JPH0981772A - Method and device for image composition - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display a map by which spatial information on an object space can intuitively be grasped as a subordinate screen by mapping a map representing at least part of the object space into a polygon as texture and projecting and displaying a visual field wherein the polygon is looked around from a given viewpoint as the subordinate screen. SOLUTION: An image composition part 108 performs three-dimensional coordinate conversion by parallel movement, rotation, inversion, enlargement, reduction, etc., according to position information and direction information stored in a spatial information storage part 102 to obtain position coordinates on a world coordinate system. Then the coordinates of polygons constituting respective display bodies are converted to a viewpoint coordinate system based upon the given viewpoint. Then windowing processing such as clipping processing is performed to perform projection conversion to a screen coordinate system. On the basis of image information on the obtained screen coordinate system, a display part 110 displays a specific range of a game stage as an image.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image synthesizing method and apparatus, and more particularly to an image synthesizing method and apparatus capable of displaying a map of an object space as a sub-screen.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an object space is set in a storage device or the like to construct a virtual three-dimensional space, which is viewed from a given viewpoint in the virtual three-dimensional space. An image synthesizing device such as a game device or a simulation device whose field of view is displayed as a main screen on a display device is known. Then, in this type of image synthesizing device, the spatial information of the whole or a part of the object space is displayed on the display device as a map screen or a radar screen as needed. Such spatial information is effective for the operator to easily grasp the outline of the spatial information such as the position of the structure in the virtual three-dimensional space.

However, the conventional map screen or radar screen of this type is flat and it is difficult for the operator to grasp the correspondence with the main screen displayed three-dimensionally. For example, in the electronic game machine for driving games disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-91054, the visual field from the driver's viewpoint (or the rear) is displayed as a three-dimensional image on the main screen of the display device. Despite that, the map is just a flat image of the driver looking down from above. Therefore, in this case, the operator needs a certain amount of thinking in order to understand the correspondence between the image displayed on the main screen and the information obtained from the map, and the operator can intuitively use the space depending on such a map. There was a problem that information could not be grasped.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides an image synthesizing method and device capable of displaying a map as a sub-screen capable of intuitively grasping spatial information of an object space. Is an issue.

[0005]

The present invention is characterized in that a map representing at least a part of an object space is mapped to a polygon as a texture, and a visual field overlooking the polygon from a given viewpoint is projected and displayed as a sub-screen. And

According to the present invention, a map representing at least a part of the object space is stored as texture information, and the texture is mapped to polygons.
Then, the field of view overlooking this polygon from a given viewpoint is image-synthesized and displayed as a sub-screen.

That is, according to the present invention, the map is displayed as an image as a sub-screen separately from the main screen. At this time, if a larger area than the object space area displayed on the main screen is displayed as an image on the sub screen, the user can grasp the situation of the wider area of the object space by referring to the sub screen at any time together with the main screen. can do.

Further, according to the present invention, the map is formed by mapping a texture on a polygon. Therefore, even when a plurality of object spaces are provided, different maps can be easily displayed as an image by replacing the texture to be mapped to the polygon or by replacing the polygon itself displayed as an image. In addition, when synthesizing the visual field of the map viewed from a given viewpoint, the existing polygon image synthesizing technique can be used. Therefore, the present invention has an advantage that it can be easily implemented by improving the existing image display device.

Further, according to the present invention, the map is image-combined and displayed as a view overlooking from a given viewpoint. Therefore, a stereoscopic image is displayed on the sub screen, and the user can easily understand the situation in the object space.

In the present invention, the sub-screen is not limited to one in which a partial area on the display screen is divided and the image is displayed, and the image is displayed in the entire area of the display screen as necessary. Things, or those that display an image on another display device provided separately from the display device for displaying the main screen,
It means a screen that can be supplementarily referenced by the user.

Next, the present invention relates to an image synthesizing method for projecting and displaying, as a main screen, a visual field for looking ahead of a moving display object moving from a viewpoint following the moving display object moving in the object space. Projecting and displaying as a sub-screen a field of view overlooking a position corresponding to the periphery of the one moving display object in the map from a position corresponding to the sky above the one moving display object in a map representing at least a part of space; Characterize.

According to the present invention, the field of view of the moving display object seen from the viewpoint following the moving display object is displayed on the main screen. Therefore, the user can see a virtual scene when moving in the object space together with the moving display object on the main screen.

On the other hand, on the sub-screen, a field of view overlooking the position on the map corresponding to the periphery of the one moving display object from the position corresponding to the sky above the one moving display object is displayed.
Therefore, the map is displayed as an image such that the position corresponding to the position of the one moving display object is the fixed position on the sub-screen and faces the fixed direction. Then, with the movement of the one moving display object in the object space, the map is relatively rotated around the position corresponding to the position of the one moving display object as a fixed center and displayed as an image.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the field of view for the main screen and the field of view for the sub screen are oriented in substantially the same direction, and the user can relate the display image of the main screen to the map displayed on the sub screen. It can be easily grasped.

Further, according to the present invention, the position corresponding to the back of the one moving display object is also displayed on the sub-screen as an image.
Therefore, the user can grasp the state behind the one moving display object which is not normally displayed on the main screen on the sub screen.

It is preferable that a symbol representing a moving display object moving in the object space is displayed so as to be superimposed on a corresponding position in the map. Then, the user can easily grasp the position of the moving display object in the object space by looking at the symbols displayed on the map.

Further, it is preferable that the symbol is displayed so as to identify at least one of a front-back direction, a state, and an attribute of the moving display object. For example, if the symbol is formed in the shape of an arrow and an image is displayed by correlating the front-back direction of the moving display object with the direction of the arrow, the user can easily grasp the front-back direction of the moving display object by looking at the symbol. can do. Further, for example, when the moving display object represents a tank, the state of the moving display object means the remaining amount of fuel of the moving display object, the damage state of the moving display object, the loaded amount of the moving display object, The direction of the barrel of the moving display object is shown. Then, if the color of the symbol is changed, for example, corresponding to them, the user can easily grasp the state of the moving display object by looking at the symbol.

As described above, according to the present invention, more necessary information can be displayed on the map displayed on the sub-screen.

Further, in each of the above inventions, it is preferable that a region in the map corresponding to a region (including a square) partitioned in the object space is partitioned and displayed. Then, depending on the projection method, for example,
In the case of perspective projection conversion, the map is divided into trapezoids and displayed on the display means. As a result, the user can easily understand the depth of the displayed map, and the stereoscopic display effect can be further enhanced.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

The present embodiment relates to a three-dimensional game device, and more particularly to a three-dimensional game device capable of stereoscopically displaying a map representing a simplified game stage as a sub-screen on a display device.

The game realized by this game device is a tank (hereinafter referred to as "player machine") operated by a player on a game stage provided in a virtual three-dimensional space and another tank (hereinafter referred to as "other machine"). ")) Is to display the image of how the match with. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall view of a game stage of the present game device. As shown in the figure, the building 10 is arranged at an appropriate position on the game stage, and the player machine 12, the other machine 14,
16, 18 are arranged between the buildings 10. A virtual viewpoint 20 is arranged on the player machine 12 at a position corresponding to a cockpit, and a field of view of the game stage extending from the viewpoint to the front of the player machine 12 is displayed on the main screen of the display device. Then, the player can control the operation of the player machine 12 by operating means based on the displayed image, move on the game stage, and attack the other machines 14, 16, 18. The other machines 14, 16 and 18 also move on the game stage based on the game program and attack the player machine 12. Incidentally, by connecting a plurality of the present game devices, the other machines 14, 16, 18 can be used as a battle-type game operated by another player.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the present game device. The game device shown in the figure includes an operation unit 100, a space information storage unit 102, a space calculation unit 104, a model information storage unit 106, an image composition unit 108, and a display unit 110.

The operation section 100 is used by the player to input a signal for controlling the operation of the player machine 12 to the space calculation section 104. Operation buttons, a handle and the like are connected to the operation section 100 to allow the player to operate. The operation of the player machine 12 can be easily controlled.

In the space information storage unit 102, each display object (building 10, player machine 12, other machines 14, 16, 18 etc.) arranged on the game stage.
The position information and the direction information of are stored. FIG. 3 shows the position and orientation of the player machine 12 and position information (X, Y,
It is a figure which shows the relationship with Z) and direction information ((theta), (phi), (rho)). As shown in the figure, in this game device, the position information (X, Y, Z) and the direction information (θ, φ, ρ) of each display object are set in a virtual game stage (object space). A game stage is constructed by being stored as position coordinates and angles in the coordinate system (Xw, Yw, Zw). The position information (X, Y, Z) and the direction information (θ, φ, ρ) of each display object set in this way are stored in the spatial information storage unit 102 as shown in FIG. That is, the spatial information storage unit 102 stores position information (X, Y, Z) and direction information (θ, φ, ρ) of i objects.
Is the object number O assigned to each display object
It is stored together with B. Here, in particular, an object representing the main body of the player machine 12 is assigned to the object number OB1, and the object number O
B2, OB3, and OB4 are the other machines 14 and 1, respectively.
Objects representing the barrels of 6 and 18 are assigned. And, for the other object numbers, the building 10, the barrel of the player machine 12, the other machine 1
Other objects such as the bodies of 4, 16, and 18 are assigned.

The space calculation unit 104 stores the position information (X, Y, Z) and the direction information (θ, φ, ρ) of each display object on the game stage stored as described above, on the operation unit 100. It is rewritten and updated every predetermined time, for example, every 1/60 seconds, in accordance with the operation signal input by, the game program, and the like. For example, the player machine 12
Is moving on the game stage in the X-axis direction of the world coordinate without changing its posture, the X-coordinate of the position information stored together with the corresponding object number stored in the space information storage unit 102 is set to the space. Computing unit 104
Is expressed by being changed and stored at a predetermined increment according to the moving speed. In this way, it is possible to easily produce a situation in which each display object changes its position and direction (posture) moment by moment on the game stage.

Frame information is further stored in the spatial information storage unit 102. The frame information includes viewpoint information (player's viewpoint position, line-of-sight direction, viewing angle), information relating to the display device, and the like. Then, this frame information is similarly updated by the spatial calculation unit 104 at predetermined time intervals. In the present game device, the viewpoint 20 is arranged at a position corresponding to the cockpit of the player machine 12, and the line-of-sight direction is toward the front of the player machine 12, so the frame is based on the position information and the direction information of the player machine 12. The viewpoint position and line-of-sight direction included in the information are changed and stored.

The model information storage unit 106 stores information on the shape and appearance of each display object on the game stage, and includes a polygon information storage unit 112 and a texture information storage unit 114. That is, in this game device, each display object is modeled by a combination of polygons, and a texture representing the appearance of each display object is mapped to each polygon.

In the polygon information storage unit 112, as information representing the shape of each display object, the vertex coordinates of each polygon forming the display object and the texture to be mapped to each polygon are stored in association with each other. . The vertex coordinates are stored as position coordinates of each vertex in the coordinate system (body coordinate system) provided for each display object.

The texture information storage section 114 stores texture information of textures to be mapped to these polygons. Here, the texture information means not only information such as the color and reflectance of the display object but also information related to surface attributes such as the normal direction of the surface in bump mapping, and can be appropriately selected as necessary. It is a thing.

The image composition section 108 composes an image representing the scene of the game stage according to the information stored in the space information storage section 102 and the model information storage section 106. Specifically, first, as shown in FIG. 5, a calculation for arranging the polygons forming the display object 200 on the game stage represented by the world coordinate system (Xw, Yw, Zw) is performed. That is, the model information storage unit 106 stores the position information of polygons forming the display object as coordinate information in the body coordinate system. The image composition unit 108 translates, rotates, reverses, and magnifies the image based on the position information (X, Y, Z) and the direction information (θ, φ, ρ) stored in the spatial information storage unit 102. , Three-dimensional coordinate conversion such as reduction is performed, and converted into position coordinates in the world coordinate system (Xw, Yw, Zw). Next, for each display object, the polygons forming the display object are coordinated to the viewpoint coordinate system (Xv, Yv, Z
v) The coordinate conversion processing is performed. After that, windowing processing such as clipping processing is performed, and projection conversion processing to the screen coordinate system (Xs, Ys) is performed. Then, based on the image information in the screen coordinate system (Xs, Ys) thus obtained, the display unit 110 outputs the image display of a predetermined range of the game stage.

By the way, the image synthesizing unit 10 of the present game device.
Reference numeral 8 denotes the position coordinates of the polygon converted into coordinate information of the world coordinate system (Xw, Yw, Zw), and the player machine 12
Of the viewpoint coordinate system (Xs, Y) that looks ahead of the player machine 12 from the viewpoint 20 arranged at a position corresponding to the pilot's seat.
s). Therefore, the player can enjoy a more powerful display image. However, when the game stage is viewed from such a viewpoint 20, the building 10
The visibility may be blocked by other display objects such as
With such image display, the player cannot easily grasp the entire situation of the game stage.

This game device is further provided with a sub-screen in order to eliminate such a problem, and a map which simply represents the situation of the entire game stage is displayed as an image. Therefore, in the present game device, the spatial information storage unit 102 is provided with the sub-screen information storage unit 116. Further, the polygon information storage unit 112 is provided with a sub-screen polygon information storage unit 118, and the texture information storage unit 114 is provided with a sub-screen texture information storage unit 120 (see FIG. 2).

In this game device, a map that simplifies the game stage is represented as polygons and textures that are mapped to the polygons. Furthermore, the player machine 12 and the other machine 1 moving on the game stage
The symbols corresponding to 4, 16, and 18 are displayed superimposed on the map. Then, these symbols are also represented as polygons and textures mapped to the polygons.

The sub-screen information storage unit 116 stores position information (X, Y, Z) in the world coordinate system (Xw, Yw, Zw) of the map and the symbols displayed on the sub-screen.
And direction information (θ, φ, ρ) are stored. FIG. 6 shows the positional information (X,
It is a figure which shows Y, Z) and direction information ((theta), (phi), (rho)).
The objects (maps or symbols) shown in the figure include the object numbers OB1 ...
Object numbers OBi + 1 ... OBi + 5, which are object numbers following OBi, are attached. The object number OBi + 1 is the polygon number of the polygon representing the map, and the position information (Xi + 1, Yi + 1, Zi + 1) and the direction information (θi) so that the polygon is arranged at the same position as the game stage.
(+1, φi + 1, ρi + 1) is defined and stored.

The object number OBi + 2 is the object number of the object representing the symbol corresponding to the player machine 12. Similarly, the object numbers OBi + 3, OBi + 4, OBi + 5 are
The object numbers of the objects representing the symbols corresponding to the other machines 14, 16 and 18, respectively.

Here, the object number OBi + 2
The position information (X1, Y1, Z1) and the direction information (θ1, φ1, ρ1) corresponding to the position information (X1, Y1, Z1) and the direction information (θ1, φ1,) of the object number OB1 shown in FIG. ρ1). That is, the symbol corresponding to the player machine 12 has the same position information and direction information as the main body of the player machine 12. Also, the object number OBi + 3 ... OBi +
The position information and the direction information corresponding to No. 5 are the same as the position information and the direction information of the object numbers OB2 ... OB4 shown in FIG. That is, the other machine 14, 1
The symbols corresponding to 6 and 18 are the other machines 14 and 1,
It has the same position information and direction information as the 6 and 18 barrels.

The sub-screen information storage section 116 further stores sub-screen frame information. The sub-screen frame information includes viewpoint information (viewpoint position, line-of-sight direction, viewing angle), information related to the display device (display position, display area), and the like. In the present game device, the viewpoint position is arranged at a position corresponding to the sky above and behind the player machine 12, the line-of-sight direction is set to face the direction of the player machine 12, and the viewing angle corresponds to the periphery including the rear of the player machine 12. The position is set to be in the field of view.

The sub-screen polygon information storage unit 118 stores the vertex coordinates in the body coordinate system of polygons that represent maps and symbols, and stores their shapes. Here, the symbols representing the other machines 14, 16 and 18 are particularly formed in an isosceles triangle so as to represent the direction of the barrel.

Further, the sub-screen texture information storage unit 1
20 stores texture information of the texture to be mapped to each polygon representing the map or the symbol.

FIG. 7 shows the sub-screen texture information storage unit 120.
It is a figure which shows the texture showing the said map memorize | stored in FIG. The texture shown in the figure is equivalent to the hit check map in the game stage. That is, normally, in this type of game device, an area in which the player machine 12 can move and a building or the like are arranged in the game stage to control the movement of the moving display object, and an area in which the player machine 12 cannot enter. Although a hit check map that distinguishes between and is used is used, this hit check map is diverted as a texture that represents the map in the present game device. Therefore, in the present game device, the hit check map previously created as a part of the normal game information is diverted as it is, thereby saving the trouble of creating new map data.

Further, the textures to be mapped to the symbols representing the player machine 12 and the other machines 14, 16 and 18 are provided with numbers for identifying the respective machines as a pattern.

The characteristic operation of the above-described game device will be described below.

First, the space computing unit 104 stores the object numbers OBi + 2 ... O in the sub-screen information storage unit 116.
Position information (X, Y, Z) stored corresponding to Bi + 5
And direction information (θ, φ, ρ) are stored in correspondence with the object numbers OB1 ... OB4.
(Y, Z) and direction information (θ, φ, ρ) are changed and stored at predetermined time intervals so as to be equal. In this way, the symbol representing the player machine 12 always has the same position information and direction information as the player machine 12. Further, the symbols representing the other machines 14, 16, 18 always have the same position information and direction information as the barrels of the corresponding other machines 14, 16, 18. Therefore, the positions of the other machines 14, 16, 18 on the game stage and the positions of the symbols on the map are always substantially the same, and the direction of the symbols is always the same as the direction of the barrel of the corresponding other machines 14, 16, 18.

Further, the space calculation unit 104 determines the viewpoint position and the line-of-sight direction of the sub-screen frame information stored in the sub-screen information storage unit 116 for a predetermined time based on the position information and the direction information of the player machine 12. Change and store each time.

The image synthesizing unit 108, based on the information stored in the sub-screen information storage unit 116, the sub-screen polygon information storage unit 118, and the sub-screen texture information,
Superimposes the map and symbol images.

FIG. 8 shows each object (map, player machine 12, other machine 1) image-displayed on the sub-screen.
It is a conceptual diagram which shows the position in the world coordinate system of 4, 16, 18). As shown in the figure, the player machine 12
Symbols 302, 304, 306, and 308 representing the other machines 14, 16 and 18, respectively, are located at locations corresponding to movable areas on the game stage.
The viewpoint 320 on the sub screen is the player machine 1.
The symbol 30 is placed in the sky above the symbol representing 2
The line of sight is in the direction of 2. Also, the symbol 304,
306 and 308 are arranged at positions corresponding to the positions of the other machines 14, 16 and 18 on the game stage,
It is arranged so that the direction of the apex angle of the triangle faces the direction corresponding to the direction of the barrels of the other machines 14, 16, 18.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an image displayed by the game device. As shown in the figure, on the main screen 400 provided on the upper side of the display device, an image of how the player machine 12 looks forward from the cockpit is displayed. On the other hand, on the sub-screen 402 provided on the lower side of the display device, an image is displayed in which the surroundings of the player machine 12 are viewed from above and behind the player machine 12. According to the sub screen 402, the player can easily recognize a region much larger than the visual field displayed on the main screen 400, and the positions of the other machines 14, 16, 18 and the direction of the barrel can be seen at a glance. Can be recognized at. In addition, in particular, this map is displayed as an image such that the front of the symbol 302 representing the player machine 12 is always located above the sub-screen,
The player displays objects such as the building 10 and the other machines 14, 16, 18 displayed on the main screen 400, and maps and symbols 302, 304, 306, 308 displayed on the sub screen.
It is easy to recognize the correspondence relationship with. Further, in this map, since the field of view behind the symbol 302 representing the player machine 12 is secured, the player can early recognize the other machines 14, 16, 18 approaching from the rear side, The interest in this type of game can be further enhanced.

In the game device described above, since the object space representing the game stage and the object space for the sub-screen 402 are constructed by the same coordinate system, it is easy to share the data between them. Further, since the number of polygons used for image composition of the sub-screen 402 of the present game device is overwhelmingly smaller than the number of polygons used for image composition of the main screen 400, it has almost no effect on image processing of the main screen 400. It is possible to perform image composition on the sub-screen 402 without giving it.

(Modification) The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but various modifications can be made.

For example, as shown in FIG. 10, if the frame of the sub-screen is trapezoidal and the area of the map corresponding to the rectangular (including square) area on the game stage is displayed as an image on the sub-screen, the player can further easily perform the operation. It is possible to recognize the map three-dimensionally. Here, the image display of the sub-screen as shown in the figure can be easily obtained by changing the frame information stored in the sub-screen information storage unit 116.

Although the game device described above relates to a tank game, the present invention can be applied to any type of game in which the player needs to recognize a wide spatial area. . For example, in a soccer game, if the entire competition court is three-dimensionally displayed on a sub-screen and symbols indicating the position of the player are superimposed and displayed, the player can easily grasp the situation of the entire competition court by the sub-screen. be able to. Other,
The present invention can be applied to course maps in drive games, radar in airplane games, and the like.

Further, the present invention described above can be implemented by using any kind of hardware for home use and business use. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a game device of a type which is currently widely used. The game device shown in the figure has a CPU 1000, a ROM 1002, and an R.
AM1004, information storage medium 1006, speech synthesis IC1
008, image synthesis IC 1010, I / O port 101
2, 1014 are connected to each other by a system bus 1016 so that data can be transmitted and received between them. And the image composition I
A display 1018 is connected to the C1010, a speaker 1020 is connected to the voice synthesis IC 1008, and a control device 102 is connected to the I / O port 1012.
2 is connected, and the communication device 10 is connected to the I / O port 1014.
24 are connected.

The information storage medium 1006 is a CD-RO.
M, a game ROM, a memory means such as a memory card, which means a storage means detachably provided to the game apparatus main body, and a type capable of writing and storing predetermined information according to the game content is also used. The ROM 1002 is a storage unit fixedly provided in the game apparatus main body. These are means for storing information related to the game title such as the game program and spatial information of the game stage, as well as information not related to the game title such as the initial state of the game apparatus main body or information.

The control device 1022 is a device for inputting the result of the judgment made by the player according to the progress of the game to the main body of the game device. It is a pad type device which is widely used at home or for business use. Examples include steering wheels and accelerators used in drive games.

Then, the information storage medium 1006 and RO
In accordance with a game program or system program stored in M1002 or a signal input by the control device 1022, the CPU 1000 controls the entire game device and performs various data processing. RAM1
Reference numeral 004 denotes storage means used as a work area of the CPU 1000, and the information storage medium 1006 and the R
The predetermined contents of the OM 1002 or the calculation results of the CPU 1000 are stored.

Further, this type of game device is provided with a voice synthesis IC 1008 and an image synthesis IC 1010 so that suitable output of voices and images can be performed.
The voice synthesizing IC 1008 includes an information storage medium 1006 and R
This is a circuit that synthesizes sound effects, game music, and the like based on information stored in the OM 1002, and the synthesized music and the like is output by a speaker 1020. The image synthesizing IC 1010 is a circuit that synthesizes pixel information to be output to the display 1018 based on image information sent from the RAM 1004, the ROM 1002, the information storage medium 1006, and the like.

The communication device 1024 exchanges various information used inside the game device with the outside, and is connected to another game device to send and receive predetermined information according to the game program. It is used to send and receive information such as game programs via a communication line.

The present invention can be easily implemented using the general game device described above. For example, the operation unit 100 corresponds to the control device 1022, and the spatial operation unit 104 is realized by software stored in the CPU 1000 and the ROM 1002 or the information storage medium 1006. Further, the space information storage unit 102 and the model information storage unit 106 include a RAM 1004, a ROM 1002,
It can be provided in any of the information storage media 1006. Further, the image synthesizing unit 108 uses the image synthesis IC 1010.
Or by the CPU 1000 and predetermined software. The display unit 110 corresponds to the display 1018.

[0060]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall view of a game stage of a game device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a game device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a relationship between a position and a posture of a player machine and position information and direction information.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing information stored in a spatial information storage unit of the game device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an image composition process of the game device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing information stored in a sub-screen information storage unit of the game device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a texture of a map of the game device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an object space on a sub-screen of the game device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an image displayed by the game device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a modified example of the sub-screen of the game device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a game device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 player machine (moving display object) 14, 16, 18 other machine (moving display object) 302, 304, 306, 308 symbol 320 viewpoint

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An image synthesizing method, characterized in that a map representing at least a part of an object space is mapped onto a polygon as a texture, and a visual field overlooking the polygon from a given viewpoint is projected and displayed as a sub-screen. 2. An image synthesizing method for projecting and displaying, as a main screen, a field of view of a front of a moving display object moving from a viewpoint following a moving display object moving in the object space, wherein at least a part of the object space The image synthesis characterized by projecting and displaying, as a sub-screen, a field of view overlooking a position corresponding to the periphery of the one moving display object in the map from a position corresponding to the sky above the one moving display object in the map indicating Method. 3. The image synthesizing method according to claim 1, wherein a symbol representing a moving display object that moves in the object space is displayed by being superimposed on a corresponding position in the map. 4. The image synthesizing method according to claim 3, wherein the symbol is represented so as to identify at least one of a front-back direction, a state, and an attribute of the moving display object. 5. The image synthesizing method according to claim 1, wherein the regions in the map corresponding to the rectangular regions in the object space are divided and displayed. 6. An image synthesizing apparatus, wherein a map representing at least a part of an object space is mapped as a texture on a polygon, and a field of view of the polygon from a given viewpoint is projected and displayed as a sub-screen. 7. An image synthesizing device in which a field of view of a front of a moving display object moving from a viewpoint following a moving display object moving in the object space is projected and displayed as a main screen, and at least one of the object space is displayed. It is characterized in that a field of view overlooking a position corresponding to the periphery of the one moving display object in the map from a position corresponding to the sky above the one moving display object in the map representing a part is projected and displayed as a sub-screen. Image synthesizer. 8. The image synthesizing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein symbols representing moving display objects that move in the object space are displayed in a superimposed manner at corresponding positions in the map. 9. The image synthesizing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the symbol is represented so as to identify at least one of a front-back direction, a state, and an attribute of the moving display object. 10. The image synthesizing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the area in the map corresponding to the rectangular area in the object space is divided and displayed.