includes information on the posture deforming joint and the body deforming joint, the processing load of the calculation is increased as compared with the skeleton model not including the body deforming joint.

For example, when joint information of three posture deforming joints J _a , J _b , J _c and one body deforming joint Q _d is set for a certain polygon vertex P, the local information before displacement of the polygon vertex P is set. The position in the coordinate system is [P] (a column vector of homogeneous coordinates), and the displacement position [P _a of the polygon vertex P based on the displacements of the posture deformation joints J _a , J _b , J _c and the body shape deformation joint Q _d. ], [P _b ], [P _c ], [P _d ] matrix data (coordinates [P] and displacement positions [P _a ], [P _b ], [P _c ], [P _d ] [M _Ja ], [M _Jb ], [M _Jc ], [M _Qd ], posture deformation joints J _a , J _b , J _c and body deformation weight value that indicates the displacement of the impact of the joint Q _d (%), respectively W _Ja, W _Jb, W _{Assuming Jc} and W _Qd , the displacement position [P ′] of the polygon vertex P (column vector of homogeneous coordinates) is
[P ′] = (W _Ja × [M _Ja ] [P] + W _Jb × [M _Jb ] [P]
+ W _Jc × [M _Jc ] [P] + W _Qd × [M _Qd ] [P]) / 100
= [P _a ] + [P _b ] + [P _c ] + [P _d ] (1)
However, [P _a ] = W _Ja × [M _Ja ] [P] / 100
[P _b ] = W _Jb × [M _Jb ] [P] / 100
[P _c ] = W _Jc × [M _Jc ] [P] / 100
[P _d ] = W _Qd × [M _Qd ] [P] / 100
It is calculated by performing the operation.

According to equation (1), in addition to the displacement component ([P _a ] + [P _b ] + [P _c ]) of the polygon vertex P based on the displacement of the posture deformation joints J _Ja , J _Jb , J _Jc Since it is necessary to calculate the displacement component [P _d ] of the polygon vertex P based on the displacement of the deformation joint Q _d , the load of the calculation processing of the displacement position of each polygon vertex P for each frame is a normal polygon model. More than.

  Therefore, in the conventional method of deforming the body shape of the reference model with the body shape deforming joint, when a large amount of characters and objects are displayed on the game screen, the processing load of the animation display on the game device increases. It becomes difficult to display objects and objects on the game screen. This problem is the same in the method of deforming the shape of the reference model by the shape target method.

  The present invention has been conceived under the above circumstances, and suppresses the processing burden of animation display in a game device of a non-standard figure character created by transforming the figure of the basic model. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image reproduction program capable of displaying a large number of created non-standard body characters having different body shapes on a game screen, and a game system using the image reproduction program.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reproduction program comprising: a polygon vertex of a polygon model of the first character in conjunction with displacement of an operation point for body deformation included in the skeleton model of the first character; An image reproduction program for displaying on a game screen an animation of a second character having a body shape different from that of the first character created by displacing the first character, wherein the first character includes the skeleton model. The joint for calculating the position at which the polygon vertex is displaced in conjunction with the displacement of the included posture deformation joint and the body shape deformation operation point, and joint information in which the operation point is associated with the polygon vertex. The first character data and the motion for creating an animation in which the first character performs a predetermined motion And Ndeta is set, the the second character are set integrated deformation data indicating the displacement contents of the operation point for the type deformation, the computer at a predetermined timing after the start of the game, the joint The displacement position of the polygon vertex based on the displacement of the operation point is calculated using the information on the operation point included in the information and the body deformation data indicating the displacement content of the operation point, and the calculation result is the first result. Character data setting means for setting second character data for the second character by replacing the information with respect to the operation point set in the joint information of the polygon vertex included in the character data; After the second character data is set, it is set to the first character that moves according to the progress of the game. Image reproduction means for displaying an animation in which the second character performs a predetermined motion on the game screen by reproducing an image of each frame using the motion data and the second character data; It is made to function (Claim 1).

According to a preferred embodiment, the joint information includes information for specifying the joint or the operation point with which the polygon vertex is interlocked and weight information indicating the degree of influence of the displacement of the joint or the operation point. The body displacement data is geometric conversion data for geometrically converting the position before displacement of the operation point into a position after displacement, and the character data setting means converts the position data before displacement of the polygon vertex. The position data after displacement is calculated by multiplying the geometric conversion data of the operation point and the weight information, and the result of the calculation is used to specify the operation point in the joint information and the influence of the displacement of the operation point. Ru replaced by the weight information indicating the degree.

The game system provided in the second aspect of the present invention includes a program storage unit storing the image reproduction program provided in the first aspect of the present invention, and an image reproduction collection stored in the program storage unit. and a computer for executing a program, comprising the.

  According to the present invention, at a predetermined timing after the game starts, the displacement of the polygon vertex based on the displacement of the operation point using the information on the operation point included in the joint information and the body deformation data indicating the displacement content of the operation point. The position is calculated. And the 2nd character data with respect to a 2nd character is set by replacing the calculation result with the information regarding the operation point set in the joint information of the said polygon vertex contained in 1st character data.

  Then, after the second character data is set, the image of each frame is reproduced by using the motion data and the second character data set for the first character that moves according to the progress of the game. An animation in which the second character performs a predetermined motion is displayed on the game screen.

  In this animation display process, when calculating the displacement position of the polygon vertex of the player character based on the change in the posture of the skeleton model in each frame, the displacement position of the polygon vertex is calculated based on the displacement of the operation point for body deformation. Therefore, the calculation processing load can be reduced accordingly.

  As a result, the body shape of the first character is deformed to create a large number of second characters, and even a game including a game scene in which a large number of second characters appear in the game space has an excessive processing load on the game device. The game scene can be displayed during the game without hanging.

  In addition, since the character data of the second character is set at the start of the game, it is only necessary to set the body deformation data for the first character as the second character data in the game software. The burden of creating the second character of the person can be reduced. In addition, an increase in the data amount of the game software can be suppressed.

1 is a configuration diagram of a game device to which game software incorporating an image editing program according to the present invention is applied. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the character data of a standard character. It is a figure which shows an example of a polygon model and a skeleton model. It is a figure for demonstrating the relationship between a world coordinate system and a local coordinate system. It is a figure which shows the hierarchical structure of the joint of the skeleton model shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the body deformation joint provided in the right arm part of the skeleton model. It is a figure which shows the hierarchical structure of the attitude | position deformation | transformation joint and body deformation | transformation joint of the right arm part of the skeleton model shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the method to change the appearance of the right arm part of a polygon model by displacing the attitude | position deformation | transformation joint of a skeleton model in the example of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the method of displacing the body deformation joint of a skeleton model and changing the body shape of the right arm part of a polygon model in the example of FIG. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the motion data of a standard character. It is a figure which shows an example of the operation screen displayed on a monitor in image edit mode. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of image edit mode. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence at the time of displaying the animation which displays the player character which deform | transformed the body shape in image edit mode in a game. It is a figure which shows the structure of the character data of a player character. It is a figure which shows the structure of the character data of a non player character.

  The image reproduction program according to the present invention will be described by taking a human character appearing in a game as an example. An image reproduction program according to the present invention is a character (non-standard figure) having a figure different from a standard figure created by transforming a figure of a standard figure character (hereinafter referred to as “standard character”) in the production stage of game software. In addition to the case where the character) is displayed on the game device as an animation, the player character created by transforming the standard character prepared in advance in the image editing mode into a desired body shape before the game play is displayed on the game device. It also applies to In the following description, the latter case will be described as an example.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a game device.

  The main body 11 reads game data recorded on a game medium 14 formed of an optical disk such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM into an internal memory (RAM (Random Access Memory) 111c), and the CPU 111a includes a game program included in the game data. Is a member that allows the player to enjoy the game. The operation controller 12 is a member for inputting various operation commands to the main body 11 by operating an operation member such as an operation button provided on the operation controller 12 by the player. The monitor 13 is a member that outputs game images and sound effects generated by the CPU 111a executing the game program.

  The main body 11 includes a control unit 111, a drawing processing unit 112, an audio processing unit 113, a disk drive unit 114, a memory card connection unit 115, an I / O interface unit 116, and a signal transmission / reception unit 117. The control unit 111 is configured by a microcomputer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 111a, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 111b, and a RAM 111c, and comprehensively controls operations for providing a game to the player by the game apparatus 1. Fulfills the function. The drawing processing unit 112 is a dedicated device that generates a game image to be displayed on the monitor 13 based on a command from the control unit 11, and the sound processing unit 113 is output from the speakers 13 a and 13 b of the monitor 13 based on a command from the control unit 11. It is a dedicated device that generates sound effects to be output.

  The disk drive unit 114 functions to read game data from the game media 14, and the memory card connection unit 115 functions to read / write various data generated during the game to / from the memory card 15. The game data recorded in the game media 14 is output from a game program for controlling the progress of the main game, data for generating a game image to be displayed on the display screen of the monitor 13, and speakers 13 a and 13 b of the monitor 13. Data including data for generating sound effects, data for controlling various events that occur during the game, and the like.

  The data stored in the memory card 15 is save data (for example, status data of the player character, data indicating the progress of the stage, etc.) necessary to be able to resume the game from the state at the end of the previous game. is there. As will be described later, the game according to the present embodiment is provided with an image editing mode, and the physique of the standard character (obesity type, lean type, muscle type, etc.) selected by the player as the player character in the image editing mode. Type) and site dimensions (length of legs, arms, torso, shoulder width, etc.) can be customized to a desired body shape and dimensions.

  To customize the standard character's body shape, the player operates the body shape deformation joints provided in the skeleton model for the polygon vertices of the base model of the standard body shape, and batches the polygon vertices associated with the body shape deformation joint. This is done by displacing. In addition, the customization of the standard character part can be done by operating the posture deforming joint provided on the skeleton model by the player using the polygon vertices of the standard model of the basic model, and adding a plurality of polygon vertices associated with the posture deforming joint. This is done by collectively displacing. When the player customizes the standard character's body shape and part size and creates a new player character, the edited content data is saved in the memory card 15 at the end of the image editing mode.

  The signal transmission / reception unit 117 performs a function of transmitting / receiving an operation signal to / from the operation controller 12. The I / O interface unit 116 performs an interface function of data transmission / reception between the monitor 13, the disk drive unit 114, the memory card connection unit 115, and the signal transmission / reception unit 117 and the control unit 11.

  In the game apparatus 1, when the game media 14 is attached to the main body 11, the game data recorded on the game media 14 is read by the disk drive unit 114 and stored in the RAM 111 c in the control unit 111. Then, the CPU 111a executes the game program stored in the RAM 111c, so that the player can enjoy the game contents.

  When an operation signal of the operation controller 12 by the player is input via the signal transmission / reception unit 117, the CPU 111a performs a game progress process for the operation signal according to the game program. In the game progress process, an animation display process in which the player character performs a predetermined action and an event in the game space based on the action (various events such as object destruction, enemy character subjugation, item discovery) Various processes such as a process, a display process of the status information of the player character, and a transition process to another mode are included. The result of the game progress process is displayed as an image on the monitor 13 and output from the speakers 13a and 13b of the monitor 13 as sound effects. Therefore, the player can enjoy the game by operating the operation controller 12 while checking the progress of the game with the game image and sound effect displayed on the monitor 13.

  In the game program according to the present embodiment, a player selects a desired standard character as a player character from among a plurality of standard characters prepared in advance, and the body shape and part size of the standard character are determined according to the desired body shape and part. An image editing program that can be transformed into a size is included.

  The game control when the player plays the main game is controlled by an image editing process in which the player changes the shape and part size of the standard character in the image editing mode, or the player who changes the shape and part size of the standard character. Since it is not directly related to the control of displaying the character (non-standard character) on the game screen while the main game is being executed, the following describes image editing processing and control of displaying the non-standard character during the game. .

  First, an image editing process in which the player changes the shape of the player character in the image editing mode will be described.

  In the RAM 111c in the control unit 11, the image editing program and the character data of all characters that the player can select as player characters are read from the game media 14. Character data is data created in advance in the game software production stage for each character.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration example of character data of a standard character, and particularly illustrates contents related to the present invention.

  The model data in the character data is model data of a polygon model with a basic posture (a three-dimensional shape model in which the surface shape of the character is represented by a polygon mesh) and skeleton model data set in the polygon model. Further, the image data in the character data is image data such as a texture for applying a color to each polygon of the base polygon model.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the basic posture is a T-shaped posture in which both feet are lowered vertically and both hands are spread horizontally. By displacing the hand, foot, torso, head, etc. by displacing the posture deformation joint of the skeleton model based on the basic posture, the character posture displayed on the game screen is changed from the basic posture to the desired posture. Can be changed. By preliminarily setting data on the amount of displacement of the posture-deforming joint that is related to movement in units of frames and drawing an image of the character in a posture changed from the basic posture on the basis of the data, Animated display with arbitrary movement can be performed. Therefore, the character data shown in FIG. 2 is data serving as a basis for animation display.

As shown in FIG. 3, the skeleton model S includes a plurality of posture deforming joints (joints) J _j (the subscript _j is the number of the posture deforming joint. J = 1, 2,... Q) by the joint chain JC. It is a connected articulated skeletal model. Of the two joints J _h and J _k (h ≠ k) connected to each other, if the upper joint J _h is the “parent joint” and the lower joint J _k is the “child joint”, The joint J _h and the joint chain JC correspond to the bone B _h (subscript h is the parent joint number). Posture of the skeleton model S may be varied by rotating the bone B _h as a fulcrum joint J _h for posture deformation. In the skeleton model S, a plurality of polygon vertices P _i (i is a polygon vertex number; i = 1, 2,... N) constituting a polygon mesh in conjunction with the rotation of the bone B _h are collectively displaced. It fulfills the function of changing the posture of the polygon model A.

In the following description, a symbol “J _j ” with a subscript is used to indicate individual posture deformation joints, and a symbol “J” without a subscript is used otherwise. The same applies to polygon vertices, body deformation joints, bones, and the like.

In the skeleton model S, a plurality of body shape deforming joints Q _r (for deforming the body shape of the polygon model A in each part of the upper arm, forearm, chest, abdomen, waist, thigh, and lower leg apart from the posture deforming joint J r is the number of the joint for deforming the body, and r = 1, 2,. Changing the body shape of the polygon model A means changing the shape of each part to a body shape such as an obese type, a lean type, or a muscle type. In FIG. 3, for convenience of drawing, only two body deformation joints Q are shown.

The data of the skeleton model S includes a connection relationship with data (matrix data) that defines positions in the local coordinate system LC for the plurality of posture deformation joints J _j and the plurality of body shape deformation joints Q _r constituting the skeleton model S. Data (link data) to be shown is included. The local coordinate system LC is a three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system set for each character. As shown in FIG. 4, a world coordinate system WC is provided in the game space in which the character appears. By defining the local coordinate system LC on the world coordinate system WC by geometric transformation, the character C defined by the local coordinate system LC can be defined on the world coordinate system WC. That is, the character C that operates in the local coordinate system LC can be operated in the world coordinate system WC.

The link data (J _h ) (h is a joint number. H ≠ j, h ≠ r) of each joint J _j and Q _r is data indicating the parent joint J _h . As shown in FIG. 5, all the link data represents that a plurality of joints J _j are connected in a hierarchical structure with the joint J ₁ as a base point. The joint J ₁ that is the base point of the link does not have a parent joint, but since the position of the joint J _{1 in} the local coordinate system LC is defined by the origin of the local coordinate system LC, the origin is the parent of the joint J ₁ . Corresponds to a joint.

In FIG. 5, posture deforming joints J ₁ , J ₂ ,... J ₁₇ respectively correspond to the hip joint, trunk joint, and left ankle of the human body, so posture deforming joints J ₁ , J ₂ ,. J ₁₇ is displayed in a form in which the part name is attached with a sign. For convenience of drawing, FIG. 5 omits the body deformation joint Q and illustrates only the posture deformation joint J, and FIG. 7 illustrates the hierarchical structure of the body deformation joint Q set in the right arm portion. Yes.

The plurality of posture deforming joints J _j are connected in a hierarchical structure, and each posture deforming joint J _k is displaced with the rotation of the bone B _h , so the position of each posture deforming joint J _k is the parent joint J _h. It is defined as a relative position with respect to. That is, when considering a coordinate system (hereinafter referred to as “individual coordinate system”) in which the parent joint J _h is the origin and the direction of the bone B _h is the Z axis, the position of the child joint J _k is the individual coordinate. It is defined as the position on the Z axis in the system. Similarly, the position of the child joint J _s with the joint J _k as the parent joint (the grandchild joint J _{s with} respect to the joint J _h ) is defined as the position of the joint J _k on the Z axis in the individual coordinate system. ing.

Assumed individual coordinate system to a joint J _k child, an individual coordinate system assumed joint J _h parent from being determined by the geometrical transformations including translation, rotation, etc., its geometric conversion (three-dimensional Assuming that the arithmetic expression of (affine transformation) is [M _Jh ] (4 rows × 4 columns matrix vector) and the position of the joint J _{h in} the local coordinate system LC is [P _Jh ] (column vector of homogeneous coordinates), the joint J The position [P _Jk ] of _{k in} the local coordinate system LC is determined by the matrix product of [M _Jh ] [P _Jh ]. Similarly, the position [P _Js ] of the grandchild joint J _{s in} the local coordinate system LC is determined by the matrix product of [M _Jk ] [P _Jk ] = [M _Jk ] [M _Jh ] [P _Jh ].

Accordingly, the matrix data [M _J1 ] to [M _Jq ] defining the positions set in the posture deforming joints J _{1 to} J _q in FIG. The position [P _Jj ] in the local coordinate system LC of the deformation joint J _j is determined by a matrix product of [M _Jj ] [P _Jh ], where the link data is (J _h ). The position of the joint J _{1 serving as} the base point is determined by a matrix product of [M _J1 ] [P ₀ ], where [P ₀ ] is the column vector at the origin of the local coordinate system LC.

Because the integrated deformation joint Q _r also pose deformation joint J _j as well as any attitude deformation joint J _j as the parent of the joint, like the joint J _j for even orientation deformed joint Q _r for integrated deformation Matrix data [M _Qr ] for specifying a position in the local coordinate system LC and link data indicating a parent joint are set.

The polygon model data includes data (position data) of positions (coordinates) in the local coordinate system LC of a large number of polygon vertices P _i (i is a polygon vertex number; i = 1, 2,... N) constituting a polygon mesh. [P _Pi ]), normal and tangent data, and joint information T _Pi (the subscript Pi is the polygon vertex code; the same applies hereinafter). Normal to the tangent of the data indicates the normal direction and tangential direction of each polygon vertex P _i. Normal data and tangent data is data used for lighting processing for each polygon vertex P _i a (process for expressing the degree of color change and reflection). Since the normal line data and the tangent line data change with the displacement of the polygon vertex P, when the polygon vertex P is displaced with the displacement of the posture deformation joint J or the body shape deformation joint Q, the normal line data and the tangent line Data is also recalculated.

The joint information T _Pi indicates the number of the posture deforming joint J _j and the body deforming joint Q _r affected when the posture and body shape of the skeleton model S are changed, and the degree of influence of the joints J _j and Q _r. The weight values W _Jj and W _Qr .

FIG. 6 is an example of a body deformation joint Q provided in the right arm portion of the skeleton model S. Body deformation joints Q ₁ , Q ₂ , Q ₃ , and Q ₄ are provided in the vertical direction and the front-rear direction around the center of the right upper arm, respectively, and the body shapes in the vertical direction and the front-rear direction around the center of the right forearm. Deformation joints Q ₅ , Q ₆ , Q ₇ , Q ₈ are provided. FIG. 6 is an example in which four body deformation joints Q are provided on each of the upper right arm and the right forearm for convenience of explanation, but five or more body deformation joints Q may be provided in each part.

The body deformation joint Q _r is provided in the skeleton model S in a hierarchical structure like the posture deformation joint J _j . In the example of FIG. 6, the body shape deformation joints Q _{1 to} Q ₄ provided on the upper right arm are linked to the posture deformation joint J ₅ (the right shoulder joint) (the posture deformation joint J ₅ is the parent joint). The body deformation joints Q _{5 to} Q ₈ provided on the right forearm are linked to the posture deformation joint J ₆ (the right elbow joint) (the posture deformation joint J ₆ is the parent joint). Yes. Accordingly, the link structure of the articulated portion of the right arm of the skeleton model S shown in FIG. 6 is as shown in FIG. 7, and the posture deformation joint J ₅ is set in the link data of the body shape deformation joints Q _{1 to} Q _4. , or link data type deforming joint Q ₅ to Q ₈ attitude deformation joint J ₆ is set.

The posture deforming joint J and the body shape deforming joint Q are common in that they are connected to the parent joint in a hierarchical structure. Since the posture deforming joint J changes the posture of the skeleton model S by multi-joint movement, its movement is basically limited to rotational movement with the parent joint J as a fulcrum, but the body deforming joint Q Since the surface shape of the polygon model A is deformed, its movement is not limited to rotational movement with the parent joint J as a fulcrum, and can be moved freely. That is, in the example of FIG. 6, the body deformation joints Q _{1 to} Q ₄ can be moved in the vertical direction with respect to the bone B ₅ , and the polygon vertex P constituting the upper right arm portion is entirely moved by this movement. It can be moved outward or inward (the polygon mesh in the upper right arm portion can be made thicker or thinner). The body deforming joints Q _{5 to} Q ₈ are the same, and can be moved in the vertical direction with respect to the bone B _{6. By} this movement, the polygon mesh of the right forearm can be made thicker or thinner. .

In the present embodiment, in the image editing process, the posture deforming joint J is movable in the length direction of the connected bone B, and the posture deforming joint J is moved in the length direction of the bone B, thereby It functions as an operating point for lengthening or shortening the size of parts such as arms and legs. For example, in the example of FIG. 6, the length of the bone B ₅ can be lengthened or shortened by moving the posture deforming joint J ₆ in the direction along the bone B ₆ .

As described above, the body deformation joint Q functions as a control point for moving a plurality of polygon vertices P in a lump like the posture deformation joint J. Therefore, the joint information T _pi of the polygon vertices P _i includes Information including the number of joints J and Q affected by the displacement of the posture deformation joint J and body deformation joint Q and the weight value W (%) indicating the degree of influence is set in the envelope setting process at the time of game software production Has been.

As described above, the weight value W is the addition ratio of each displacement position when the displacement position of the polygon vertex P is calculated by adding the displacement positions based on the displacements of the posture deformation joint J and the body deformation joint Q (see FIG. %). When a plurality of joints J and Q are associated with the polygon vertex P, the weight values W _J and W _Q of each joint J and Q are set so that the total value becomes 100%. Therefore, if the joint associated is one posture deformation joint J _a, because the weight value W _Ja attitude deformation joint J _a is 100%, the joint information T _P is, (J _a: W _Ja = 100).

Further, for example, associated with three attitude deformation joint J _a through J _c, "weight value of the orientation deformation joint J _a W _a: 50%, weight value of the joint J _b for attitude variations W _b: 30% , The weight information W _{c of} the posture deforming joint J _c is set to 20% ”, the joint information T _P is (J _a : W _Ja = 50, J _b : W _Jb = 30, J _c : W _Jc = 20). Further, the three joints for attitude variations J _a through J _c and the joint Q _d for one type deformation associated "weight value of the orientation deformation joint J _a W _a: 50%, the joint J _b for attitude variations Weight value W _b : 30%, posture deformation joint J _c weight value W _c : 10%, body deformation joint Q _d weight value W _Qd : 10% ”, the joint information T _P becomes (J _a : W _Ja = 50, J _b : W _Jb = 30, J _c : W _Jc = 10, Q _d : W _Qd = 10).

  When the posture deforming joint J is displaced, as shown in FIG. 8, the polygon vertex P associated with the posture deforming joint J is displaced in accordance with the joint information T, so that the posture of the basic model (appearance of the body) ) Will change.

FIG. 8 shows the shape of the right arm when the posture deforming joint J ₇ (bone B ₆ ) is rotated counterclockwise with the posture deforming joint J ₆ as a fulcrum in the example of FIG. Rotate the only bone B ₆ counterclockwise, the bone B ₇ is not rotated relative to the bone B _6, right forearm and hand bones B _6, B ₇ is an overall attitude deformation joint J ₆ It rotates counterclockwise as a fulcrum. Joint information T _Pi is set for each of a plurality of polygon vertices P _i constituting the polygon mesh of the right forearm and the right hand. The joint information T _Pi includes, as joint numbers, the number of the posture deforming joint J ₇ and the weight value W _J7 (the subscript “J7” indicates the sign of the posture deforming joint. The same applies hereinafter). Yes.

For example, is set position data [P _Pa] in the local coordinate system LC in polygon vertex P _a right forearm, the joint J ₆ is set by the weight value W _Pa joint information T _Pa of the polygon vertices P _a Then, the displacement position of the polygon vertices P _a [P _Pa '] is calculated by the following calculation. That is, since the relative position with respect to the joint J ₆ of the polygon vertices P _a is not changed even if the rotating bone B _6, the position data [P _Pa] of the polygon vertices P _a in the local coordinate system LC in a posture of Fig. 6, the joint converted into position data of the individual coordinate systems of J ₆ [P _PaJ6], then rotate the bone B ₆ by rotating the individual coordinate systems. Since the position data [P _PaJ6 ] is fixed to the individual coordinate system of the joint J ₆ , the position data [P _PaJ6 ] is displaced to the position of [P _Pa '] by rotating the individual coordinate system at the rate of the weight value W _Pa. . When matrix data for rotating the individual coordinate system of the joint J ₆ and [M _J6], displaced position of the polygon vertices P _a [P _Pa '] is, W _Pa × [M _J6] matrix product of [P _PaJ6] Is calculated by

Therefore, by performing the above-described calculation processing on a plurality of polygon vertices P _i constituting the polygon mesh of the right forearm and the right hand, each polygon vertex P _i moves together with the bone B ₆ , and the right arm of the basic model is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, the right forearm changes to a shape in which the tip is bent upward by a predetermined angle with respect to the right upper arm. Incidentally, the matrix data [M _Q5] ~ set in the integrated deformation joint Q ₅ ~Q ₈ [M _Q8], since a calculation formula for determining the position in the individual coordinate system of the joint J _6, the joint J ₆ also rotate type deformation joint Q ₅ to Q ₈ by the rotation of the individual coordinate systems, the relative positional relationship of the integrated deformation joint Q ₅ to Q ₈ for the joint J ₆ does not change.

  On the other hand, when the body deformation joint Q is displaced, the body shape of the basic model changes as the polygon vertex P associated with the body deformation joint Q is displaced by the joint information T as shown in FIG. . The displacement position of the polygon vertex P in this case is also determined by the same calculation as in the case of displacing the polygon vertex P in conjunction with the posture deformation joint J.

FIG. 9 shows a case where the body shape deforming joints Q _{1 to} Q ₄ and the body shape deforming joints Q _{5 to} Q ₈ are displaced outward (directions indicated by arrows in FIG. 9) with respect to the bones B ₅ and B ₆ , respectively. In this example, the skin mesh of the upper right arm and the right forearm becomes thicker than the standard body by this displacement operation.

The motion data is data _obtained by changing the posture deformation joint Jk of the skeleton model S related to the motion, for example, in units of frames in order to cause the character to perform a predetermined motion.

  FIG. 10 is a configuration example of motion data for causing the monitor 13 to display an animation in which a standard character makes a predetermined movement. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the structure of the motion data of the skeleton model S shown in FIG.

The motion data for causing the standard character to perform a predetermined motion is, for example, a skeleton model for all posture deforming joints J _j (j: joint number; j = 1, 2,..., 17) of the skeleton model S of the standard character. This is data in which displacement information from the reference posture when the S posture is slightly changed in units of frames (information indicating the rotation content with the parent joint _Jh as a fulcrum) is set for each frame. Process to displace the joint J _k for attitude variations, corresponds to the process of rotating the bone B _h the joint J _k for attitude variations is connected, the process rotates the individual coordinate system assuming the joint J _h parent Is equivalent to Therefore, the rotation data L _{h, f} set for each posture deformation joint J _h (h is the number of the posture deformation joint J and f is the frame number) is set to the posture deformation joint J _h. It is expressed by a determinant for calculating a geometric transformation for rotating an individual coordinate system at a predetermined angle.

  In the present embodiment, when the player operates the body deformation joint Q in the image editing mode to deform the body shape of the basic model and creates a body shape deformation model of a desired body shape, the body shape is obtained at a predetermined timing after the game starts. Performs processing (re-envelope processing using character data of the basic model) to generate character data of the body deformation model using the operation contents of the deformation joint Q and the character data of the basic model, and the character data is used as the motion of the basic model. By applying it to the data, the body deformation model is made to perform the same operation as that of the basic model.

  Then, the displacement position of the polygon vertex P based on the displacement of the body deformation joint Q is calculated in the re-envelope process, and the calculated value of the displacement position is used when processing the animation display of the body deformation model with the motion data. I have to.

  Next, an image editing process for generating a body shape deformation model of a non-standard character by deforming the body shape of the basic model will be described.

As described in the example of the right arm portion of the basic model in FIG. 9, when the body deformation joints Q _{1 to} Q ₄ and Q _{5 to} Q ₈ are displaced outward or inward with respect to the bones B ₅ and B ₆ , respectively, The shapes of the polygon meshes of the upper right arm portion and the right forearm portion can be deformed under the influence of the displacement of the body shape deforming joints Q _{1 to} Q ₄ and Q _{5 to} Q ₈ . For example, when the player selects the image editing mode, an image of the basic model in which the skeleton model is embedded is displayed on the monitor 13, and the player displays the body deformation joints Q _{1 to} Q ₄ and Q ₅ to Q displayed on the monitor 13. When the operation of displacing the Q ₈ outwardly, as shown in FIG. 9, it is possible to thicker right arm portion, the operation of displacing the integrated deformation joint _{Q 1 ~Q 4, Q 5 ~Q} 8 inside Then, the right arm portion can be thinned.

  As an operation interface of the body shape deforming joint Q to the player, the body shape deforming joint Q may be displayed on the monitor 13 as described above so that the player directly operates the desired body shape deforming joint Q. The image editing screen shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the monitor 13, and the player may operate the operation buttons B1 to B4 in the image editing screen to change the shape of the polygon model A.

  The image editing screen shown in FIG. 11 is provided with a model display area AR1 for displaying the model of the character to be edited on the left side of the screen, and a GUI (graphical user interface) for the player to edit the image is displayed on the right side of the screen. An operation area AR2 to be operated is provided. Only the polygon model A is displayed in the model display area AR1, and the skeleton model S is not displayed (thus, the body deformation joint Q is also not displayed). On the other hand, in the operation area AR2, an operation for inputting a part selection screen Gs for selecting a part to be deformed and contents to be deformed (for example, “thicken”, “thinn”, “increase”, “decrease”) Buttons B1, B2, B3 and an operation button B4 for ending the editing work are displayed.

  In the operation interface shown in FIG. 11, each time the player clicks the operation buttons B1 and B2, the portion of the basic model displayed on the monitor 13 in a unit size set in advance can be made thicker or thinner. Since the operation content can be determined by clicking the operation button B3, there is an advantage that the player can operate more easily than directly operating the body deformation joint Q. In addition, since only the polygon model A is displayed in the model display area AR1, and the skeleton model S is not displayed, there is an advantage that it is easy to see how the body shape of the polygon model A changes according to the body shape deformation operation of the part.

  In the image editing process according to the present embodiment, a body deformation model is created by the processing procedure shown in FIG. In the following description, a case where the player operates on the image editing screen shown in FIG. 11 will be described as an example.

  When the player shifts to the image editing mode after selecting a player character with the game apparatus 1, the flowchart shown in FIG. 12 is activated. The CPU 111a reads the data of the polygon model A of the player character selected by the player from the RAM 111c, and causes the monitor 13 to display an image editing screen (see FIG. 11) in which the polygon model A is pasted in the model display area AR1 (S1). .

  Subsequently, the CPU 111a determines whether or not the selection signal for selecting the part of the polygon model A whose body shape is to be deformed and the operation signal for the operation button B1 (thickening) or the operation button B2 (thinning) are input from the monitor 13. If it is determined (S2) and not input (S2: NO), the process proceeds to step S5. When the player inputs a selection signal for selecting a part of the polygon model A whose body shape is to be deformed by the operation controller 12 and an operation signal for the operation button B1 or the operation button B2 (S2: YES), the CPU 111a receives the selection signal. Based on this, the body deformation joint Q to be operated is determined, and the body deformation joint Q is moved by a predetermined amount in the direction corresponding to the operation signal (S3).

For example, when the content of the selection signal is the content of selecting the upper right arm and the operation signal is an operation of clicking the operation button B1, the CPU 111a uses the body shape modification provided in the upper right arm portion as shown in FIG. The joints Q _{1 to} Q ₄ are moved to positions displaced by a predetermined amount set in advance outward from the bone B ₅ . Further, if an operation that the operation signal clicks an operation button B2, CPU 111a moves the integrated deformation joint Q ₁ to Q ₄ at a position displaced by a predetermined amount to the inside with respect to bone B _5.

The CPU 111a then converts matrix data (geometric transformation data) [M _Q1 ] to [M] when the body deformation joints Q _{1 to} Q ₄ are displaced by a predetermined amount outward or inward from the bone B ₅ . generates _Q4], extracts the polygon vertices P _i associated with integrated deformation joint Q ₁ to Q ₄ from all the polygon vertex data of the polygon model a, the coordinates of the polygon vertices P _i [P _Pi] And the matrix product of [M _Q1 ] to [M _Q4 ] is calculated to calculate the coordinates [P _Pi '] of the displacement destination of the polygon vertex P _i (S4).

For example, if only the joint information T _Pi body shape deformation joint to Q ₁ polygon vertices P _i is set, the polygon vertex P _i displacement destination coordinates [P _Pi '] is _{[P Pi'] = [M} Q1 ] [P _Pi ] is calculated. When a plurality of body shape deformation joints Q ₁ , Q ₂ ,... Are set in the joint information T _Pi of the polygon vertex P _i , for example, the two body shape deformation joints Q ₁ , Q ₂ have weight values W _Q1. , W _Q2 , the coordinates [P _Pi '] of the displacement destination of the polygon vertex P _i is [P _Pi '] = (W _Q1 / 100) × [M _Q1 ] [P _Pi ] + (W _Q2 / 100) × [M _Q2 ] [P _Pi ].

The polygon vertices P _i is moved to the displacement destination coordinates, thereby or right upper arm becomes thicker than the standard size of the polygon model A displayed in the model display area AR1 of the image edit screen, or become thin.

  The above example is an example in which the entire upper right arm is thickened or thinned, but if part of the upper right arm muscles (outside or inner muscle etc.) can be selected on the part selection screen Gs, For example, the muscles on the inner side of the upper right arm can be raised or the outer muscles can be made thicker.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of the arm part, but the body deformation joint Q is moved inward or outward with respect to the bone B by a predetermined amount by the same operation for the leg thigh, the waistline, and the chestline. By making it, it can be made thicker or thinner.

When the player operates the operation button B1 or the operation button B2 while watching the deformation state of the shape of the upper right arm of the polygon model A displayed in the model display area AR1 (the loop of S2 to S5), and when it is deformed into a desired shape When the operation button B3 (decision button) is operated (S5: YES), the CPU 111a determines the body deformation of the upper right arm portion of the polygon model A, and the displacement content data (geometrical data) of the body deformation joint Q _r at that time. The conversion [M _Q1 ] data) is stored in the RAM 111c (S6).

Subsequently, the CPU 111a determines whether or not the operation signal of the operation button B4 (end of editing) has been input from the operation controller 12 (S7). If not input (S7: NO), the CPU 111a returns to step S2, and returns to the above. Steps S2 to S6 are repeated. When the operation signal of the operation from the monitor 13 button B4 is inputted (S7: YES), CPU111a is stored data of displacements contents of integrated deformation joint Q _r (hereinafter RAM 111 c, the data "type modified data Is saved in the memory card 15 (S8), and the image editing process is terminated.

  In the above description of the image editing process, the case of deforming the body shape of the polygon model A has been described. However, the size of the part of the polygon model A can be changed by the same operation. In this case, an operation button for increasing the length of the part or an operation button for shortening the part is displayed below the operation area AR2, and when the player operates these operation buttons, the part selected on the part selection screen of the operation area AR2 The predetermined posture deforming joint J is displaced in a direction along the bone B in a predetermined displacement amount according to the operation amount of the operation button.

For example, in the example of FIG. 6, when the posture deforming joint J ₆ is displaced by a predetermined amount along the bone B ₅ , the CPU 111 a uses the matrix data (geometric transformation) for the posture deforming joint J ₆ . Data) [M _J6 ] is generated, the polygon vertex P _j associated with the posture deformation joint J _J6 is extracted from all the polygon vertex data of the polygon model A, and the coordinates [P of the polygon vertex P _i are extracted. The matrix product of _Pj ] and matrix data [M _J6 ] is calculated to calculate the coordinates [P _Pj '] of the displacement destination of the polygon vertex P _j . Then, the polygon vertex P _j is moved to the coordinate [P _Pj '] of the displacement destination, and thereby an image in which the upper right arm of the polygon model A is longer than the standard length is displayed in the model display area AR1 of the image editing screen. Is done.

  When the player operates the operation button B4 with the operation controller 12, the CPU 111a saves the displacement content data (posture deformation data) of the posture deformation joint J stored in the RAM 111c in the memory card 15 and performs image editing processing. Exit.

  Next, a description will be given of control for displaying a player character (non-standard figure character) whose shape has been changed in the image editing mode during the game.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for displaying a player character in animation on the game screen when the game is started.

When the game is started by a predetermined game start operation by the player (S10), the CPU 111a reads out the body shape deformation data of the player character stored in the RAM 111c or the memory card 15, and the body shape deformation data and the standard character character. Is used to calculate the displacement position [P _Pi '] of the polygon vertex P _i based on the displacement of the body deformation joints Q _{1 to} Q _M using the data of the polygon vertex P _i (i = 1, 2,... N) included in (S11). The predetermined game start operation is an operation in which the player operates the start button of the operation controller 12 to start a new game, and after the game is over, the player operates the continue mode button to restart the game. For example, the game data is temporarily stored in the game memory 15 and the power is turned off, then the power is turned on again, the game data stored in the game memory 15 is read, and the game is restarted.

For example, where one type deformation joint Q _r is set by the weight value W _Qr (%) to the joint information T _Pi of polygon vertices P _i standard character as information type deformation joint Q, polygon vertex P _Assuming that the position data obtained by converting the position data [P _Pi ] in the local coordinate system LC of _i into the individual coordinate system of the body deformation joint Q _r is [P _PiQr ], the CPU 111a
[P _Pi '] = (W _Qr / 100) × [M _Qr ] [P _PiQr ] (2)
However, [M _Qr ]: The displacement position [P _Pi '] is calculated by calculating body deformation data.

When a plurality of body deformation joints Q, for example, three body deformation joints Q _r , Q _s , Q _t are set to the polygon vertex P _i with weight values W _Qr , W _Qs , W _Qt (%) _Are the position data obtained by converting the position data [P _Pi ] of the polygon vertex P _i in the local coordinate system LC to the individual coordinate systems of the body deformation joints Q _r , Q _s and Q _t , respectively [P _PiQr ] and [P _PiQs ] and [P _PiQt ]
[P _Pi '] = (W _Qr / 100) × [M _Qr ] [P _PiQr ]
+ (W _Qs / 100) × [M _Qs ] [P _PiQs ]
+ (W _Qt / 100) × [M _Qt ] [P _PiQt ] (3)
However, [M _Qr ], [M _Qs ], [M _Qt ]: The displacement position [P _Pi ′] is calculated by calculating body deformation data.

The joint information T _Pi of the polygon vertex P _i also includes information on the posture deformation joint J _j , so that the weight values W _Qr , W _Qs , and _{Qt of} the body deformation joints Q _r , Q _s , Q _t W _Qt is set to be a total value of 100% with the weight value W _Jj of the posture deforming joint J _j .

Subsequently, the CPU 111a creates character data of the player character (non-standard character) using the calculated displacement position [P _Pi '] of the polygon vertex P _i and the character data of the standard character (see FIG. 2) (S12). ). Step S12, since there is no character data for the player character which is a modification of the type of standard character, displaced position of the polygon vertices P _i to the joint information T _Pi in the character data calculated in step S11 in the standard character [P _Pi '] The character data of the player character is created by correcting the above.

  There are cases where the length of the part of the basic model is changed in the image editing mode and the character skeleton is different in size from the standard skeleton (that is, when posture deformation data is created) In this case, the processes of steps S11 and S12 are not performed on the posture deformation data. When a character different from the standard skeleton is displayed as an animation, the displacement position of the posture-deforming joint J related to the movement differs from frame to frame according to the content of the movement. This is because the position needs to be calculated.

CPU111a copies the character data of the standard character RAM 111 c, the delete data type deformation joint Q in character data, among the joint information set to each polygon vertex P _i, jointing type deformation Q Is removed and replaced with the calculated displacement position [P _Pi '] to create the character data of the player character.

FIG. 14 is a configuration example of the character data of the player character. Character data shown in the figure, and that it does not include the joint (joint) data type deformation joint Q ₁ to Q _m are relative to character data of a standard character shown in FIG. 2, the polygon vertices P _1, P ₂ ,..., P _n are different in that the information on the body deformation joint Q in the joint information T _P1 ′, T _P2 ′,... _{TP n} ′ is replaced with the displacement position calculated using the body deformation data. .

If posture deformation data has been created, matrix data [M _Jk ] of posture deformation joints J _k included in the posture deformation data among the posture deformation joints J _j of the character data shown in FIG. Is replaced with the displacement content data (edited matrix data [M _JK ']) of the posture deformation joint J _k . Thus, when the character model is drawn based on the character data shown in FIG. 14, for example, the polygon model A shown in FIG. The model will be displayed.

The body deformation joints Q _{1 to} Q _m are removed when the player character is animated using the motion data of the standard character and the motion data of the body deformation joints Q _{1 to} Q _{m is included in} the motion data. This is because they are not included and are not necessary for the animation display process. Copy character data of the standard character, may be generated character data of player characters by changing only the joint information T _P1 of the polygon vertices P _i.

The information regarding the body deformation joint Q in the joint information T _Pi ′ of the polygon vertex P _i is replaced with the displacement position calculated using the body deformation data. In this embodiment, the displacement position of the body deformation joint Q of each frame is calculated by using the displacement position calculated using the body deformation data in step S11. This is to prevent computation.

Character data of the player character, since the data relating to integrated deformation joint Q of the joint information T _Pi set in the polygon vertex P _i is replaced with the calculated value (displacement position) [P _Pi '], the character data When the animation display drawing process is performed using the motion data set for the standard character, the calculation value [P _Pi '] is used instead of the calculation process of the expression (2) or (3). become.

Subsequently, the CPU 111a causes the drawing processing unit 112 to perform animation display processing of the player character according to the progress of the game program (S13). When displaying an animation that causes the player character to perform a predetermined action on the display screen of the monitor 13, the drawing processing unit 112 displays a motion No. corresponding to the action in the motion data set for the standard character. Motion data (rotation data L _{j, k of} posture deforming joint J _j ) (k is a frame number; k = 1, 2,... M) are read in the frame number (1/30 second) order by frame number, and the skeleton model The position [P _{j, k} ] in the local coordinate system LC of the posture deformation joint J _j (j = 1, 2,..., Q) of S is calculated.

Further, the drawing processing unit 112 calculates matrix data [M _{j, k} ] of each joint J of each frame k using the rotation data L _{j, k} of each posture deformation joint J _j . Then, using the matrix data [M _{j, k} ] and the polygon vertex [P _i ] of the player character, the displacement position [P _{i, k} of the polygon vertex in each frame k with respect to all the polygon vertices P _Pi . '] Is calculated. For example, the joint information of the polygon vertex P _i of the player character includes the calculated value [P _Pi '] of the displacement value of the polygon vertex P _i based on the displacement of the body deformation joint Q _r and three posture deformation joints J _a , When J _b, J _c and weight values W _a , W _b , W _c (%) are set, the drawing processing unit 112 determines the posture deformation joints J _a , J _b, J _c of the polygon vertex P _i. If the position data in each individual coordinate system is [P _PiJa ], [P _PiJb ], [P _PiJc ],
[P _{Pi, k} '] = [P _Pi '] + (W _a / 100) × [M _{a, k} ] [P _PiJa ]
+ (W _b / 100) × [M _{b, k} ] [P _PiJb ]
+ (W _c / 100) × [M _{c, k} ] [P _PiJc ] (4)
However, [P _Pi '] = (W _Qr / 100) × [M _Qr ] [P _PiQr ]
_Is calculated to calculate the position [P _{Pi, k} '] of the polygon vertex P _i of the player character.

The drawing processing unit 112, the calculated coordinates [P _{Pi, k} '] to be displaced all polygon vertices P _i, performs paste processing a predetermined texture to each polygon. Since the polygon model in which all the polygon vertices P _i of the player character are displaced to the coordinates [P _{Pi, k} '] is _obtained by changing the polygon mesh in accordance with the change in the skeleton structure of the skeleton model, the polygon model is changed every frame. The generated image of the player character is sequentially displayed on the monitor 13, whereby the monitor 13 displays an animation in which the player character that has deformed the body shape of the standard character moves in a predetermined manner. Note that the animation display of the predetermined movement includes not only an animation display of an action such as walking but also an animation display of a stationary state.

  In step S13, on the basis of an operation signal from the operation controller 12 by the player and a result of an event occurring in the game space (for example, an attack by an enemy character or a collision with an object such as a building) Reproduction processing (animation display processing) of motion data corresponding to the motion is performed. In each reproduction processing, the character data created for the player character in step S12 is used, and in steps S11 and S12, The process is not repeated.

  As described above, according to the game device 1 according to the present embodiment, when a player character is created by deforming the body shape of the standard character in the image editing mode, the body character deformation data of the player character is stored in the memory card 15. Thereafter, when the game is started, the character data of the player character is created by using the body shape deformation data and the character data of the standard character at a predetermined timing before the player character animation is first displayed. That is, the character data of the player character is created by performing a re-envelope process on the character data of the standard character using the body shape deformation data.

  Then, since the animation in which the player character performs a predetermined motion is displayed using the character data of the player character and the motion data set as the standard character, the processing load of the player character animation display on the game apparatus 1 Can be suppressed.

That is, in the case of the above-described example of the expression (4), conventionally, every time the movement of the player character changes, an animation is displayed for the movement.
[P _{Pi, k} '] = (W _Qr / 100) × [M _Qr ] [P _PiQr ]
+ (W _a / 100) × [M _{a, k} ] [P _JiJa ]
+ (W _b / 100) × [M _{b, k} ] [P _PiJb ]
+ (W _c / 100) × [M _{c, k} ] [P _PiJc ] (5)
Thus, the coordinates [P _{Pi, k} '] of the polygon vertex P _i of the player character of each frame must be calculated.

Equation (5) calculates the displacement position [P _Pi '] = (W _Qr / 100) × [M _Qr ] [P _PiQr ] of the polygon vertex P _{i at} a portion that does not affect the change in character posture for each frame. since it has become much Factor compared to the embodiment without calculating the displacement position of the polygon vertices P _i of the part it does not affect the change in the attitude of the [P _Pi '] for each frame. In the present embodiment performs calculation of the displaced position of the polygon vertices P _i of the portion which is not affected by changes in the character of the orientation [P _Pi '] only once, because it utilizes the result of operation in the display process of animation, the animation The number of calculations of the coordinates [P _Pi '] of the polygon vertex P _i in the display process is reduced, and the processing load of the drawing process for the entire polygon model can be suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, a case has been described in which the player creates a player character by transforming the standard character's body shape into a desired body shape in the image editing mode as an example of creating a non-standard body character. Even when a large number of enemy characters and mob characters having different body shapes are produced by deforming the body shape of this model, the processing load on the game apparatus 1 can be significantly suppressed by performing the same animation display processing. it can.

  In the case of the player character, the player deforms the body shape of the standard character in the image editing mode to create the player character. Therefore, the body character deformation data and the posture deformation data of the player character are created by the game apparatus 1, but Data such as body shape deformation data and posture deformation data of characters (characters controlled by a computer in the game apparatus 1; hereinafter referred to as “non-player characters”) such as enemy characters and mob characters whose body shape and posture are deformed Created when creating software. Therefore, for non-standard non-player characters, the character data shown in FIG.

In the character data of the non-player character NPC _x (x is the number of the non-player character), data corresponding to the model data of the standard character is not described, and body shape deformation data and posture deformation data are described instead. The point is different. Note that the UV coordinate data in FIG. 15 is data used to paste a portion of a standard texture on each polygon of the polygon model.

The game data read from the game media 14 into the RAM 111c of the game apparatus 1 includes character data of the non-player character NPC _x . May Animating non-player character NPC _x during the game, the player characters as in the case the non-player at a predetermined timing before the first animation display of the non-player character NPC _x after the start of the game character NPC _x Character data of the non-player character NPC _x is created using the body shape deformation data, posture deformation data, and character data of the standard character. Thereafter comes to the scene to appear a non-player character NPC _x on the game screen, a predetermined operation in the non-player character NPC _x with its non-player character NPC _x motion data set in the character data and the standard characters Animation display processing is performed.

The non-standard-type non-player character NPC _x is basically different from the player character customized by the player at the time when the body shape deformation data is created. Are identical. Therefore, it is possible to significantly reduce the processing load on the in game device 1 for the non-player character NPC _x, at the same time animation display excessive processing to the game apparatus 1 a game scene where a large number of non-player character NPC _x A large amount of non-player characters NPC _x can be displayed on the monitor 13 without imposing a burden.

Further, since only the character data shown in FIG. 15 is prepared for the non-standard non-player character NPC _x , according to the above embodiment, the data amount is smaller than the character data of the standard character, and the game software The entire data amount can be suppressed. As a result, the loading time when loading game data from the game media 14 to the RAM 111c of the game apparatus 1 can be shortened.

Further, if the game device 1 changes the posture deformation data of the non-standard character non-player character NPC _x to generate the character data, a large amount of the non-player character NPC _x whose posture and size are changed at random. Even when the non-player character NPC _x is made to appear on the game screen, an increase in processing load can be significantly suppressed. Thereby, a game image in which a large number of mob characters with different body shapes and the like appear can be changed into a highly interesting game image. In addition, it is possible to reduce the work burden of creating an operator's character at the time of game production while suppressing such an increase in processing burden.

In the above embodiment, the operation point of the joint structure has been described as the operation point for body deformation, but the operation point for body deformation does not have to be a joint structure. For example, in the example of FIG. 6, bones B ₅ and the center of the operating point of the enlargement / reduction provided bone B _6, bones B ₅ and bone B by changing the enlargement ratio or the reduction ratio to be set to the operation point An image editing tool that thickens or thins the shape of the skin mesh around ₆ may be used. The operation method for deforming the size of the part is the same, and an operation point for expansion / reduction is provided in the center of the bone B, and by changing the expansion rate and the reduction rate set at the operation point, the skin mesh around the bone B is changed. An image editing tool that makes the shape longer or shorter according to the length of the bone B may be used.

  In the above embodiment, the timing of creating character data of a non-standard player character or non-player character using the body deformation data is set as the start time of the game. Therefore, the character data may be created at an arbitrary timing between the start of the game and the first animation display. For example, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the game was started or when a specific screen display process is performed, the character data creation timing can be set.

  Moreover, although the case where the body shape of a humanoid character is deformed has been described in the above embodiment, the present invention is a character (such as an animal or a created monster) or an object having an arbitrary shape that deforms its shape with an articulated structure. It can also be applied to (objects such as robots and structures).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Game device 11 Main body 111 Control part 111a CPU
111b ROM
111c RAM
112 Drawing processing unit 113 Audio processing unit 114 Disk drive unit 115 Memory card connection unit 116 I / O interface unit 117 Signal transmission / reception unit 12 Operation controller 13 Monitor 13a, 13b Speaker 14 Game media 15 Memory card A Polygon model S Skeleton model P Polygon vertex B Bone J Joint for posture deformation Q Joint for body deformation NPC Non-player character

Claims (1)

A body shape different from the first character created by displacing the polygon vertex of the polygon model of the first character in conjunction with the displacement of the operation point for body shape deformation included in the skeleton model of the first character An image reproduction program for displaying an animation of a second character having
The first character includes the joint for calculating the position at which the polygon vertex is displaced in conjunction with the displacement of the posture deformation joint and the body deformation operation point included in the skeleton model, and the operation. First character data including joint information in which a point is associated with the polygon vertex and motion data for creating an animation in which the first character performs a predetermined motion are set.
Body deformation data indicating the displacement contents of the operation points for body deformation is set for the second character,
Computer
The displacement position of the polygon vertex based on the displacement of the operation point using information on the operation point included in the joint information and the body deformation data indicating the displacement content of the operation point at a predetermined timing after the game starts And the result of the calculation is replaced with information on the operation point set in the joint information of the polygon vertex included in the first character data, whereby the second character data for the second character is calculated. Character data setting means for setting
After the second character data is set, an image of each frame is reproduced using the motion data and the second character data set for the first character that operates according to the progress of the game. An image reproducing means for displaying an animation in which the second character performs a predetermined action on the game screen;
An image reproduction program characterized by being made to function.

Images