JP6407324B2 - GAME PROGRAM AND GAME DEVICE - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a game program and a game device.

  In recent years, an action game in which a game is progressed by operating a player character in a virtual space is commercially available. In this type of action game, games such as background music (BGM) and environmental sounds (for example, ambient sounds such as rain and wind) according to the virtual space are used to improve the fun, excitement, and realism of the game. Production by sound is performed.

  In order to perform such a game sound effect more effectively, a configuration is known in which processing for processing a predetermined game sound such as an environmental sound is performed each time in accordance with the area where the player character is located. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2013-057862 A

  However, in the configuration as in Patent Document 1, for example, the details of the area such as the distance from the position of the player character to a shielding object such as a wall, the height to the ceiling, and the material of the ground or the shielding object (such as sound absorption coefficient) are more detailed. Difficult environment changes are difficult to reflect in game sounds. Depending on the position of the player character, the surrounding situation (distance to the shield, etc.) can be obtained by ray casting, but the processing load increases. If the processing load increases due to the effect of the game sound, processing other than the game sound may be affected, and the progress of the entire game may be hindered.

  Such a problem may occur not only in the game sound but also in the effect expression such as light irradiation, wind, and rain.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a game program and a game apparatus capable of performing various effects by effect expression while suppressing an increase in processing load for effects by effect expression.

  A game program according to an aspect of the present invention causes a computer to execute in a game system including a display unit that displays an image captured by a virtual camera arranged in a virtual space as a game screen, and a computer that advances the game. A game program, wherein the computer uses virtual space generation means for generating the virtual space, virtual camera control means for controlling the orientation or position of the virtual camera, and at least one effect expression data stored in advance. Of the plurality of feature points arranged in the virtual space, the effect expression means for executing the expression, and at least the feature closest to the acquisition position of the effect expression set in association with the position of the virtual camera Function as a feature point information acquisition means for acquiring point information, and The effect expression means includes effect expression change means for processing the effect expression data based on the acquired feature point information, and the feature point information is a reference on which a shield closest to the position of the feature point is located. The effect expression changing means processes the effect expression data according to an angle between the reference direction at the acquired feature point and the orientation of the virtual camera.

  The effect expression changing unit may process the effect expression data according to an angle between the reference direction and the direction of the virtual camera at the acquired feature point.

  The effect expression changing means may increase the output of the effect expression based on the effect expression data as the angle between the reference direction and the orientation of the virtual camera is smaller.

  The feature point information includes position information of a predetermined reference area defined based on a plurality of surface positions of a shielding object facing the feature point in a plurality of predetermined directions including the reference direction, The effect expression changing means is configured to convert the effect expression data based on a distance to a boundary of a reference area including the acquisition position of the effect expression in a predetermined direction with respect to the orientation of the virtual camera of the acquisition position of the effect expression. It may be processed.

  The reference region is separated from the feature point in the facing direction when the distance between the surface position of the shielding object facing the feature point is equal to or greater than a predetermined specified distance among the plurality of surface positions. The position may be set so as to be included in the boundary line defining the reference area.

  The boundary of the reference region may be formed in a rectangular shape including a line segment orthogonal to the reference direction on one side.

  The effect expression changing means acquires a distance from the sound listening position to a boundary of the reference area in four orthogonal directions including the direction of the virtual camera, and the effect expression data is obtained based on the acquired four distances. It may be processed.

  A game device according to another aspect of the present invention includes a program storage unit that stores the above-described game program, and a computer that executes the program stored in the program storage unit.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a game program and a game apparatus capable of performing various effects by effect expression while suppressing an increase in processing load for effects by effect expression.

It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the game device which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the control part with which the game device shown in FIG. 1 is provided. It is a top view of the virtual space which shows an example of the feature point arrange | positioned in the virtual space in this Embodiment. It is a top view of virtual space for demonstrating how to obtain | require the average sound absorption rate in the feature point of this Embodiment. It is a top view of the virtual space for demonstrating an example of the interpolation process in this Embodiment. It is a top view of the virtual space for demonstrating the processing of the effect expression based on the direction of the virtual camera in the virtual space in this Embodiment. It is a top view of the virtual space for demonstrating the transition process of the effect expression in the area | region adjacent in the virtual space of this Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, a game program and a game apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, an action game executed in a home game device will be described as an example. In the action game according to the present embodiment, a player character is manipulated in a virtual game space to defeat an enemy character, search for an item, and capture a predetermined event. proceed.

[Hardware configuration]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a game apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the game apparatus 1 includes a control unit 30. The control unit 30 includes a CPU 11, a drawing data generation processor 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 14, a drawing processing processor 15, and a sound processing processor 18. The game apparatus 1 further includes a VRAM (Video-RAM) 16, an amplifier 19, a speaker 20, an earphone terminal 21, an operation unit 22, a media interface 23, a wireless LAN module 24, and a bus 25. Of these, the CPU 11, the drawing data generation processor 12, the RAM 13, the ROM 14, the drawing processing processor 15, the voice processing processor 18, the operation unit 22, the media interface 23, and the wireless LAN module 24 can mutually transmit data via the bus 25. It is connected to the.

  The operation unit 22 includes direction keys and other button groups (not shown), accepts a user operation, and inputs operation information (operation signal) according to the operation content to the CPU 11. In addition, various buttons included in the direction key and the button group are operators for instructing a specific action of the player character. The operation unit 22 includes a power switch for turning on / off the power of the game apparatus 1 in addition to these operators.

  The media interface 23 accesses the game media 5 set in a media mounting unit (not shown) and reads the game program 5a and the game data 5b. Among these, the game program 5a is for causing the game apparatus 1 to execute a game in which, for example, a player character and an enemy character battle each other in a virtual space.

  The game data 5b includes data necessary for executing the game, such as character and background image data, image data for displaying information such as status, sound data such as sound effects and BGM, characters and symbols. Message data etc. are included. The game media 5 that is a recording medium can employ UMD (Universal Media Disc) (registered trademark), which is a kind of optical disc, in addition to a semiconductor memory.

  In the RAM 13, a load area for storing the game program 5a and game data 5b read from the game media 5 according to the progress of the game, and a work area for use when the CPU 11 processes the game program 5a are set. Has been. The ROM 14 stores basic functions of the game apparatus 1 such as a disk loading function, and a basic program for controlling the reading process of the game program 5a and game data 5b stored in the game media 5.

  The CPU 11 reads all or part of the game program 5 a and the game data 5 b recorded on the game media 5 into the RAM 13 through the media interface 23. CPU11 runs game program 5a according to operation of operation part 22 by a user, and controls game progress. More specifically, when an operation signal is input from the operation unit 22 by being operated by the user, the CPU 11 performs a predetermined game progress process corresponding to the operation signal in accordance with the game program 5a.

  The CPU 11 displays on the display (display unit) 2 as an image indicating the progress of the game (hereinafter, “game screen”) based on the processing result. Further, the CPU 11 outputs an audio signal indicating the game progress (hereinafter referred to as “game audio”) to the audio output unit (the speaker 20 or the earphone terminal 21) based on the processing result.

  Drawing of the game screen is performed by the drawing processor 15 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 11. That is, the CPU 11 determines the content of the game screen to be displayed on the display 2 based on the operation signal input from the operation unit 22. The drawing data generation processor 12 generates necessary drawing data for the contents. Then, the drawing data is transferred to the drawing processor 15.

  The drawing processor 15 performs drawing processing based on the drawing data. The drawing processor 15 generates a game screen every 1/60 seconds based on the drawing data, and writes the generated game screen in the VRAM 16. The display 2 includes a transflective color liquid crystal display and a backlight LED (Light Emitting Diode), and displays a game screen written in the VRAM 16.

  Further, the CPU 11 determines sound effects such as sound effects and BGM to be output from the speaker 20 according to the progress of the game. The CPU 11 reads out audio data for outputting the determined audio from the RAM 13 and inputs it to the audio processor 18. That is, when a sound generation event occurs with the progress of the game, the CPU 11 reads out sound data corresponding to the sound generation event (voice data loaded from the game media 5) from the RAM 13 and inputs it to the sound processing processor 18.

  The audio processor 18 is constituted by a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). The audio processor 18 gives a predetermined effect (for example, reverb, chorus) to the audio data input by the CPU 11, converts it to an analog signal, and outputs it to the amplifier 19. The amplifier 19 amplifies the audio signal input from the audio processor 18 and then outputs it to the speaker 20 and the earphone terminal 21.

  The wireless LAN module 24 is a communication module for configuring a network by performing data communication with another game device 1 through a wireless LAN compliant with the communication standard IEEE802.11b (used frequency band 2.4 GHz, communication speed 11 Mbps). .

[Functional configuration of control unit]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the control unit 30 provided in the game apparatus 1 shown in FIG. FIG. 2 mainly shows functions necessary for realizing the above-described game system. As described above, the control unit 30 operates as a computer including the CPU 11, the drawing data generation processor 12, the RAM 13, the ROM 14, the drawing processing processor 15, and the sound processing processor 18. And the control part 30 which operate | moves as this computer is provided with the function which is demonstrated below by executing the game program 5a and the game data 5b which were read from the game media 5. FIG.

  That is, the control unit 30 exhibits functions such as a virtual space generation unit 31, a feature point information acquisition unit 32, an effect expression unit 33, a virtual camera control unit 34, a character control unit 35, and a virtual output source setting unit 36. .

  Among these, the virtual space generation unit 31 generates a virtual space S in which the character acts. The virtual space S includes a virtual space where the player character and the enemy character battle each other.

  The character control means 35 controls the actions of various characters including the player character C and the enemy character in the virtual space S. For example, the character control means 35 controls various actions including movement, attack, and defense of the player character C according to the operation of the operation unit 22 by the user. The character control means 35 also controls various actions such as movement, attack and defense by the enemy character.

  The feature point information acquisition unit 32 acquires information on at least the feature point located closest to the character position among the plurality of feature points arranged in the virtual space S.

  The effect expression means 33 executes effect expression at the character position using effect expression data stored in advance. The effect expression includes, for example, a sound echo expression or a light irradiation expression. For example, in the case of sound, the effect expression means 33 expresses an effect such as absorption or reflection of sound in a surrounding shielding object, and in the case of light, an effect such as overlapping or shading of a plurality of light sources.

  In this embodiment, a case where sound is used as an effect expression is illustrated. In this case, the effect expression means 33 reproduces at least one audio data included in the game data 5b read from the game media 5 and stored in the RAM 13 in advance. The effect expression unit 33 includes an effect expression change unit 331.

  The effect expression changing means 331 processes the effect expression data based on the acquired feature point information (environment information). In the present embodiment, the effect expression changing unit 331 processes at least one predetermined audio data (hereinafter, specific audio data) among at least one audio data to be reproduced. The effect expression means 33 outputs the processed specific audio data.

  The virtual camera control unit 34 controls the orientation or position of the virtual camera based on the operation of the operation unit 22 by the user. The virtual output source setting means 36 sets a virtual output source for effect expression accompanying the position of the character.

[Arrangement mode of feature points]
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the virtual space showing an example of the feature points arranged in the virtual space in the present embodiment. In the three-dimensional virtual space S, the terrain is drawn with polygons, textures, and the like, and various objects, characters, and the like are arranged on the terrain. Further, a plurality of feature points Pi (i = 1, 2,...) Are arranged on the movable area SM of the player character C in the virtual space S.

  The plurality of feature points are virtual points for acquiring environment information described later, and are not displayed on the virtual space S. At least one of the plurality of feature points is arranged in the vicinity of the inflection point BCj (j = 1, 2,...) In the corner or curve where the boundary line B of the movable region SM is broken.

  In the example of FIG. 3, a path that is bent halfway in the virtual space S is arranged as the movable region SM. In FIG. 3, a wall that is a shielding object that defines the passage is represented as a boundary line B in a plan view of the virtual space S. A feature point P2 is arranged on the movable area SM in the vicinity of the inflection point BC1 of the boundary line B at the corner of the passage, and a feature point P5 is arranged on the movable area SM in the vicinity of the inflection point BC2.

  The feature points P1, P3, P4, and P6 are respectively disposed in the vicinity of the boundary line B (in the vicinity of the linear portion) on the movable region SM. Further, the feature points P7 and P8 are respectively arranged at positions away from the vicinity of the boundary line B of the movable region SM (such as the central region of the movable region SM). Note that the feature points P7 and P8 at positions away from the corner of the boundary line B or the vicinity of the inflection point may be omitted.

[Processing of effect expression using feature points]
Each feature point Pi includes, as game data 5b, predetermined environment information that affects the sound at the position of the feature point Pi. The predetermined environment information includes, for example, an average sound absorption rate by a shielding object (wall, floor, ground, ceiling, etc.) around each feature point Pi.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view of a virtual space for explaining how to obtain the average sound absorption coefficient at the feature point of the present embodiment. The feature point Pi is surrounded by a shield on three sides. In this example, the shield includes a shield Dg made of gravel and a shield Ds made of stone.

  First, for example, at the time of setting information on the feature point Pi (when creating the game data 5b), by performing ray casting in a predetermined direction from the feature point Pi arranged in the virtual space S, the predetermined point from the feature point Pi is set. The distance to the shield in the direction is obtained. In FIG. 4, the distance from the feature point Pi to the shielding objects Bg and Bs in the eight directions and the type information of the contacting shielding object (including the presence or absence of the shielding object) are acquired by ray casting in the eight horizontal directions. . In addition, when the distance to the shield is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference distance, it may be handled as not contacting.

  Furthermore, ray casting is also performed in the height direction, and the distance to the ceiling and the like are acquired. As for the height direction, the distance in a plurality of directions is acquired, such as a predetermined angle forward from directly above, a predetermined angle backward from directly above, a right angle from right above and a predetermined angle to the left from above. May be. Furthermore, the distances in the plurality of directions may be averaged to form one height information.

Based on the information obtained as described above, the average sound absorption coefficient α _av is obtained. For example, the average sound absorption coefficient α _av is expressed by an _equation : α _av = α _g · (x _g / 8) · (1 / L _g ) + α _s · (x _s / 8) · (1 / L _s ) +. Is done. Here, α _g represents a sound absorption coefficient (for example, 0.5) in gravel, and α _s represents a sound absorption coefficient (for example, 0.02) in stone. Further, x _g represents the number of rays that have come into contact with gravel among the eight ray casts (5 in FIG. 4). x _s represents the number of rays (2 in FIG. 4) in contact with the stone among the eight ray casts. L _g represents the average distance to the gravel shield. L _s represents the average distance to the stone shield. When there is a shield made of another material, a similar term for the other material is added.

  In the direction where there is no shielding object, the average sound absorption coefficient may be calculated with the sound absorption coefficient of air set to 0, or the sound absorption coefficient of air may be set separately and included in the above equation. In this case, the distance may be the reference distance.

Further, the formula for _obtaining the average sound absorption coefficient α _av is not limited to the above formula. For example, the following equation may be used: αav = α _g · (x _g / 8) + α _s · (x _s / 8) +. In this case, whether or not a term such as the sound absorption coefficient α _g , α _{s of the} shielding object is added is determined depending on whether the shielding object is present (closer) or not (distant).

In this way, the average sound absorption rate α _av is determined for each feature point Pi, and is stored as environment information of the feature point Pi in association with the position information of the feature point Pi.

  In the present embodiment, the acquisition position (hereinafter referred to as the sound listening position) L of the effect expression relating to the sound is set in association with the position of the player character. More specifically, the sound listening position L is set at the center (head) of the player character C. Instead, the sound listening position L may be set at a position separated from the player character C. In this case, the sound listening position L may be set, for example, a predetermined distance forward or backward from the player character C, or may be set to a position of a virtual camera (reference V in FIG. 7 described later).

The feature point information acquisition means 32 is a feature that is at least closest to the position of the player character C (which is also the sound listening position L in this example) among the plurality of feature points Pi arranged in the virtual space S. The environmental information of the point Pn (in this embodiment, the average sound absorption coefficient α _{av at the} characteristic point Pn = P2) is acquired. The effect expression changing unit 331 processes the specific audio data to be reproduced based on the acquired environment information of the feature point Pn. For example, the effect expression changing unit 331 sets the length or size of the reverb when the specific sound data is reproduced based on the average sound absorption rate α _av at the feature point Pn.

Note that the environment information of the feature point Pi is not limited to the average sound absorption rate α _av at the feature point Pi. For example, in addition to or instead of the average sound absorption coefficient α _av , the distance to the nearest shielding object at each feature point Pi, spatial attributes (for example, indoors, caves, wilderness, forests, etc.), height, etc. Information may be set as environment information of the feature point Pi.

  For example, when the distance to the nearest shield is used as the environment information, the effect expression changing unit 331 increases the reverb size or shortens the reverb length as the distance is shorter.

  The spatial attribute includes parameters that affect the effect expression. For example, the parameters included in the spatial attribute include a reverb length parameter and / or a reverb size parameter. The space attribute includes a plurality of types of attributes whose parameter values are set in advance, such as a room, a cave, a wilderness, and a forest. When the spatial attribute is environment information, the effect expression changing unit 331 applies the acoustic effect corresponding to the acquired spatial attribute of the feature point Pi to the specific sound data.

  When the height is the environment information, the effect expression changing unit 331 increases the length of the reverb or decreases the size of the reverb as the height is higher.

  Moreover, the direction of the shielding object located within a predetermined distance from the feature point Pi may be set as the environment information of the feature point Pi.

  The specific sound data may include a sound emitted from a specific sound source in the virtual space, an environmental sound without a specific sound source, or background music. Sounds generated by a specific sound source in the virtual space include, for example, weapon use sounds, slashing sounds, gunshots, footsteps, voices, enemy character breath sounds, waterfall sounds, spear explosion sounds, machine operation sounds, A fan rotation sound or the like may be included. In addition, the environmental sound can include, for example, rain or wind sounds, birds or insects.

  The effect expression means 33 reproduces audio data to be reproduced and executes effect expression. At this time, the specific sound data included in the sound data to be reproduced is a sound processed based on the information of the feature point Pn located closest to the position of the player character C.

  According to the above aspect, the environment information related to the effect expression such as how to sound in the virtual space S is stored as information of each feature point Pi that is a plurality of positions within the movement range of the player character C. Thereby, by acquiring the environment information of the feature point Pi close to the position of the player character C, it is possible to perform a sound processing process according to the location while suppressing an increase in processing load.

  Here, it is also conceivable to arrange the feature points Pi at equal intervals regardless of the terrain of the virtual space S (in particular, the character movable region SM). That is, for example, it is conceivable to use the vertex of a predetermined lattice arrangement as a feature point. However, in such an aspect, the feature points Pi are also arranged at locations where the character cannot move, and the environment information of the feature points Pi may be wasted.

  Further, there are many cases where a shield is installed in the vicinity of the boundary line B of the movable region SM, and the influence on the sound changes locally. However, when the feature points Pi are arranged at equal intervals, the feature points Pi are not necessarily arranged in the vicinity of the boundary line B that has a large influence on the sound, so that the sound processing corresponds to local changes around the character. I can't let you.

  Therefore, in the above configuration, at least one of the plurality of feature points Pi is arranged in the vicinity of the corner portion of the boundary line B of the character movable region SM or the inflection point BCj. Thereby, there is no waste in the arrangement of the feature points Pi, and the number of feature points Pi in the character movement range can be increased while suppressing an increase in the data amount. Therefore, a more realistic effect expression according to the environment of the virtual space S that varies depending on the position of the player character C can be realized. As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to perform various effects by effect expression while suppressing an increase in processing load for effects by effect expression.

  The plurality of feature points Pi in the present embodiment are arranged at least at a part of the plurality of vertices constituting the navigation mesh N set in the movable region SM. The Navimesh N is provided for route search of the non-player character and includes a plurality of vertices (the same position as the feature point Pi in FIG. 3) and a route connecting the plurality of vertices in a mesh shape. .

  Since the Navimesh N serves as a reference for a route along which the non-player character moves in the movable area SM, a plurality of vertices are arranged so as to cover the movable area SM. That is, the plurality of vertices of the navigation mesh N are set so as to include vertices arranged in the vicinity of the inflection point BCj in the corner or curve where the boundary line B of the movable region SM becomes a polygonal line.

  In this way, by using the coordinates of the vertices of the navigation mesh N used for the route search of the non-player character as the coordinates of the feature points Pi, it is possible to prevent an increase in capacity due to the addition of the map data of the feature points Pi. Can do.

  When the position of the feature point Pi is set using the position of the vertex of the Navimesh N, all the vertices of the Navimesh N may be set as a plurality of feature points Pi, or a part of the Navimesh N May be set as a plurality of feature points Pi. Further, at least some of the vertices of the navigation mesh N may be set as a part of the plurality of feature points Pi, and the feature points Pi may be set at positions that are not the vertices of the navigation mesh N.

  Furthermore, at least some of the plurality of feature points Pi are arranged such that the distances between adjacent feature points Pi are unequal. In particular, a place where there is a shield having a complicated shape (a place where the boundary line B is complicated) is narrow, and a place where the concrete wall is long and linearly extended (a place where the boundary line B is simple) ) And the central region of the movable region SM are set so that the interval is wide. As described above, by narrowing or widening the interval between the feature points Pi in accordance with the shape of the movable region SM, it is possible to realize a more realistic effect expression while reducing an increase in necessary data amount.

  The effect expression changing unit 331 may process the specific audio data based only on the information of the feature point Pn closest to the position of the player character C. In this case, the effect expression changing unit 331 has the environment of the feature point Pn closest to the position of the player character C regardless of the distance between the position of the player character C and the feature point Pn closest to the position of the player character C. The specific voice data may be processed using the information as it is.

  Instead, the effect expression changing unit 331 determines the feature point Pn closest to the position of the player character C according to the deviation between the position of the player character C and the feature point Pn closest to the position of the player character C. May be interpolated and the specific audio data may be processed based on the interpolated environment information. When performing the interpolation based on the position deviation, the effect expression changing unit 331 determines the position of the player character C based on the deviation between the position of the feature point Pn acquired to process the specific audio data and the position of the player character C. Interpolation processing execution means 332 for interpolating the environmental information at the feature point Pn information is included.

As for the interpolation processing, a case where the environment information of the feature point Pn is the distance to the nearest shield and the direction of the shield is illustrated. FIG. 5 is a plan view of a virtual space for explaining an example of the interpolation processing in the present embodiment. In FIG. 5, only the feature point Pn closest to the position of the player character C is shown. 5, the distance to the nearest obstacle from the feature point Pn (border B) is Q _P in the y-direction, this information is stored as the environmental information in the feature point Pn.

At this time, the interpolation processing execution means 332 calculates the positional deviation (how far and in what direction) the feature point Pn closest to the position of the player character C and the position of the player character C are. In FIG. 5, the interpolation processing execution unit 332 acquires, as deviation information, information indicating that the distance R is away from the (−y) direction by an angle θ toward the (−x) direction. Further, the interpolation processing execution means 332 calculates a distance Q _L to the shield closest to the position of the player character C based on the acquired deviation information. In FIG. 5, the distance Q _L is expressed as Q _L = Q _P + R cos θ.

The effect expression changing unit 331 processes the specific sound data based on the environment information (distance Q _L ) interpolated in this way. Thereby, even when the player character C exists at a position other than the feature point Pi, the environment information corresponding to the position of the player character C can be obtained, and a more realistic effect expression can be realized. .

  Further, for example, the feature point information acquisition unit 32 includes a plurality of feature points around the player character C including the feature point Pn (= P2) closest to the position of the player character C in order to process the specific audio data. Pi environment information may be acquired. For example, the feature point information acquisition means 32 has a predetermined number (for example, three) of feature points Pi (in the example of FIG. 3, P2, P5, etc.) in ascending order from the distance between the position of the player character C and each feature point Pi. Information of P8) may be acquired. Instead, the feature point information acquisition unit 32 may extract a feature point Pi within a predetermined distance from the position of the player character C, and acquire information of the extracted one or more feature points Pi. .

  As described above, when the feature point information acquisition unit 32 acquires the environment information of the plurality of feature points Pi, the interpolation processing execution unit 332 determines that the position between the acquired plurality of feature points Pi and the position of the player character C is between. The environment information at the position of the player character C may be obtained by weighting each feature point Pi based on the distance. At this time, the interpolation processing execution unit 332 increases the weight as the distance is shorter, and sets the weight as the distance is longer. As a result, the feature point Pi closer to the position of the player character C has a greater influence on the specific audio data.

  Thereby, a more realistic effect expression can be realized by interpolating the environment information at the position of the player character C using the information of the plurality of feature points Pi. Further, by using a plurality of feature points Pi, the environment information at each feature point Pi is smoothed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the reproduction sound of the specific audio data from changing suddenly at the timing when the feature point Pn closest to the position of the player character C is switched as the player character C moves.

  In addition to or instead of smoothing the environment information using the plurality of feature points Pi in this way, the environment information at each feature point Pi is previously set between the environment information of the plurality of feature points Pi. It may be smoothed. For example, when the environmental information includes the height at each feature point Pi, first, ray casting is performed from each feature point Pi to obtain height information at each feature point Pi. Then, the height information of a plurality of feature points Pi within a predetermined range from one feature point Pi is averaged and stored as environment information at the one feature point Pi.

  Also by such a method, environment information is smoothed and it can prevent that the reproduction | regeneration sound of specific audio | voice data changes rapidly.

  In the present embodiment, the position serving as a reference for the feature point Pi to be acquired is the position of the player character C. Instead, the feature point Pi to be acquired may be determined based on the listening position L of the sound accompanying the position of the player character C. That is, the effect expression changing unit 331 may process the specific audio data based on the information of the feature point Pn closest to the position of the sound listening position L accompanying the position of the player character C. Further, the feature point Pi to be acquired may be determined based on the position of the virtual camera V.

[Processing of effect expression based on virtual camera direction]
In addition to or instead of performing the above processing on the specific audio data, the effect expression changing unit 331 changes the orientation or position of the virtual camera V arranged in the virtual space S to display the game screen. Based on this, the specific audio data may be processed or corrected.

  FIG. 6 is a plan view of the virtual space for explaining the sound processing based on the orientation of the virtual camera in the virtual space according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the virtual camera V is arranged in the virtual space S, and the imaging range A of the virtual camera V is displayed on the game screen as a two-dimensional image. In FIG. 6, only the feature point Pn closest to the sound listening position L is shown.

  In the present embodiment, the virtual camera V is arranged behind the player character C by a predetermined distance. The position and orientation of the virtual camera V change as the player character C moves based on the operation of the operation unit 22 by the user. Further, the virtual camera V can be moved or changed in direction independently of the player character C by the operation of the operation unit 22 of the user.

  Note that the position of the virtual camera V is not limited to this, and various modes can be adopted. For example, the position of the virtual camera V may be positioned on the player character C. The position of the virtual camera V and the position of the sound listening position L may be matched.

  In the present embodiment, the information on the feature points Pi includes a reference direction K that indicates the direction in which the shield closest to the position of each feature point Pi is located. In the example of FIG. 6, the reference direction K of the feature point Pn closest to the sound listening position L coincides with the y direction. The effect expression changing unit 331 processes the specific audio data according to the reference direction KB at the acquired feature point Pn. More specifically, the effect expression changing unit 331 processes the specific audio data according to the angle φ between the reference direction KB and the orientation KV of the virtual camera V at the acquired feature point Pn.

For example, when the environment information of the feature point Pi includes the reference direction KB and the average sound absorption rate α _av , the effect expression changing unit 331 uses the average sound absorption rate α _av as the angle φ is smaller (φ = 0 ° is the minimum). You may process so that the influence on specific audio _| voice data may be enlarged and the influence of specific audio _| voice data by average sound absorption coefficient (alpha) _av may be made small, so that angle (phi) is large (phi = 180 degrees is the maximum).

  Thus, in the present embodiment, information on the reference direction KB in which the shielding object closest to the position is located at each position of the plurality of feature points Pi arranged in the virtual space S is stored for each feature point Pi. The Further, the specific audio data is processed according to the angle φ between the reference direction KB at the feature point Pn close to the sound listening position L in the virtual space S and the direction KV of the virtual camera V corresponding to the sound listening position L. The

  Thereby, the influence on the effect expression such as reflection or absorption of a predetermined sound is reflected according to the portion of the virtual space S displayed as the game screen. Therefore, the effect expression according to the environment of the virtual space S, which varies depending on the sound listening position L, can be performed with emphasis on the shield that is likely to be displayed on the game screen, and the effect expression with a higher sense of reality can be achieved. Can be realized.

  For example, the effect expression changing unit 331 increases the reproduction volume of the effect expression based on the specific audio data as the angle φ is small, and decreases the reproduction volume of the specific audio data as the angle φ is large. As a result, it is possible to realize an expression in which the reflection (reverb) of sound increases as the direction KV of the virtual camera V approaches the direction of the closest object (the angle φ approaches 0). . Accordingly, it is possible to realize effect expression with higher presence. In addition to this, or instead of this, the size or length of the reverb added to the specific audio data may be changed.

  Further, the effect expression changing unit 331 may process the specific audio data according to more detailed surrounding information. For example, the information of the feature point Pi is a predetermined reference drawn based on a plurality of surface positions (boundary lines B) of the shielding object facing the feature point Pi in a plurality of predetermined directions including the reference direction KB. The position information of the area SB is included. Further, the effect expression changing unit 331 specifies the specific sound based on the distance to the boundary of the reference area SB including the sound listening position L in a predetermined direction with respect to the direction KV of the virtual camera V at the sound listening position L. Process the data.

  In the example of FIG. 6, the reference region SB includes a virtual boundary line segment J1 extending in a direction orthogonal to the reference direction KB at the surface position U1 of the shielding object in the reference direction KB from the feature point Pn, and the reference direction KB from the feature point Pn. A virtual boundary line J2 extending in a direction perpendicular to the direction K2 at a virtual surface position U2 (described later) of the shield in the opposite direction K2, and a shield in directions K3 and K4 perpendicular to the reference direction KB from the feature point Pn. Are defined by virtual boundary line segments J3 and J4 extending in directions orthogonal to the directions K3 and K4, respectively.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, the boundary line segments J1 to J4 of the reference region SB are formed in a rectangular shape including the virtual line segment J1 orthogonal to the reference direction KB on one side. The method for defining the reference region SB is not limited to this, and various methods can be applied.

  Here, the virtual surface position U2 is set as a position away from the feature point Pn by a predetermined specified distance. That is, the reference region SB is opposed to the feature point Pi when the distance from the surface positions U1 to U4 of the shielding object facing the feature point Pn among the plurality of surface positions U1 to U4 is equal to or greater than a predetermined specified distance. A position that is a predetermined distance away in the direction to be included is set to be included in the boundary line segments J1 to J4 that define the reference area SB.

  Since the influence of the shielding object far from the feature point Pn on the sound at the feature point Pn is small, the environmental information by the shielding object located at a predetermined distance or more away from the feature point Pn is shielded at the prescribed distance. A reference region SB is defined assuming that there is an object. By omitting information beyond the specified distance, it is possible to express sound with a high sense of presence while suppressing an increase in the amount of data.

  The effect expression changing unit 331 acquires distances from the sound listening position L to the boundary line segments J1 to J4 of the reference area SB in four orthogonal directions including the direction KV of the virtual camera V, and based on the acquired four distances. To process specific audio data. In the example of FIG. 6, the effect expression changing unit 331 acquires the position information of the intersection M1 between the virtual line extending from the sound listening position L in the direction KV of the virtual camera V and the boundary line segment J4 of the reference area SB, The distance between the sound listening position L and the intersection M1 is calculated.

  Similarly, the effect expression changing unit 331 acquires position information of the intersection M2 between the virtual line extending from the sound listening position L in the direction opposite to the direction KV of the virtual camera V and the boundary line segment J3 of the reference area SB. The distance between the sound listening position L and the intersection M2 is calculated. Further, the effect expression changing unit 331 is configured to detect the positions of the intersections M3 and M4 between the virtual line extending from the sound listening position L in both the left and right directions orthogonal to the direction KV of the virtual camera V and the boundary line segments J2 and J1 of the reference area SB. Information is acquired, and the distance between the sound listening position L and the intersections M3 and M4 is calculated.

  The effect expression changing unit 331 corrects the environment information of the feature points Pi (Pn and the like) acquired based on the obtained distances and directions, and processes the specific audio data based on the corrected environment information. . In the example of FIG. 6, the specific audio data is processed (surrounded) so that the reverberation from the right side of the player character C increases.

  In this case, the effect expression changing unit 331 may continuously change the processing amount (value of the parameter to be changed) of the specific sound data according to the distance from the sound listening position L. Instead, the sound listening position L is divided into a plurality of groups corresponding to the distance range in advance, and the effect expression changing means 331 is set for each group including the distance from the sound listening position L. The processing may be performed with the processing amount of the sound data (that is, the processing amount of the specific sound data is changed discretely).

  In this way, information about the distance from the feature point Pi of the shield around each feature point Pi is stored as discrete data, and specific voice data is processed based on this data. As a result, it is possible to realize a highly realistic sound expression while suppressing the amount of data, and to perform various effects using game sounds.

  In the above description, the specific audio data to be reproduced at a plurality of feature points Pi is based on the assumption that the same specific audio data is the same, but the specific audio data to be reproduced according to the feature points Pi acquired by the feature point information acquisition unit 32. The audio data may be different. In this case, the information of the specific audio data to be reproduced is associated as the information of the feature point Pi. Further, the feature points Pi may be grouped into a plurality of specific sound groups according to the difference between the specific sound data to be reproduced.

  In this case, in the virtual space S, there is an area where a plurality of specific sound groups having different specific sound data to be reproduced are adjacent. For this reason, for example, after acquiring the information of the feature point Pi belonging to one specific sound group with the listening position L of the sound as the player character C moves, the information of the feature point Pi belonging to another specific sound group is acquired. Situations can occur.

  In this case, since the specific sound group to which the feature point Pi acquired by the specific sound data to be reproduced belongs is suddenly changed, the discontinuity of the sound may be perceived by the user. Therefore, in this embodiment, such discontinuity of sound is made difficult to be perceived by the user in the following manner.

[Transition processing of effect expression between adjacent output source areas]
FIG. 7 is a plan view of the virtual space for explaining the effect expression transition processing in the adjacent regions in the virtual space of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, the virtual space S includes a plurality of areas (a plurality of specific sound areas) Ek (k = 1, 2) in which at least some of the effect expressions to be executed (effect expressions based on the specific sound data) are different from each other. ,...) And a boundary region EB connecting adjacent regions Ek.

  First, for example, when creating the game data 5b, first, specific audio data for effect expression executed at each feature point Pi is set, and a plurality of output source regions Ek are set. For example, in FIG. 7, the first region E1 by the first feature point group in which the first effect expression using the first specific sound data is executed, and the second different from the first specific sound data. A second region E2 by a second feature point group in which the second effect expression using the specific audio data is executed is set. In FIG. 7, feature points belonging to the first region E1 are indicated by Pi (1), and feature points belonging to the second region E2 are indicated by Pi (2).

  Further, a reference position area EA is set in an area where a plurality of areas Ek are adjacent. In FIG. 7, the reference position area EA is provided at the boundary between the adjacent first area E1 and second area E2. In FIG. 7, the reference position area EA is configured as an area including a plurality of feature points Pi. Instead, the reference position area EA may not include the feature point Pi. Further, the reference position area EA may be a configuration that does not have a predetermined area, for example, a simple boundary line or a reference point.

  Further, the boundary area EB is set so as to include the reference position area EA. The boundary area EB may be set in any way as long as it includes the reference position area EA. For example, the boundary area EB may be set in association with the position of the reference position area EA. For example, an area within a predetermined distance range from the reference point included in the reference position area EA may be set as the boundary area EB. Further, the boundary area EB may be arbitrarily set regardless of the positional relationship with the reference position area EA. For example, the reference position area EA may not be located at the center of the boundary area EB.

  The specific sound data for effect expression executed at the feature points in the boundary area EB is the first sound expression for the first and second effect expressions corresponding to both the adjacent first area E1 and second area E2. And second specific audio data. In FIG. 7, feature points belonging to the boundary region EB are indicated by Pi (B).

  Here, in order to obtain a more natural expression when the first and second effect expressions based on the first and second specific sound data are simultaneously executed at the feature point Pi (B) belonging to the boundary region EB, In the present embodiment, at least one (four in FIG. 7) virtual output sources (virtual sound sources) T1 to T4 are set as information of each feature point Pi (B). The virtual output sources T1 to T4 are set in association with the position of the player character C or the acquisition position L of the effect expression. In the example of FIG. 7, the four virtual output sources T <b> 1 to T <b> 4 are set at positions separated from the position of the player character C by a predetermined distance in four directions orthogonal to each other.

  The direction of the virtual output sources T1 to T4 and / or the distance from the feature point Pi (B) at each feature point Pi (B) may be common to all feature points Pi (B), or the feature point Pi. It may be different for each (B). Further, the number of virtual output sources may be one or more and three or less, or may be more than four. When a plurality of virtual output sources are set, they may be arranged at equal intervals around the feature point Pi (B) or may be arranged at non-equal intervals.

  Here, when a predetermined shielding object exists between the position of the player character C and the virtual output source T1, the virtual output source is located at a position on the position of the player character C from the shielding object (in the movable region SM). The setting is changed. In the example of FIG. 7, boundary lines B exist between the virtual output sources T3 and T4 and the feature point Px at the feature point Px included in the boundary region EB. Therefore, the sound source position of the specific sound data at the feature point Px is corrected on the line segment between the feature point Px and the virtual output sources T3 and T4 and inside the boundary line B intersecting (the feature point Px side). Output source positions T3 ′ and T4 ′ are set.

  For example, in the example of FIG. 7, when the position of the player character C is located at the feature point Px, the feature point information acquisition unit 32 is included in the boundary region EB as the feature point Pn closest to the position of the player character C. The information of the feature point Px to be acquired is acquired. In this case, the virtual output source setting means 36 uses the virtual output sources T1 and T2 at the feature point Px and the corrected virtual output sources T3 ′ and T4 ′ as four virtual output sources based on the position of the player character C. Set. Hereinafter, description will be made simply by referring to the virtual output sources T1, T2, T3 ', and T4'.

  For example, in the example of FIG. 7, when the movable region SM is inside the cave, the outside of the boundary line B is the outside of the cave. In this case, at the positions of the virtual output sources T3 and T4, information outside the cave is acquired, and there is a contradiction that sounds outside the cave (for example, a bird's tweet) can be heard in the cave. Therefore, in such a case, as described above, by changing the setting so that the virtual output sources T3 and T4 are arranged in the cave (inside the boundary line B), such contradiction can be prevented and more realistic Can be expressed.

  When the virtual output source is located in the first region E1 or the second region E2 (in the example of FIG. 7, this corresponds to the virtual output source T1), the effect expression changing unit 331 corresponds to the corresponding first region E1. Assuming that the output source of one effect expression exists in the virtual output source T1, the corresponding specific audio data (first specific audio data) is processed.

  When the virtual output source is located in the boundary region EB (in the example of FIG. 7, the virtual output sources T2, T3 ′, and T4 ′ correspond), the first region E1 and the second region connected to the boundary region EB Assuming that the output sources of the first and second effect expressions corresponding to both E2 exist in the virtual output sources T2, T3 ′, T4 ′ located in the boundary region EB, the corresponding specific audio data (first The specific audio data and the second specific audio data) are processed. By adding these, the effect expression changing means 331 executes the sound output expression (effect expression) at the position of the player character C.

  Thus, the boundary area EB in which both effect expressions are output is provided between the areas E1 and E2 in which different effect expressions are output in the virtual space S. Therefore, the effect expression can be smoothly changed between the areas E1 and E2 where different effect expressions are output. As a result, it is possible to perform a variety of effects using game sounds while suppressing an increase in processing load for effects expressed by effects.

  Furthermore, the effect expression changing means 331 performs the second operation on the first effect expression according to the positional relationship with the predetermined reference position in the boundary area EB in the virtual output sources T2, T3 ′, T4 ′ included in the boundary area EB. The output ratio of the effect expression is changed and output. In the present embodiment, the predetermined reference position is set in the reference position area EA. Instead, the predetermined reference position may be a predetermined reference point set in the reference position area EA, or may be the position of one feature point Pi (B) included in the reference position area EA.

  The effect expression changing unit 331 is configured to determine the distance from the reference position area EA to each virtual output source T2, T3 ′, T4 ′ included in the boundary area EB and any side of the output source areas E1, E2 adjacent to the reference position area EA. Get what is located at. In the example of FIG. 7, the virtual output source T2 is located on the second region E2 side, and the virtual output sources T3 'and T4' are located on the first region E1 side. The distance from the reference position area EA is the shortest for the virtual output source T4 ', and the virtual output sources T3' and T2 are the same distance. That is, (distance to T4 ') <(distance to T3') = (distance to T2).

  The effect expression changing means 331 outputs the first effect expression (for example, volume, reverberation) as the virtual output sources T2, T3 ′, T4 ′ included in the boundary area EB move away from the reference position toward the first area E1. Is increased with respect to the output of the second effect expression. Further, the effect expression changing unit 331 outputs the second effect expression as the first output as the virtual output sources T2, T3 ′, T4 ′ included in the boundary area EB move away from the reference position toward the second area E2. Increase the output of the effect expression.

  For example, in the example of FIG. 7, the effect expression changing unit 331 sets (output of the first effect expression) :( output of the second effect expression) = 70: 30 in the virtual output source T4 '. The effect expression changing means 331 sets (output of the first effect expression) :( output of the second effect expression) = 60: 40 in the virtual output source T3 '. The effect expression changing unit 331 sets (output of the first effect expression) :( output of the second effect expression) = 40: 60 in the virtual output source T2. Further, when the virtual output source is in the reference position area EA, (output of first effect expression) :( output of second effect expression) = 50: 50 may be set.

  As described above, the output of the effect expression based on the specific audio data when the virtual output sources T2, T3 ′, T4 ′ are located in the boundary area EB is the reference position (reference position area EA) set in the boundary area EB. And the output level of the effect expression based on a plurality of types of specific audio data corresponding to the adjacent regions E1 and E2 are adjusted according to the positional relationship between the virtual output sources T2, T3 ′, and T4 ′. Therefore, it is possible to smoothly change the acoustic effect between the plurality of regions E1 and E2 in which the effect expression based on different specific audio data is executed.

  In the present embodiment, the virtual output source set on the basis of the listening position L of sound is indirectly determined by including the information of the virtual output sources T1 to T4 in the environment information of the feature point Pi (B). The mode to set to has been described. That is, in the present embodiment, by acquiring the information on the virtual sound source position set as the environment information of the feature point Pi (B) at the position closest to the position where the player character C has moved, The virtual sound source position in the position is set.

  In this case, the feature point information acquisition unit 32 further interpolates the positions of the virtual output sources T1 to T4 based on the positional relationship between the position of the player character C and the feature point Pi (B) from which the information is acquired. The virtual output sources T1 to T4 at the position of the player character C may be calculated. Further, the feature point information acquisition unit 32 may calculate the virtual output sources T1 to T4 at the position of the player character C based on the information of the plurality of feature points Pi (B).

  Instead, a position that is a predetermined distance away from the position of the player character C in a predetermined direction may be directly set as the virtual output source. That is, as the player character C moves, the virtual output source may move.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various improvements, changes, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-mentioned embodiment, “effect expression processing using feature points”, “effect expression processing based on virtual camera orientation”, and “effect expression transition processing between adjacent output source regions” However, each process can be independently applied to a game program.

  For example, the above effect can be obtained even when “processing of effect expression based on the orientation of the virtual camera” is applied to a configuration having a plurality of feature points arranged in the virtual space S in an equidistant grid. Further, for example, the above-described effect can be achieved even if “effect effect transition processing between adjacent output source regions” is applied to a conventional configuration (a configuration in which audio data is set for each region) that does not use a plurality of feature points Pi. Play.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the character serving as the reference for setting the effect expression acquisition position (sound listening position L) is the player character C. Instead, a non-player such as an enemy character is used. The acquisition position of the effect expression may be set based on the position of the character.

  In the above-described embodiment, as an effect expression, an example in which sound output expression is performed by processing specific sound data according to the surrounding environment is shown, but the effect expression is not limited thereto. For example, in addition to or instead of the audio output expression, light irradiation expression by processing specific light irradiation data according to the surrounding environment may be performed as an effect expression. Further, the effect expression may be applied to the effect expression that can be influenced by the surrounding environment such as wind and rain.

  In the above description, the case where one user plays an offline game has been exemplified. However, in the present invention, a plurality of users make their player characters appear in the same virtual game space and cooperate with each other to act. The present invention can also be applied to online games.

  Although the portable game device has been described in the above embodiment, the present invention can be suitably applied to computers such as a stationary game device, a mobile phone, and a personal computer.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is useful for performing a variety of effects using game sounds while suppressing an increase in processing load for effects using game sounds in a game program and a game device.

1 game device 2 display (display unit)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 30 Control part 31 Virtual space production | generation means 32 Feature point information acquisition means 33 Effect expression means 331 Effect expression change means 34 Virtual camera control means L Sound listening position (effect expression acquisition position)
Pi (i = 1, 2,...) Feature point S Virtual space SB Reference area V Virtual camera

Claims (8)

A game program to be executed by the computer in a game system including a display unit that displays an image captured by a virtual camera arranged in a virtual space as a game screen, and a computer that advances the game,
The computer,
Virtual space generation means for generating the virtual space;
Virtual camera control means for controlling the orientation or position of the virtual camera;
Effect expression means for executing effect expression using at least one effect expression data stored in advance, and among the plurality of feature points arranged in the virtual space, set at least in association with the position of the virtual camera Function point information acquisition means for acquiring feature point information at a position closest to the acquisition position of the effect expression,
The effect expression means includes effect expression change means for processing the effect expression data based on the acquired feature point information,
The feature point information includes a reference direction in which a shield closest to the position of the feature point is located,
The effect expression changing means is a game program for processing the effect expression data in accordance with the reference direction at the acquired feature point. The game program according to claim 1, wherein the effect expression changing unit processes the effect expression data according to an angle between the reference direction and the direction of the virtual camera at the acquired feature point.   The game program according to claim 2, wherein the effect expression changing unit increases the output of the effect expression based on the effect expression data as the angle between the reference direction and the direction of the virtual camera is smaller. The feature point information includes position information of a predetermined reference region defined based on a plurality of surface positions of a shielding object facing the feature point in a plurality of predetermined directions including the reference direction,
The effect expression changing means is configured to determine the effect expression data based on a distance to a boundary of a reference area including the acquisition position of the effect expression in a predetermined direction with reference to an orientation of the virtual camera of the acquisition position of the effect expression. The game program according to claim 2, wherein the game program is processed.   The reference region is separated from the feature point in the facing direction when the distance between the surface position of the shielding object facing the feature point is equal to or greater than a predetermined specified distance among the plurality of surface positions. The game program according to claim 4, wherein the determined position is set to be included in a boundary line that defines the reference area.   The game program according to claim 4 or 5, wherein a boundary of the reference region is formed in a rectangular shape including a line segment orthogonal to the reference direction on one side. The effect expression changing means acquires the distance from the acquisition position of the effect expression to the boundary of the reference region in four orthogonal directions including the direction of the virtual camera, and the effect expression data based on the acquired four distances The game program according to claim 4, wherein the game program is processed. A program storage unit storing the game program according to claim 1;
A game apparatus comprising: a computer that executes a program stored in the program storage unit.

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