JP4563070B2 - GAME DEVICE AND GAME PROGRAM - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a game apparatus, and more particularly to a game apparatus that generates an image in which a part of a game space is illuminated with light.

  Conventionally, in 3D graphics processing, a more realistic 3D image is generated by expressing a shadow that falls on an object existing in a virtual space. There are various methods for expressing a shadow. For example, by using a shadow map, a shadow volume, or the like, it is possible to accurately represent a shadow that an object in the virtual space drops on another object.

There are also methods for expressing highlights and shadows more simply. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a game device that expresses highlights and shadows using a projected texture. In the game device disclosed in Patent Document 1, highlight and shadow expression are realized by performing alpha blending by mapping the original picture texture and the translucent projected texture in an overlapping manner.
JP 2001-84391 A

  However, the shadow drawing process using the above-described shadow map, shadow volume, or the like has a problem that the processing load for drawing the shadow is large and it is not suitable for a game process that requires high-speed drawing.

  Further, in the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the semi-transparent black texture is mapped on the original picture texture, the image becomes dark in a part other than the highlight part. Hue is lost.

  In order to make only the highlight part brighter than the surroundings, a semi-transparent gray texture is mapped to the highlight part, and the original picture texture and this semi-transparent gray texture are added and mixed to express the highlight. It is also possible to do. However, in this case, since the brightness of the original picture texture increases uniformly, the texture of the original picture is lost.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a game device that can express light while leaving the texture and color of the original picture.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following configuration. Note that the reference numerals, figure numbers, and supplementary explanations in parentheses indicate the correspondence with the embodiments described later in order to help understanding of the present invention, and do not limit the scope of the present invention. .

A first invention is a game apparatus including intermediate image data generation means, addition means, and display control means.
The intermediate image data generating means generates intermediate image data (second data in FIG. 11) obtained by masking original image data (first data in FIG. 10) with mask data (FIG. 6) (FIG. 11). The adding means adds the intermediate image data to the original image data (FIG. 12). The display control means generates a game image based on the image data (third data in FIG. 12) output from the adding means and displays it on the display means.
Note that the original image data is image data before mask processing, for example, image data prepared in advance in a storage device, or image data generated by 3D graphics processing. Also good.

The second invention is a game apparatus for displaying a three-dimensional virtual space on the display means (12), and is a polygon data storage means (34), a ground texture storage means (34), and a mask texture storage means (34). ), First data generation means (S16), second data generation means (S17), addition means (S18), and display control means (S21).
The polygon data storage means stores polygon data (FIG. 17). The ground texture storage means stores the ground texture (FIG. 16). The mask texture storage means stores the mask texture (FIG. 6) (FIG. 16). The first data generating means generates the first data by mapping the ground texture onto the polygon (FIG. 10). The second data generating means maps the mask texture onto the polygon and generates second data obtained by masking the first data with the mask texture (FIG. 11). The adding means generates the third data by adding the second data to the first data (FIG. 12). The display control means generates a game image based on the third data and displays it on the display means.
Note that the first data generation means may perform a light process at the same time as mapping the ground texture to the polygon (FIG. 7).

  In a third aspect based on the second aspect, the first data generation means generates lightness data indicating the brightness of each point on the polygon based on the light setting data of the virtual space and the polygon data. 7 to 9), the first data is generated based on the brightness data and the ground texture (FIG. 10).

  In a fourth aspect based on the second aspect, the second data generation means generates the second data by multiplying the first data and the mask texture (FIG. 11).

  In a fifth aspect based on the fourth aspect, the game apparatus further comprises coefficient multiplication means for multiplying the mask texture read from the mask texture storage means by a predetermined coefficient, and the second data generation means The second data is generated based on a multiplication result of the coefficient multiplication means.

A sixth invention is a game program for causing a computer (24, 34) to function as intermediate image data generation means, addition means, and display control means.
The intermediate image data generation unit generates intermediate image data obtained by masking original image data with mask data. The adding means adds the intermediate image data to the original image data. The display control means generates a game image based on the image data output from the adding means and displays it on the display means.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer (24, 34) of a game apparatus that displays a three-dimensional virtual space on a display means (12), polygon data storage means, ground texture storage means, mask texture storage means, and first data generation. A game program for functioning as means, second data generation means, addition means, and display control means.
The polygon data storage means stores polygon data. The ground texture storage means stores the ground texture. The mask texture storage means stores the mask texture. The first data generation means generates the first data by mapping the ground texture to the polygon. The second data generation means maps the mask texture onto the polygon and generates second data obtained by masking the first data with the mask texture. Adding means generates the third data by adding the second data to the first data. The display control means generates a game image based on the third data and displays it on the display means.

  In an eighth aspect based on the seventh aspect, the first data generation means generates lightness data indicating the brightness of each point on the polygon based on the light setting data of the virtual space and the polygon data. The first data is generated based on the brightness data and the ground texture.

  According to a ninth aspect based on the seventh aspect, the second data generation means generates the second data by multiplying the first data and the mask texture.

  In a tenth aspect based on the ninth aspect, the game program causes the computer to further function as coefficient multiplication means for multiplying the mask texture read from the mask texture storage means by a predetermined coefficient, The two-data generating unit generates the second data based on a multiplication result of the coefficient multiplying unit.

  According to the first invention, since the result of masking the original image data is added to the original image data, it is possible to prevent the portion to be brightened from becoming entirely whitish, and the texture and color of the original picture. It is possible to express light while leaving

  According to the second aspect, since the result of masking the first data generated based on the ground texture is added to the first data, it is possible to prevent the portion to be brightened from becoming entirely whitish. It is possible to express light while leaving the texture and color of the original picture.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, since only a part of the 3D image once generated by the light processing can be further brightened, the expression of light can be easily added.

  According to the fourth aspect, the second data can be easily generated by multiplication processing.

  According to the fifth aspect, by multiplying the mask texture by a desired coefficient, a desired light effect corresponding to the coefficient can be obtained.

  Hereinafter, a game system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external view showing a configuration of a game system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram thereof. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the game system 10 includes a TV monitor 12, a game machine body 14, a DVD-ROM 16, an external memory card 18, and a controller 20. The DVD-ROM 16 and the external memory card 18 are detachably attached to the game machine body 14. The controller 20 is connected to one of a plurality (four in FIG. 1) of controller port connectors provided on the game machine body 14 via a communication cable. The TV monitor 12 is connected to the game machine main body 14 by an AV cable or the like. The communication between the game machine body 14 and the controller 20 may be wireless communication.

  The DVD-ROM 16 stores game programs, game data, and the like in a fixed manner. When the player plays the game, the DVD-ROM 16 is attached to the game machine body 14. As a means for storing a game program or the like, an external storage medium such as a CD-ROM, MO, memory card, ROM cartridge, or the like may be used instead of the DVD-ROM 16.

  The external memory card 18 is configured by a rewritable storage medium such as a flash memory, for example, and records data such as game save data.

  The game machine body 14 reads a program recorded on the DVD-ROM 16 and performs processing according to the read program.

  The controller 20 is an input device for a player to make an input related to a game operation, and has a plurality of operation switches. The controller 20 outputs operation data to the game machine main body 14 in response to pressing of the operation switch by the player.

  The TV monitor 12 displays the image data output from the game machine body 14 on the screen.

  Next, the configuration of the game machine body 14 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, the game machine body 14 is provided with a CPU 22 and a memory controller 40 connected thereto. Further, in the game machine main body 14, the memory controller 40 is connected to a GPU (graphics processing unit) 24, a main memory 34, a DSP 36, and various interfaces (I / F) 42, 44, 46, 48, 52. The The memory controller 40 controls data transfer between these components.

  When starting the game, first, the disk drive 54 drives the DVD-ROM 16 attached to the game machine body 14. The game program stored in the DVD-ROM 16 is read into the main memory 34 via the disk I / F 52 and the memory controller 40. The game is started when the CPU 22 executes the program on the main memory 34. After the game is started, the player inputs a game operation or the like to the controller 20 using the operation switch. In accordance with the input by the player, the controller 20 outputs operation data to the game machine main body 14. Operation data output from the controller 20 is supplied to the CPU 22 via the controller I / F 42 and the memory controller 40. The CPU 22 performs a game process according to the input operation data. The GPU 24 and the DSP 36 are used for generating image data in game processing. The sub memory 38 is used when the DSP 36 performs processing.

  The GPU 24 includes a geometry unit 26 and a rendering unit 28, and is connected to a memory dedicated to image processing. This image processing dedicated memory is used as, for example, the color buffer 30 or the Z buffer 32. The geometry unit 26 performs arithmetic processing on the coordinates of a three-dimensional model (for example, an object composed of polygons) related to an object or a figure placed in a game space that is a virtual three-dimensional space. Enlargement / reduction, transformation, and conversion from coordinates in the world coordinate system to coordinates in the viewpoint coordinate system and screen coordinate system are performed. The rendering unit 28 is for generating a game image by writing color data (RGB data) for each pixel in the color buffer 30 for the three-dimensional model projected on the screen coordinates based on a predetermined texture. . The color buffer 30 is a memory area secured for holding game image data (RGB data) generated by the rendering unit 28. The Z buffer 32 is a memory area reserved for holding depth information from the viewpoint that is lost when converting from the three-dimensional viewpoint coordinates to the two-dimensional screen coordinates. The GPU 24 generates image data to be displayed on the TV monitor 12 using these buffers, and appropriately outputs the image data to the TV monitor 12 via the memory controller 40 and the video I / F 44. Note that audio data generated in the CPU 22 when the game program is executed is output from the memory controller 40 to the speaker 50 via the audio I / F 48. In the present embodiment, a hardware configuration in which a memory dedicated to image processing is separately provided is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a method of using a part of the main memory 34 as a memory for image processing (UMA: Unified Memory Architecture). May be used.

  Next, a specific example of image processing executed by the CPU 22 and the GPU 24 based on the game program will be described.

  In the present embodiment, processing for making only a part of the area in the game space brighter is performed. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, when the underground map of the game space is displayed on the TV monitor 12, it is as if the light leaking through the hole illuminates a part of the ground of the underground map. An example of generating is described. In the example of FIG. 3, the ground model having a hole may not actually exist in the game space.

  The ground of the underground map is composed of a plurality of polygons as shown in FIG. Thereby, the undulations (unevenness) of the ground are expressed. Of these polygons, the ones illuminated by light leaking from the holes are the four polygons (polygons A to D) shown in FIG.

  In this embodiment, a mask texture corresponding to the shape of the portion illuminated by light leaked from the hole is used to make the brightness of this portion brighter. FIG. 6 shows an example of the mask texture. This mask texture is composed of 16 × 16 pixels, and a value is determined for each pixel. A portion with a value of 1 corresponds to a region illuminated by light leaking from the hole, and a portion with a value of 0 corresponds to a region not illuminated by light leaking from the hole. A value between 0 and 1 is set for pixels located at the boundary between both regions. This is to prevent aliasing from occurring in the outline of the area illuminated by the light leaked from the hole in the finally generated image. In the example of FIG. 6, the value of each pixel is in the range of 0 to 1. However, for example, when using a mask texture defined by an integer value of 0 to 255, normalize it and use it. That's fine. Further, the mask texture is not limited to a size of 16 × 16 pixels, and an arbitrary size can be used.

  Next, details of the image processing according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, as shown in FIG. 7, a predetermined calculation is performed based on the direction of the normal vector and the ray vector set at the vertex of each polygon constituting the ground of the cave, and as shown in FIG. Find the brightness. The brightness of each point on the polygon excluding the vertex is obtained by interpolation processing based on the brightness of each vertex of the polygon. In this way, brightness data as shown in FIG. 9 is obtained. In the present embodiment, such glow shading is adopted, but other shading methods such as flat shading may be used.

  Textures for expressing the color and texture of the cave ground (hereinafter referred to as ground texture) are mapped to the polygons constituting the ground. Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the polygon is shaded by multiplying the background texture mapped to the polygon and the lightness data of the polygon (value normalized to 0 to 1) for each pixel. It is done. The shaded polygon color data is referred to as first data. Hereinafter, the first data is used as an original picture, and a process for partially brightening the original picture is performed. In the present embodiment, the first data is generated by performing the above calculation inside the game machine main body 14, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the first data prepared in advance is used for the game machine. The following processing may be performed by obtaining from the outside of the main body 14. For example, image data obtained with a digital camera may be used as the first data. Further, the first data may not necessarily be shaded. That is, a solid image such as an animation may be used as the first data.

  In addition to the ground texture, a mask texture as shown in FIG. 6 is mapped to the polygon constituting the ground. Each vertex of the polygon is assigned a mask texture coordinate (u, v), that is, a uv value, and the mask texture is mapped to the polygon according to the uv value (so-called uv mapping). In this embodiment, u and v values less than 0 are clipped to 0, and u and v values greater than 1 are clipped to 1. Accordingly, the entire area other than the circular area can be masked as shown in FIG. 4 using the mask texture as shown in FIG. Note that any other method may be employed as a mask texture mapping method. For example, the mask texture may be mapped so that the mask texture shown in FIG. 6 is repeated on the ground. In addition to the uv mapping, the mask texture may be mapped by projection mapping. A mask texture may be prepared for each polygon. For example, four mask textures corresponding to the four polygons A to D in FIG. 5 may be prepared and each mask texture may be mapped to the corresponding polygon.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the first data and the mask texture are multiplied for each pixel to generate second data, and further, the first data and the second data are converted for each pixel as shown in FIG. To generate third data. This third data is image data that is finally displayed on the TV monitor 12. Compared with the first data which is the original picture data, the third data becomes brighter only in a part of the area corresponding to the mask texture as shown in FIG. Moreover, since the value added to the first data in the portion illuminated by the light leaking from the hole is a value proportional to the brightness of the first data, the dark portion in the first data. In the third data, a certain degree of darkness is maintained.

  As a comparative example, FIG. 13 shows an example in which original picture data (first data) and a mask texture are simply added as in the prior art. In this case, the brightness of the portion illuminated by the light leaking from the hole is uniformly brightened, and the original texture of the portion is lost.

  Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, the effect of the above processing of the present embodiment will be described in comparison with the conventional one.

  FIG. 14 relates to an unmasked portion (that is, a portion illuminated by light leaking from a hole) when the original picture data (first data) and the mask texture are simply added as in FIG. The relationship between 1st data and 3rd data is shown. In this conventional method, the degree of the brightening effect can be adjusted by adjusting the value of the mask texture. However, as shown in FIG. 14, the darker portion becomes brighter and brighter as the effect is increased. The image becomes whitish and the texture of the ground that was expressed in the original picture is lost. On the other hand, in the case of the present embodiment, the relationship between the first data and the third data is as shown in FIG. The texture of the ground that was left is not lost. In addition, when multiplying the first data and the mask texture, the degree of brightening can be adjusted to a desired degree by multiplying the mask texture by a desired coefficient and then multiplying by the first data. .

  Next, the operation of the game machine body 14 when executing the above-described processing will be specifically described.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the DVD-ROM 16 stores terrain data corresponding to the cave ground. The terrain data is composed of vertex data and texture data, and the texture data includes a ground texture and a mask texture. The ground texture is a texture that represents the color and texture of the ground of the cave, and the mask texture is a texture that represents the shape of an area that is particularly desired to be brightened.

  The terrain data stored in the DVD-ROM 16 is read into the main memory 34 of the game machine body 14. The main memory 34 can also be used as a frame buffer as shown in FIG. FIG. 17 shows details of the vertex data 60 stored in the main memory 34. In the example of FIG. 17, as the vertex data 60, coordinates (world coordinate system), normal vectors, and UV values of each vertex of the polygon are stored for each polygon constituting the ground of the cave. As the UV value, a UV value corresponding to the ground texture (indicating which point of the ground texture corresponds to the vertex) and a UV value corresponding to the mask texture (which point of the mask texture corresponds to the vertex) Is stored). The GPU 24 includes a texture calculation circuit therein, and performs calculation processes as shown in FIGS. 7 to 12 in accordance with instructions from the CPU 22. In the present embodiment, the GPU 24 executes most of the image processing. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the CPU 22 may execute all the processing.

  FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the flow of image processing by the CPU 22 and the GPU 24.

  In FIG. 18, first, the CPU 22 loads data stored in the DVD-ROM 16 into the main memory 34 (S10). Next, the CPU 22 sets a calculation formula of the texture calculation circuit of the GPU 24 (that is, a calculation formula corresponding to the processing of FIGS. 7 to 12) (S11). Subsequently, the CPU 22 performs virtual camera setting (S12) and light setting (S13).

  When the setting of the game space is thus completed, the GPU 24 converts the coordinates of each vertex included in the vertex data 60 from the world coordinate system to the screen coordinate system according to the setting of the virtual camera (S14).

  Subsequently, the GPU 24 determines the brightness of each vertex based on the ray vector and the normal vector of each vertex, and generates brightness data from the determined brightness of each vertex (S15). Next, the GPU 24 maps the ground texture to each polygon based on the UV value of the ground texture included in the vertex data 60, and multiplies the ground texture and the brightness data to generate first data (S16). Then, the mask texture is mapped to each polygon based on the UV value of the mask texture included in the vertex data 60, and the second data is generated by multiplying the first data generated in step S16 and the mask data (S17). Further, the second data thus generated and the ground texture are added to generate third data (S18). Then, the third data is written into the frame buffer (S19).

  Thus, a video signal is sent to the TV monitor 12 based on the image data stored in the frame buffer, and a game image is displayed on the TV monitor 12.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to perform an expression in which light is illuminated on a part of the 3D game space without performing a heavy load process such as a shadow volume. In addition, the brightness of the portion illuminated with light is not uniformly bright, and the increase in brightness in the dark portion can be suppressed, so that it can be brightened while maintaining the texture of the original picture.

  In this embodiment, the example in which the 3D space is partially brightened has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to a game in which a two-dimensional game space is displayed on a screen to realize an expression in which a part of the game space displayed on the screen is illuminated with light. In this case, mask data corresponding to the shape of the area to be illuminated with light is prepared, and the game image (corresponding to the first data) to be the original picture is multiplied by the mask data (corresponding to the mask texture). What is necessary is just to add the game image used as an original picture (equivalent to 2nd data).

External view of game system 10 Block diagram showing the internal configuration of the game machine body 14 The figure which shows a mode that a part of underground map is illuminated by the light which leaks from a hole Illustration showing the ground of an underground map Diagram showing the polygons that make up the ground of the underground map Diagram showing an example of mask texture Diagram showing the procedure for generating brightness data Diagram showing the procedure for generating brightness data Diagram showing the procedure for generating brightness data The figure which shows the production | generation procedure of 1st data The figure which shows the production | generation procedure of 2nd data The figure which shows the production | generation procedure of 3rd data The figure which shows the production | generation procedure of the 3rd data by the conventional method The figure which shows the relationship between the 1st data and the 3rd data in the conventional method The figure which shows the relationship between the 1st data and the 3rd data in the method of one Embodiment of this invention. Diagram for explaining the operation of the game console Figure showing details of vertex data Flow chart showing the flow of image processing

Explanation of symbols

10 game system 12 TV monitor 14 game machine body 16 DVD-ROM
18 External memory card 20 Controller 22 CPU
24 GPU
26 Geometry unit 28 Rendering unit 30 Color buffer 32 Z buffer 34 Main memory 36 DSP
38 Sub memory 40 Memory controller 42 Controller I / F
44 Video I / F
46 External memory I / F
48 Audio I / F
50 Speaker 52 Disc I / F
54 Disk drive 60 Vertex data

Claims (10)

Intermediate image data generating means for generating intermediate image data obtained by masking original image data with mask data;
Adding means for adding the intermediate image data to the original image data;
A game apparatus comprising: display control means for generating a game image based on image data output from the adding means and displaying the game image on the display means. A game device for displaying a three-dimensional virtual space on a display means,
Polygon data storage means for storing polygon data;
A ground texture storage means for storing the ground texture;
Mask texture storage means for storing the mask texture;
First data generation means for mapping the ground texture to polygons to generate first data;
Second data generating means for mapping the mask texture to the polygon and generating second data obtained by masking the first data with the mask texture;
Adding means for generating a third data by adding the second data to the first data,
A game apparatus comprising: display control means for generating a game image based on the third data and displaying the game image on the display means.   The first data generating means generates lightness data indicating the brightness of each point on the polygon based on the light setting data in the virtual space and the polygon data, and the first data generating means generates the lightness data indicating the brightness of each point on the polygon. The game apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one data is generated.   The game apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second data generation unit generates the second data by multiplying the first data and the mask texture. The game apparatus further includes coefficient multiplication means for multiplying the mask texture read from the mask texture storage means by a predetermined coefficient,
The game apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second data generating unit generates the second data based on a multiplication result of the coefficient multiplying unit. Computer
Intermediate image data generating means for generating intermediate image data obtained by masking original image data with mask data;
An addition means for adding the intermediate image data to the original image data, and a game program for functioning as a display control means for generating a game image based on the image data output from the addition means and displaying the game image on the display means. A game machine computer for displaying a three-dimensional virtual space on a display means,
Polygon data storage means for storing polygon data;
A ground texture storage means for storing the ground texture;
Mask texture storage means for storing the mask texture;
First data generating means for mapping the ground texture to a polygon to generate first data;
A second data generation means for mapping the mask texture to the polygon and generating second data obtained by masking the first data with the mask texture;
Adding means for generating a third data by adding the second data to the first data, and to function as a display control means for displaying on the display means generates a game image based on the third data Game program.   The first data generating means generates lightness data indicating the brightness of each point on the polygon based on the light setting data in the virtual space and the polygon data, and the first data generating means generates the lightness data indicating the brightness of each point on the polygon. The game program according to claim 7, wherein one data is generated.   The game program according to claim 7, wherein the second data generation unit generates the second data by multiplying the first data and the mask texture. The game program further causes the computer to function as coefficient multiplication means for multiplying the mask texture read from the mask texture storage means by a predetermined coefficient,
The game program according to claim 9, wherein the second data generation unit generates the second data based on a multiplication result of the coefficient multiplication unit.

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