JP2001269485A - Entertainment device, storage medium, and displayed object operating method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable even an unskilled player to sufficiently enjoy flight simulation, drive simulation, etc. SOLUTION: On the basis of signals outputted from an operating device 20 corresponding to coordinate values in X-Y coordinates fixed by the operation added to operating shafts 31a and 32a, the direction of movement of an object 601 to be operated is determined. When the coordinate values lie within a predetermined range, the direction of movement of the object 601 is determined on the supposition that the object 601 steeply and circularly flies.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the movement of virtual objects around the world displayed on a display device in accordance with the operation contents of an operator received via an operation device having an operation axis such as a joystick. Related to the technology of controlling.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, entertainment devices, such as video game machines, capable of performing flight simulation, drive simulation, and the like using three-dimensional graphic animation, have become widespread.

[0003] In this type of entertainment apparatus, an operator (player) uses an operating device such as an analog joystick having an operation axis and operation buttons, a game controller, or the like, connected to the apparatus, to operate an airplane, an automobile, or the like. Can be moved around the virtual three-dimensional world. The entertainment device generates a moving image obtained by photographing the object moving in the three-dimensional world with a virtual camera, and displays the moving image on a display screen of a display device connected to the device.

Conventionally, in this type of entertainment apparatus, the attitude and the moving direction of an object moving in a virtual three-dimensional world are controlled according to the operation content applied to the operation axis of the operation apparatus. For example, in a flight simulation, the operation axis has the same function as the control rod, and the operation applied to the operation axis determines the horizontal inclination of the airplane represented by the object and the vertical direction of the nose of the airplane. In the drive simulation, for example, the operation axis has the same function as the handle, and the direction of the tire of the vehicle represented by the object is determined by the operation applied to the operation axis.

[0005]

By the way, in the real world, an act of shifting an airplane to a complete turning flight state by using a control rod or an act of rapidly turning a car by using a steering wheel include: Very advanced maneuvers are required. For this reason, if the operation axis of the operation device is provided with the same function as the steering wheel or handle as in the above-mentioned conventional entertainment device, it is too difficult for an inexperienced player to operate the operation target object, and You may not be able to enjoy flight simulation or drive simulation.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to enable even an unskilled player to fully enjoy a flight simulation, a drive simulation, and the like.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object,
In the present invention, for a predetermined axis passing through a predetermined fulcrum, according to the operation content of the operator received via an operation device having an operation axis configured to be tiltable about the fulcrum,
In an entertainment apparatus for displaying a virtual object (for example, an object representing an airplane or a car) moving around the world on a display device, a tilt direction of the operation axis with respect to the predetermined axis, which is output from the operation apparatus, and The moving direction of the object is determined based on a signal corresponding to a coordinate value on an XY coordinate determined from an angle. When the coordinate value is within a predetermined range, the object performs a specific operation. , Controlling the behavior of the object in the virtual world.

[0008] For example, the entertainment apparatus may use a virtual camera to photograph an object representing an airplane moving in a virtual three-dimensional world according to the operation contents of the operator received via the operation apparatus. When the moving image obtained in the above is to be displayed on the display screen of the display device, the operation content receiving means outputs a signal corresponding to the coordinate value on the XY coordinate output from the operation device. The moving direction of the object (horizontal inclination of the airplane represented by the object or up and down of the nose of the airplane) is determined based on the object, and when the coordinate value is within a predetermined range, the object performs a specific operation ( In the real world, it is assumed that the object performs the operation that is considered to be difficult to control (for example, a sharp turn flight). In order to be able to determine the moving direction of said object.

In this way, even an unskilled player can cause the object to perform an operation that is considered to be difficult to control in the real world by a relatively simple operation on the operation axis. . Therefore, even an unskilled player can fully enjoy the flight simulation, the drive simulation, and the like, and the amusement is improved.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

First, a hardware configuration of an entertainment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 shows an appearance of an entertainment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

This entertainment apparatus reads a game program stored on an optical disk such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM, and executes it in response to an instruction from an operator (player). The execution of the game mainly refers to an operation target object (for example, an airplane or a car) displayed on a display screen of a display device (such as a television) connected to the entertainment device in response to an instruction from a player. Moving the object, and controlling the display and sound of the moving image in accordance with the movement of the moving object, thereby proceeding with the game.

As shown, an entertainment device
A main body 2 of 1 has a disk mounting section 3 in the center of which an optical disk such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM as a recording medium for supplying an application program such as a video game or multimedia data is mounted, A reset switch 4 for resetting the game, a power switch 5, and a disk operation switch 6 for operating mounting of an optical disk.
And, for example, two slot portions 7A and 7B.

Two operating devices 20 are provided in the slots 7A and 7B.
And two players can play a competitive game, a competitive game, and the like. The slot units 7A and 7B include a memory card device 26 capable of saving (storing) and reading game data, and a main body.
The portable electronic device 100 capable of executing a game separately from the portable electronic device 100 can be mounted.

The operating device 20 includes first and second operating units 21 and 22.
, L button 23L, R button 23R, start button 24
, An analog operation unit 31, 32 having an operation button for selecting an operation mode of the operation unit 31, 32, and displaying the selected operation mode. Display unit 34 for display.

As shown in FIG. 2, the analog operation units 31 and 32 are configured to be tiltable about a fulcrum a and to be rotatable in a tilted state with respect to a predetermined axis b passing through a predetermined fulcrum a. Operating shafts 31a and 32a. The operation device 20 includes an operation axis
Detect the inclination of 31a, 32a with respect to axis b and the direction of the inclination,
A signal corresponding to the coordinate value on the XY coordinate determined from these is output. As shown in FIG. 3, the coordinate values in the Y (vertical) direction are represented by 256 levels of "0" to "255" in accordance with the vertical inclination of the operation axes 31a and 32a.
The value in the (horizontal) direction is represented by 256 levels of "0" to "255" according to the inclination of the operation axes 31a and 32a in the left-right direction.

Next, FIG. 4 shows an entertainment device 1
Is shown.

As shown in the figure, the entertainment apparatus 1 has a central processing unit (CPU: CentRal Processing Uniform).
t) A control system 50 including 51 and its peripheral devices, and an image processing device (GPU: Graph:
hic Processing Unit) 62, a sound system 70 including an SPU (Soud Processing Unit) 71 for generating audio signals such as musical sounds and sound effects, and an application program and multimedia data. An optical disk control unit 80 for controlling the recorded optical disk, a signal from the operating device 20 to which an instruction from the player is input, a memory card 26 for storing game settings and the like, and data from the portable electronic device 100 A communication control unit 90 for controlling the input / output of the device and a bus BUS to which the above-mentioned units are connected are provided.

The control system 50 includes a CPU 51 and interrupt control and direct memory access (DMA).
s) Peripheral device control unit 52 that performs transfer control and the like, main memory (main storage device) 53 including a random access memory (RAM), and main memory 53, graphic system 60, sound system 70, and the like. A read-only memory (ROM: Read O
nly Memory) 54.

The CPU 51 controls the whole of the entertainment apparatus 1 by executing an operating system recorded in the ROM 54, and comprises, for example, a RISC-CPU.

Then, the entertainment device 1
When the power is turned on, the CPU 51 of the control system 50
Run the operating system stored in 54. As a result, the CPU 51
And the sound system 70 and the like.

When the operating system is executed, the CPU 51 initializes the entire entertainment apparatus 1 such as an operation check, and then controls the optical disk control unit 80 to execute a game or the like recorded on the optical disk. Execute the application program. By executing a program such as a game, the CPU 51 causes the graphics system 60 or the sound system 60 to respond to an input from a player.
70, etc., to control the display of images and the generation of sound effects and musical sounds.

The graphic system 60 includes a geometry transfer engine (GTE: Geometry Transfer Engine) 61 for performing processing such as coordinate transformation, a GPU 62 for performing drawing in accordance with a drawing instruction from the CPU 51, and a GP 62.
Frame buffer for storing images drawn by U62
63, an image decoder 64 that decodes image data coded by being pressed by an orthogonal transform such as a discrete cosine transform,
It has.

The GTE 61 includes, for example, a parallel operation mechanism for executing a plurality of operations in parallel, and performs operations such as a matrix or a vector for coordinate transformation. Specifically, this GT
E61 forms a virtual three-dimensional object with a set of triangular polygons when, for example, an application program such as a game recorded on an optical disk uses so-called 3D graphics. Then, various calculations for generating an image obtained by photographing the three-dimensional object with a virtual camera, that is,
Perspective transformation (calculation of coordinate values when the vertices of each polygon constituting the three-dimensional object are projected on a virtual camera screen) in rendering is performed.

Next, the GPU 62 renders a three-dimensional object to the frame buffer 63 according to the instruction from the CPU 51 while using the GTE 61 as necessary, to create an image. Then, a video signal representing the created image is output. In addition, as a method of erasing hidden lines and hidden surfaces used for rendering, a Z buffer method, a scan line method, a ray tracing method, or the like is used. As shading methods for shading, flat shading, Gouraud shading, ray tracing, or the like is used. In addition, texture mapping or the like is used as a technique for expressing the surface material or pattern of the surface of the three-dimensional object.

Next, the frame buffer 63 comprises a so-called dual port RAM, so that rendering of the GPU 62 or transfer from the main memory and reading for display can be performed simultaneously.
The frame buffer 63 is provided with a texture area in which a texture used for the texture mapping and the like is stored, in addition to an image area in which reading for rendering and display is performed.

Next, under the control of the CPU 51, the image decoder 64 decodes the still or moving image data stored in the main memory 53 and stores it in the main memory 53. The reproduced image data is stored in a GPU.
By storing in the frame buffer 63 via 62,
It can be used as a background of an image rendered by the GPU 62 described above.

Next, the sound system 70 includes an SPU 71 for outputting audio signals such as musical tones and sound effects based on an instruction from the CPU 51, and a sound buffer 72 in which waveform data and the like are recorded by the SPU 71. I have.

The SPU 71 performs adaptive predictive coding (ADPCM: Adap
ADPCM decoding function for reproducing sound data subjected to tive differential PCM), a reproduction function for reproducing and outputting audio signals such as sound effects by reproducing waveform data stored in the sound buffer 72, and a sound buffer 72. And a modulation function for modulating and reproducing the waveform data stored in. By providing such a function, the sound system 70 can be used as a so-called sampling sound source that generates audio signals such as musical tones and sound effects based on waveform data stored in the sound buffer 72 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 51. It is configured to be able to.

Next, the optical disk control unit 80 communicates with an optical disk device 81 that reproduces programs, data, and the like recorded on the optical disk, for example, by using an error correction code (ECC).
The decoder 82 includes a decoder 82 for decoding a program, data, and the like recorded with the addition of an option code, and a buffer 83 for temporarily storing data from the optical disk device 81 to speed up the reading of data from the optical disk. ing. The sub CPU 84 is connected to the decoder 82.

The data is read out by the optical disc device 81.
As audio data recorded on the optical disc, in addition to the above-described ADPCM data, an audio signal
There is so-called PCM data that has been digitally converted. ADP
After the CM data is decoded by the decoder 82, the SP
After being supplied to the U71 and subjected to processing such as digital / analog conversion by the SPU 71, it is output as a musical sound / sound effect from an audio device such as an audio device connected to the entertainment device 1. PCM data is SP
After processing such as digital / analog conversion in U71,
Similarly, it is output from the audio device as a musical sound, a sound effect, or the like.

Next, the communication control section 90 includes a communication controller 91 for controlling communication with the CPU 51 via the bus BUS. The communication controller 91 includes an operation device connection unit 12 to which an operation device 20 for receiving an instruction from a player is connected, and a memory card 26 and a portable electronic device 100 as an auxiliary storage device for storing game setting data and the like. Are provided with memory card insertion sections 8A and 8B to which are connected.

The operating device 20 connected to the operating device connection section 12
Is a communication controller to input instructions from the player.
In accordance with the instruction from 91, the state of each button and operation unit is transmitted to the communication controller 91 by synchronous communication. Then, the communication controller 91 transmits the states of the buttons and the operation unit of the operation device 20 to the CPU 51.

Thus, the instruction from the player is transmitted to the CPU.
Input to the CPU 51, the CPU 51 performs a process according to an instruction from the player based on a game program or the like being executed. Specifically, an image including the operation target object is generated in cooperation with other units of the control system 70 and the graphic system 60, and displayed on the display screen of the display device.
Then, in accordance with an instruction from the player input to the operation device 20, an image in which the display position or orientation of the operation target object is changed (the background is also changed as necessary) is sequentially generated, and displayed on the display screen of the display device. By displaying the moving image, a moving image is generated so that the operation target object is operated in accordance with the operation content of the player input to the operation device 20. Also, if necessary, sound system
Cooperates with 70 to control audio and music output from audio devices.

Here, between the main memory 53, the GPU 62, the image decoder 64, the decoder 82 and the like, it is necessary to transfer image data at a high speed when reading a program, displaying an image or drawing. Therefore, in the entertainment apparatus 1, data is directly transferred between the main memory 53, the GPU 62, the image decoder 64, the decoder 82, and the like under the control of the peripheral device control unit 52 without the intervention of the CPU 51 as described above. So-called DMA transfer can be performed. Thus, the load on the CPU 51 due to data transfer can be reduced, and high-speed data transfer can be performed.

When it is necessary to store setting data and the like of the game being executed, the CPU 51 transmits the stored data to the communication controller 91, and the communication controller 91
The data from the PU 51 is inserted into the memory card insertion section 8A or 8B slot of the memory card 26 or a portable electronic device.
Write to 100.

Here, the communication controller 91 has a built-in protection circuit for preventing electrical destruction. The memory card 26 and the portable electronic device 100 are separated from the bus BUS, and can be detached while the power of the apparatus body is turned on. Therefore, memory cards 26 and portable electronic devices
When the storage capacity of 100 becomes insufficient, a new memory card or the like can be inserted without shutting off the power supply of the apparatus main body. Therefore, it is possible to insert a new memory card and write necessary data to the new memory card without losing game data that needs to be backed up.

The parallel I / O interface (PI
O) 96 and serial I / O interface (SIO) 9
Reference numeral 7 denotes an interface for connecting the memory card 26 or the portable electronic device 100 to the entertainment apparatus 1.

The hardware configuration of the entertainment apparatus 1 has been described above.

Next, the entertainment apparatus having the above-described structure.
In 1, a flight simulation game realized by the CPU 51 executing an application program read from the optical disc mounted on the disc mounting section 3 will be described.

Here, a flight simulation game is a game in which a player operates an operation target object representing an airplane by using an operation device 20 connected to the entertainment device 1 and travels a virtual three-dimensional world. This game allows you to virtually experience the operation of an airplane by moving it. The entertainment device 1 generates a CG animation image obtained by photographing the three-dimensional operation target object moving around the world with a virtual camera, and displays the CG animation image on a display screen of a display device connected to the entertainment device 1. I do.

First, the data structure of the optical disk will be described.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the data structure of the optical disk 85 mounted on the disk mounting unit 3.

As shown in the figure, an optical disk 85 stores an application program (PG) 501 for realizing a flight simulation game and various data including an object data (DA) 502 and a map database (DB) 503. I have.

In the object DA502, in a flight simulation game, various kinds of information necessary for specifying a three-dimensional shape, a texture, and the like of an operation target object (an object representing an airplane) operated by the player using the operation device 20 are provided. Is stored. The map DB 503 stores information on various map components that specify a virtual three-dimensional terrain around the world in which the operation target object moves in the flight simulation game.

Next, a software configuration for realizing a flight simulation game built on the entertainment apparatus 1 will be described.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a software configuration for realizing a flight simulation game built on the entertainment apparatus 1. Each component shown in this figure is read from the optical disk 85 mounted on the disk mounting unit 3 by the optical disk control unit 80,
Application PG50 loaded on main memory 53
1 is realized by the CPU 51 as a process.

In FIG. 6, an operation content receiving unit 801 determines a moving speed and a moving direction of an operation target object that moves in a virtual three-dimensional world according to a player's instruction input to the operating device 20. This process is performed periodically.

Here, the moving speed of the operation target object is, for example, the first and second operation units 21 and 22 of the operation device 20,
The determination is made by giving one of the L button 23L and the R button 23R the same function as the throttle.

That is, when the detection signal of the button having the same function as the throttle is output from the operating device 20, it is determined that the throttle is on, and when the detection signal of the button is not output, the throttle is off. to decide.
If it is determined that the throttle is ON, the speed determined from the acceleration determined according to the predetermined throttle ON and the duration of the throttle ON since the previous speed was determined is added to the previously determined moving speed of the operation target object. Is added to determine the moving speed of the operation target object. On the other hand, when it is determined that the throttle is off, the moving speed of the operation target object previously determined is obtained from the deceleration corresponding to the predetermined throttle off and the duration of the throttle off since the previous moving speed was determined. The moving speed of the operation target object is determined by subtracting the speed.

The moving direction of the operation target object is determined, for example, by providing the operation axes 31a and 32a of the operation device 20 with the same function as the control rod.

That is, by the operation applied to the operation axes 31a and 32a, the operation target object is changed according to the value of the X coordinate component of the signal corresponding to the coordinate value on the XY coordinate output from the operation device 20. The left and right inclinations of the plane to be represented are determined, and the nose up and down of the plane are determined according to the value of the Y coordinate component.

Specifically, in FIG. 3, when the value of the X coordinate component is 128 to 255, the larger the value is, the more the plane tilts to the right, and when the value of the X coordinate component is 0 to 126, It is assumed that the smaller the value is, the more the airplane leans to the left. When the value of the X coordinate component is 127, it is determined that the airplane is not tilted left and right. In addition, when the value of the Y coordinate component is 128 to 255, the larger the value, the more the nose of the airplane is raised,
When the value of the Y coordinate component is from 0 to 126, the nose of the airplane is to be greatly lowered as the value is smaller. When the value of the Y coordinate component is 127, it is determined that there is no upper and lower part of the nose of the airplane.

Then, the operation content receiving unit 801 operates the operation device 2
Relative to the previously determined moving direction of the operation target object from the left and right inclination and vertical movement of the aircraft represented by the operation target object, specified by a signal corresponding to the coordinate value on the XY coordinates output from 0 The amount of change in the typical moving direction is obtained and added to the previously determined moving direction of the operation target object. Thereby, the moving direction of the operation target object is determined.

By the way, in the real world, the act of using a control rod to shift an airplane to a complete turning flight state requires very advanced control. For this reason, if the operation axes 31a and 32a of the operation device 20 have the same function as that of the control lever, the operation of the operation target object may be too difficult for an inexperienced player, and the flight simulation game may not be sufficiently enjoyed. unknown.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the operation object receiving unit
If the coordinate values on the XY coordinates indicated by the signal output from the operation device 20 by the operation applied to the operation axes 31a and 32a in the 801 are within a predetermined range, the operation content receiving unit 801 performs the operation. It is determined that the target object is to perform a predetermined operation (an operation that is considered difficult to steer in the real world). Then, the moving direction of the operation target object is determined to be the direction required to perform the operation. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the operation content receiving unit 801
If the coordinate value on the XY coordinate is X coordinate value ≧ 240 and Y coordinate value ≦ 15, it is determined that the operation target object is to make a sharp clockwise turn, and the X coordinate value ≦ 15, If the Y coordinate value ≤ 15, it is determined that the operation target object is to make a sharp left turn. Then, the moving direction of the operation target object is determined to be a direction required to perform the flight.

For example, if it is determined that a sharp turn in the upper right direction is to be performed, the airplane represented by the object to be operated is tilted to the right by 45 degrees, and the nose of the airplane is raised by 45 degrees, and it is determined last time. The moving direction of the operation target object is determined from the moving direction of the operation target object. If you decide to make a sharp left turn,
Tilt the plane 45 degrees to the left and raise the nose of the plane 4
The moving direction of the operation target object is determined from the moving direction of the operation target object determined last time, which is assumed to be five times.

Next, in FIG. 6, the object position calculation unit 802 periodically performs a process of calculating the position and orientation of the operation target object in a virtual three-dimensional world.

Specifically, the current position of the operation target object is calculated from the previously calculated position and orientation of the operation target object and the latest moving speed of the operation target object determined by the operation content receiving unit 801. . In addition, according to the latest moving direction of the operation target object determined by the operation content receiving unit 801, the current posture of the operation target object is calculated.

The three-dimensional map creator 803 directly reads out the map components arranged around the position of the operation target object calculated by the object position calculator 802 from the map DB 503 stored in the optical disk 85, or The data is read out from the map DB 503 and once stored in the main memory 53 or the like, and arranged three-dimensionally around the world. Thereby, the terrain developed around the position of the operation target object is generated.

The terrain generation processing in the three-dimensional map creation unit 803 does not necessarily need to be performed each time the position of the operation target object is calculated by the object position calculation unit 802. For example, it may be performed each time the position of the operation target object is calculated a plurality of times by the object position calculation unit 802. In this case, the object position calculation unit 80
In consideration of a range in which the operation target object can be moved in the plurality of operation target object position calculation processes in 2 (this can be estimated from a preset maximum moving speed of the operation target object, etc.), What is necessary is just to read out the map components arranged in the periphery from the map DB 503 and arrange them in the three-dimensional world.

The object arranging unit 804 assigns an operation target object, such as its three-dimensional shape, specified by the object DA502 stored on the optical disk 85 to the three-dimensional world where the terrain is developed by the three-dimensional map creating unit 803. It is arranged at the position of the latest operation target object calculated by the position calculation unit 802. At this time, the operation target object is arranged such that the posture of the operation target object becomes the latest posture of the operation target object calculated by the object position calculation unit 802.

The three-dimensional map creating unit 803 and the object arranging unit 804 are realized by the CPU 51 using the GTE 61 in FIG.

The camera arrangement unit 805 includes a three-dimensional map creation unit 803.
And a virtual camera arrangement position (that is, a viewpoint) and a direction (that is, a line-of-sight direction and a line-of-sight direction) used for generating a two-dimensional image from the three-dimensional world in which the terrain and the operation target object are arranged by the object arrangement unit 804. Of the camera with respect to the axis. This process is performed every time the position and orientation of the operation target object are calculated by the object position calculation unit 802. Hereinafter, an example of specific setting processing of the virtual camera arrangement position and orientation in the camera arrangement unit 805 will be described.

FIGS. 7 to 9 are diagrams for explaining the positional relationship between the operation target object 601 and the virtual camera 608 in the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows a state in which the object 601 and the virtual camera 609 arranged in the three-dimensional world are looked down from directly above (infinity of the Z axis).
Shows a state in which the object 601 and the virtual camera 609 arranged in the three-dimensional world are viewed from the side (infinity of the X axis). FIG. 9 shows an object 601 and a virtual camera 609 arranged all over the three-dimensional world, placed beside (Y
(Infinity of the axis). In these drawings, illustration of map components arranged in the three-dimensional world is omitted.

(1) Virtual Camera Arrangement Position (Camera Installation Point) As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the camera arrangement unit 805 determines a camera installation point 606 which is an arrangement position of a virtual camera 609. Set to a position that satisfies the following conditions.

A line 603 that passes through the position 602 of the operation target object 601 newly calculated by the object position calculation unit 802 and moves along the moving direction of the operation target object 601 newly calculated by the operation content reception unit 801 At position 602
A camera tracking point 604 is set at a position higher by a predetermined value H than a position further behind by a distance K.

The distance L between the camera tracking point 604 and the previously calculated camera installation point 606 ′ is divided by a predetermined value M to obtain the previously calculated camera installation point 6 by the distance L / M.
A camera installation point 606 is set at a position approaching the camera tracking point 604 from 06 ′. Therefore, the camera installation point 606, the previously calculated camera installation point 606 ', and the camera tracking point 604 satisfy the following relationship.

X coordinate value of point 606 = (X coordinate value of point 604−point 60
X coordinate value of 6 ′) / M + X coordinate value of point 606 ′ Y coordinate value of point 606 = (Y coordinate value of point 604−Y coordinate value of point 606 ′) / M + point 606 ′
Z coordinate value of Y coordinate value point 606 = (Z coordinate value of point 604−Z coordinate value of point 606 ′) / M + point 606 ′
In the above, the distance K is set such that the distance K becomes shorter as the moving speed of the operation target object 601 newly calculated by the operation content receiver 801 increases (that is, the camera tracking point 604 To get closer). For example, when the moving speed of the operation target object 601 is A, K is set to k, and the following formula is set.

K = ka (BA) Here, B is the moving speed of the operation target object newly calculated by the operation content receiving unit 801 and a is a predetermined coefficient. The coefficient a is set so as to satisfy the following condition in relation to the predetermined value M described above.

That is, although the camera tracking point 604 approaches the operation target object 601 as the moving speed of the operation target object 601 increases, the camera installation point 606
Is such that as the moving speed of the operation target object 601 increases, the distance from the operation target object 601 increases.
That is, the coefficient a and the predetermined value M are set so that the operation target object 601 moves backward with respect to the moving direction.

In the initial state (at the start of the game), the camera installation point 606 may be set to a predetermined position fixedly determined by the relative positional relationship with the operation target object 601.

(2) Camera Orientation (Camera Viewing Direction) As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the camera placement unit 805 moves the virtual camera 609 installed at the camera installation point 606 to the camera reference point 607. The camera viewing direction 610 is set so as to face.
The camera placement unit 805 sets the camera reference point 607 under the following conditions.
-Set the position to satisfy.

A line 603 that passes through the position 602 of the operation target object newly calculated by the object position calculation unit 802 and moves along the moving direction of the operation target object newly calculated by the operation content receiving unit 801 A camera reference point 607 is set at a position ahead of the position 602 by a distance J.

In the above description, the distance J is the operation target object 601 newly calculated by the operation content receiving unit 801.
Are set to be longer as the moving speed of the camera becomes higher (that is, the camera reference point 607 moves away from the operation target object 601). For example, when the moving speed of the operation target object 601 is A, J is set to j and the following formula is set.

J = j + b (BA) where B is the moving speed of the operation target object newly calculated by the operation content receiving unit 801 and b is a predetermined coefficient.

(3) Camera Orientation (Tilt of Camera Around Camera Viewing Direction) As shown in FIG. 9, the operation target object 601 is inclined left and right about the line 603 (that is, operation content reception). When the operation content for tilting the airplane represented by the operation target object 601 to the left or right is received by the unit 801), the virtual camera 608 is rotated around the camera viewing direction 610 according to the tilt. Then, the operation target object 60
If 1 rotates around line 603, virtual camera 60
8 is rotated about the camera viewing direction 610 as an axis.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show the virtual camera 6 in response to the movement of the operation target object 601 in this embodiment.
It is a figure for explaining how 08 behaves.

FIG. 10 shows the operation target object.
FIG. 11 shows a relationship between the operation target object 601 and the virtual camera 608 when the speed of the operation target object 601 changes from the straight traveling state to the clockwise turning state at a constant speed. The relationship between the operation target object 601 and the virtual camera 608 when gradually increasing is shown. In both figures, the operation target object 601 and the virtual camera 608 are
FIGS. 3A and 3B show a view from directly above (infinity of the Z axis), and in these figures, illustration of map components arranged in the three-dimensional world is omitted.

FIG. 12 is a view showing an example of an image obtained when the image is taken by the virtual camera 609 arranged as shown in FIG. Here, FIG. 12A shows a video shot by the virtual camera 609 when the operation target object 601 is at the position of FIG. 10A in FIG. 10, and FIG. FIG. 12C shows an image captured by the virtual camera 609 when the object 601 is at the position (b), and FIG. 6
The images shot at 09 are shown respectively. FIG. 12D shows an operation target object in FIG.
FIG. 12E shows an image captured by the virtual camera 609 when the 601 is at the position shown in FIG.
Video images shot by the virtual camera 609 when the 601 is at the position (e) are shown.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an image obtained when the image is taken by the virtual camera 609 arranged as shown in FIG. Here, FIG. 13A shows an image captured by the virtual camera 609 when the operation target object 601 is at the position of FIG. 11A in FIG. 11, and FIG. FIG. 13C shows an image captured by the virtual camera 609 when the object 601 is at the position (b), and FIG. 13C shows a virtual camera when the operation target object 601 is at the position (c). 6
The images shot at 09 are shown respectively.

As is clear from FIGS. 10 and 12,
By setting the arrangement position and the orientation of the virtual camera 609 so as to satisfy the conditions satisfying the above (1) to (3), the camera installation point 606 ′ calculated last time becomes the camera installation point 606 ′. Therefore, the virtual camera 609 behaves so as to follow the movement of the operation target object 601 with a slight delay behind the operation target object 601. In addition, when the operation target object 601 is rotated around the movement direction as an axis (tilted right and left), the virtual camera 609
Also rotates about the camera viewing direction 610 as an axis.

As is clear from FIGS. 11 and 13, by setting the arrangement position and the orientation of the virtual camera 609 so as to satisfy the conditions satisfying the above (1) to (3), The typical camera 609 moves in a direction away from the operation target object 601 as the moving speed of the operation target object 601 increases. Further, the camera viewing direction 610 is such that as the moving speed of the operation target object 601 increases, the operation target object
Pointed forward of

Returning to FIG. 6, the description will be continued.

The image generation unit 806 converts the three-dimensional world in which the terrain and the object to be operated are arranged by the three-dimensional map creation unit 803 and the object arrangement unit 804 into a camera arrangement unit.
At 805, a two-dimensional image obtained by photographing with a virtual camera in which the arrangement position and the viewing direction are set is generated. Specifically, the virtual camera 609 is set in accordance with the position of the virtual camera as the viewpoint, the direction of the camera as the line of sight, and the left and right tilts with the movement direction of the operation target object 601 as the axis. Is rotated about the camera viewing direction 610 as an axis, and 3
A two-dimensional image is generated by performing a process (rendering) of projecting an operation target object or a map component in a three-dimensional world.

The display control unit 807 converts the two-dimensional image generated by the image generation unit 806 into a video signal, and outputs the video signal to a display device connected to the entertainment apparatus 1.

Note that the image generation unit 806 and the display control unit 807
In FIG. 4, for example, CPU 51 has GTE 61 and GTE 61.
This is realized by using the PU62. Next, an operation of a software configuration for realizing a flight simulation game built on the entertainment apparatus 1 will be described.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the software configuration for realizing the flight simulation game, which is built on the entertainment apparatus 1.

First, the operation content receiving unit 801 calculates the moving speed of the operation target object 601 (step S100)
1). Specifically, by detecting a detection signal of a button having a role of a throttle of the operation device 20, the on / off time of the throttle since the previous movement speed was calculated is measured. Then, the speed calculated from the measured throttle-on time and the predetermined acceleration is added to the previously calculated moving speed, and / or the speed obtained from the measured throttle-off time and the predetermined deceleration is subtracted. Then, the moving speed of the operation target object 601 is calculated.

Next, the operation content receiving unit 801 calculates the moving direction of the operation target object 601 (steps S1002 to S1002).
S1004).

Specifically, the operation of the operation device 20 applied to the operation shafts 31a and 32a having the role of the control rod is performed.
It is checked whether or not the coordinate values on the XY coordinates indicated by the signal output from the operation device 20 are within a predetermined range (step S1).
002). For example, in the example shown in FIG. 3, whether the coordinate value on the XY coordinate is in the range of X coordinate value ≧ 240 and Y coordinate value ≦ 15 or in the range of X coordinate value ≦ 15 and Y coordinate value ≦ 15 Check whether or not.

If the movement is within the predetermined range, the operation target object 601 is caused to perform a predetermined operation, and the moving direction of the operation target object 601 is determined to be a direction required for performing the operation. (Step S100
3). For example, in the example shown in FIG. 3, when the coordinate values on the XY coordinates are X coordinate value ≧ 240 and Y coordinate value ≦ 15, it is determined that the operation target object is to make a sharp clockwise turn. From the movement direction of the operation target object 601 calculated last time, the airplane represented by the operation target object 601 is inclined to the right by 45 degrees, and the nose of the airplane is raised by 45 degrees. calculate. When the X coordinate value ≦ 15 and the Y coordinate value ≦ 15, it is determined that the operation target object 601 is to make a sharp left turn, and the airplane is moved leftward from the previously calculated movement direction of the operation target object 601. The nose of the airplane is raised by 45 degrees, and the moving direction of the operation target object 601 is determined.

On the other hand, if it is not within the predetermined range, the operation shaft 31
In accordance with the coordinate values on the XY coordinates indicated by the signal output from the operation device 20 by the operations applied to the a and 32a, the inclination of the airplane represented by the operation target object 601 and the aircraft Determine the neck up and down. Then, it is assumed that the airplane is moved up, down, left, and right by the determined angle from the previously calculated movement direction of the operation target object 601, and the movement direction of the operation target object 601 is determined (step S1004).

Next, the object position calculation unit 802 operates a virtual three-dimensional operation object 601 around the world.
Is calculated (step S1005).

Specifically, the position of the operation target object 601 at the present time is determined from the position and orientation of the operation target object calculated last time and the latest moving speed of the operation target object 601 calculated by the operation content receiving unit 801. calculate. In addition, according to the latest moving direction of the operation target object 601 determined by the operation content receiving unit 801, the current posture of the operation target object 601 is calculated.

Next, the three-dimensional map creation unit 803 checks whether or not the map needs to be updated (step S1006). For example, the operation target object 601 in step S1005
When the map is updated every time the position calculation processing is performed N times, a counter is provided and it is checked whether or not the count value has reached N. If the number has reached N, it is determined that updating is necessary, the count value is reset, and the process proceeds to step S1007. On the other hand, if the count value has not reached N, the count value is incremented by one and the process proceeds to step S1008.

In step S1007, the three-dimensional map map creator 803 reads from the map DB 503 the map components arranged around the position of the operation target object calculated by the object position calculator 802 in step S1005. Deploy all over the world. Thereby, the terrain developed around the position of the operation target object is developed.

In step S1008, the object placement unit 8
In step S1007, the three-dimensional map
In the three-dimensional world where the terrain is expanded by 03, the operation target object 601 specified by the object DA502, such as its three-dimensional shape, is arranged at the position of the operation target object calculated by the object position calculation unit 802 in step S1005. . At this time, the operation target object is arranged such that the posture of the operation target object becomes the posture of the operation target object calculated by the object position calculation unit 802 in step S1005.

Next, according to the procedure described earlier with reference to FIGS.
7. In S1008, a virtual camera 609 used by the three-dimensional map map creation unit 803 and the object placement unit 804 to generate a two-dimensional image from the three-dimensional world where the terrain and the operation target object 601 are placed. To set the arrangement position and orientation of the object (step S100
9).

As described above, the operation target object 601 and the terrain around the operation target object 601 are arranged around the three-dimensional world, and the operation target object 601 and the periphery of the operation object 601 arranged around the three-dimensional world are arranged. When the arrangement position and the orientation of the virtual camera 609 for photographing the terrain are set, the image generation unit 806 sets the arrangement position of the virtual camera 609 as a viewpoint, sets the orientation of the camera 609 as a line-of-sight direction, and , A virtual camera according to the left and right inclination with the movement direction of the operation target object 601 as an axis.
By rotating the 609 around the camera viewing direction 610 as an axis, a rendering process of projecting the operation target object 601 and the operation target object 601 arranged in the three-dimensional world on a virtual camera screen is performed. Thereby, a two-dimensional image is generated (step S1010).

Then, the display control unit 807 determines in step S10
At 10, the two-dimensional image generated by the image generation unit 806 is converted into a video signal, and the entertainment device 1
Is output to the display device connected to (step S1011).

By repeatedly performing the flow shown in FIG. 14 described above, the present entertainment apparatus 1 provides an operation target object that moves in a virtual three-dimensional world according to the operation content of the player received via the operation apparatus 20.
A moving image obtained by shooting 601 with the virtual camera 609 is displayed on a display screen of a display device connected to the entertainment device 1.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described above.

According to the present embodiment, the virtual camera 609
The camera installation point 606 ′ calculated last time is considered as the camera installation point 606 which is the arrangement position of the virtual camera 6
09 acts so as to follow the movement of the operation target object 601 with a slight delay with respect to the movement of the operation target object 601. Further, when the operation target object 601 rotates around the moving direction, the virtual camera 609 also rotates around the camera line of sight as an axis.

Therefore, it is easy for the player to grasp the virtual three-dimensional behavior of the operation target object 601 operated using the operation device 20 through the display screen. Therefore, the realism of the flight simulation game is increased, and the entertainment is improved.

According to the present embodiment, the virtual camera 609 moves in a direction away from the operation target object 601 as the moving speed of the operation target object 601 increases.

For this reason, when the player increases the moving speed of the operation target object 601 using the operation device 20,
In accordance with the increase in the moving speed, the image around the object contained in the virtual camera 609 (that is, displayed on the display screen of the display device) becomes wider. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the operation from becoming extremely difficult when the moving speed of the operation target object 601 is increased.

The moving speed of the operation target object 601 is reflected on the moving image displayed on the display screen of the display device as the relative speed of the object 601 with respect to the terrain arranged around the object. Even if the image around the object contained in the virtual camera 609 is widened according to the increase in the moving speed of the object 601, the sense of speed obtained from the moving image is not lost.

Further, in this embodiment, a virtual camera
609 camera gaze direction 610 is the operation target object 601
The higher the moving speed of the
Pointed forward one.

For this reason, when the player increases the moving speed of the operation target object 601 using the operation device 20,
In accordance with the increase in the moving speed, the image around the object stored in the virtual camera 609 spreads farther. Therefore, when the moving speed of the operation target object 601 is increased, it is possible to more efficiently prevent the operation from becoming extremely difficult.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the inclination of the airplane represented by the operation target object 609 and the elevation of the nose are output from the operation device 20 by the operation applied to the operation axes 31a and 32a of the operation device 20. Is determined according to the coordinate values on the XY coordinates thus obtained. When the XY coordinate values are within a predetermined range, it is determined that the operation target object 601 is to perform a predetermined operation (for example, an operation that is difficult to steer in the real world, such as a sharp turn). Let
The moving direction of the operation target object 601 is determined to be the direction required to perform the operation.

In this way, the operation of the operation target object 601 can be simplified as compared with the case where the operation axes 31a and 32a of the operation device 20 have the same function as the control lever. Therefore, even an unskilled player can fully enjoy the flight simulation game.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention.

In the above embodiment, the virtual camera 609
The camera installation point 606, which is the arrangement position of, is set so that the previously calculated camera installation point 606 ′ is considered.
However, the present invention is not limited to this. The camera installation point 606 only needs to be set in consideration of the camera installation point calculated at least one before.

For example, the distance L / M obtained by dividing the distance L between the camera installation point 606 ′ and the camera tracking point 604 calculated immediately before by a predetermined value M is equal to the camera installation point 6.
The camera installation point 606 may be set at a position approaching the camera tracking point 604 from 06 ′ and an intermediate point between the camera tracking points 604.

Alternatively, a distance L between an intermediate point between the camera installation point 606 ′ calculated immediately before and the camera installation point 606 ″ calculated two times before and the camera tracking point 604 is divided by a predetermined value M. The camera installation point 606 may be set at a position approaching the camera tracking point 604 from the intermediate point by the distance L / M obtained in the above.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where a flight simulation game is performed using the present entertainment apparatus 1 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, using the present entertainment apparatus 1, it is possible to move a virtual three-dimensional operation target object in the world according to the operation content of the player received via the operation apparatus 20, such as a drive simulation game. This is applicable when playing a simple video game.

When a drive simulation game is performed using the entertainment apparatus 1, the operation axis
When the coordinate values on the XY coordinates indicated by the signal output from the operation device 20 by the operations applied to the operations 31a and 32a are within a predetermined range, the operation content receiving unit 801 determines that the operation target object has a sudden rotation or the like. In the real world, it may be determined that an operation that is considered to be difficult to perform is performed, and the moving direction of the operation target object may be determined to be the direction required for performing the operation.

In the present invention, the virtual camera 60
The method of setting the arrangement position and orientation of 9 can be widely applied not only to video games but also to a device that generates a moving image by shooting a virtual three-dimensional display object moving around the world with a virtual camera. is there.

The appearance and hardware configuration of the entertainment apparatus 1 are not limited to those shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. The entertainment device 1
For example, a CPU, a memory, an external storage device such as a hard disk device, a reading device for reading data from a portable storage medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM, an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a display And the like, a data communication device for performing communication via a network such as the Internet, and an interface for controlling data transmission / reception between the above-described devices. Good.

Also, a program for constructing the software configuration shown in FIG. 6 on the entertainment apparatus 1, a map component to be arranged in a three-dimensional world, and a three-dimensional shape of an operation object are specified. The various data may be read from a portable storage medium via a reading device and stored in a memory or an external storage device, or may be downloaded from a network via a data communication device. May be stored in a memory or an external storage device.

[0124]

As described above, according to the present invention, even an unskilled player can fully enjoy a flight simulation, a drive simulation, and the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing an example of the appearance of an entertainment apparatus 1 and an operation apparatus 20 to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a view showing the operation device 20 shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining values that can be input using the operation axes 31a and 32a of the operation device 20 shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the entertainment apparatus 1 shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 shows a disc mounting unit 3 of the entertainment apparatus 1.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a data configuration of an optical disk 85 mounted on the optical disk 85.

6 is a diagram showing a software configuration for realizing a flight simulation game built on the entertainment device 1 shown in FIG.

7 is a diagram for explaining a positional relationship between a virtual camera 608 and an operation target object 601 which are arranged in a three-dimensional world by the camera arrangement unit 805 shown in FIG.

8 is a diagram for explaining a positional relationship between a virtual camera 608 and an operation target object 601 arranged around the three-dimensional world by the camera arrangement unit 805 shown in FIG.

9 is a diagram for explaining a positional relationship between a virtual camera 608 and an operation target object 601 arranged around the three-dimensional world by the camera arrangement unit 805 shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining how a virtual camera 608 arranged in the three-dimensional world by the camera arrangement unit 805 shown in FIG. 6 behaves in response to the movement of the operation target object 601.

11 is a diagram for explaining how a virtual camera 608 arranged in the three-dimensional world by the camera arrangement unit 805 shown in FIG. 6 behaves in response to the movement of the operation target object 601.

12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a video obtained when photographing is performed by a virtual camera 609 arranged as illustrated in FIG. 10;

13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a video obtained when photographing is performed by a virtual camera 609 arranged as illustrated in FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the software configuration for realizing the flight simulation game built on the entertainment apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Entertainment unit 2 Main unit 3 Disk mounting unit 4 Reset switch 5 Power switch 6 Disk operation switch 7A, 7B Slot unit 8A, 8B Memory card insertion unit 12 Operating unit connection unit 20 Operating unit 21 , 22 ... Operation part 23L ... L button 23R ... R button 24 ... Start button 25 ... Select button 26 ... Memory card 31,32 ... Analog operation part 31a, 32a ... Operation axis 33 ... Mode selection switch 34 ... Display part 50 ... Control System 51 Central processing unit (CPU) 52 Peripheral device control unit 53 Main memory 54 ROM 60 Graphic system 61 Geometry transfer engine (GTE: Geometry T)
(ransfer Engine) 62 ... Graphic Processing Unit (GPU) 63 ... Frame Buffer 64 ... Image Decoder 70 ... Sound System 71 ... Sound Processing Unit (SPU) 72 ... Sound Buffer 73 ... Speaker 80 ... Optical Disk Control Unit 81 optical disk device 82 decoder 83 buffer 84 sub CPU 90 communication control unit 91 communication controller 100 portable electronic device 501 application program 502 object data 503 map database 601 operation object 609 Virtual camera 801… Operation content receiving unit 802… Object position calculation unit 803… 3D map creation unit 804… Object placement unit 805… Camera placement unit 806… Image generation unit 807… Display control unit

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a predetermined axis passing through a predetermined fulcrum, in accordance with an operation received by an operator via an operation device having an operation axis configured to be tiltable about the fulcrum.
An entertainment device for displaying a virtual object moving around the world on a display device, wherein an XY coordinate output from the operating device and determined by a tilt direction of the operating axis with respect to the predetermined axis and an angle thereof. Based on a signal corresponding to the above coordinate value, the moving direction of the object is determined, and when the coordinate value is within a predetermined range, the object performs a specific operation and the moving direction of the object is changed. An entertainment device comprising an operation content receiving means for determining. 2. The entertainment device according to claim 1, wherein the entertainment device is configured to control a virtual three-dimensional object moving around the world in accordance with an operation received by the operator via the operation device. Displaying a moving image obtained by photographing with a virtual camera on a display screen of the display device, wherein the object moves around the three-dimensional world on the display screen of the display device. The operation content receiving means, based on a signal corresponding to the coordinate value on the XY coordinates output from the operating device, the left and right inclination of the airplane represented by the object. And nose up and down,
When the coordinate value is within a predetermined range, the entertainment apparatus determines that the object performs a specific action and determines the horizontal inclination and the vertical nose of the airplane represented by the object. 3. The entertainment device according to claim 2, wherein the specific operation is a turning flight operation. 4. A storage medium storing a program which is read and executed by an electronic computer, wherein the program is read and executed by the electronic computer so that a predetermined program is connected to the electronic computer. With respect to a predetermined axis passing through the fulcrum, an operation content of the operator is received via an operation device having an operation axis configured to be tiltable about the fulcrum, and a virtual world is Means for displaying an object moving in the display device on a display device, wherein the display means comprises: a tilt of the operation axis output from the operation device with respect to the predetermined axis. The moving direction of the object is determined based on a signal corresponding to the coordinate value on the XY coordinate determined from the direction and the angle, and when the coordinate value is within a predetermined range, A storage medium, characterized in that the object performs a specific operation and includes an operation content receiving unit that determines a moving direction of the object. 5. The storage medium according to claim 4, wherein said displaying means is a virtual three-dimensional object which moves around the world in accordance with an operation content of an operator received via said operation device. Is displayed on a display screen of the display device, and a moving image obtained by photographing the object with a virtual camera is displayed on the display screen of the display device. It is displayed as a moving airplane, the operation content receiving means, based on a signal corresponding to the coordinate value on the XY coordinates output from the operating device, the left and right of the airplane represented by the object Determine the tilt and the nose up and down,
When the coordinate value is within a predetermined range, the object performs a specific operation, and determines the left-right inclination and the nose up-down of the airplane represented by the object. 6. The storage medium according to claim 5, wherein the specific operation is a turning flight operation. 7. According to an operation received by an operator via an operation device having an operation axis configured to be tiltable about a fulcrum with respect to a predetermined axis passing through a predetermined fulcrum,
A method of operating a display object, which controls movement of a virtual object around the world displayed on a display device, wherein a tilt direction and an angle of the operation axis output from the operation device with respect to the predetermined axis. The moving direction of the object is determined based on a signal corresponding to the coordinate values on the X-Y coordinates that are determined, and when the coordinate values are within a predetermined range, the object performs a specific operation, A method for operating a display object, comprising determining a moving direction of the object. 8. A program that is read and executed by a computer, wherein the program is stored in a storage device, read and executed by the computer, and connected to the computer. With respect to a predetermined axis passing through a predetermined fulcrum, an operation content of the operator is received via an operation device having an operation axis configured to be tiltable about the fulcrum, and a virtual A means for displaying an object moving around the world on a display device is constructed on the computer. The display means outputs the operation axis with respect to the predetermined axis output from the operation device. The moving direction of the object is determined based on a signal corresponding to the coordinate value on the XY coordinate determined from the tilt direction and the angle, and when the coordinate value is within a predetermined range, A program according to claim 1, wherein the object performs a specific operation, and includes an operation content receiving unit that determines a moving direction of the object.