JPH08229237A - Three-dimensional game machine and image composition method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To solve unnaturalness in a visual range image generated by the movement of a background display body. CONSTITUTION: A virtual three-dimensional space arithmetic part 100 calculates the position information of a traveling object arranged in a virtual three- dimensional space and a background dome, map, etc., moving according to the movement of the viewpoint of the traveling object or player by an operating signal from an operating part 12, etc. An image layering part 200 layers the visual range image observed in the virtual three-dimensional space based on the position information, etc. When first distance between the traveling object or viewpoint and the map is increased and second distance between the terminal part of the background dome and the map is increased, the increment of the second distance is set smaller than that of the first distance. In this way, the width of a gap area generated between the background dome and the map is reduced, which reduces the unnaturalness felt by the player.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a three-dimensional game apparatus and an image synthesizing method for forming a three-dimensional game in which a virtual three-dimensional space can be moved by a predetermined moving body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various three-dimensional game devices have been known as those for forming a three-dimensional game in which a player operates an operation section to freely move in a virtual three-dimensional space by a predetermined moving body. ing. In FIG. 19 (A), this 3
An example of a virtual three-dimensional space formed by a three-dimensional game device is shown. As shown in FIG. 19A, the ground 519, the mountain 520, the building 522, and the base 52 are located in the virtual three-dimensional space.
4, various display objects such as the enemy aircraft 532 and the own aircraft 530 are arranged. Then, a visual field image as shown in FIG. 19B is displayed on the display provided in the three-dimensional game apparatus, and the player sees this visual field image and sees his / her own device 530.
To freely move in the virtual three-dimensional space and attack the base 524, the enemy aircraft 532, etc. to enjoy the game.

[0003]

In such a three-dimensional game device, as shown in FIG. 20, a hemispherical background dome (background display body) arranged so as to surround its own machine (moving body) 530. 540 may be used. The background dome 540 is for representing a background such as the sky,
Clouds floating in the sky are also drawn inside the background dome 540.
That is, the sky and the like are actually located at infinity from the aircraft. However, since the size of the virtual three-dimensional space that can be formed by the three-dimensional game device is limited, such a background dome 540 is virtually provided and the sky or the like at infinity is drawn. Therefore, the background dome 540 moves together with its own device (or the player's viewpoint) 530, and when the own device 530 moves vertically and horizontally, the background dome 540 also moves vertically and horizontally. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 20, when the aircraft 530 moves dH in the height direction, the background dome 540 also moves dH,
As a result, a gap region 546 is formed between the dome end 544 and the map (representing the ground or the like) 548.

In order to prevent the player from feeling the existence of such a gap area 546, a method called depth cueing is adopted, and the map color becomes the color of the gap area 546 (background color) as the distance from the player's machine 530 increases. It is also possible to approach. However, even if this method is used, if the altitude of the player's aircraft becomes high, the existence of the gap area 546 is still conspicuous and gives the player an unnatural feeling.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensional game apparatus capable of eliminating the unnaturalness of the visual field image caused by the movement of the background display body. An object is to provide an image synthesizing method.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is a three-dimensional game in which a player operates an operating means to move in a virtual three-dimensional space with a predetermined moving body. A three-dimensional game device for forming
A display object arranged in the virtual three-dimensional space, the moving object, a background display object displaying a background, and the virtual object
A virtual three-dimensional space calculating means for calculating at least position information of a display object including a map forming a three-dimensional space, and a view image visible in the virtual three-dimensional space based on the information including the position information of the display object. And means for
The virtual three-dimensional space calculation means increases the first distance, which is the distance between the viewpoint of the moving body or the player and the map, and increases the distance between the map-side end of the background display body and the map. If a second distance is increased, the second
The calculation is performed such that the increment of the distance is reduced more than the increment of the first distance.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image synthesizing method for forming a three-dimensional game in which a player operates an operating means to move in a virtual three-dimensional space with a predetermined moving body. A step of calculating at least position information of a display object arranged in a three-dimensional space, the display object including the moving body, a background display body on which a background is displayed, and a map forming the virtual three-dimensional space; A step of synthesizing a view image in the virtual three-dimensional space based on information including the position information of the display object, and the distance between the viewpoint of the moving body or the player and the map in the calculating step. When the first distance increases and the second distance, which is the distance between the map side end of the background display body and the map, increases, the increase in the second distance is calculated as the first distance. of Than additive content and performing an operation to reduce.

According to the invention of claim 1 or 7, when the first distance is increased and the second distance is increased, the increment of the second distance is reduced, and the background display and the map are separated. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of the gap area or reduce the width thereof.
This can reduce the unnaturalness felt by the player.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a three-dimensional game device for forming a three-dimensional game in which a player operates an operating means to move in a virtual three-dimensional space with a predetermined moving body. A virtual three-dimensional space which is a display object arranged in a three-dimensional space and which calculates at least positional information of the display object including the moving body, the background display body on which the background is displayed, and the map forming the virtual three-dimensional space. Based on the information including the position information of the display object and the calculation means, the virtual 3
A means for synthesizing a visual field image visible in a three-dimensional space, wherein the virtual three-dimensional space computing means increases the first distance, which is the distance between the viewpoint of the moving body or the player and the map, It is characterized in that calculation is performed to move the background display body in a direction opposite to the direction in which the first distance increases.

The invention according to claim 8 is an image synthesizing method for forming a three-dimensional game in which a player operates an operating means to move in a virtual three-dimensional space with a predetermined moving body. A step of calculating at least position information of a display object arranged in a three-dimensional space, the display object including the moving body, a background display body on which a background is displayed, and a map forming the virtual three-dimensional space; A step of synthesizing a view image in the virtual three-dimensional space based on information including the position information of the display object, and the distance between the viewpoint of the moving body or the player and the map in the calculating step. If the first distance increases,
It is characterized in that calculation is performed to move the background display body in a direction opposite to the direction in which the first distance increases.

According to the invention of claim 2 or 8, when the moving body or the like moves and the first distance increases, the background display body is
It moves in the direction opposite to the direction in which the first distance increases. This makes it possible to prevent the formation of a gap area or reduce its width.

The invention according to claim 3 is the display device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the background display body is a dome-shaped display body formed so as to surround the moving body.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a background display body which is optimal for a three-dimensional game apparatus in which a flying body freely fly around in a virtual three-dimensional space.

The invention according to claim 4 is the method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising means for performing a calculation for bringing the color information of the map closer to a predetermined color by color interpolation as it approaches an end of the map. Is characterized by.

According to the invention of claim 4, the color of the end portion of the map can be brought close to a predetermined color, for example, the color of the gap area between the background display and the map. This makes it possible to make the boundary between the map and the gap region inconspicuous.

The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that, in any one of claims 1 to 4, there is provided means for setting a drawing order such that the map is drawn on a front side of the background display body. To do.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the seventh or eighth aspects, the method further includes the step of setting the drawing order so that the map is drawn on the front side of the background display body. To do.

According to the invention of claim 5 or 9, it is guaranteed that the map is always displayed on the front side of the background display body when the background display body and the map appear to overlap each other. In this case, the drawing order is set by changing the setting of the Z value for sorting when performing the sorting process, or by changing the Z value stored in the Z buffer when using the Z buffer method. It can be carried out.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect, the drawing order setting means draws the map so that the map is drawn in front of the background display body.
It is characterized by including means for setting a value and sorting processing means for rearranging the drawing order of the images of the display object based on the Z value for sorting.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the ninth aspect, the drawing order setting step sets a Z value for sorting so that the map is drawn on a front side of the background display body. , Z for sorting
A sorting processing step of rearranging the drawing order of the images of the display object based on the value.

According to the invention of claim 6 or 10, the sorting process is performed based on the Z value for sorting which is set so that the map is drawn on the front side of the background display body. This guarantees that the map is always displayed on the front side of the background display body when the background display body and the map appear to overlap each other.

[0022]

【Example】

1. First Embodiment FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention. The first embodiment includes an operation unit 12, a virtual three-dimensional space calculation unit 100, an image composition unit 200, and a display 10.

The operation unit 12 is used by the player to input an operation signal. The virtual three-dimensional space operation unit 100 performs an operation for forming a virtual three-dimensional space based on a predetermined program and an operation signal from the operation unit 12. Specifically, according to an operation signal from the operation unit 12, a calculation for obtaining position information, direction information, etc. of the display object arranged in the virtual three-dimensional space is performed for each predetermined period, for example, for each field. Then, the image synthesizing unit 200 synthesizes the visual field image at a predetermined viewpoint position in the virtual three-dimensional space based on the obtained position information and the like, and outputs it to the display 10.

In the virtual three-dimensional space calculation unit 100, the position information of the display device such as the map shown in FIG. 2 is shown. Is calculated (the following description will be made mainly with respect to the case where the player's viewpoint position and the player's own position match, but the present invention includes those in which these do not match. For example, the viewpoint is the own player's own position. Can be set to any position such as the back). Then, the virtual three-dimensional space calculation unit 100 is
When the altitude of 30 (the first distance) is increased by dH, the altitude of the background dome 540 (the second distance) is K × dH.
Increase by (0 <k <1). As a result, the width of the gap area 546 formed under the dome end 544 on the display screen can be reduced, and unnaturalness felt by the player can be reduced.

Here, k is a constant (for example, K = 0.9).
Alternatively, it may be smaller as the altitude becomes higher as a function of altitude.

3A and 3B show an example of a game screen (visual field image) obtained in this embodiment (in this game screen, the player's viewpoint is at a position behind and slightly above the player's machine 530). Is set to). FIG. 3A shows the case where the altitude of the own device 530 is low, and FIG. 3B shows the case where the altitude is high. The background dome 5 in FIG.
A cloud 542 is depicted on the inside of 40, and a gap region 546 is formed below the cloud 542. In this embodiment, when the altitude of the aircraft (viewpoint) 530 is “0 m”, the background dome 540 is displayed.
The altitude of the aircraft is also "0m", and the altitude of the aircraft 530 is "
In the case of 0 m ″, the gap area 546 does not appear on the display screen.

On the other hand, in FIG. 3 (B), the own machine 530 is raised and the width of the gap area 546 on the display screen is also large, but the width is smaller than that of the conventional one. . This can reduce the unnaturalness felt by the player.

The reason why the unnaturalness can be reduced is apparent from FIGS. 4 (A) to 4 (C). FIG.
In (A), the altitude of the aircraft 530 (first of the aircraft and the map)
The distance) is "0 m". At this time, the own machine 53
0 altitude and dome center 531 (or dome edge 54
The altitude of 4) (the second distance between the dome center or the dome edge and the map) is the same. Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the altitude of the aircraft 530 increases, the dome center 5
The altitude of 31 also increases with this, but the rate of increase is smaller than that of the own aircraft 530. At this time, the range of the gap seen from the own device 530 is as shown by F in FIG. 4B, and the range of this F becomes the background color.
On the other hand, when the rate of increase in the altitude of the dome center 531 is not reduced, the background dome is located at 540 ', and at this time, the range of the gap seen from the aircraft 530 is G, which is considerably wider than F. Own machine 53 as shown in FIG.
The same applies when the altitude of 0 becomes higher. In this way, in this embodiment, the range of the gap can be narrowed and the unnaturalness felt by the player can be reduced.

4A to 4C, the own machine 530 is shown.
Although the example in which the altitude of the dome center 531 (or the map end portion 544) is also “0 m” when the altitude of “0 m” is “0 m”, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the altitude of the own device 530 is “0 m”, the own device 530 may be above the center 531 of the dome, or vice versa. 5A to 5C show an example of the case below. Also in this case, as is clear from FIGS. 5A to 5C, the range of the gap is improved from G to F, and the unnaturalness felt by the player can be reduced.

Although the above description has been made on the premise that a gap area is generated, FIGS. 6A to 6C are used.
It is also possible not to create any gap area, as shown in FIG. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C, the dome end 544 may be located below the line segment 550 connecting the own device 530 and the map end 549. In this way, the map 548 always exists in the direction of the line segment 550, and it is guaranteed that no gap area is generated.

Further, in the above description, it is assumed that the map center 531 also rises as the own device 530 rises, but as shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C, the own device 530 is shown.
It is also possible to lower the map center 531 when is increased. For example, consider a case where the background dome 540 and the map 548 have a positional relationship as shown in FIG. In this case, when the own machine 530 rises, the gap area 55
I can see 2. Therefore, in this case, as shown in FIG. 7 (B), the dome 540 is lowered as the aircraft 530 rises. At this time, the dome end 544 is arranged to be below the straight line 550 connecting the own device 530 and the map end 549. This ensures that there are no gap areas. Such a method is effective when the expansion range of the map 548 is on the front side (own side) of the dome end 544, as shown in FIGS. 7 (A) to (C).

In this embodiment, the background dome 540 is treated as a hemispherical one, but the background dome 540 need not be an accurate hemisphere, and the altitude of the dome center 531 and the altitude of the dome end 544 are different. It does not necessarily have to match.

In this embodiment, the game in which the player's aircraft 530 flies over the ground, which is a map, has been described as an example.
In addition to this, for example, it can be applied to a submarine game that dives underwater, or a spaceship game in which a spaceship flies near a huge spaceship (space base). In the submarine game, for example, the water surface serves as a map and the sea floor serves as a background dome. Therefore, in this case, the first and second distances are not the altitude but the depth. Also, in the above spaceship game,
For example, a huge spaceship becomes a map and the universe becomes a background dome. Therefore, in this case, the first and second distances are not the altitude but the distances from the huge spacecraft.

Further, in this embodiment, the depth cueing calculation section 250 shown in FIG. 1 performs the depth cueing calculation on the map 548. That is, in FIG.
In (B), the color interpolation calculation is performed so that the color information of the map 548 approaches the color of the gap area 546 as it goes from the point M to the point N. As a result, the color of the map 548 blends into the color of the gap area 546, and the boundary between the map 548 and the gap area 546 becomes inconspicuous. As a result,
Even when the gap area 546 is generated, the unnaturalness felt by the player can be reduced. In addition, a color scheme is set at the end of the dome so that the color blends into the gap area 546.

Further, in the present embodiment, the layout of the map 548 is expanded by the map setting unit 110. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, this map expansion is performed within a finite distance from the own device 530, so that the amount of data processed by the image synthesizing unit 200 or the like can be drastically reduced, and it is required for the 3D game device. Real-time performance can be guaranteed.

At this time, the map expansion range is shown in FIG.
As shown in (4), the range of the gap can be reduced by expanding the dome end 544 to the outside, but in this case, the following problems occur. That is, when the own device 530 moves in the plane direction, the mountain or the like forming the map 548 disappears behind the background dome 540 at the point J in FIG. In such a case, when the player's machine 530 moves, an image in which mountains and the like disappear in the sky is displayed on the display, which gives the player a very unnatural feeling. Therefore, in this embodiment, the map 5
Reference numeral 48 indicates the background dome 5 in the image composition unit 200.
It is arranged that the image is always drawn on the nearer side than 40 (the own device or the viewpoint side).

When the sorting process is performed, it is specifically performed as follows. That is, the sorting processing unit 226 determines the drawing order of the display objects based on the Z value for sorting set by the Z value setting unit for sorting 227. As the Z value for sorting, the Z value (Z representative value) of the display object in the viewpoint coordinate system is usually used. When the sorting process is performed by this Z value, FIG.
In the case of, the background dome 540 is drawn in front of the map 548. Therefore, the Z value of the background dome 540 is shifted, or the Z value of the background dome 540 is fixed to a value that is always larger than the Z value of the map 548, and the Z value (Z representative value) thus shifted or fixed. ) Is set as the Z value for sorting. Then, for example, when the drawing processing is performed in order from the display object on the front side toward the screen, the sorting processing unit 536 causes the image combining unit 200 to display the image information of the background dome 540 next to the image information of the map 548. Image information is output in response. On the other hand, when the drawing processing is performed in order from the display object on the far side toward the screen, the image information is output in the order that the image information of the map 548 comes after the image information of the background dome 540. This ensures that the map 548 is drawn on the front side of the background dome 540.

When the Z-buffer method is used, the Z value stored in the Z-buffer may be controlled so that the map 548 will be in front of the background dome 540.

2. Second Embodiment FIGS. 8 and 9 show block diagrams of a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment shows an example of a specific configuration of the above-described first embodiment, and a specific example of the virtual three-dimensional space computing unit 100 in FIG. 8 and an image combining unit 200 in FIG. An example of such a configuration is shown.

FIG. 10 shows an example of an external view when the second embodiment is applied to a commercial three-dimensional game machine installed in a game center or the like. The cockpit section 8
The seat 18 is designed for the cockpit of a fighter.
In front of the player 302 sitting on the
Is located. When the player 302 operates the operation unit 12 to start the game, the visual field image 30 is displayed on the display 10. This view image 30 is a virtual 3
It is an image seen at a predetermined viewpoint position in the dimensional space.
The player 302 operates the control lever 16 provided on the operation unit 12 to control its own device. Then, the trigger button 16 or the like attached to the operation lever 14 is used to attack the enemy base or enemy fighter plane.

Next, the structure of this embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagrams shown in FIGS. In FIG. 8, the operation unit 12 includes a control lever 14, a trigger button 14 and the like, and an operation signal based on the operation of these levers and buttons is transmitted to the virtual three-dimensional space calculation unit 100.

The virtual three-dimensional space calculation unit 100 operates according to a predetermined program and an operation signal from the operation unit 12. The processing unit 102, the movement information calculation unit 106, the virtual three-dimensional space setting unit 104, The display object information storage unit 108 is included. In addition, the virtual three-dimensional space setting unit 104
Includes a map setting unit 110.

The processing unit 102 controls the entire apparatus. In addition, a predetermined game program is stored in the storage unit provided in the processing unit 102.

In the movement information calculation unit 106, movement information of the own device 530 and the like is calculated according to the operation signal from the operation unit 12, the instruction from the processing unit 102, and the like.

The display object information storage unit 108 stores position information, direction information and object number of the display object (hereinafter, these stored position information / direction information and object number are referred to as display object information). ). FIG.
1 shows an example of display object information stored in the display object information storage unit 108. The display object is represented by a set of polygons, and in this embodiment, the background dome 540 is also represented by a set of polygons.

The display object information stored in the display object information storage unit 108 is read by the virtual three-dimensional space setting unit 104. In this case, the display object information storage unit 108 stores the display object information in the frame immediately preceding the frame. Then, in the virtual three-dimensional space setting unit 104, the read display object information and the movement information calculation unit 106.
The display object information (position information, direction information) in the frame is obtained based on the movement information calculated in.
Note that there is no such movement information for stationary objects,
Since the display information does not change, such processing is not necessary.

Now, in the present embodiment, the display object information storage unit 108
The position information of the own device 530 and the position information of the background dome 540 are stored in. The position information of the background dome 540 is calculated based on the position information of the own device 530. For example, when the Y coordinate (altitude) of the own device 530 is “0”, the Y coordinate of the background dome 540 is also “0”. And Y of own machine 530
When the coordinate increases by dH, the Y coordinate of the background dome 540 increases by K × dH (0 <K <1), and the increased Y coordinate is stored in the display object information storage unit 108.

Further, in this embodiment, the map setting section 110 develops the map layout. FIG. 12 shows an example of a map division pattern (map development pattern) developed by the map setting unit 110. The map division pattern may be stored in the map setting unit 110 in advance or may be obtained at any time according to a predetermined rule, but FIG. 12 shows an example of the latter case.

First, the same map forming the virtual three-dimensional space is divided by different numbers of divisions, and the first and the second as shown in FIG.
The second and third division maps 60, 62, 64 are prepared.
Here, when the numbers of divisions of the first to third division maps 60 to 64 are a, b, and c, the relation of a>b> c is established. Next, which of the first to third divided maps 60 to 64 is to be arranged is selected. This selection is performed as follows, for example. That is, first, as shown in FIG. 12, a third circle 704 having a radius R3 and centered on the own device (or viewpoint) 530.
The second circle 702 having a radius R2 for the squares of the third divided map that overlap with and the squares included in the circle.
The third divided map 64 is selected and arranged except for the squares overlapping with and the squares included in the circle. Next, with respect to the removed portion, the squares of the second divided map overlapping the first circle 700 of radius R1 centering on the own machine (or viewpoint) 530 and the squares included in the circle are removed. Then, the second divided map 62 is selected and arranged. Then, the first divided map 60 is selected and arranged with respect to the removed portion. In this way, the map division pattern as shown in FIG. 12 can be generated.

Note that the curve T in FIG. 12 shows the arrangement position of the end portion of the background dome 540, but this arrangement position is not limited to the position shown in FIG.

Next, the three-dimensional operation unit 210 included in the image composition unit 200 will be described with reference to FIG. The three-dimensional calculation unit 210 uses various virtual three-dimensional spaces according to the virtual three-dimensional space setting information set by the virtual three-dimensional space calculation unit 100.
It is for performing dimension calculation processing.

That is, first, the display object information including the position information, the direction information, and the object number is transferred from the virtual three-dimensional space computing unit 100 to the processing unit 215. Then, using this transferred object number as an address,
The image information of the corresponding display object is read from the image information storage unit 212. Image information (object information) storage unit 2
The image information 12 is represented and stored as a set of a plurality of polygons.

Next, referring to FIG. 14, the player, the background dome,
The image information of the display objects 300, 333, and 334 that represent maps and the like is changed from the local coordinate system to the world coordinate system (XW, YW,
ZW) is coordinate-converted, and then the coordinate-converted image information is coordinate-converted into a viewpoint coordinate system (Xv, Yv, Zv) based on the viewpoint of the player 302. . These coordinate conversions are performed by the coordinate conversion unit 218. Next, so-called clipping processing is performed by the clipping processing unit 220, and thereafter,
The perspective projection conversion unit 222 performs perspective projection conversion processing on the screen coordinate system (XS, YS). Finally, if necessary, sorting processing is performed by the sorting processing unit 226.

The sorting process is not necessary when the Z buffer method is used. Here, the Z buffer method stores a Z value in a Z buffer, compares the stored Z value with a new Z value of a pixel (dot), and when the new Z value is small (when it is on the front side). ), The Z buffer is updated, and when it is large (when it is on the back side), nothing is done. When using this Z-buffer technique,
The Z value of the pixel in the background display body is set to be larger than the Z value of the pixel of the map (being located at the back side).
The value should be set. This can solve the problem that the map disappears in the background display.

Next, the image forming section 228 will be described.
The drawing processing unit 229 obtains the image information of each pixel in the polygon based on the image information of each vertex of the polygon given from the three-dimensional calculation unit 210. The texture information storage unit 242 stores the image information of the texture to be mapped on the polygon. The obtained image information is stored in the field buffer unit 248, and this image information is stored in the RG by the color palette circuit 252 or the like.
After being converted into B data, it is output to the display 10.

Next, the depth cueing calculation performed by the depth cueing calculator 250 will be described with reference to FIG. The depth cueing calculator 250
The color interpolation calculation is performed based on the depth information CZ.
As the depth information in this case, depth information, that is, the distance from the viewpoint (Z coordinate value) can be considered. As shown in FIG. 15, when performing depth cueing calculation, the back color information 802 is first designated. This back color information 80
2 is designated for each color palette provided in the color palette circuit 252. The output color information 804 is the back color information 802 and the previous color information 80.
0 and the depth information CZ, and the larger the CZ, the closer to the back color information 802. And, for example, in FIG.
In the case of (A) and (B), the back color information is the gap area 5
The color of the map 548 is blended with the color of the gap area 546.
When the depth cueing calculation is performed, it is not always necessary to use the method of designating the back color information as in the present embodiment. For example, by using a brightness calculation unit (not shown) built in the three-dimensional calculation unit 210 or the like, the output color information is calculated so as to approach white or other predetermined colors as CZ increases. May be used.

Finally, the sorting processing section 226 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 16, the sorting processing unit 226 includes a sorting Z value fixing unit 227 and a sorting unit 910, and the sorting Z value fixing unit 227.
Includes a Z representative value calculation unit 900, a polygon shift value addition unit 902, a polygon Z fixed value setting unit 904, an object shift value addition unit 906, and an object Z fixed value setting unit 908. The Z representative value calculation unit 900 calculates the Z representative value based on the vertex Z coordinate value of the polygon in the viewpoint coordinate system. As the Z representative value, any one of the following can be selected for each polygon. Z representative value = Zmin (minimum value of Z coordinate value of each vertex of polygon) (hereinafter referred to as "minimum value") Z representative value = Zmax (maximum value of Z coordinate value of each vertex of polygon) (hereinafter "maximum value") Z representative value = (Zmin + Zmax) / 2 (average value of the minimum value and the maximum value) (hereinafter “average value”)
In addition to the above, it is also possible to use the average value of all the Z coordinate values of the vertices of the polygon as the Z representative value.

The polygon shift value adder 902 adds a predetermined shift value for each polygon to the calculated Z representative value. Also, the shift value addition unit for object 906
Is to add a shift value to the Z representative value for each object, whereby a predetermined shift value can be added to all polygons forming the object at once. In addition, Z fixed value setting units 904 and 908 for polygon / object
Is to set the Z representative value to a fixed value for each polygon and for each object.

Consider, for example, a case where the polygons 920 and 922 have a relationship as shown in FIG. Polygon 922
Is to be displayed in front of the polygon 920.
Here, the Z representative values of the polygons 920 and 922 are Z1 and Z.
It is 2. As described above, the Z representative value is usually set to the "average value". Then, in FIG. 17, Z2
Since the relationship is> Z1 (the Z value increases toward the back side), a part of the image of the polygon 922 is missing. Therefore, in order to avoid this, for example, the polygon 920
Then, a positive shift value is added to the Z representative value Z1 (or a negative shift value is added to Z2) so that Z1> Z2. This makes it possible to prevent image loss. Similarly Z1
May be fixed to a predetermined value so that Z1> Z2 is always established. This also makes it possible to prevent image loss.

In this embodiment, for example, a positive shift value is added to the Z representative value of the background display 540, a negative shift value is added to the map 548, or the Z of the background display 540 is Z.
By fixing the representative value to a predetermined value, it is possible to prevent the map 548 from disappearing in the background display body 540.
In particular, the background display body 540 is usually always displayed on the back side of other display objects. Therefore, the background display 540
The most appropriate method is to fix the Z representative value of No. 2 by the polygon / object Z fixed value setting units 904 and 908.

After the Z value for sorting is obtained in this way, the sorting unit 910 performs polygon rearrangement processing, that is, sorting processing based on the Z value for sorting.

The present invention is not limited to that described in the first and second embodiments, and various modifications can be made.

For example, in the above-mentioned first and second embodiments, a hemispherical background dome has been described as an example of the background display body, but the present invention is not limited to this, and background display bodies of all kinds of shapes can be adopted. For example, a cylindrical background display body or a plate-shaped background display body arranged in front of the player can be used.

Further, the relative position between the background display body and its own device (or viewpoint) may be set in the world coordinate system, for example, in the viewpoint coordinate system or the local coordinate system.

The present invention can be applied not only to the fighter game described in the first and second embodiments but also to various three-dimensional game devices such as a spaceship game.

The present invention can be applied not only to a three-dimensional game device for business use but also to a game device for home use, for example. FIG. 18 shows an example of a block diagram when the present invention is applied to a home-use game machine. This game device includes a main body device 1000, an operation unit 1012, and a storage medium (CD-ROM, game cassette, memory card, etc.) 1306 in which game programs and the like are stored, and the generated images and sounds are displayed on a television monitor 1010 and the like. You can output the game and enjoy the game. The main body device 1000 includes a CPU 1100 having a function of a virtual three-dimensional space calculation unit, an image synthesis unit 1200, a voice synthesis unit 1300, and a work RAM 1.
302, a backup memory (memory card or the like) 1304 for backing up data. Then, the position information of the display object is calculated, for example, by the CPU 1100, and the visual field image is synthesized by the image synthesizing unit 1200.

The present invention can also be applied to a so-called multimedia terminal or a large attraction type game machine in which a large number of players participate.

Further, the arithmetic processing performed in the virtual three-dimensional space arithmetic unit, the image synthesizing unit (three-dimensional arithmetic unit, image forming unit), etc. may be performed using a dedicated image processing device, or a general-purpose image processing device may be used. You may process by software using a microcomputer, DSP, etc.

Further, the configurations of the virtual three-dimensional space arithmetic unit, the image synthesizing unit (three-dimensional arithmetic unit, image forming unit) and the arithmetic processing method are not limited to those described in this embodiment.

Further, the present invention can be naturally applied to a three-dimensional game device using a head mounted display (HMD) and an image synthesizing method.

[0071]

According to the invention of claim 1 or 7, it is possible to reduce the unnaturalness felt by the player and to provide a higher quality visual field image.

Also according to the invention of claim 2 or 8, it is possible to reduce the unnaturalness felt by the player and to provide a higher quality visual field image.

Further, according to the invention of claim 3, it is possible to provide a background display body which is optimum for an airplane simulation game or the like.

According to the invention of claim 4, the boundary between the map and the gap area can be made inconspicuous, and the unnaturalness felt by the player can be further reduced.

According to the fifth or ninth aspect of the invention, it is possible to prevent the map from disappearing in the background display body.

According to the invention of claim 6 or 10, it is possible to prevent the map from disappearing in the background display body by a simple method of changing the setting of the Z value for sorting.

[0077]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a relationship between an own device (line of sight) and a background dome.

3A and 3B are examples of a game screen (visual field image) obtained in this embodiment.

4 (A) to (C) are diagrams showing the relationship between the vehicle itself, a background dome, and a map.

5 (A) to (C) are diagrams showing the relationship between the player, the background dome, and the map when the player is below the center of the dome.

6 (A) to 6 (C) are diagrams showing a relationship between the player's own device, a background dome, and a map when a gap region does not occur.

7 (A) to 7 (C) are diagrams showing the relationship between the own device, the background dome, and the map when the background dome is lowered when the own device moves up.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an external view when the second embodiment is applied to an arcade game machine.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining display object information.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a map division pattern (map expansion).

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing first to third division maps.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining a three-dimensional calculation process.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining depth cueing calculation.

FIG. 16 is an example of a block diagram of a sorting processing unit.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a relationship between polygons having Z representative values Z1 and Z2.

FIG. 18 is an example of a block diagram when the present invention is applied to a home-use game machine.

FIG. 19 (A) is a diagram showing an example of a virtual three-dimensional space, and FIG. 13 (B) is a diagram showing an example of a visual field image.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing the relationship between the own device (viewpoint), the background dome, and the map.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 display 12 operation unit 100 virtual three-dimensional space calculation unit 102 processing unit 104 virtual three-dimensional space setting unit 106 movement information calculation unit 108 display object information storage unit 110 map setting unit 200 image combining unit 210 three-dimensional calculation unit 212 image information storage 215 processing unit 218 coordinate conversion unit 220 clipping processing unit 222 perspective projection conversion unit 226 sorting processing unit 227 sorting Z value fixing unit 228 image forming unit 229 drawing processing unit 242 texture information storage unit 248 field buffer unit 250 depth cueing calculation 252 Color palette circuit 530 Own device 531 Dome center 540 Background dome 542 Cloud 544 Dome end 546 Gap area 548 Map 549 Map end 900 Z Representative value calculation unit 902 Polygon shift value addition Part 904 Polygon fixed Z-value setting unit 906 shift value adding unit 908 object for the object fixed Z-value setting unit 910 sorter

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A three-dimensional game device for forming a three-dimensional game in which a player operates an operating means to move in a virtual three-dimensional space with a predetermined moving body, the three-dimensional game device being arranged in the virtual three-dimensional space. A moving object, a background display body on which a background is displayed, and the virtual 3
A virtual three-dimensional space calculating means for calculating at least position information of a display object including a map forming a three-dimensional space, and a view image visible in the virtual three-dimensional space based on the information including the position information of the display object. The virtual three-dimensional space computing means increases a first distance, which is a distance between the map of the moving body or the player and the map, and increases the first distance, which is the end of the background display body on the map side. When the second distance, which is the distance from the map, increases, the second
A three-dimensional game device, characterized in that a calculation is performed to reduce the increase amount of the distance of 1 above the increase amount of the first distance. 2. A three-dimensional game device for forming a three-dimensional game in which a player operates an operating means to move in a virtual three-dimensional space with a predetermined moving body, the three-dimensional game device being arranged in the virtual three-dimensional space. A moving object, a background display body on which a background is displayed, and the virtual 3
A virtual three-dimensional space calculating means for calculating at least position information of a display object including a map forming a three-dimensional space, and a view image visible in the virtual three-dimensional space based on the information including the position information of the display object. A direction in which the virtual three-dimensional space calculation means increases the first distance when the first distance, which is the distance between the map of the moving body or the player and the map, increases. A three-dimensional game device, characterized in that a calculation for moving the background display body in the opposite direction is performed. 3. The three-dimensional game device according to claim 1, wherein the background display body is a dome-shaped display body formed so as to surround the moving body. 4. The three-dimensional structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising means for performing a calculation to bring the color information of the map closer to a predetermined color by color interpolation as it approaches an end portion of the map. Game device. 5. The three-dimensional game device according to claim 1, further comprising means for setting a drawing order so that the map is drawn on a front side of the background display body. 6. The drawing order setting means according to claim 5, wherein the drawing order setting means sets a sorting Z value so that the map is drawn in front of the background display body; and the sorting Z value. And a sorting processing means for rearranging the drawing order of the images of the display object based on the above. 7. An image synthesizing method for forming a three-dimensional game in which a player operates an operating means to move in a virtual three-dimensional space with a predetermined moving body, the method being arranged in the virtual three-dimensional space. The moving object, the background display object on which the background is displayed, and the virtual 3
A step of calculating at least position information of a display object including a map forming a three-dimensional space; and a step of synthesizing a view image in the virtual three-dimensional space based on information including the position information of the display object, In the calculation step, the first distance, which is the distance between the moving body or the player's viewpoint and the map, increases, and the second distance, which is the distance between the map-side end of the background display body and the map. The image synthesizing method is characterized in that, when is increased, a calculation is performed to decrease the increase amount of the second distance more than the increase amount of the first distance. 8. An image synthesizing method for forming a three-dimensional game in which a player operates an operating means to move in a virtual three-dimensional space with a predetermined moving body, the image synthesizing method being arranged in the virtual three-dimensional space. The moving object, the background display object on which the background is displayed, and the virtual 3
A step of calculating at least position information of a display object including a map forming a three-dimensional space; and a step of synthesizing a view image in the virtual three-dimensional space based on information including the position information of the display object, In the calculation step, when the first distance, which is the distance between the moving body or the viewpoint of the player and the map, increases, the background display body is moved in a direction opposite to the direction in which the first distance increases. An image synthesizing method characterized by performing an arithmetic operation. 9. The image synthesizing method according to claim 7, further comprising a step of setting a drawing order so that the map is drawn on a front side of the background display body. 10. The drawing order setting step according to claim 9, wherein the Z value for sorting is set so that the map is drawn on the front side of the background display body; and the Z value for sorting. A sorting processing step for rearranging the drawing order of the images of the display object based on the above.