Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphics processing – Three-dimension
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-12
2001-12-04
Brier, Jeffery (Department: 2672)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphics processing
Three-dimension
C345S582000, C345S592000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06326967
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image creating apparatuses applied to video game machines using, for example, a cassette recording medium or the like in which an optical disk, a magnetic disk, or a semiconductor memory containing program data, is used, and to image creating methods therefor and computer-readable recording media containing image recording programs.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many game systems have been proposed, such as a system comprised of a home-use game console and a television monitor, a commercial-use game machine, and a system comprised of a personal computer or work station, a display, and a sound output device.
These game systems each include a player-operated controller, a recording medium containing game-program data, a central processing unit (CPU) for performing control for the generation of sound and images based on the game-program data, a processor for generating images, a processor for generating sound, a monitor for displaying images, and a speaker for outputting the generated sound. In many cases, the types of recording medium include a compact-disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), a semiconductor memory, and a cassette having a built-in semiconductor memory.
In these game systems, in general, three-dimensional models as objects displayed on a screen are composed of polygons as a plurality of two-dimensional virtual triangular or square figures, and the polygons, on which textures such as two-dimensional image data are pasted, are displayed on the monitor. Normally, the textures to be pasted on the polygons are separately set and stored in a memory beforehand.
In some video games, objects must be displayed with only their colors changed, even if the objects are otherwise identical. In this case, if textures are determined for colors, the respective textures also need to be stored in a memory, which increases the memory capacity necessary. However, particularly in home-use game machines, the number of colors capable of being displayed is limited because memory capacity is limited by cost, machine size, etc.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image creating apparatus for displaying various colors without increasing necessary memory capacity, an image creating method therefor, and a recording medium containing an image creating program.
To this end, according to an aspect of the present invention, the foregoing object is achieved through provision of an image creating apparatus for displaying a plurality of identical game-element images in predetermined colors on an image display unit by pasting textures on polygons provided in a virtual three-dimensional space, the image creating apparatus including a polygon-data storage unit for storing the coordinates of N (integer not less than 2) sets of polygons constituting the element images so that N game elements are arranged and displayed on the display unit; a texture-selection-data storage unit for selecting one set of the textures which corresponds to one of the characters; a color-data storage unit for storing, as a basic color, a first color determined for the one set of the textures; a color-data setting unit for setting a second color; and a composite-color setting unit for setting composite colors for the textures to be pasted on the N sets of polygons, the composite colors being obtained by mixing the first color and the second color at different ratios.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the foregoing object is achieved through provision of an image creating method for displaying a plurality of identical game-element images in predetermined colors on an image display unit by pasting textures on polygons provided in a virtual three-dimensional space, the image creating method including the steps of using N (integer not less than 2) sets of polygons to constitute N game elements so that the game elements are arranged and displayed on a display unit, storing one of the textures to be pasted on the respective polygons, setting a first color as a basic color for the textures, and setting a second color; selecting one set of polygons from among the N sets of polygons; setting, for the selected one polygon, a ratio for each composite color at which the first color and the second color are mixed so that the ratio of the second color increases in order of the displayed element images; and using the set ratios to set an operational expression for computing the composite colors, whereby setting, for the textures to be pasted on the N sets of polygons, the composite colors in which the first color and the second color are mixed at different ratios.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, the foregoing object is achieved through provision of a computer-readable recording medium containing an image creating program for displaying a plurality of identical game-element images in predetermined colors on an image display unit by pasting textures on polygons provided in a virtual three-dimensional space, the image creating program including a polygon-setting step for setting N (integer not less 2) sets of polygons so that N element images are arranged and displayed on a display unit, a texture-setting step for setting one texture from among the textures which is pasted on the polygons, and a composite-color setting step setting composite colors for the textures to be pasted on the N sets of polygons, the composite colors being obtained by mixing the first color as a basic color for the textures and the second color at different ratios, wherein the composite-color setting step comprises a selecting step for selecting one set of polygons from among the N sets of polygons, a ratio-setting step for setting, for the selected one polygon, a ratio for each composite color at which the first color and the second color are mixed so that the ratio of the second color increases in order of the displayed element images, and an operational expression setting unit for using the set ratios to set an operational expression for computing the composite colors.
According to the present invention, N game-element images arranged and displayed on a display unit have different colors, whereby a virtual effect in which afterimages of the characters are seen is obtained. Movement of the character is easily observed, and dynamics of the movement is enhanced.
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Brier Jeffery
Jordan and Hamburg LLP
Konami Co. Ltd.
Yang Ryan
LandOfFree
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