Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphics processing – Three-dimension
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-04
2001-11-20
Zimmerman, Mark (Department: 2671)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphics processing
Three-dimension
C345S473000, C345S684000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06320582
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image generating device, a medium, a game machine and an image generating method, and more particularly, it relates to an image generating device, a medium, a game machine and an image generating method relating to computer graphics.
BACKGROUND ART
With the progress of computer graphics technology in recent years, game devices and simulation devices have come into wide, general use. Among the game devices, the popularity of gun shooting games, wherein targets (enemies) are shot down, remains strong. Generally, this game device comprises a gun unit, CPU for graphics processing, a monitor, etc., and implements the processing of shooting down the enemies on the monitor according to the signal from the gun unit operated by the player.
As a typical example of a conventional gun shooting game, there is “Virtual Cop” (trademark) manufactured by SEGA ENTERPRISES, LTD. The object of this game is to compete for scores by shooting down the enemies which appear in the imaginary three-dimensional space on the display using a gun unit. In this game, the enemies appear on the display in a predetermined position and in a predetermined timing, whereby the player operates the gun unit with these enemies being the target. That is, the player shoots down the enemies which are indicated each time in a predetermined position and timing on the display. Further, when the player aims the gun unit toward an enemy, the viewpoint on the display approaches the enemy, thus, the enemy is largely indicated on the display.
Of the other conventional gun shooting games, there is one in which the enemies move on the screen according to the attacks made by the player. In this game, when the player attacks an enemy, a prescribed moving route is selected at the branch point of the predetermined moving route, and the enemy moves according to this selected moving route. Similar to the enemy movements, the viewpoint also moves in predetermined directions.
However, the above conventional image generating devices held the problems indicated below.
Foremost, since the movement of the viewpoint was uniform, the changes on the screen were limited. The two types of games mentioned above were both of which the viewpoint-moved in predetermined directions. Therefore, if the player repeatedly played the game, a similar screen would be repeatedly indicated each time, thus, making the changes in the game a limited one.
Secondly, it was difficult to capture the enemies, etc., from a position of an optimum viewpoint. In conventional image generating devices, the viewpoint moved uniformly against the enemies from a predetermined direction. Therefore, it was not possible to move the viewpoint to an optimum position against the enemies according to the changes of the enemies, thus, making it difficult to indicate an appealing screen desired by the player.
Thirdly, due to the movement of the enemies being uniform, a dull game development was being repeated. As mentioned above, in the conventional game devices of gun shooting, the enemies made predetermined movements and could not help but make the game development a dull one.
The present invention was made in consideration of the problems mentioned above, and a first object of the present invention is to provide an image generating device and an image generating method capable of actualizing a screen with changes by implementing various viewpoint movements.
A second object of the present invention is to provide an image generating device and an image generating method capable of indicating an appealing screen by implementing an optimum viewpoint movement according to the game development.
A third object of the present invention is to provide an image generating device and an image generating method capable of actualizing a game development with abundant changes by giving variety to the movement of the enemies.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The image generating device according to the present invention is an image generating device which generates images of moving objects within the imaginary three-dimensional space captured from the viewpoint within the imaginary three-dimensional space, and comprises a viewpoint moving processing means which together with having the viewpoint follow the moving objects, detects the situations of the moving objects and controls the movement of the viewpoint.
In the image generating device according to the present invention, the above viewpoint moving processing means calculates the acceleration speed of the viewpoint, and moves the viewpoint in a range wherein the acceleration speed does not exceed a prescribed value.
In the image generating device according to the present invention, the above viewpoint moving processing means changes the position of the viewpoint if the viewpoint is positioned on the same coordinates in excess of a prescribed time.
In the image generating device according to the present invention, the above viewpoint moving processing means moves the viewpoint in the vicinity of the imaginary spherical surface with the moving object in the center.
In the image generating device according to the present invention, the above viewpoint moving processing means decreases the radius of the spherical surface together with the decrease in the number of moving objects.
The medium according to the present invention stores the program which functions a computer as the viewpoint moving processing means.
A medium includes, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, photomagnetic disk, CD-ROM, DVD, ROM cartridge, RAM memory cartridge with battery back-up, flash memory cartridge, fixed RAM cartridge, etc. Further, it includes telecommunication mediums such telephone circuits, etc., which are wire communication mediums, and microwave circuits, etc., which are radio communication mediums. The internet is also included in the telecommunication medium stated herein. A medium has information (mainly digital data or programs) stored therein by some physical means, and is capable of implementing the prescribed functions in a processing device such as a computer, exclusive processor, etc. That is, any means which downloads the program onto a computer and executes the prescribed functions is fine.
The image generating device according to the present invention comprises a target deciding means which selects one from the plurality of moving objects based on predetermined standards and targets this moving object against the viewpoint.
In the image generating device according to the present invention, the above target deciding means targets the moving object which was attacked within the plurality of moving objects against the viewpoint.
In the image generating device according to the present invention, the above target deciding means targets the moving object nearest to the impact area within the plurality of moving objects against the viewpoint.
In the image generating device according to the present invention, the above target deciding means moves the target against the viewpoint to a moving object among another moving object group if the number of moving objects in the moving object group composed of a plurality of moving objects becomes less than the prescribed value.
The medium according to the present invention stores the program which functions a computer as the above target deciding means.
The image generating device according to the present invention indicates the moving objects according to the situations of such moving objects in the imaginary three-dimensional space.
In the image generating device according to the present invention, the above moving object controlling means withdraws the moving object away from the impact area if the point of impact is within the area of the prescribed range from the moving object.
In the image generating device according to the present invention, the above moving object controlling means moves the other moving objects toward a moving object attacking against the viewpoint.
The medium according to the present invention stores the program which funct
Toma Kenji
Yamamoto Makoto
Lackenbach Siegel Marzullo Aronson & Greenspan
Nguyen Kimbinh T.
Sega Enterprises Ltd.
Zimmerman Mark
LandOfFree
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