JP3539839B2 - Cursor display method, game system, and recording medium in pseudo-three-dimensionally displayed field - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for displaying a cursor in a pseudo three-dimensionally displayed field suitable for application to a game system using a cassette type recording medium using an optical disk, a magnetic disk, a semiconductor memory or the like in which game data is recorded, The present invention relates to a game system and a recording medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Many game systems have been proposed. A system composed of a home-use machine and a television monitor, a business-use machine, a personal computer or a system composed of a workstation, a display, and an audio output device. Each of these systems includes a controller for operation by the player, a recording medium on which game data including game program data and data such as images and sounds, and generation of sounds and images based on the game program data. The CPU includes a CPU for performing control, a processor for processing an image, a processor for processing sound, a CRT for displaying an image, and a speaker for outputting sound. As the recording medium, there are many CD-ROMs, semiconductor memories, cassettes incorporating semiconductor memories, and the like. The configuration of the game system is as described above.
[0003]
On the other hand, the types of games are steadily increasing, and the contents of games are becoming increasingly complex and diversified. Recently, by moving the position of your character on the field with a controller and confronting and fighting with the character controlled by the computer, it is simulated on the game space formed on the display surface of the television monitor. There are even proposals for fighting.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above-described game in which a battle is simulated, the game player must perform an operation of selecting a character to be acted on. For this “selection”, a cross key of the controller and a cursor that moves in the field by the cross key are usually used.
[0005]
On the other hand, there is a request from a user of such a game to make the field a pseudo three-dimensional display.
However, when the field is displayed in a pseudo three-dimensional manner, there is a problem that the position of the cursor is not known. For example, when the position of the cursor is beyond the undulation, the undulation causes the cursor to become invisible.
The present invention has been made in consideration of such points, and an object thereof is to make it possible to clearly determine the position of a cursor in a field displayed in a pseudo three-dimensional manner.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
One of the main inventions is a method for displaying a cursor in a field displayed in a pseudo three-dimensional manner. On the field in the three-dimensional space, a plurality of cursor images are displayed in a pseudo three-dimensional manner in the height direction of the field. It is what is displayed.
[0007]
In the above invention, a plurality of different types of cursor images are prepared for one cursor image, and the plurality of cursor images are cyclically displayed.
[0008]
In the above invention, the display positions of some or all of the plurality of cursor images are changed every predetermined period.
[0009]
In the above invention, the shapes of the plurality of cursor images are changed in response to the change of the viewpoint position with respect to the field.
[0010]
In the above invention, a part or all of the plurality of cursor images are displayed in a translucent manner.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
[0012]
In the description of the embodiment of the present invention, the following item descriptions are described at the head of each item, and each item will be described in the following order.
[0013]
A. Game system configuration (Figure 1)
B. Functions of the CPU 1 shown in FIG. 1 (FIG. 2)
C. Table used in the game system (Fig. 3)
D. Screen display examples (Figs. 4-7)
E. Control operation by main routine (FIGS. 8 to 10)
F. Control operation by field image display routine S200 (FIG. 11)
G. Control operation by cursor image display routine S400 (FIGS. 12 and 13)
[0014]
A. Game system configuration (Figure 1)
[0015]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration example of a game system as an embodiment of the present invention.
[Game contents]
In this embodiment, many enemy friendly characters are displayed in the battle field. The game player can move the position of the ally character by operating the cross key of the controller 22. The game player can issue a command to attack the enemy character facing the character. Each character is given an energy value corresponding to the individuality of each character, and a character having this value of “0” is erased from the field. To clear one battle field, you must defeat the enemy general. Also, if the ally general is defeated by the enemy, the game is over.
[0016]
[Connection and configuration]
The game system shown in FIG. 1 includes a game machine body and a recording medium 30 on which game data including images, sounds, and program data is recorded. In the game machine main body, a graphics data generation processor 3 and a bus 2 including an address, data and control bus are connected to a CPU 1, and an interface circuit 4, a main memory 5, a ROM 6, a decompression circuit 7, and a parallel are connected to the bus 2. The port 8, serial port 9, drawing processor 10 and buffer 11, audio processor 13 and buffer 14, decoder 17 and buffer 18, interface circuit 20 and memory 21 are connected to the drawing processor 10 and a television. The monitor 12 is connected, the speaker 16 is connected to the audio processor 13 via the amplifier circuit 15, the recording medium driver 19 is connected to the decoder 17, and the controller 22 is connected to the interface circuit 20.
[0017]
Here, the form of the game system differs depending on the application. That is, when the game system is configured for home use, the television monitor 12 and the speaker 16 are separate from the game machine main body. When the game system is configured for business use, all the components shown in FIG. 1 are housed in a single casing. When the game system is configured with a personal computer or workstation as the core, the television monitor 12 corresponds to the display for the computer, and the drawing processor 10, the audio processor 13, The decompression circuit 7 corresponds to a part of the game program data recorded on the recording medium 30 or hardware on an expansion board mounted in an expansion slot of the computer, and the interface circuit 4, the parallel port 8, The serial port 9 and the interface circuit 20 correspond to hardware on an expansion board mounted in an expansion slot of a computer. The buffers 11, 14, and 18 correspond to the areas of the main memory 5 or an expansion memory (not shown), respectively. In this embodiment, a case where the game system is configured for home use will be described as an example.
[0018]
Next, each component shown in FIG. 1 will be described in more detail. The graphics data generation processor 3 functions as a coprocessor of the CPU 1. That is, the graphics data generation processor 3 performs coordinate conversion and light source calculation, for example, calculation of a fixed-point format matrix or vector by parallel processing. The main processing of the graphics data generation processor 3 is coordinate conversion processing and light source calculation processing. In the coordinate conversion process, the absolute coordinate data of each vertex in the two-dimensional or three-dimensional plane of the image data supplied from the CPU 1 is converted into the address on the display area of the processing target image based on the movement amount data and the rotation amount data. In this process, the address data is returned to the CPU 1 again. This coordinate conversion process will be described in detail later.
[0019]
The light source calculation process is a process for calculating the luminance of the image according to the light vector data, the normal data representing the orientation of the polygon surface, and the data representing the surface color.
[0020]
The interface circuit 4 is for an interface of a peripheral device such as a pointing device such as a mouse or a trackball. The ROM 6 stores program data as an operating system for the game system. In terms of a personal computer, this corresponds to BIOS (Basic Input Output System).
[0021]
In the decompression circuit 7, decompression processing is performed on a compressed image that has been compressed by intra coding in accordance with MPEG (Moving Picture Engineering Group) or JPEG (Joint Picture Engineering Group). The decompression process includes a decoding process (decoding of data encoded by VLC: Variable Length Code), an inverse quantization process, an IDCT (Inverse Discrete Course Transform) process, an intra image restoration process, and the like.
[0022]
The drawing processor 10 performs drawing processing on the buffer 11 based on a drawing command issued by the CPU 1. The buffer 11 includes a display area and a non-display area. The display area is a development area for data displayed on the display surface of the television monitor 12. The non-display area is a storage area for texture data, color palette data, and the like. Here, the texture data is two-dimensional image data. The color palette data is data for designating a color such as texture data. These data are read by the CPU 1 from the recording medium 30 once or divided into a plurality of times according to the progress of the game, and stored in the non-display area of the buffer 11 in advance.
[0023]
Examples of the drawing command include a drawing command for drawing a line, a drawing command for drawing a stereoscopic image using a polygon, and a drawing command for drawing a normal two-dimensional image. Here, the polygon is a polygonal two-dimensional image, and in this embodiment, a triangle or a quadrangle is used.
[0024]
A drawing command for drawing a line includes line drawing start and end addresses, color, and data indicating line drawing. This line drawing command is issued directly to the drawing processor 10 by the CPU 1.
[0025]
The drawing command for drawing a stereoscopic image using polygons is polygon vertex address data on the display area of the buffer 11, texture address data indicating the storage position of the texture data to be pasted on the polygon on the buffer 11, and texture data. Color pallet address data indicating the storage position of the color pallet data indicating the color in the buffer 11 and luminance data indicating the luminance of the texture. Among these data, the polygon vertex address data is calculated by the graphics data generation processor 3 based on the polygon absolute coordinate data, the data indicating the movement of the polygon, and the data indicating the movement of the viewpoint position from the CPU 1. Is obtained by performing Here, how the polygon vertex address data is obtained will be described.
[0026]
The movement of the object on the display surface of the television monitor 12 is determined by the movement of the object itself and the movement of the viewpoint position relative to the object. For example, if only the object moves and the viewpoint position is fixed, the movement of the object on the display surface of the television monitor 12 is the movement of the object itself. On the contrary, if the object has no movement and only the viewpoint position is moved, the movement on the display surface of the television monitor 12 is the movement of the viewpoint position itself. It should be noted that it will be easier to understand if “viewpoint position” is read as “camera position”. That is, on the display surface of the television monitor 12, a display is made as if an object was imaged while moving the camera. In order to simplify the description, the case where either the object or the viewpoint position moves has been described. Normally, processing is performed so that both the object and the viewpoint position are moving, and the result is displayed.
[0027]
Here, the “movement” of the object includes a “rotation amount” and a “movement amount”. The amount of rotation of the object with respect to the viewpoint position is generated by the rotation angle of the object and the rotation angle of the viewpoint position. Here, the rotation amount and the rotation angle are represented by a 2 × 2 matrix in a process using a two-dimensional coordinate system and a 3 × 3 matrix in a process using a three-dimensional coordinate system. The amount of movement of the object with respect to the viewpoint position is generated by the position of the object (coordinate value), the position of the viewpoint position (coordinate value), and the rotation angle of the viewpoint position. Here, as described above, the rotation angle is represented by a 3 × 3 matrix in a process using a two-dimensional coordinate system and in a process using a three-dimensional coordinate system. Note that the rotation angle of the object and the rotation angle of the viewpoint position based on the operation of the controller 22 are held as tables, respectively. The CPU 1 reads the rotation angle of the corresponding object or viewpoint position from the table based on the operation of the controller 22 and uses the read rotation angle to obtain the rotation amount and movement amount of the object with respect to the viewpoint position. is there.
[0028]
As can be understood from the above description, the polygon vertex address data on the display area is obtained as follows. That is, according to the operation of the controller 22, the rotation angle and position of the object and the rotation angle and position of the viewpoint position are obtained by the CPU 1. Next, the CPU 1 obtains the amount of rotation of the object with respect to the viewpoint position based on the rotation angle of the object and the rotation angle of the viewpoint position. Then, the CPU 1 obtains the amount of movement of the object relative to the viewpoint position based on the position of the object, the position of the viewpoint position, and the rotation angle. As described above, the rotation amount and movement amount data of these objects is represented by a 3 × 3 matrix when processed using a three-dimensional coordinate system.
[0029]
The rotation amount and movement amount data of the object is given to the graphics data generation processor 3 together with the absolute coordinate data of the polygon. The graphic data generation processor 3 converts the absolute coordinate data of the polygon into polygon vertex address data based on the rotation amount and movement amount data of the object. The above is the processing until polygon vertex address data is obtained.
[0030]
The polygon vertex address data indicates an address on the display area of the buffer 11. The drawing processor 10 sets a triangular or quadrangular range indicated by 3 or 4 polygon vertex address data on the display area of the buffer 11 and writes the corresponding texture data in the range. This process is generally called “texture pasting” or the like. As a result, an object in which texture data is pasted on a large number of polygons is displayed on the display surface of the television monitor 12.
[0031]
A drawing command for drawing a normal two-dimensional image includes vertex address data, texture address data, color palette address data, and luminance data indicating the luminance of the texture. Among these data, the vertex address data is coordinate data obtained by the graphics data generating processor 3 converting the vertex coordinate data on the plane from the CPU 1 based on the movement amount data from the CPU 1. . Hereinafter, the drawing process is described in a simplified manner such as “issue a drawing command”.
[0032]
The audio processor 13 stores the ADPCM data read from the recording medium 30 in the buffer 14 and uses the ADPCM data stored in the buffer 14 as a sound source. Then, the voice processor 13 reads out ADPCM data with a clock having a frequency of 44.1 KHz, for example. The audio processor 13 performs processing such as pitch conversion, noise addition, envelope setting, level setting, and reverb addition on the ADPCM data read from the buffer 14. When the audio data read from the recording medium 30 is PCM data, the PCM data is converted into ADPCM data by the CPU 1. Further, the processing by the program data for the PCM data is directly performed on the main memory 5. The audio data processed on the main memory 5 and further encoded into ADPCM format data is supplied to the audio processor 13 and subjected to the various processes described above, and then output from the speaker 16 as audio.
[0033]
The recording medium driver 19 is, for example, a hard disk drive, an optical disk drive, a flexible disk drive, a silicon disk drive, a cassette medium reader, or the like. The recording medium 30 is, for example, a hard disk, an optical disk, a flexible disk, a semiconductor memory, or the like. The recording medium driver 19 reads image, sound, and game program data from the recording medium 30 and supplies the read data to the decoder 17. The decoder 17 performs error correction processing by ECC (Error Correction Code) on the reproduction data from the recording medium driver 19 and supplies the data subjected to the error correction processing to the main memory 5 or the audio processor 13.
[0034]
The memory 21 includes, for example, a holder and a card type memory. The card-type memory is for holding various parameters of the game, such as holding the state at the end time.
[0035]
The controller 22 includes a cross key including a left key L, a right key R, an up key U, and a down key D, a first left button 22L1, a second left button 22L2, a first right button 22R1, a second right button 22R2, and a start. The button 22a, the select button 22b, the first button 22c, the second button 22d, the third button 22e, and the fourth button 22f. The cross key is used by the game player to give a command indicating up, down, left, and right to the CPU 1. The start button 22a is used by the game player to instruct the CPU 1 to start game program data loaded from the recording medium 30. The select button 22b is for the game player to instruct the CPU 1 to make various selections regarding the game program data loaded from the recording medium 30 to the main memory 5. The functions of the first left button 22L1, the second left button L2, the first right button 22R1, the second right button 22R2, the first to fourth buttons 22c, 22d, 22e, and 22f are loaded from the recording medium 30. Varies depending on game program data.
[0036]
[Operation]
A power switch (not shown) is turned on, and the game system is powered on. At this time, if the recording medium 30 is loaded in the recording medium driver 19, the CPU 1 reads game data from the recording medium 30 to the recording medium driver 19 based on the operating system stored in the ROM 6. Instruct. Thereby, the recording medium driver 19 reads the image, sound, and game program data from the recording medium 30. The read image, sound, and game program data are supplied to the decoder 17 where error correction processing is performed. The image data that has been subjected to error correction processing in the decoder 17 is supplied to the expansion circuit 7 via the bus 2, where it is supplied to the drawing processor 10 after being subjected to the expansion processing described above. The data is written in the non-display area of the buffer 11 by the processor 10.
[0037]
The audio data that has been subjected to the error correction processing in the decoder 17 is supplied to the main memory 5 or the audio processing processor 13 and written into the main memory 5 or the buffer 14. The game program data that has been subjected to error correction processing in the decoder 17 is supplied to the main memory 5 and written into the main memory 5. Thereafter, the CPU 1 proceeds with the game based on the game program data stored in the main memory 5 and the content instructed by the game player via the controller 22. That is, the CPU 1 appropriately controls image processing, audio processing, and internal processing based on the instruction content instructed by the game player via the controller 22. The image processing control includes the above-described rotation amount / movement amount data and absolute coordinate data supplied to the graphics data generation processor 3, address data on the display area of the buffer 11 obtained by the graphics data generation processor 3, and luminance. For example, a drawing command including data is issued. The voice processing control is the issuing of a voice output command to the voice processor 13, designation of level, reverb, and the like. The internal process control is, for example, calculation according to the operation of the controller 22.
[0038]
B. Functions of the CPU 1 shown in FIG. 1 (FIG. 2)
[0039]
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing functions of the CPU 1 shown in FIG. The CPU 1 has the function shown in FIG. 2 by reading the program data read from the recording medium 30 shown in FIG. 1 and stored in the main memory 5. The functions of the CPU 1 shown in FIG. 2 are as follows: button operation detection means 1a, calculation means 1b, determination means 1c, variable setting means 1d, drawing command issue means 1e, operation information / viewpoint position conversion means 1f, field information management It comprises means 1g, character information management means 1h, and cursor information management means 1i. These means are the main subjects of control described in items E to G, respectively.
[0040]
C. Table used in the game system (Fig. 3)
[0041]
3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a table used in the game system shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3A is a table made up of field data, and FIG. 3B is data showing the position and state of characters in the field. FIG. 3C is a table composed of address data, rotation amount data, and movement amount data of the vertices of the polygons constituting the field corresponding to the viewpoint position.
[0042]
FIG. 3A is a table in which the height of each position in the field is registered. This table data is read from the recording medium 30 and stored in the main memory 5.
[0043]
FIG. 3B is a table including the position of the enemy or ally character in the field, a flag indicating the enemy ally, an action enable / disable flag, set energy, and current energy. This table data is read from the recording medium 30 and stored in the main memory 5. The contents of the table data stored in the main memory are rewritten as needed according to the state of each character and the progress of the game. FIG. 3C is a table used for polygon display of the field.
[0044]
Here, the character flag is a flag indicating whether or not a character exists at the position indicated by the address (x, y). If a character exists, its value is set to a high level “1”, and the character is In the case where no exists, its value is set to the low level “0”. The set energy differs depending on the character type. The battle is performed by subtracting a randomly generated subtraction value from the set energy. The current energy is the current remaining energy, and when it becomes “0”, the character is considered to have been defeated and is erased. At this time, the value of the character flag of the character is set to the low level “0”. The action flag is a flag indicating whether or not the character at the position indicated by the address (x, y) has finished the action. When the action is finished, the value is set to the high level “1”, and the action is If not completed, the value is set to low level “0”. Here, “behavior” indicates, for example, an attack or the like.
[0045]
In this embodiment, the field is displayed as a polygon, and the field is based on the operation of the first left button 22L1, the second left button 22L2, the first right button 22R1, and the second right button 22R2 of the controller 22. Moved. That is, when the first left button 22L1 is pressed, the fields are sequentially rotated leftward. When the second left button 22L2 is pressed, the fields are sequentially rotated rightward. When the first right button 22R1 is pressed, the front side of the field is raised upward and the other side is lowered downward. When the second right button 22R2 is pressed, the far side of the field is lifted upward and the near side is lowered downward. In this embodiment, the shape of the cursor image is also changed with the movement described above.
[0046]
When any one of the first left button 22L1, the second left button 22L2, the first right button 22R1, and the second right button 22R2 of the controller 22 is pressed, the type of the pressed button and the number of times of pressing are converted into the viewpoint position. The The table shown in FIG. 3C is used to obtain address data, rotation amount data, and movement amount data of absolute coordinate data of vertexes of polygons on the main memory 5 using the viewpoint position data as an index. The absolute coordinate data (x, y, z), rotation amount data, and movement amount data of the vertices of the polygon read from the main memory 5 by the address data are supplied to the graphics data generation processor 3, respectively, and a drawing command is issued. Used as information to generate.
[0047]
D. Screen display examples (Figs. 4-7)
[0048]
4-7 is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a screen display in this form. In this embodiment, the field is displayed in a pseudo three-dimensional manner. When the field is displayed in a pseudo three-dimensional manner, when the cursor is located on the other side of the undulation, the cursor is hidden by the undulation, and the position of the cursor is not known. Therefore, in this embodiment, a plurality of cursors are displayed in a pseudo three-dimensional manner in the height direction of the field. That is, a large number of cursors are displayed in the height direction so as to form a chimney, so that the location of the cursor can be recognized even when the cursor is located on the other side of the undulation.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a cursor image displayed in a pseudo three-dimensional manner on a field. As shown in FIG. 4, the cursor image includes a basic white diamond-shaped cursor image Ca1 displayed at a position closest to the field F, and a translucent cursor image displayed on the cursor image Ca1. It consists of. The nth cursor image counted from the bottom at the highest position on the screen is marked with the symbol Can. Although it cannot be expressed for convenience of drawing, a cursor image having a different pattern is displayed for each frame. Therefore, it is displayed as if the cursor is rotating visually. Further, the address of the cursor image other than the basic cursor image is changed for each frame. Therefore, visually, it is displayed as if smoke rises. Of course, all cursor images may be made translucent, or the display positions of all cursor images may be changed.
The cursor shown in FIG. 4 can be moved in the field F by operating the cross key. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the character CA is selected by the cursor image Ca1. Moreover, since the cursor images Ca1 to Can have a chimney-like shape, even if the position of the cursor image Ca1 is beyond the undulation M as shown in FIG. Since two cursor images are visible, the game player can recognize the position of the cursor image Ca1. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the viewpoint position with respect to the field F is changed by operating the first left button 22L1, the second left button 22L2, the first right button 22R1, and the second right button 22R2. In other words, the field is three-dimensionally deformed by the operation of the button. As shown in FIG. 7, the cursor images Ca1 to Can are also deformed in conjunction with the button operation.
[0049]
E. Control operation by main routine (FIGS. 8 to 10)
[0050]
8 to 10 are flowcharts for explaining the control operation by the main routine of the game.
[0051]
Note that only step S1 is a control operation by the operating system stored in the ROM 6 shown in FIG. The other step is a control operation based on the game program data read from the recording medium 30. Further, as described above, the main body of control by the game program data is each means as a function of the CPU 1 shown in FIG.
[0052]
In step S <b> 1, the recording medium driver 19 reads image, sound, and game program data from the recording medium 30 according to an instruction of the operating system. Of the read data, the program data is stored in the main memory 5. Thus, the CPU 1 has the function shown in FIG. At this time, the image, that is, the texture data is stored in the non-display area of the buffer 11 of the rendering processor 10 and is assigned a texture number. The audio data is stored in the buffer 14 of the audio processor 13 and is assigned audio number data. Normally, not all image and audio data are held in the buffers 11 and 14 in step S1, but for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that all image and audio data are loaded in step S1.
In step S2, the button operation detection unit 1a determines whether or not the start button 22a of the controller 22 has been pressed. If “YES”, the process proceeds to step S3.
[0053]
In step S3, the drawing command issuing unit 1e issues a drawing command indicating drawing of the selected image to the drawing processor 10 shown in FIG. The drawing processor 10 develops the image data of the selected image on the display surface of the buffer 11 based on the drawing command. Thereby, a select image is displayed on the display surface of the television monitor 12.
In step S4, the button operating means 1a determines whether or not the start button 22a of the controller 22 has been pressed. If “YES”, the process proceeds to step S5.
[0054]
In step S5, the CPU 1 sets the selected game. Here, “selected” means that the game player selects a game using the cross key with reference to the selected image displayed in step S3, and then presses the start button 22a. . Here, the “game” includes, in addition to the game itself, for example, a new game or a previous game saved in a memory card. In short, it is a choice before the game is actually started. For convenience of explanation, it is assumed that a new game is selected in step S5.
In step S <b> 6, the drawing command issuing unit 1 e issues a drawing command indicating drawing of the initial image of the selected game to the drawing processor 10. As a result, the drawing processor 10 writes the image data of the initial image on the display area of the buffer 11. As a result, an initial image is displayed on the display surface of the television monitor 12.
[0055]
In step S7, the variable setting means 1d resets the flags and variables held in the main memory 5, respectively.
[0056]
In step S8, the determination unit 1c determines whether or not the previous parameter has been selected. If “YES”, the process proceeds to step S100, and if “NO”, the process proceeds to step S9. Here, the previous parameter is a parameter stored in the memory card, and is data for starting the game from the previous state. For example, data (number data or the like) for specifying a field, table data shown in FIG. 3B, or the like.
In step S <b> 9, the CPU 1 reads the previous parameter data from the memory 21. The previously read parameter data is read from the memory 21 and then stored in the main memory 5 via the interface circuit 20 and the bus 2. Thereby, the game system is set with the previous parameter data. That is, the game player can start the game from the previous continuation.
[0057]
In step S100, processing by the processing routine for the front part is performed. Here, the introductory part is a display of a synopsis image until the game is actually started. Here, the game player can advance the story by pressing the first button 22 c of the controller 22. Then, after exiting this routine S100, the game is actually started.
In step S <b> 10, the CPU 1 reads parameter data as an initial value from the memory 21. The read parameter data as the initial value is read from the memory 21 and then stored in the main memory 5 via the interface circuit 20 and the bus 2. Thus, the game system is set with parameters as initial values. That is, the game player can start the game from the beginning.
[0058]
In step S200, processing by a field image display routine is performed. The field image display routine S200 will be described later in detail.
In step S300, processing by a character image display routine is performed. In this embodiment, character display processing in two dimensions is performed in the character image display routine S300. That is, several types of image patterns prepared in advance for each character are displayed in place of each frame. As a result, it is possible to make the game player appear as if the character is moving.
In step S400, processing by a cursor image display routine is performed. This cursor image display routine will be described in detail.
[0059]
In step S11, the button operation detection unit 1a determines whether or not the cross key is pressed. If “YES”, the process proceeds to step S12, and if “NO”, the process proceeds to step S15.
In step S12, the cursor information management means 1i changes the cursor address data (x, z) held in the cursor address holding area of the main memory 5.
[0060]
In step S <b> 13, the cursor information management unit 1 i stores cursor address data (x, z) in the cursor address storage area of the main memory 5.
In step S14, the cursor information management means 1i holds the height data y indicated by the value of the cursor address data (x, z) stored in the cursor address storage area of the main memory 5 in the height data of the main memory 5. Hold in the area.
[0061]
In step S15, the button operation detection unit 1a determines whether or not the left / right key is pressed. If “YES”, the process proceeds to step S16, and if “NO”, the process proceeds to step S18. Here, the left and right keys indicate the first left button 22L1, the second left button 22L2, the first right button 22R1, and the second right button 22R2. As already described, in this embodiment, the viewpoint position with respect to the field and the cursor is changed by the operation of the button. In other words, the shape of the field and the cursor is changed by operating the button.
In step S16, the operation information / viewpoint position conversion means 1f converts the operation information from the controller 22 into viewpoint position data.
[0062]
In step S <b> 17, the operation information / viewpoint position conversion unit 1 f stores viewpoint position data in the main memory 5. The stored viewpoint position data is used as an index for reading the polygon absolute coordinate data address, rotation amount, and movement amount data on the main memory 5 from the table shown in FIG. 4C.
In step S18, the button operation detection unit 1a determines whether or not the first button is pressed. If “YES”, the process proceeds to step S19, and if “NO”, the process proceeds to step S32.
[0063]
In step S19, the character information management unit 1h reads the character flag at the position indicated by the cursor address data (x, z) stored in the cursor address storage area of the main memory 5. Subsequently, the determination unit 1c determines whether or not the character flag is “1”. If “YES”, the process proceeds to step S20, and if “NO”, the process proceeds to step S27.
In step S20, the character management means 1h reads the action flag at the position indicated by the cursor address data (x, y) stored in the cursor address storage area of the main memory 5. Subsequently, the determination unit 1c determines whether or not the action flag is “0”. If “YES”, the process proceeds to step S21, and if “NO”, the process proceeds to step S27.
[0064]
In step S21, the drawing command issuing means 1e issues a drawing command indicating the output of the character command selection image to the drawing processor 10.
In step S <b> 22, the button operation detection unit 1 a detects the operation state of the controller 22. Subsequently, the determination unit 1c determines whether or not a command has been input. If “YES”, the process proceeds to step S23, and if “NO”, the process proceeds to step S32.
[0065]
In step S23, the determination unit 1c determines whether or not the content of the command is “move”. If “YES”, the process proceeds to step S24, and if “NO”, the process proceeds to step S25.
In step S <b> 24, the drawing command issuing unit 1 e issues a drawing command indicating the output of the moving range notification image to the drawing processor 10.
[0066]
In step S25, the determination unit 1c determines whether or not the content of the command is “attack”. If “YES”, the process proceeds to step S26, and if “NO”, the process proceeds to step S27.
In step S26, the variable setting means 1d sets the attack mode parameters. Here, the parameter of the attack mode is the attack power of the character performing the attack.
[0067]
In step S27, the variable setting unit 1d sets other parameters. Here, the other parameters are various parameters in actions other than attacks, such as holding, movement, defense, and the like.
In step S28, the button operation detection unit 1a detects the operation state of the controller 22. Subsequently, the determination unit 1c determines whether or not a command has been input. If “YES”, the process proceeds to step S29, and if “NO”, the process proceeds to step S32.
[0068]
In step S29, the determination unit 1c determines whether or not the content of the command is “end”. If “YES”, the process proceeds to step S30, and if “NO”, the process proceeds to step S31.
In step S <b> 30, the CPU 1 stores parameter data stored in the main memory 5 in the memory 21. And it ends.
[0069]
In step S31, the variable setting unit 1d sets other parameters. Here, the other parameters are parameters other than the end.
In step S32, the determination unit 1c determines whether or not the game is over. If “YES”, the process proceeds to step S33, and if “NO”, the process proceeds to step S200 again.
[0070]
In this embodiment, one processing time from step S200 to step S32 is one frame. The time for one frame is, for example, 1/30 seconds in the NTSC system and 1/25 seconds in the PAL system.
[0071]
F. Control operation by field image display routine S200 (FIG. 11)
[0072]
FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining a control operation by the field image display routine S200.
[0073]
In step S201, the field information management unit 1g displays the address data, rotation amount data, and movement amount data in which the absolute coordinate data of the vertices of the polygon on the main memory 5 are stored according to the value of the viewpoint position data. Obtained from the table shown in 3C.
In step S202, the field information management unit 1g reads the polygon vertex absolute coordinates, movement amount, rotation amount, ray vector, and polygon normal data read from the main memory 5 to the graphics data generation processor 3, respectively. Supply. The graphics data generation processor 3 obtains converted polygon address data (x, z) and luminance data based on each of the data, and supplies these data to the field information management means 1g.
[0074]
In step S203, the field information management unit 1g writes the converted polygon address data (x, z) and luminance data from the graphics data generation processor 3 in the main memory 5, respectively.
In step S204, the determination unit 1c determines whether all the absolute coordinate data of the polygon vertices have been converted into the converted polygon address data. If “YES”, the process proceeds to step S205, and “NO”. If so, the process proceeds to step S202 again.
[0075]
In step S205, the rendering command issuing unit 1e reads the converted address data (x, z) and the luminance data from the main memory 5, and the converted address data (x, z) and the luminance data are converted into texture address data and color data. Together with the palette address data, it is supplied to the drawing processor 10 as a drawing command. As a result, the rendering processor 10 writes the texture data of the field on the display area of the buffer 11 based on the converted address data (x, y). Accordingly, a field image composed of a large number of polygons is displayed on the display surface of the television monitor 12.
In step S206, the determination unit 1c determines whether or not all data has been transferred. If “YES”, the polygon image display routine S200 is exited, and if “NO”, the process proceeds to step S205 again.
[0076]
G. Control operation by cursor image display routine S400 (FIGS. 12 and 13)
[0077]
Step S400 is a flowchart for illustrating a control operation by cursor image display routine S400.
[0078]
In step S401, the cursor information management unit 1i reads the cursor address (x, y) stored in the cursor address storage area of the main memory 5, and the height data y at the position indicated by the cursor address (x, y). Are read from the table. Subsequently, the variable setting unit 1d substitutes the height data y for the height variable Y.
[0079]
In step S <b> 402, the cursor information management unit 1 i stores the address (x, z, Y) in the address set area of the main memory 5.
In step S403, the computing means 1b adds the reference value ref to the variable a1. Here, the variable a1 is a variable for shifting the display positions of a large number of semi-transparent cursors for each frame. When the value increases sequentially for each frame and becomes larger than the maximum value a1max, the minimum value a1def. To be.
[0080]
In step S404, the determination unit 1c determines whether or not the variable a1 is larger than the maximum value a1max of the variable a1, and if “YES”, the process proceeds to step S405, and if “NO”, the process proceeds to step S406. Transition.
In step S405, the variable setting unit 1d substitutes the minimum value a1def for the variable a1.
[0081]
In step S406, the computing means 1b adds the variable a1 to the height variable Y.
In step S407, the computing means 1b adds the variable a2 to the height variable Y. Here, the variable a2 is for displaying a large number of cursors on the same address (x, z).
[0082]
In step S408, the cursor information management unit 1i stores the address (x, z, Y) in the address set area of the main memory 5. This address is set by the number of values that the height variable Y can take. The value that the height variable Y can take is the value increment of the variable a2 from the minimum value to the maximum value Ymax of the height variable.
In step S409, the calculation means 1b adds “1” to the image number data P. Here, the image number data P is for selecting a cursor image. In the present embodiment, a plurality of cursor images having different patterns are prepared so that the game player can see the cursor moving from left to right or from right to left. When the value of the image number data P exceeds the maximum value Pmax, it is set to “0” and incremented again for each frame. Therefore, different image number data P is obtained for each frame, and the image of the cursor is selected by the image number data P. As a result, to the game player, the inside of the cursor appears to move from left to right or from right to left.
[0083]
In step S410, the determination unit 1c determines whether or not the value of the image number data P is larger than the maximum value Pmax of the image number data P. If “YES”, the process proceeds to step S411, and “NO”. If there is, the process proceeds to step S412.
In step S411, the variable setting unit 1d substitutes “0” for the image number data P.
[0084]
In step S412, the determination unit 1c determines whether or not the value of the height variable Y is larger than the maximum value Ymax of the height variable Y. If “YES”, the process proceeds to step S413, and “NO”. If so, the process proceeds to step S407 again.
In step S413, the cursor information management unit 1i shows the storage address data, rotation amount data, and movement amount data of the absolute coordinate data of the vertex of the polygon on the main memory 5 according to the value of the viewpoint position data, as shown in FIG. 3C. Get from the table.
In step S414, the cursor information management means 1i reads the polygon vertex absolute coordinates, movement amount, rotation amount, ray vector, and polygon normal data read from the main memory 5 to the graphics data generation processor 3, respectively. Supply. The graphics data generation processor 3 obtains converted polygon address data (x, z) and luminance data based on each of the above data, and supplies these data to the cursor information management means 1i.
[0085]
In step S415, the cursor information management unit 1i writes the converted polygon address data (x, z) and luminance data from the graphics data generation processor 3 to the main memory 5, respectively.
In step S416, the determination means 1c determines whether or not all the absolute coordinate data of the vertices of the polygon have been converted into the converted polygon address data. If “YES”, the process proceeds to step S417, and “NO”. If so, the process proceeds to step S414 again.
[0086]
In step S417, the drawing command issuing unit 1e reads the converted address data (x, z) and the luminance data from the main memory 5, and converts the converted address data (x, z) and the luminance data into the texture address data and the color data. Together with the palette address data, it is supplied to the drawing processor 10 as a drawing command. As a result, the rendering processor 10 writes the field texture data on the display area of the buffer 11 based on the converted address data (x, y). Accordingly, an image of a cursor made of polygons is displayed on the display surface of the television monitor 12.
In step S418, the determination unit 1c determines whether or not all data has been transferred. If “YES”, the cursor image display routine S400 is exited, and if “NO”, the process proceeds to step S417 again.
[0087]
[Effect in the embodiment]
As described above, in this embodiment, the field is drawn using polygons, and the shape of the cursor for selecting a character displayed in the field is changed to a chimney from the bottom to the top of the field. did. Therefore, even when the cursor is positioned on the other side of the undulation, the location of the cursor can be surely known.
Furthermore, since the cursor is drawn using polygons, matching with the field can be achieved, so that a more comfortable game space can be provided to the game player.
Furthermore, since the cursors other than the basic cursor at the lowest position in the display position are all made translucent, the fields overlapping with these cursors are not hidden, and thus a more comfortable game environment can be provided to the game player. it can.
Furthermore, since each cursor is displayed using a different cursor image for each frame, it is possible to make the inside of the cursor appear to rotate visually, improving the visibility of the cursor, The image can be distinguished from the image, and thus a more comfortable game environment can be provided to the game player.
Further, the viewpoint position with respect to the field image and the cursor image is changed in accordance with the operation of the first left button 22L1, the second left button 22L2, the first right button 22R1, and the second right button 22R2. The moving operation of the cursor can be facilitated.
[0088]
[Modification 1]
In the above embodiment, the case where the cursor has a square shape has been described. However, the cursor may be a circle, a triangle, or a pentagon. Further, although the case where the cursor color is white has been described, the cursor color may be red or yellow.
[Modification 2]
Further, the viewpoint position may be changed according to the position of the cursor. That is, with a certain height as a reference, when the height of the field at the cursor position is higher than the reference value, the viewpoint position is increased accordingly, and when it is lower, the viewpoint position is decreased accordingly. To do. In order to realize this, a step of obtaining a difference between the height data held in step S14 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 9 and the reference height data is provided next to step S14. In step S16, the difference value is set. If the difference value is negative, the difference value is subtracted from the height data of the viewpoint position data. If the difference value is negative, the difference value is added to the height data of the viewpoint position data. good.
In this way, each time the cursor is moved, the viewpoint position in the height direction with respect to the field changes, so that it is possible to give the game player a more realistic feeling that he is participating in the game.
[0089]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention described above, since a plurality of cursor images are displayed in a pseudo three-dimensional manner in the height direction of the field on the field in the three-dimensional space, the cursor is positioned beyond the undulation of the field. There is also an effect that the position of the cursor can be confirmed.
[0090]
In the above invention, a plurality of different types of cursor images are prepared for one cursor image, and the plurality of cursor images are cyclically displayed, so that the inside of the cursor moves. This has the effect of making it easier to grasp the distinction between the field and the cursor.
[0091]
Further, in the above invention, the display position of a part or all of the plurality of cursor images is changed every predetermined period, so that the cursors appear to appear sequentially, thereby further improving the visibility of the cursors. There is an effect that it can be increased.
[0092]
Further, in the above invention, since the shape is changed in response to the change of the viewpoint position with respect to the field, the cursor shape on the field is moved on the field displayed in a pseudo three-dimensional manner without visual discomfort. There is an effect that it can be made easy.
[0093]
In the above invention, a part or all of the cursor images of the plurality of cursor images are displayed in a translucent manner, so that the field can be hidden and the visibility of the cursor can be improved. There is.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a game system showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating functions of the CPU 1 shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a table used in the game system shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3A is an explanatory diagram showing a table composed of field address and height data.
[FIG. 3B] It is explanatory drawing which shows the information of the character in a field.
FIG. 3C is an explanatory diagram showing a table including polygon vertex addresses, rotation amounts, and movement amount data corresponding to viewpoint positions.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen display example.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen display example.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a screen display example.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen display example.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining a control operation by a main routine of the game program.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining a control operation by a main routine of the game program.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a control operation by a main routine of the game program.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining a control operation by field image display routine S200 shown in FIG. 8;
12 is a flowchart for explaining a control operation by a cursor image display routine S400 shown in FIG.
13 is a flowchart for illustrating a control operation by cursor image display routine S400 shown in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 CPU
1a Button operation detection means
1b Calculation means
1c Judgment means
1d variable setting means
1e Drawing command effective means
1f Operation information / viewpoint position conversion means
1g Field information management means
1h Character information management means
1i Cursor information management means
2 buses
3 Graphics data generation processor
4, 20 Interface circuit
5 Main memory
6 ROM
7 Stretching circuit
8 Parallel port
9 Serial port
10 Drawing processor
11, 14, 18 buffers
13 Speech processor
15 Amplifier circuit
16 Speaker
17 Decoder
19 Recording medium driver
21 memory
22 Controller

Claims (15)

A method of displaying a cursor in a field having undulations displayed in a pseudo three-dimensional manner based on three-dimensional coordinate data ,
A selected position height storing step of reading out and storing the height data of the selected position on the three-dimensional coordinates of the field from the field height storing means for storing the height data of each position of the field ;
Based on the height data of the selected position , a plurality of three-dimensional coordinate values are set in the height direction of the field, and a plurality of cursor images are displayed in a pseudo three-dimensional manner at the positions indicated by the plurality of three-dimensional coordinate values . A method of displaying a cursor in a pseudo-three-dimensionally displayed field including a drawing step. A plurality of different types of cursor images are prepared for one cursor image, and further includes a cursor image number acquisition step of obtaining cursor image number data for selecting one cursor image from the plurality of cursor images. Item 4. A method for displaying a cursor in a field displayed in pseudo three-dimensional form according to Item 1 . Display method of the cursor within the part or all of the cursor image of a plurality of cursor images are displayed pseudo three-dimensional according to claim 1, wherein the displayed translucent field. The height data of the selected position, at predetermined intervals, and the display method of the cursor in the circulating within the variable value to be is displayed pseudo 3D is Ru the summing step of setting digit claim 1, wherein the addition field . Display method of the cursor in the field of claim 1 is displayed pseudo three-dimensional, wherein in response to change of the viewpoint position relative to the field the shape of the plurality of cursor image is changed. Comprising an operation unit, a display unit for a field image and the cursor image image displaying pseudo three-dimensional, and a recorded recording medium of the game program data,
The game program data is
The height data of the selected position on the three-dimensional coordinates of the field, and the selected position height storage step of reading and storing from the field height storage unit for storing the height data of the respective positions of the field,
Based on the height data of the selected position , a plurality of three-dimensional coordinate values are set in the height direction of the field, and a plurality of cursor images are displayed in a pseudo three-dimensional manner at the positions indicated by the plurality of three-dimensional coordinate values . A game system including a drawing step. A plurality of different types of cursor images are prepared for one cursor image, and further includes a cursor image number acquisition step of obtaining cursor image number data for selecting one cursor image from the plurality of cursor images. Item 7. The game system according to Item 6 . The game system according to claim 6 , wherein some or all of the plurality of cursor images are displayed in a translucent manner. The height data of the selected position, at predetermined intervals, and the game system according to claim 6, wherein the value is varied by circulating digits set to the summing step that will be added. The game system according to claim 6, wherein the shapes of the plurality of cursor images are changed in response to a change in viewpoint position with respect to the field. A recording medium on which game program data is recorded that is designated by a cursor in a pseudo three-dimensionally displayed field,
The game program data is
A selected position height storing step of reading out and storing the height data of the selected position on the three-dimensional coordinates of the field from the field height storing means for storing the height data of each position of the field ;
Based on the height data of the selected position , a plurality of three-dimensional coordinate values are set in the height direction of the field, and a plurality of cursor images are displayed in a pseudo three-dimensional manner at the positions indicated by the plurality of three-dimensional coordinate values . A recording medium including a drawing step. A plurality of different types of cursor images are prepared for one cursor image, and further includes a cursor image number acquisition step of obtaining cursor image number data for selecting one cursor image from the plurality of cursor images. Item 11. A recording medium according to Item 11 . The recording medium according to claim 11 , wherein a part or all of the plurality of cursor images are displayed in a translucent manner. The height data of the selected position, at predetermined intervals, and, circulating recording medium according to claim 11 wherein the value to be variable is only set to the summing step that will be added. The recording medium according to claim 11, wherein the shape of the plurality of cursor images is changed in response to a change in viewpoint position with respect to the field.

Images