JPH1049703A - Animation program preparation device and preparation method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently prepare an animation program without the need of a high-grade programming technique by time sequentially rearranging the plural pieces of image information, preparing the animation program as an image plotting unit and reproducing the prepared animation program. SOLUTION: By character image plotting data, background plotting data and sound data respectively stored in a first memory 53, a second memory 55 and a third memory 57 for the animation program, a character plotting circuit 52, a background plotting circuit 54 and a sound output circuit 56 are respectively operated. Then, through a synthesis/output selection circuit 51, animation images by the generated animation program are displayed on the screen of a display 33 and reproducing sound is outputted from a speaker 35. Thus, at the time of simulation, image plotting performance capable of plotting the screen at a plotting speed higher than 60 frames per second in real time is obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an animation program creating apparatus, and more particularly, to an animation program suitable for creating an animation program frequently used in a game machine and for creating an animation program used for various presentations and the like. The present invention relates to a creating device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, animation programs for various games running on arcade game machines, home game machines, personal computers (personal computers), and the like have been developed. These animation programs are generally used in game programs generally called "game software", and the function of animation programs in "game software" is an important element that is familiar to children and adults. ing.

An animation program in such “game software” displays, for example, characters such as people and animals, a background image, and the like on a display screen, and issues an instruction from an operation input device such as a control button or a joystick. And are configured to control their movement. For this reason, the user inputs control information from operation input devices such as operation buttons, a pointing device mouse, a joystick, and a keyboard while viewing images on the display screen such as characters and background images displayed by the game software. By doing so, the game proceeds in an interactive manner.

[0004] This kind of "game software" is produced by a person who plans a game scenario, generally called a game creator, a designer who creates characters and background pictures used in the game, music and sound effects used in the game. The sound is developed in cooperation with a large number of people, such as a person who creates sounds, and a programmer who programs a computer program (game software) according to a game scenario. In this case, each person is responsible for sharing the work and finally completes one game software.

[0005] By the way, when programming such a computer program for a game, conventionally, a programmer having a high level of specialized knowledge of computer programming uses a game scenario and a character or background drawn by a designer or the like for use in the scenario. A computer program for the game is created by proceeding with programming while referring to the pictures and the like and integrating the pictures and movements, and further information such as sound effects into the source program.

The source program created in this way is, for example, a computer of a home game machine or
By translating (compiling) into a format that can be executed on an operating system of a personal computer or the like, the game program is completed and can be executed. Then, at this stage, you can see for the first time whether the programmer works as intended.

[0007]

A computer program for a game is created by integrating a game scenario, images (pictures) such as characters and background images used in the scenario, their movements, and sound effects. Such a program is created by a method of proceeding with programming while incorporating it into a source program. For this reason, it is impossible for the programmer to move an image (picture) such as a character or a background image as in actual game software until the program is completed.

[0008] Therefore, even if it is desired to change or adjust the plan of the game being created or to see how the game is made during the course of creating the game software, the programmer must wait until the program is completed. I had to. Also, when the program is completed, even if only one of the scenario or the picture such as a character or background image needs to be changed or modified, the source program itself needs to be newly modified or modified. Each time, it is necessary to change / correct the program, translate it into an executable form, and check the operation of the program after executing it.

Also, since it was not possible to simulate only the movement of the image separately from the execution of the scenario, the movement of the image was planned and examined by using a plurality of pictures (conte) drawn on paper. Was doing. For this reason, images often differ from those drawn on paper and those actually completed as a program, and it is necessary to repeat the process from changing the source program to execution (testing) many times. There was a problem that was very bad.

Furthermore, when a game program is created, the hardware, operating system (OS), programming language, etc., on which the program operates differ from manufacturer to manufacturer, so that a programming language prepared for each manufacturer is used. Must be programmed to the specifications of the hardware etc.
Since the programmer needs to learn hardware specifications, programming language specifications, and the like for the game programs to be created, there is a problem that the burden on the programmer is large.

The present invention has been made to solve these problems, and an object of the present invention is to efficiently use an animation program used for game software, presentations, and the like without requiring advanced programming techniques. An object of the present invention is to provide an animation program creating device that can create the program.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, an animation program creating apparatus according to the present invention has, as a first feature, a program storage circuit in which an animation program is stored, and a program storage circuit driven by the animation program. An image input unit for inputting image information to be animated, an image editing unit for editing the input image information, and a plurality of edited image information are input to a moving image drawing device having a character drawing circuit and a background drawing circuit. An animation management unit that creates an animation program as an image drawing unit by rearranging the sequence and assigns and manages an animation number, and an operation unit that reproduces the created animation program of the moving image drawing unit in the moving image drawing device. It is characterized by.

In a second aspect of the animation program creating apparatus according to the present invention, the operation means instructs reproduction of an image drawing unit to which an animation number is assigned. As a third feature, the image input means is a tablet-type handwritten image input device.

The animation program creating apparatus according to the present invention has, as a fourth feature, a program storage circuit for storing an animation program, a character drawing circuit, a background drawing circuit, and a sound forming circuit driven by the animation program. A moving image drawing apparatus comprising: a sound information input unit for inputting sound information; an image input unit for inputting image information to be animated; an editing unit for editing the input image information and sound information; Animation management means for rearranging the image information and sound information in chronological order to create an animation program as an image drawing unit, assigning and managing an animation number, and operating means for reproducing the created animation program in the moving image drawing apparatus. It is characterized by having.

As a fifth feature of the animation program creating apparatus of the present invention, the animation management means includes a function for giving an animation movement in image drawing units, and reproduces an image drawing unit assigned with an animation number. Is performed using the function. Thus, the reproduction of the image drawing based on the created animation information can be performed for confirming the animation operation without using a dedicated moving image drawing device.

As a sixth characteristic, the animation program creating method of the present invention is a moving image having a program storage circuit for storing an animation program, and a character drawing circuit and a background drawing circuit driven by the animation program. A method for creating an animation program for a drawing device, comprising inputting image information to be animated, editing the input image information, and rearranging the plurality of edited image information in chronological order to create an animation program as an image drawing unit. Then, the animation program is assigned and managed, and the created animation program is reproduced by designating the animation number in the moving image drawing apparatus.

According to such an animation program creating apparatus of the present invention, when an animation program is created, even if the animation program is being created, a part of the created animation program can be designated by an animation number. Since the video can be played back by the video rendering device having the same video rendering performance as the game machine in video rendering units, the contents of the animation program created in the video rendering unit can be immediately confirmed. This makes it easy to modify / change the program being created.

For this reason, even in the planning stage of the game development, only a part of the animation program is created,
An animation screen similar to the almost completed game content can be checked, adjustments can be made without program work, and the overall development time is shortened. Further, since a tablet is used as the image input means, it is possible to create a picture to be animated with the sensation of a pencil or a paintbrush, and to efficiently work images used in an animation program.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG.
1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an animation program creating device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a hardware circuit of the animation program creating device according to one embodiment of the present invention. This will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 1, 13 is a joystick device for operating an animation program, 14 is a tablet input device, 15 is a scanner device, 20 is a system device main body of an animation program creating device, and 32 is a first display for displaying an editing operation screen. A display 33 is a second display for displaying animation, and 40 is an auxiliary storage device. As shown in FIG. 1, the animation program creation device of the present invention has a joystick device 13 for operating an animation program and a tablet input device 14 placed on a console as shown in FIG.
Further, there is provided a manually operated scanner device 15 which takes in only a necessary portion of the image by manual operation. Also,
On the rear side of the console, an auxiliary storage device 40, a first display 32 for displaying an editing operation screen, and a second display 33 for displaying an animation are arranged. A system device main unit 20 including a moving image drawing device is provided. As the auxiliary storage device 40, a personal computer (server device) incorporating a large-capacity hard disk device is used for convenience in handling data of the created animation program.

Next, the configuration of the hardware circuit of the system device main unit 20 will be described. In FIG. 2, 13
Is a joystick device, 14 is a tablet input device,
16 is a sound input device for inputting sound data such as a microphone, 20 is a system device main body, 21 is a main memory for storing editing programs and data, 22 is a central processing unit, and 23 is a control memory for storing screen control data. , 24 is a graphic controller, 32 is a first display for displaying an editing operation screen, 33 is a second display for displaying animation, 34 is a printer device, 3
Reference numeral 5 denotes a speaker for audio output. 40 is an auxiliary storage device composed of a hard disk device, 41 is a data communication network, 50 is a moving image drawing device main body, 51 is a combining / output selecting circuit that combines and outputs a character image and a background image,
52 is a character drawing circuit, and 53 is a first animation program for storing character image drawing data.
A memory 54, a background drawing circuit; 55, a second memory for an animation program for storing background drawing data;
Reference numeral 6 denotes an audio output circuit, 57 denotes a third memory for an animation program for storing audio data, and 60 denotes a system control unit.

As shown in FIG. 2, the system device main unit 20 of the animation program creating device is mainly composed of two hardware circuits, a moving image drawing device main unit 50 and a system control unit 60. The moving image drawing apparatus main body 50 includes a first animation program memory 53 for storing character image data as a program storage circuit for storing an animation program.
An animation program second memory 55 for storing background drawing image data, and an animation program third memory 57 for storing audio data.
A character drawing circuit 52, a background drawing circuit 54, and an audio output circuit 56 are provided as dedicated hardware circuits for moving image drawing. Further, a control memory 23 for storing screen control data and a graphic controller 24 are provided for screen control. With such a dedicated hardware circuit for moving image drawing, image drawing performance capable of drawing a screen at a drawing speed of 60 frames per second or more in real time during simulation is obtained.

That is, in a basic video game, it is customary to rewrite the screen at 60 frames per second. However, when a personal computer is used as an environment for creating an image, image drawing such as animation is performed. Even in software for processing, in most cases, drawing speed of 30 frames or more per second cannot be obtained in full screen, and simulation capability is insufficient. However, according to the dedicated hardware circuit for drawing a moving image as described above, a hardware circuit configuration equivalent to a game machine is used, so that real-time simulation capability can be realized. Further, the dedicated hardware circuit here realizes real-time drawing performance as a circuit configuration that optimally distributes the character drawing process and the background image drawing process to the respective custom chips. When drawing using a graphic accelerator, drawing is performed at the timing specified by the software. However, in such a dedicated hardware circuit, if a necessary value is set in a register, the drawing is performed at an optimum timing. Processing is performed.

Therefore, the character image drawing data, the background drawing data, and the voice data stored in the first memory 53 for the animation program, the second memory 55 for the animation program, and the third memory 57 for the animation program respectively provide the character data. By operating the drawing circuit 52, the background drawing circuit 54, and the sound output circuit 56, respectively, the generated animation program is displayed on the screen of the second display 33 via the synthesis / output selection circuit 51, The sound to be reproduced is output from the speaker 35.

As described above, in the moving image drawing apparatus main body 50, the character drawing circuit 52, the background drawing circuit 54, and the sound output circuit 5 for executing the animation program.
Reference numeral 6 denotes a drawing control circuit of a hardware circuit having the same hardware circuit configuration as that for the game machine, and a first memory 5 for an animation program of a memory for storing control data (image drawing data) for these circuits.
3. The second memory 55 for the animation program and the third memory 57 for the animation program are readable and writable memories (R
AM).

A game machine for executing a game program including a completed actual animation program includes hardware circuits similar to those of the character drawing circuit 52, the background drawing circuit 54, and the sound output circuit 56. And a moving image drawing circuit for processing a game program. The first memory 53 for the animation program, the second memory 55 for the animation program, and the program memory for controlling the moving image drawing circuit, that is, the memory for storing the game program (image drawing data). Third memory 57 for animation program
A game program memory having the same configuration as that described above is provided as a read-only memory (ROM). In other words, the moving image drawing circuit of the game machine and the moving image drawing device main unit 50 in the animation program creation device of the present invention are provided with a memory as a read-only memory (ROM) or a readable / writable memory (RAM). The difference is whether it is equipped as.

In the basic configuration of the animation program creating apparatus according to the present invention, a program storage circuit (53, 55, 57) for storing an animation program;
For example, the tablet input device 14 is attached to the moving image drawing device main body 50 including the character drawing circuit 52 and the background drawing circuit 54 driven by the animation program.
An image input device for inputting image information to be animated, such as an input device, an input image information, an animation program created as an image drawing unit by rearranging a plurality of edited image information in chronological order, and the created animation program. Is provided with an animation number. The system control unit 60 further manages the created animation program in units of moving image drawing by using the above-described moving image drawing device main unit by the same operation as that of an actual game machine. A joystick device 13 is provided for playing back.

In this case, when a part of the created animation program is reproduced by operating the joystick device 13, an image drawing unit to which an animation number is assigned is designated, and a part of the image drawing unit is reproduced.
In addition, since the tablet input device 14 is used as the image input device here, when drawing a picture of an animation image which is an element of an animation program, it is possible to draw a picture as if by a handwriting operation. A characteristic picture can be easily drawn by the sensitivity from the camera.

Further, in this animation program creating apparatus, in order to associate sound data with the animation program and to add sound to the image, the sound output circuit 56 and the sound output circuit 56 A third memory 57 for animation programs for storing audio data is provided. For this reason, in the device configuration, a microphone or a sound input terminal is provided as the sound input device 16 for inputting sound data. The system control unit 60 edits information of the input image data and sound data, rearranges the plurality of edited image data and sound data in chronological order, creates an animation program as an image drawing unit, and creates the created sound data. An animation number is assigned to an attached animation program and managed. Then, in the same manner as described above, the created joystick device 13 reproduces the created animation program for each moving image drawing unit using the moving image drawing device main unit 50 by the same operation as the operation by the actual game machine.

According to the animation program creating apparatus having such a configuration, when an animation program is created, even if the animation program is being created, a part of the created animation program is indicated by an animation number and a moving image is drawn. The content is reproduced by the apparatus main body 50, and immediately the contents of the animation program for each moving image drawing unit created so far can be confirmed. For this reason, it is possible to easily modify and change the program being created.
In that case, the video can be played back in video rendering units by a video rendering device with the same video rendering performance as the game machine,
The content of the created animation program becomes more certain.

Therefore, even at the stage of game development planning, an animation screen almost similar to a completed game content can be confirmed by only creating a part of an animation program, and adjustment can be performed without program work. Overall development time is reduced. In addition, since the tablet input device 14 is used as the image input means, it is possible to create a picture animated with the sensation of a pencil or a paintbrush, and it is possible to efficiently perform work for creating an image used in an animation program. it can.

Next, a description will be given of a system control unit 60 which is a main part for creating an animation program. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration of the animation program creating device according to the present invention. In FIG.
It is shown including the configuration of the peripheral device.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 10 denotes an input device, 11 denotes a keyboard, 12 denotes a mouse device, 13 denotes a joystick device, 14 denotes a tablet input device, 15 denotes a scanner device for inputting an image, and 16 denotes a sound data input. Reference numeral 31 denotes a display unit, 32 denotes a first display for displaying an editing operation screen, 33 denotes a second display for displaying an animation, 34 denotes a printer, and 35 denotes a speaker for outputting sound. Reference numeral 40 denotes an auxiliary storage device, and reference numeral 50 denotes a moving image drawing device main body. Reference numeral 60 denotes a system control unit, 61 denotes an operating system, 62 denotes an image editing processing program, 63 denotes a picture editing unit, 64 denotes an animation editing unit, 65 denotes a map editing unit, 66 denotes a simulator unit, 67 denotes a motion editing unit, and 68 denotes a motion editing unit. Denotes a scroll editing unit, and 69 denotes a simulation reproducing unit. Further, a digital camera or the like can be used in place of the scanner device 15 for inputting the background image.

As shown in FIG. 3, the input device unit 10 includes a keyboard 11 for inputting characters, a mouse device 12 for pointing device, a joystick device 13 for test operation of the created animation program, and a joystick device for inputting handwritten images. A tablet input device 14, a scanner device 15 for taking in an image that has already been created separately, and a sound input device 16 for taking in sound data such as sound effects are provided, and image data and sound as basic data for creating an animation program are provided. Import various data such as data.

The system device main unit 20 controls the various input / output devices and controls various processing programs.
It is composed of an image editing processing program unit 62 that performs processing for creating an animation program based on image data, sound data, and editing control data input from 0.

As is well known in general computer technology, the operating system unit 61 controls hardware circuits of various input / output devices and controls an input / output of data, and an input / output control unit 61a, and a plurality of computers. And a file management unit 61b for transferring data and programs between the various files and for controlling the programs and managing the files and data.

The image editing processing program section 62 includes a picture editing section 63, an animation editing section 64, a map editing section 65, and a simulator section 66. The simulator section 66 includes a motion editing section 67, a scroll editing section 67, and a scroll editing section. A unit 68 and a simulation reproducing unit 69 are provided.

In the image editing processing program section 62,
The picture editing unit 63 performs a process of processing and editing an image input from an image input device such as the tablet input device 14 and the scanner device 15. Animation editor 6
Reference numeral 4 denotes an image drawing device 50 which converts image data processed and edited by the picture editing unit 63, for example, image data of mainly a character such as a person or an animal in accordance with a time axis.
, The information to be displayed on the display unit 31 is edited. As will be described later, the edited character image data and animation data include the character image data as the image information A as the auxiliary storage device 4.
0 is stored. The data for animation is stored in the auxiliary storage device 40 as animation information with an animation number added for each moving image drawing unit.

The map editing section 65 edits the data of the arrangement relationship of the character images together with the background image on the screen of the animation image. That is, similarly to the editing performed by the animation editing unit 64, the information for arranging (displaying) a plurality of still images such as background images output from the picture editing unit 63 on the screen is edited. Then, the image data of the background image that has been edited by the map editing unit 65 is stored in the auxiliary storage device 40 as map information and map status information. The image data of the background image edited by the picture editing unit is stored in the auxiliary storage device 40 as image data B.

The simulator section 66 performs a process of displaying (reproducing) some elements of the animation program being created on the display device section 31 in image drawing units. The motion editing unit 67 edits how to display the character image on the display screen on the time axis using mainly the data on the character output from the picture editing unit 63 and the animation editing unit 64. The scroll editing unit 68 uses the data of the still image of the background image output from the picture editing unit 63 and the map editing unit 65 to display the background image on the display screen on the time axis. Edit. Then, based on the information edited by the motion editing unit 67 and the scroll editing unit 68, the simulation reproducing unit 69 combines the character image and the background image to display a moving animation image on the display device unit 31. (Reproduce.

The display unit 31 includes a first display 32
And a second display 33. On the first display 32, image data to be edited input from the input device unit 10 and various menu information used for editing work by the image editing processing program unit 62 are displayed. ,
On the second display 33, the image data in the drawing unit of the animation program edited by the image editing processing program unit 62 is displayed via the image drawing device main unit 50 with the same image drawing quality as that of an actual game machine.

As the auxiliary storage device 40, a storage device such as a flexible disk (FD) device, a magneto-optical disk (MO) device, or a hard disk (HD) device is used in addition to the above-described devices. . The auxiliary storage device 40 stores image information edited by the picture editing unit 63 (image information A of the character image, image information B of the background image), animation information edited by the animation editing unit 64, and edited by the map editing unit 65. Map information and map status information, motion information edited by the motion editing unit 67, scroll editing unit 68
The scroll information edited in is stored as component data of a game program including an animation program to be finally created.

As will be described later, the image information is mainly composed of image information A of an aggregate file of image data relating to various characters such as humans and animals, and image information B of an aggregate file of image data mainly relating to background images used in game software. It is composed of The map information includes a main body of the map information and map status information which is extended by adding an attribute to the information. As the printer device 35 provided for confirming the created image data and the contents of the animation program, a full-color printer device is used to print the edited image data. Further, the audio output device 35 outputs sounds such as music and sound effects generated in association with image drawing of the animation program.

Next, in the animation program creating apparatus configured as described above, the image data is input, the image data is edited, and the character image and the background image of the image data are changed in time series (2). Create an animation program for each animation drawing managed on the basis of the animation number, combining on the three-dimensional space axis and the time axis), and further combine the respective animation programs according to the scenario to complete the procedure until the game software is completed. Will be explained.

First, the data structure of various data will be described. FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a data structure for managing image data of a character, and FIG. 5 is a view for explaining data contents of motion information. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the data content of the animation information. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the data contents of the image information A.

The image information A is managed and stored by an image number for specifying image data as an element of the character. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, the image information A storage area 43 is provided with an image number field 43a and an image information feed 43b.
Each of the image data “data 1, data 2,...” Stored in 3b is managed in association with the image numbers “G1, G2,...” In the image number field 43a.

The animation information is configured by combining image data of a plurality of characters. As shown in FIG. 6, an animation number field 42a, an image number field 4
2b, display time field 42c, color field 42
d, sound field 42e, image reversal instruction field 42
f is provided, data is stored in each field, and animation information is created.

In other words, since animation is performed by combining images of a plurality of characters, a record in which attributes of a plurality of image data are set as data of each field is managed by one animation number. A unit of a plurality of image data managed by the animation number is an image drawing unit. Describing with a specific example, as shown in FIG. 6, the animation information having the animation number “A2” includes the image number “G9,
G15, G21, G1, G19 ".

In the animation information having such data contents, a plurality of pieces of information are further integrated to form motion information. That is, here, the motion information is defined as a combination of a plurality of pieces of animation information. For this reason, as shown in FIG.
a, a display type field 41b, and a display duration field 41c are provided, and data is stored in each of the fields to create motion information. Therefore, data management is performed based on motion information as a large unit of image drawing.

With respect to such a character image as component data for creating an animation program, the relationship between the data is as shown in FIG. 4, where a plurality of image information A are integrated to become animation information. A plurality of pieces of animation information are integrated into motion information. The data is managed by such a hierarchical structure. Regarding this relationship, the image data of the background image is managed by the same hierarchical data structure.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a data structure for managing image data for drawing a background image on a moving image drawing screen, and FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining data contents of scroll information. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the data contents of the map information. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the data content of block information, and FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the data content of cell information. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the data content of the image information B. The data management of the background image will be described with reference to these drawings.

Image data serving as an element for drawing a background image is managed and stored as image information B by a chip number for managing the image data. For this reason,
As shown in FIG. 13, the storage area 48 of the image information B includes
Chip number field 48a and image information feed 48b
Is provided. The image data “data 1, data 2,...” Of the background image elements stored in the image information field 48b.
Are managed in association with the chip numbers “CP1, CP2,...” In the chip number field 48a.

As in the case of the above-described animation information, the background image drawn as a background when a moving image is drawn is configured by combining a plurality of image data of partial background image elements. In this case, a plurality of pieces of image data of a background image element managed by a chip number are integrated as cell information. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 12, the storage area 47 of the cell information of the elements constituting one screen (scene) includes
A cell number field 47a, a chip arrangement matrix field 47b, a chip number field 47c, a color field 47d, and an image inversion instruction field 47e are provided, and data is stored in each of the fields to create cell information.

Since the cell information is information constituting a background image by combining image data of a plurality of chip numbers, a record in which the attribute of a plurality of image data is set as data of each field is correspondingly stored. It is managed by one cell number. A unit of the plurality of image data managed by the cell number is a unit of drawing the background image. To describe this in a specific example, as shown in FIG. 12, for example, the cell information having the cell number “CL1” includes the chip number “CP3, C3”.
P10, CP12 ".

The cell information having such data contents is further integrated with a plurality of pieces of information to form block information.
Here, the block information is defined as a combination of a plurality of pieces of cell information. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 11, the block information storage area 46 has a block number field 46a and a cell arrangement matrix field 46a.
b, a cell number field 46c is provided, and data is stored in each field to create block information.

The block information is further integrated with the map information to form one background screen (scene). Therefore, a storage area for map information is provided. As shown in FIG. 10, the map information storage area 45 is provided with a map number field 45a, a block arrangement matrix field 45b, a block number field 45c, and a status block number field 45d, and data is stored in each field. Thus, map information is created. The map information constituting the background image is combined in time series, and an attribute of a scroll duration to be drawn on the time axis is added. In this way, image data serving as components for drawing a background image is configured and data management is performed.

Along with the character image data described above, the background image data, which is part data for creating another animation program, has the following data structure:
The data structure is managed as shown in FIG. That is, a plurality of pieces of image information B are integrated into cell information, and a plurality of pieces of cell information are integrated into block information.
A plurality of block information is integrated to become map information. Then, a plurality of map information are integrated in a time series, and are combined as scroll information to constitute a background image for animation.

In the background image configured as described above, in order to associate the display position of the image data of the character image, the status information corresponding to the image data for drawing the background is created as map status information. Is done. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating the data structure of the map status information. As shown in FIG. 14, the map status information includes status block information 71, status cell information 72, and status chip information 73.
Associated with each.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the data contents of the status block information, and FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining the data contents of the status cell information. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining data contents of status chip information. Next, the data contents of the map status information will be described with reference to these figures.

As shown in FIG. 15, the area storing the status block information 71 includes a status block number field 71a, a status cell arrangement matrix field 71b, and a status cell number field 71c.
Are provided. As shown in FIG. 16, the area for storing the status cell information 72 is provided with a status cell number field 72a, a status chip arrangement matrix field 72b, a status chip number field 72c, and the like.
As shown in FIG. 17, a status chip number field 73a, a status information field 73b, a character appearance information field 73c, and the like are provided in the area for storing, and data is set in each field.

Next, processing for generating data having such a data structure and creating an animation program will be described. FIG. 18 shows an image editing processing program section 62.
9 is a flowchart illustrating a main processing flow of an image editing process in which the image editing process is executed under the control of the process of FIG. In this image editing process, although a process related to a user interface is omitted, an operator proceeds with the process while interacting with the system.

Referring to FIG. In the main processing flow of the image editing processing, control is performed to switch between each editing processing of picture editing processing, animation editing processing, map editing processing, motion editing processing, and scroll editing processing, and to perform each editing processing. Creates image data necessary for creation.

For this reason, when the image editing process is started, first, in step 101, it is determined what the editing menu instructed to be edited by the user is. If the instruction is to perform picture editing, the process proceeds to step 102, where a picture editing process (FIG. 19) for creating image data as basic material data for creating an animation program is performed. When the picture editing process is completed, step 10 is performed again.
Returning to the first edit menu determination process, it is determined what the edit menu instructed to be edited by the user is. If the instruction is to perform animation editing, step 103
To combine the image data of the character images,
An animation editing process (FIG. 20) for creating animation information is performed.

When the animation editing process is completed, the process returns to the editing menu determination process in step 101, where the editing menu instructed by the user to be edited is determined. If so, the process proceeds to step 104, where map editing processing (FIG. 21) for creating map information by combining the image data of the background image is performed. Once the map editing process is over,
Returning to the edit menu determination processing of step 101, the edit menu instructed by the user to be edited is determined. If this determination is an instruction to perform motion editing, the process proceeds to step 105, where the motion edit processing (FIG. 22) is performed. Do.
In the motion editing process, an editing process is performed using the animation information created in the previous editing process. Similarly, if it is determined in the edit menu determination processing in step 101 that the editing instruction from the user is scroll editing, the process proceeds to step 106, where scroll editing processing (FIG. 2) is performed.
Perform 3). In addition, since the editing menu includes the menu of the editing end, if the editing instruction from the user is the editing end in the judgment processing of the editing menu in step 101, the editing processing here is ended. I do.

As described above, editing processing such as creation of animation information, creation of map information, creation of motion information, and creation of scroll information using the created image data is performed.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the picture editing processing. The picture editing process will be described with reference to FIG. In the picture editing process, when the process is started, first, in step 201, the presence or absence of an image to be edited is checked.
An input process for obtaining image data to be edited is performed. In this case, the process proceeds to step 202, where it is determined whether or not the input of an image to be edited is required. In the input processing of the image to be edited, for example, the image to be edited is directly input from an image input device such as the scanner device 15. If the image data of the image to be edited is stored in advance on a recording medium such as a floppy disk, the image data is input from the corresponding recording medium,
It is displayed on the display device 31 for confirmation. When the input processing of the image to be edited ends, the process proceeds to step 204.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 201 that there is already an image to be edited,
If it is determined that the input of the image to be edited is not necessary, the process proceeds to step 204, where the editing process is performed on the image to be edited. I do. Then, in the next step 206, the process of determining the end of image editing is performed, and if the image editing process is to be continued, the process returns to step 204. If the editing process is to be ended, the registration process of the edited image is performed. Step 20 to perform
Go to 7.

In step 207, it is determined whether or not to register the edited image. If registration is to be performed, the flow advances to step 208 to register the data of the edited image. In the image registration processing, the image information is registered as image information A or image information B in the auxiliary storage device 40. As described above, if the image is related to various characters, the image information A
As the image information B in the case of a background image. Then, in the next step 209, an image display process is performed to confirm the registered image data.
The picture editing process here ends.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of animation editing processing for editing animation information. The animation editing process will be described with reference to FIG. In the animation editing process, in step 211, a process of setting the display order of images is performed. In the display order setting process, data such as display time, color designation, sound designation, and image inversion for each image information of the image number is set for the image data created in the picture editing process. Do. The setting of these data is performed by displaying a menu display screen. As a result, a plurality of pieces of image information are integrated, edited as animation information, and associated by an image number.

Then, the process proceeds to a step 212, wherein it is determined whether or not the editing of the animation information is completed. If all the editing is not completed, the process of the step 211 is repeated. When the instruction to end the animation editing process is determined, the process proceeds to step 213, where an animation number for grouping a series of image display units is given. This makes it possible to manage the image drawing unit by the animation number. Next, in order to confirm the edited animation information, step 214 is executed.
, The corresponding edited image is displayed on the display device according to the animation number or the image number specified by the operator, and the animation editing process ends.

A character image is drawn according to the animation information. In order to draw the background of the display screen, similarly, a map information editing process for integrating the image data created by the picture editing process and drawing a background image is performed. I do.

Next, the map information editing process will be described. FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow of the map editing processing. In the map editing process, when the process is started, first, in step 221, a process of creating cell data is performed. In the process of creating cell data, for example,
An image as an arbitrary background is selected from the image information B, and the corresponding “chip number (image data)”, “chip arrangement matrix”, “cell number”, and the like are set.

When the cell data creation processing is completed, the process proceeds to step 222, where block data creation processing is performed. In the block data creation process, an arbitrary cell number is selected from the cell data, and the corresponding “cell number”, “cell arrangement matrix”, “block number”, etc. are set. Next, in step 223, a process of creating status chip data is performed. In the process of creating status chip data, “status chip number”, “status information”, “character appearance information” and the like are set. Next, in step 224, status cell data creation processing is performed, and in the next step 225, status block data creation processing is performed.

That is, in the process of creating the status cell data in step 224, the “status chip number”,
"Status chip arrangement matrix", "status cell number", etc. are set, and in the status block data creation processing in step 225, "status cell number", "status cell arrangement matrix", "status block number" are set. Do. Then, step 2
At 26, map data creation processing is performed. In the process of creating map data, an arbitrary image block is selected from the block data, and “block number”, “block arrangement matrix”, “map number”, etc. are set.
The map information editing process here ends.

Next, the editing process of the motion information will be described. FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating a process of performing a motion information editing process. Referring to FIG.
The editing process of the motion information will be described. In the motion information editing process, first, in step 231, data such as “animation number” and corresponding “display time” and “display continuation time” are set. Data setting for integrating the animation information is performed by the motion information created in the editing process. The setting of these data is performed by displaying a menu display screen. Thus, a plurality of pieces of animation information are associated as motion information.

Then, the process proceeds to a step 232, where it is determined whether or not the editing of the motion information is to be ended. If all the editing has not been completed, the process returns to the step 231 to repeat this process. Further, when the end instruction of the editing process of the motion information is determined, the process proceeds to step 233 to sequentially display the images of the animation numbers set as the motion information and perform a process of confirming the edited motion information. That is, in the process of step 233, the images corresponding to the animation numbers instructed by the operator are sequentially displayed on the display device in chronological order, and the motion information editing process ends.

Next, the scroll information editing process will be described. FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating a process of performing a scroll information editing process. Referring to FIG.
The scroll information editing process will be described. In the scroll information editing process, first, in step 241, data such as a “map number” and a corresponding “scroll form” and “scroll continuation time” are set. That is, data setting for integrating map information is performed based on the scroll information created in this editing process, and a plurality of map information are associated with each other.

Then, the process proceeds to a step 242, wherein it is determined whether or not the editing of the scroll information is completed. If all the editing is not completed, the process returns to the step 241 to repeat this processing. If it is determined that an instruction to end the scroll information editing process has been made, the process proceeds to step 243, where a background image of the map number set as the scroll information is sequentially displayed, and a process of confirming the edited scroll information is performed. That is, in the process of step 243, the image corresponding to the arbitrary map number designated by the operator is sequentially displayed on the display device in time series, and the scroll information editing process ends.

Next, a specific example in which an image to be edited is input from the scanner device, image data is created, and the image data is integrated to create an animation program will be described. These processes are performed in the above-described picture editing process, animation information editing process, motion information editing process, map information editing process, and scroll information editing process.

In the picture editing process for creating image data, in addition to the image input process by the scanner device, an editing process (correction process) including direct image input by the tablet device 14 is performed. 12
The operator manually performs an image input operation using the operation unit of the scanner device 15 of a manual operation type. A specific example of an operation example in the case of editing an edit target image input from a scanner device will be described.

FIG. 24 is a diagram for explaining editing of image (picture) data after an image is input from the scanner device. As shown in the upper part of FIG. 24, the operator displays the mouse device 12 and the tablet device 1 on the display screen 251.
Editing is performed using an image data input device such as 4 so as to obtain an image (picture) desired by the operator. For example, when a picture of an automobile is created as image data, a picture of a vehicle body 251a serving as a base is input as an image, and the color and shape of the automobile are changed. The image data is edited by changing the color and shape of the front wheel 251c, the rear wheel 251d, the rear bumper 251e, and the rear wing 251f to desired ones. As a result, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 24, the picture of the car is edited, and as a result, a picture of the car body 252a is completed on the display screen 252.

The functions of the picture editing process for editing an image are the same as those of an image processing program called a paint software which has already been commercialized. Color the picture. Therefore, these image processing programs can be used as functions of the picture editing process.

The image of the image data that is being edited or the image of the image data that has been edited can be displayed on the second display 33 to check the contents (step 205). Display screen 252 displayed at the bottom of FIG.
Is a display example in which image data completed by the picture editing process is displayed on the second display 33. In this way, the display result of the same image as when the image is actually displayed by the game software can be confirmed. For this reason, it is possible to reduce rework and work of redoing image editing after the game software is completed.

Next, when the editing of the image is completed, the edited image is registered. The image is registered in the auxiliary storage device 40 as image information A or image information B. in this case,
As described above, since it is used as part data when creating an animation program later, it is registered as image information A when an image is related to various characters, and is registered as image information B when an image is related to a background image. Since the image data of an automobile as shown in FIG. 24 is used as a character image, it is registered as an image information A with an image number.

When the creation of the image data is completed by the picture editing process in this way, the editing process of the animation information for integrating the images is performed. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen for information setting when image data of a plurality of image numbers are integrated by animation editing processing. As shown in FIG. 25, on the animation information editing screen 260, the image data registered as the image information A is called and displayed on the image sample palette 261. Then, each setting data is input using the animation information input field 262 for data setting.

In order to perform the editing operation of the animation information, the animation information input field 262 includes a target image field 262a, a display duration time (TIME).
Field 262b, color setting (PALETTE) field 262c, sound setting (WAVE) field 262d
Is provided. In addition, on the animation information editing screen 260, a tool palette 263 in which buttons for starting various editing tools are collected, an operation button 264 for performing a playback operation of a moving image based on the created animation information, an already created Display field 265 for displaying the animation number of the animation information
Is provided. By specifying the edited animation number displayed in the number display field 265, the specified animation information can be re-edited.

Here, the editing screen 2 of the animation information
In 60, each data (display duration TIME, color setting PALETT) corresponding to six images on one menu screen
E, sound setting WAVE). For example, when an image number “01” displayed on the image sample palette 261 for displaying a list of image data to be edited is selected by mouse operation, an animation information input field provided at the lower side of the screen is displayed. At 262, the selected image data with the image number "01" is displayed in the target image field 262a, and the fact that the image data with the image number "01" has been selected as the target image is displayed.

On the other hand, the display continuation time (TIME)
Field 262b, color setting (PALETTE) field 262c, sound setting (WAVE) field 262d
Then, the setting data of the display duration, the color, and the sound of the target image are input. The data setting input for each of the image data is performed using the respective columns of the animation information input field 262 in the order of chronologically arranging them as animation images. As a result of setting the animation information for the image data, the order in which the image data is displayed along the time axis (the order of the animation) is from left to right of each column of the animation information input field 262.

For input of the setting data of the display duration, color, and sound of the target image, numerical data for each “data type” is input from the keyboard. As shown in FIG.
In the editing process of the animation information in this case, the image data having the image numbers “01” to “06” is selected, and the display duration of the target image is selected for the image data.
In this state, the setting data of each color and sound is input.

In the display duration field 262b, setting data indicating the display time of the image is input. In the moving image drawing process, the display unit is processed in units of 1/60 second. Therefore, for example, the display duration field 262b of the target image “01” of the image data includes the numerical data “60”. Since the image data has been input, the image data is displayed for one second. In the color setting field 262c, setting data for specifying the color of the image is input. The numerical data input to the color setting field 262c indicates the number of a palette table (not shown) defining colors.

That is, this means that the color of the target image “01” is displayed in the color of the palette table “1”. In the sound setting field 262d, setting data for specifying a sound is input. For example, sound effects such as an explosion sound, an engine sound, and a brake sound are input by a number designating sound data. Since the sound and the number corresponding to the sound are stored in the auxiliary storage device in advance (not shown), the number is indicated. The data input using the menu screen in this manner is stored in each field of the storage area 42 for storing animation information, as shown in FIG. Thereby, a plurality of image data are associated by the image number, and are managed by the animation number as animation information. The animation number to be added to the edited animation information is edited by switching the screen of FIG. 25 to display an animation number input menu screen (not shown) and inputting it.

If the data is set before the animation information can be managed by the animation number, the animation information of the smallest moving image drawing unit can be specified by the animation number. To confirm the operation,
You can see how the image animates on the screen. In other words, by specifying the animation number and the image number, it is possible to display how the image of the registered animation information is animated on the screen.

The moving image display operation is instructed by the operation button 26
4 is performed by clicking the mouse button. In that case, the animation information to be displayed is specified first. The specification operation specifies the animation number of the animation information including the image of the image number by directly specifying the animation number or by specifying the image number.

FIG. 26 shows an example in which two animation numbers are selected to animate two pieces of animation information. In the example of the drawing screen 270 shown in FIG. 26, the motion of the first automobile is animated so as to reach from the upper left to the upper right of the display screen, and further to the lower right.
Also, the motion of the second car is animated so as to reach the center position from the lower left of the display screen. As the image data serving as the basic data of the movement of the vehicle, the image data at the position where the movement of the vehicle can be seen from each position at the angle is registered as the image information, so that the image data is used. For example, regarding the movement of the first automobile, the images 271 and 27 are displayed from the upper left to the upper right of the display screen.
2, image 273, image 274,..., Which are, as shown in FIG. 27, image numbers “07” and “08” registered in the image data library in advance by editing picture information. , Image number “09”, and image number “10”.

The menu screen for editing the motion information is similar to the menu screen provided for editing the animation information described above. That is,
Necessary setting data such as an animation number, a display type, and a display duration are input efficiently by opening a motion information editing menu screen (not shown). The motion information input from the menu screen is stored in the motion information storage area according to the data structure. As described above, by specifying an animation number registered as animation information by the operator, the motion information is associated with the animation information and the motion information by the animation number, and furthermore, a plurality of animation numbers are continuously set on the time axis. Then, by continuously and associating the images corresponding to the plurality of animation numbers, data for reproducing and displaying (animation) the character image continuously in time is completed.

In this case, the scroll information, the map information, the block information, and the background image when the character image is animated are drawn in a manner similar to the case where the character image is animated so as to draw a dynamically changing background image. Edit processing of information for drawing a background image, such as cell information, chip information, map status information, status cell information, and status chip information. Also in this case, though not shown. A menu screen similar to the above-described menu screen for editing the animation information (FIG. 25) is used to draw image data (image data managed by a chip number) of an element for drawing a background image. The data is completed by editing parameters for the setting as setting data.

Next, a processing method when game software (game program) itself is created using each data created as described above will be described. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a game software creation process. An outline of the game software creation process will be described.

When creating game software (game program), first, a basic scenario of the game is constructed,
The source program 80 is created using a function (instruction word) according to the instruction. The source program 80 converts a game scenario and animation information (for character image drawing created in advance by editing processing by an image editing processing program and stored in the auxiliary storage device 40) used in the scenario into the animation. A target source program 80 is created (coded) while defining numbers and the like by functions.

Source Program 80 for Game Program
Is completed, the program is prepared in advance in the auxiliary storage device 82 so as to match the specifications of the hardware and the like of each maker, depending on which maker's hardware (game machine) is used to execute the created game program. Compiler (Compiler A, Compiler B,..., Compiler m). For example, if it is desired to compile the source program 80 of the game program for the game machine of Company A, the compiler A is selected and compiled in the compile processing section 81. The object program conforms to the hardware specifications. In this example, the operator has selected compiler A.

Here, different compilers (compiler A, compiler B,
..., the compiler m) is provided in the auxiliary storage device 82,
The compile processing unit 81 calls and uses the corresponding compiler. However, when the operator individually inputs the type of hardware and the like as a parameter, the compile processing unit 81 determines the type in the compiler. Then, an object program specified by the parameter may be generated.

Then, by passing the created object program 84 through the linkage editor 85, the object program 84 is programmed in advance in the auxiliary storage device 82 so as to conform to the specifications of hardware and the like corresponding to each game machine manufacturer. The executable program 87 is completed by incorporating a device driver and stored in the auxiliary storage device 86. That is, for each game machine manufacturer, a corresponding device driver is prepared in the form of an object program.
Device driver A and object program 8
4 is linked to image information and the like.
Is completed.

The completed execution program 87 is stored in an auxiliary storage device 86 such as a floppy disk (FD) device or a magneto-optical disk (MO). The auxiliary storage device 86 also stores, as a part of the execution format program 87, image information and the like stored in the auxiliary storage device 40 used (referenced) by the object program 84 by the linkage editor 85. As a result, the target game software can be run by installing and activating the executable program 87 on the hardware of the game machine manufactured by Company A.

Next, a specific example of the game program (source program) created as described above will be described. FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating an example of a source program for animating a character, and FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating an animation by the source program.

As shown in FIG. 29, the source program 3
01 includes an initialization unit 302 and an execution unit 303. The initialization unit 302 sets the name of the initialization process to “Sample_chr_Init ()”.
askEntry ^(- Sample_chr_Main, 0,0,0,0) by the "execution function of the program to draw the character" Sample_c
Set "hr_Main ()" as a task to be executed every 1/60 second, and declare the use of the first sprite by the following function "SpcAllocBuffer (1)". The following function "SpcSetCharac
ter (1, A1) "to display the animation" A1 "on the first sprite, and the next function" SetSpcPosition (1,5
0,100) "to determine the position of the first sprite at coordinates (5
0,100).

In the execution unit 303, the name of the execution function is "Sample_chr_Main ()", and the position of the X coordinate of the first sprite is set once by the function "SpcMoreXposition (1,5)". Is added by 5 for the processing of.
Then, the next IF statement “If (SpcGetXposition (1) == 150) {Sp
When the X coordinate of the function “SpcMoreXposition (1)” of the first sprite reaches 150 by cReleaseBuffer (1), TaskRelease ()｝, the sprite is released, the processing is completed, and the function “TaskRelease ()” is completed. To release the task.

When the initialization process “Sample_chr_Init ()” is called to execute the processing by such a program, the coordinates (50, 100) of the initial value are displayed on the screen as shown in the upper part of FIG. The animation A1 is displayed at the position of, and as shown in the lower part of FIG.
0), move at a speed of 5 units per (1/60) second, and end.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing an example of a source program for animating a character with animation information and motion information, and FIG. 32 is a diagram for explaining an animation by this source program.

As shown in FIG. 31, the source program 311 comprises a motion data definition unit 312, an initialization unit 313, and an execution unit 314. The motion data definition unit 312 sequentially sets the motion data of each scene of the character as motion information “MotionDat”. That is, in the definition based on the motion information, the animation A3 is displayed on the screen at the position of the initial value coordinates (70, 128) as shown in the screen 351 of FIG. This animation A3
In this screen, the moving direction of {SetDir, 40}
To set the traveling direction to 40 degrees, and ｛SetSpd, 1
Set the moving speed to 100 by 00｝,
Set to move for (60/60) seconds by {Move, 60}. As a result, the animation A3 moves as shown in a screen 352 of FIG.

In the next screen, {SetDir, -40}
To set the traveling direction to -40 degrees, {Move, 6
Since it is set to move for (60/60) seconds by 0 °, the animation A3 moves as shown in the screen 353 of FIG. In the next screen,
Set the traveling direction to 180 degrees by {SetDir, 180}, set the moving speed to 200 by {SetSpd, 200}, and set to move for (40/60) seconds by {Move, 40}. As a result, the animation A3 starts to move as shown in the screen 354 of FIG. For the next screen, @Jum
Since p, 0} returns to the beginning of the data, it becomes the same as the first screen 352. The animation display on the screen 352, the screen 353, and the screen 354 is repeated.

The data definition unit 312 defined in this way
As described above, as the control program for executing the animation processing program by the
3 and an execution unit 314 are provided.

The initialization unit 313 sets the name of the initialization process to “Sample_seq_Init ()”.
askEntry ^(- Sample_seq_Main) "by the execution function of the program to draw the character" Sample_seq_Main () "
Is set as a task to be executed every 1/60 second, and the use of the fifth sprite is declared by the following function “SpcAllocBuffer (5)”. The following function "SpcSetCharacter (5, A
3), the animation "A
3 ”is displayed, and the next function“ SetSpcPosition (5, 70, 12)
8), the position of the 5th sprite is set to the coordinates (70, 1).
Set to 28). Then, the function "SetSeqence ^(- Motion
Dat) '', the motion information `` Motion
Dat ".

In the execution section 314, the name of the execution function of the program for drawing a character is set to “Sample
_seq_Main () ", in which IF statement" If (SeqDrv () ==
0) {SpcReleaseBuffer (5), TaskRelease ()｝]
The sequence driver is executed, and if the return value is 0 (= processing end), the sprite is released, the processing ends, and the task is released by the function “TaskRelease ()”. By executing the processing of such a program,
When the sequencer executes the motion information “MotionDat”, the data of the motion information forms a loop, so that the movement of the character continues without ending.

According to such a program, when the initialization process “Sample_seq_Init ()” is called, the motion information “MotionDa” is displayed from the coordinates (70, 128) on the screen while displaying the animation A3 as shown in FIG.
Keep moving according to the contents of "t" (keep drawing a triangular trajectory).

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing an example of a source program in which the progress of the image drawing process is described by scenario data and programmed. FIG. 34 is a view for explaining an example of screen display by the source program.

In this example of the source program, as shown in FIG. 33, the content of the background image drawing processing is described by the scenario data as in the case described above. The source program 321 includes a scenario data definition unit 322, an initialization unit 323, and an execution unit 324. In the scenario data definition unit 322, the data for drawing the background image is described as scenario data “ScenarioDat”. In other words, in the definition based on this scenario data, the definition of the first line ｛Ca
ll, ^- MapInit} by Start background image task, by the definition of the next row {Wait, 100}, to draw the next background image (100/60) waiting for a second. Defining the next line {Call, ^- S
The execution function “Sample_chr_Init” for drawing the character is started by ample_chr_Init｝. Then, the end of the scenario data is indicated by the definition {End, 0} in the next line.

[0116] initialization section 323, the name of the initialization process as "Sample_mapper_Init ()", in which, first, the function "TaskEntry ^(- Sample_mapper_Main)" by the execution function of the program to draw the background picture "Sample_mapper_Mai
The n () ", is set as a task to be executed every 1/60 seconds, the function" SetSeqence ^- by (ScenarioDat) ", an instruction to execute drawing processing according to the scenario data" ScenarioDat "sequencer.

In the execution unit 314, the name of the execution function of the program for drawing the background image is set to “Sample_mappe”.
r_Main () ", in which IF statement" If (SeqDrv () == 0)
The sequence driver is executed by "{TaskRelease ()}", and if the return value is 0 (= processing end), the task is released by the function "TaskRelease ()" and the processing ends.

According to such a program, when the initialization process “Sample_mapper_Init ()” is called, a task for drawing a background image is called according to the contents of the scenario data “ScenarioDat”, and the background image is drawn or the animation of the character is displayed. Or call a task to do.
This scenario data shows an example directly described by a programmer. In this way, it can be used regardless of the image editing program.

By describing such a source program, as shown in FIG. 34, for example, when a car 361 is displayed on a certain background image 360, the drawing of the car is performed by a certain task “TaskEntry”. And the drawing of all movements can be controlled by the program. For this reason, the drawing of another car is assigned to a task different from the task described above, and the operator who enjoys the game operates the steering wheel or the like connected to the hardware circuit to move as if operated by the operator. Can be programmed. Further, for example, a first task for drawing the traveling of the first car and a second task for drawing the traveling of the second car are managed based on the operation result of the operator. The other third task automatically switches (rewrites) the screen, so that the game can proceed.

[0120]

As described above, according to the animation program creating method and apparatus of the present invention, first, an image such as a game and its motion are created separately from a program including a game scenario. Since it is possible to simulate only the movement of images and the like without executing a game program,
Planning and examination of the game software can be performed before the completion of the game program, thereby shortening the development period of the game software.

Further, since an image such as a game and its movement are created separately from the program including the game scenario, there is little rework of the program modification accompanying a plan change of the image or its movement. In addition, the program creation becomes easy, so that the development efficiency of the game software can be improved.

Further, since a single unified function can create a target program only by programming without being conscious of differences in specifications of hardware, etc., the burden on the programmer can be reduced, and program development can be reduced. Efficiency can be improved. Further, since the image is created separately from the program, the image data can be easily used for various presentations.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an animation program creating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a hardware circuit of the animation program creating device according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration of an animation program creation device according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a data structure for managing image data of a character;

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining data contents of motion information;

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining data contents of animation information;

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining data contents of image information A;

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining a data structure for managing image data for drawing a background image on a moving image drawing screen;

FIG. 9 is a view for explaining data contents of scroll information;

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining data contents of map information;

FIG. 11 is a view for explaining data contents of block information.

FIG. 12 is a view for explaining data contents of cell information;

FIG. 13 is a view for explaining data contents of image information B;

FIG. 14 illustrates a data structure of map status information.

FIG. 15 is a view for explaining data contents of status block information;

FIG. 16 is a view for explaining data contents of status cell information;

FIG. 17 is a view for explaining data contents of status chip information;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a main processing flow of image editing processing;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of picture editing processing;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow of animation editing processing.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of a map editing process;

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a process of performing a motion information editing process.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating a process of performing a process of editing scroll information.

FIG. 24 is a view for explaining editing of image (picture) data after an image is input from the image scanner device;

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of information setting for integrating image data of a plurality of image numbers by animation editing processing;

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an example in which two animation numbers are selected to animate two pieces of animation information,

FIG. 27 is a view showing an example of image data registered in advance in an image data library by a picture information editing process;

FIG. 28 is a block diagram illustrating processing for creating game software (game program).

FIG. 29 shows an example of a source program for animating a character.

FIG. 30 is a view for explaining an animation by the source program in FIG. 29;

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing an example of a source program for animating a character with animation information and motion information.

FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating an animation by the source program of FIG. 31.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing an example of a source program in which the progress of an image drawing process is programmed by using scenario data;

FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen according to the source program of FIG. 33.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10 input device unit, 11 keyboard, 12 mouse device, 13 joystick device, 14 tablet input device, 15 scanner input device, 16 sound input device
20: System device main unit, 31: Display unit, 32:
First display, 33: second display, 34: printer device, 35: speaker, 40: auxiliary storage device, 4
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Data communication network, 50 ... Moving picture drawing unit, 51 ... Synthesis / output selection circuit, 52 ... Character drawing circuit, 53 ...
1st memory for animation program, 54 ... background drawing circuit, 55 ... 2nd memory for animation program, 56 ... audio output circuit, 57 ... 3rd memory for animation program, 60 ... system control unit, 61 ... operating system unit, 62 ... Image editing processing program section, 63 ... Picture editing section, 64 ... Animation editing section, 65 ... Map editing section, 66 ... Simulator section, 6
7: Motion editing unit, 68: Scroll editing unit, 69
... Simulation playback unit, 80 ... Source program,
81: auxiliary storage device, 82: auxiliary storage device, 83: auxiliary storage device, 84: object program, 85: linkage editor, 86: auxiliary storage device, 87: executable format program

Claims (6)

[Claims] An image input means for inputting image information to be animated to a moving image drawing apparatus having a program storage circuit storing an animation program and a character drawing circuit and a background drawing circuit driven by the animation program. An image editing means for editing input image information; an animation management means for rearranging a plurality of edited image information in chronological order to create an animation program as an image drawing unit, and assigning and managing an animation number; Operating means for reproducing the created animation program in the moving image drawing apparatus. 2. The animation program creating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said operation means instructs reproduction of an image drawing unit assigned with an animation number. 3. The animation program creation device according to claim 1, wherein said image input means is a tablet-type handwritten image input device. 4. A sound inputting sound information to a moving image drawing apparatus including a program storage circuit storing an animation program, a character drawing circuit driven by the animation program, a background drawing circuit, and a sound forming circuit. Information input means, image input means for inputting image information to be animated, editing means for editing the input image information and sound information, and a plurality of edited image information and sound information rearranged in chronological order to form an image drawing unit. An animation program creation device comprising: an animation management unit that creates an animation program and assigns and manages an animation number; and an operation unit that reproduces the created animation program in the moving image drawing device. 5. The animation program creating device according to claim 1, wherein the animation management means has a function for giving an animation movement in the image drawing unit, and the animation management unit includes a function for assigning an animation number to the image drawing unit. An animation program creating apparatus characterized in that the function is used for reproduction. 6. A method for creating an animation program for a moving image drawing apparatus including a program storage circuit storing an animation program, and a character drawing circuit and a background drawing circuit driven by the animation program, wherein animation is performed. Enter the image information, edit the input image information, rearrange the edited image information in chronological order, create an animation program as an image drawing unit, assign an animation number and manage it, and create the animation program And reproducing the program by designating an animation number in the moving picture drawing apparatus.