JPH09185699A - Drawing color changing method and moving image reproducing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: To easily reproduce an animation with a desired drawing color and reduce the amount of data required for managing the drawing color of a partial image. A CPU 101 displays a partial image including various icons on a screen of a television 108. The user looks at the screen of the television 108 and inputs the input device 10
4 is used to specify the drawing color of the partial image. CPU 101
Stores the designated drawing color data in the work RAM 103 separately for each reproduction position where it is designated.
During the animation reproduction, the drawing color data is newly created using the drawing color data separately stored in the work RAM 103 for each reproduction position and set as the partial image to be arranged on the screen.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for reproducing a moving image using a plurality of partial images prepared in advance, and more particularly to a technique for changing a drawing color of the partial image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As one of the methods for creating an image, there is a sprite method. This sprite method is a method of creating an image by synthesizing (combining) partial images such as a sprite (object) and a background. The sprite method has an advantage that images can be reproduced at a higher speed than other methods. For this reason, it is widely used in devices such as video game machines that require high-speed image reproduction.

Image reproduction (drawing) by the sprite method
Usually sets a priority for each partial image, and stacks (composites) the partial images from the one with the lower priority to the one with the higher priority according to the priority set for each partial image.
It is done by that. In the image created by this composition method,
A partial image having a higher priority is in a shape of hiding a partial image having a lower priority than that, and the partial image is displayed alternatively on the image. In addition, for example, by mixing overlapping portions of partial images at a ratio according to the priority,
There is also a synthesizing method of expressing a partial image hidden in a partial image having a higher priority than that.

In the conventional moving image reproducing apparatus adopting such a sprite system, a desired arbitrary image is created by selecting a partial image to be drawn (arranged), its position, and a drawing color of the partial image. be able to. In addition, for example, by preparing a plurality of partial images each having a slightly different shape, and arranging the plurality of partial images on the display screen with time management, animation reproduction (video reproduction) can be performed. .

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the above-mentioned conventional moving picture reproducing apparatus, a user can reproduce a desired animation (moving picture) by selecting a partial image to be displayed and arranging the partial images for time management. You can However, because the drawing colors of partial images are managed separately,
When animating a partial image with a different drawing color from that before, for each partial image whose drawing color you want to change in the partial images used for that animation reproduction,
Each drawing color had to be newly specified (set). The work was like repainting cels for animation one by one, and it took a very troublesome operation and a long time, so there was a problem that it could not be easily done. .

Problems such as troublesome operation (poor operability) and time-consuming work give a bad impression to the user and become a major factor of reducing the sales of the product, so that the problem can be solved. Always sought after.

Since the drawing color is managed for each partial image, the drawing color data set for the partial image or the data showing the drawing color must be stored for each partial image. However, there is also a problem that a large storage area is required to store the data.

The image (graphic) data of the partial image is usually prepared in advance, but as is well known, a large storage area is required to store the image (graphic) data, so the above-mentioned problems are serious. is there.

An object of the present invention is to facilitate animation reproduction in a desired drawing color and reduce the amount of data required for managing the drawing color of a partial image.

[0010]

In the drawing color changing method according to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of partial images prepared in advance are arranged on a display screen in accordance with predetermined display management information. As a result, on the assumption that the method is applied to a method of reproducing a moving image, a plurality of partial images stored in the storage unit are grouped according to a preset setting, and a drawing color of the partial image is designated, The drawing color of the partial image of the group to which the partial image for which the drawing color is designated belongs is changed in accordance with the reproduction of the moving image based on the designated drawing color.

The drawing color changing method according to the second aspect of the present invention is
By arranging a plurality of partial images prepared in advance on the display screen in accordance with the predetermined display management information, it is premised that the method is applied to a method of reproducing a moving image,
A plurality of partial images stored in the storage unit are divided into groups according to a preset setting, and a reproduction position in which a drawing color is designated for the partial images belonging to the group is detected,
Drawing color specified for the partial images belonging to the group,
The drawing color of at least one of the designated reproduction position and the number of reproduction positions is reflected to change the drawing color of the partial image belonging to the group in accordance with the reproduction of the moving image.

In the drawing color changing methods of the first and second aspects, the drawing colors are changed in accordance with the moving image reproduction for the partial images belonging to the group by unifying the partial images belonging to the group. Assign a color code,
It is desirable to change the drawing color set in the color code in accordance with the progress of moving image reproduction.

The moving picture reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a storage means for storing a plurality of partial images prepared in advance, and a portion stored in the storage means in accordance with predetermined display management information. By assuming that the moving image is reproduced by arranging the images on the display screen, the color specifying means for specifying the drawing color of the partial image and the plurality of partial images stored in the storage means are predetermined. When the drawing color of the partial image is designated by the color designating means according to the set setting, the partial designating image of the group to which the partial image having the designated drawing color belongs is reproduced by the color designating means. Control means for changing the drawing color specified by the above.

The moving picture reproducing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention comprises a storage means for storing a plurality of partial images prepared in advance, and the portion stored in the storage means in accordance with predetermined display management information. It is premised that the moving image is reproduced by arranging the images on the display screen, and the color specifying means for specifying the drawing color of the partial image and the reproduction in which the drawing color of the partial image is specified by the color specifying means A reproduction position detecting means for detecting a position and a plurality of partial images stored in the storage means are divided into groups according to predetermined settings, and a drawing color is designated by the color designating means for the partial images belonging to the group. In this case, a control means for changing the drawing color of the partial image to which the group belongs in accordance with the reproduction of the moving image based on the designated drawing color and the reproduction position detected by the reproduction position detecting means. Comprising a.

In the configurations of the first and second aspects, the control means sets the drawing color designated for the partial images belonging to the group, the reproduction position where the drawing color is designated, and the number of reproduction positions. It is desirable to reflect at least one and change the drawing color of the partial image belonging to the group in accordance with the moving image reproduction.

Further, the drawing colors of the partial images belonging to the group can be changed in accordance with the moving image reproduction. The same color code is uniformly assigned to the partial images belonging to the group, and the drawing color set in the color code is changed to the moving image. It is desirable to change it as the playback progresses.

In the above moving image reproducing method (moving image reproducing apparatus),
Usually, a plurality of partial images are prepared in advance to express the motion. For example, in order to represent the movement of a person (partial image), the shape of the person is changed and a plurality of them are prepared. With this, for example, by selecting from the plurality of prepared same persons and arranging them on the display screen,
It becomes possible to express the movement of the person.

As described above, the moving image reproducing method (or
In that device), it is normal that multiple partial images to be operated are prepared, so they are grouped into a group and managed centrally, and the visual effect of changing the drawing color during animation playback is provided. When adding, it is done by processing it based on the information given by the user. In other words, a large amount of information is created based on a small amount of information.

By presetting the method of creating the information, the user only needs to provide the information (drawing color) with which the desired visual effect can be obtained, and if the partial image giving the information is a person. It is possible to perform animation reproduction with a desired visual effect added to the person. Also, since the amount of information that the user has to provide is small,
The work for giving the information is simplified and can be performed in a short time, and since the information that can be created can be created at any time, the area required for storing the information is extremely small.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. <First Embodiment> • Overall circuit configuration and operation thereof FIG. 1 is an overall circuit configuration diagram of a system to which the first embodiment is applied. The system shown in FIG. 1 is composed of a television 108 and a moving image reproducing apparatus used by connecting to the television 108.

As shown in FIG. 1, the present system includes a CPU 101 that executes control of the entire system, and a program / data ROM that stores a control program, various data, and the like.
102, a work RAM 103 mainly used by the CPU 101 for work, an input device 104 connected to the CPU 101, and a VDP that performs image processing using image data stored in the program / data ROM 102.
(Video display processor) 105, SRAM (static RAM) 106 in which image (graphic) data of each partial image of sprite (object) and background is stored, and RGB analog video signal output from VDP 105 is an NTSC system signal. It is configured to include an encoder 107 for converting to the above and the television 108.

As the input device 104, for example, FIG.
The control pad as shown in is adopted. Various keys operated by a user are provided on the control pad 104. Specifically, TV 1
Cursor movement key KY1 for moving the cursor icon displayed on the 08 screen, start / stop key KY2 for instructing start / stop of animation reproduction, reset for returning the image to be reproduced to the initial image Key KY3, mode change key KY4 for changing the set mode, enter key KY5 for confirming the contents selected in creating the image (moving image), and the image to be displayed as an animation in the forward direction (forward direction). A forward frame advance key KY6 for advancing by one frame and a reverse frame advance key KY7 for returning by one frame in the reverse direction are provided.

An outline of the operation of the above configuration will be described. CPU 101 is a program / data ROM 102
By executing the control program read from the control pad 1 while using the work RAM 103.
04 key detection performed on VDP10
5 is performed.

The program / data ROM 102 stores image (graphic) data of sprites (objects) forming images and background partial images. Sprites (objects) are parts that mainly represent moving objects (including changes in shape), and the other background is a part that represents a background. CPU 101 uses this ROM 10
VD image (graphic) data stored in 2
Then, the image data (graphic) data is stored in the SRAM 106 by the VDP 105. CPU
Reference numeral 101 determines image (graphic) data to be transferred to the VDP 105 based on predetermined settings, operation contents performed by the user on the control pad 104, and the like.

The VDP 105 to which the image (graphic) data has been transferred from the CPU 101 stores the transferred image (graphic) data in the SRAM 106 in a predetermined format. After the image (graphic) data transferred from the CPU 101 is stored in the SRAM 106, the SR
Using the image (graphic) data stored in the AM 106, the RGB analog video signal of the image to be displayed is generated for each scanning line.

The RGB analog video signal generated by the VDP 105 is output to the encoder 107. The encoder 107 displays the image represented by this video signal on the television 10
In order to display on the screen of No. 8, the video signal is converted into an NTSC system video signal which is a television standard, and then output to the television 108. The television 108 draws an image on the screen by raster-scanning the screen. -Configuration and operation of VDP 105 FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the VDP 105.

As described above, the VDP 105 controls the screen display on the television 108 by generating the RGB data of the image to be displayed. The configuration includes the following.

First, the CPU interface unit 201
It controls an interface during data transfer with the CPU 101. The SRAM interface unit 202
The object generator unit 203 and the background generator unit 205, which will be described later, are provided in the SRAM 106.
Controls the interface when accessing image (graphic) data of a sprite (object) or a background (background) stored in the. Also,
The sprite (object) and background image (graphic) data transferred from the CPU 101 are transferred to the CPU interface unit 201 and the data bus 21.
4, and receives it via the CPU interface unit 201 and the address bus 213, and stores it in the SRAM 106 according to the specified address.

The object generator unit 203 and the background generator unit 204 are arranged in each horizontal period (see FIG. 13) from the SRAM 106 at sprites (objects) arranged at the display coordinates of each dot in the next horizontal display period. Alternatively, the background image (graphic) data is read and stored in each internal buffer.

Object attribute memory (OA
The M) unit 205 stores the display coordinates of the sprite (object) stored in the SRAM 106. This display coordinate is set by the object generator unit 205 by SR
Image (graphic) of sprite (object) from AM 106 via SRAM interface unit 202
This corresponds to the timing when reading data. The object generator unit 203 reads the SRAM 106 from the SRAM 106 according to the display coordinates of each sprite (object).
The image (graphic) data of the target sprite (object) is read via the M interface unit 202.

The image (graphic) data is prepared as a set of color codes indicating the drawing color of each dot, for example. The priority controller unit 206 determines, for each dot corresponding to each horizontal display period, one of the color codes output by the object generator unit 203 or the background generator unit 204 as a predetermined priority ( Select and output according to the priority order.

The color lookup table section 207
R (red), G (green), B assigned to each color code
R (blue) digital data (RGB data) is stored in different storage areas and is assigned to the color code output by the priority controller unit 206.
The GB data is selected and output to the RGB D / A conversion unit 208.

The RGB D / A converter 208 converts the RGB digital data output by the color lookup table 207 into an RGB analog video signal and outputs it.
The oscillator unit 209 generates various clocks necessary for each unit of the VDP 105 to operate.

The horizontal / vertical synchronization counter unit 210 generates a horizontal synchronization counter value (horizontal synchronization signal) and a vertical synchronization counter value (vertical synchronization signal) necessary for image display according to the clock output from the oscillator unit 209. It is a counter circuit.

The decoder unit 211 decodes the horizontal synchronization counter value and the vertical synchronization counter value from the counter value output by the horizontal / vertical synchronization counter unit 210, and outputs the VDP10.
Supply to each part in 5.

The video signal generator 212 generates a video signal required by the encoder 107 from the horizontal sync counter value and the vertical sync counter value output from the decoder 211, and supplies the video signal to the encoder 107.

Next, the general operation of the VDP 105 having the above configuration will be described. VDP according to the present embodiment
105, as shown in FIG.
The images represented by the image (graphic) data output by 204 to 204 are virtual display surfaces, and one display screen (image) is formed by overlapping these display surfaces.

In FIG. 3, the background surface is created by the background generator unit 204, and the other display surfaces, the object surface and the icon surface, are created by the object generator unit 203. These display surfaces are arranged from the back to the front in the order of the background surface, the object surface, and the icon surface.

The display control register (not shown) in the VDP 105 stores flags indicating whether or not each of the background surface, object surface, and icon surface is displayed. The CPU 101 accesses this display control register and sets display / non-display of each display surface.

The priority of each display surface is set to be higher on the front display surface. The priority controller unit 206, for each dot, outputs image (graphic) data (color code) from each generator unit 203 to 204 according to the priority set on each display surface.
One of them is selected and output to the color lookup table unit 207. As a matter of course, this selection is performed among the generators 204 to 206 that output color codes that are symmetrical to the selection (color codes for which a transparent color is not set). As a result, the display surfaces are combined in such a manner that the display surface having a high priority hides the display surface having a lower priority.

A background is assigned to the background surface, an object to be moved on the display screen is assigned to the object surface, and various icons and the like necessary for creating an image are assigned to the icon surface. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, a character is assigned to the object surface, and a palette change icon, a palette icon group, and a cursor icon are assigned to the icon surface. The following explanation is
It is assumed that the partial images shown in FIG. 3 are assigned to the respective display surfaces. This is to facilitate understanding by making the explanation concrete. In addition, the parts arranged on the display surface will be expressed as partial images unless specified.

In the present embodiment, the image for one screen is created by designating the partial image assigned to the object surface, that is, whether or not the character is displayed and the drawing color of the partial image to be displayed. . Although a detailed description is omitted, the user selects the partial image to be displayed, for example, by displaying the name of the partial image that can be displayed (assigned to the icon surface) and then selecting the cursor key KY.
1. The operation is performed by operating the enter key KY5 and the like.

Further, in the present embodiment, in addition to the image (graphic) data of these partial images, data for operating these partial images, that is, for reproducing as so-called animation, is the program / data ROM 102.
Is stored in

4A and 4B are configuration diagrams of data relating to character display. FIG. 4A shows an example of data configuration for character display, and FIG. 4B shows an example of data configuration for character movement. These are the data stored in the program / data ROM 102.

The data for character display consists of animation data and image (graphic) data.
The animation data in FIG. 4A indicates an image (graphic) data number which is a number given to the image (graphic) data and a time when the image (graphic) data having the image (graphic) data number is displayed. It consists of waiting time. The waiting time is prepared as a value when expressed in a predetermined time unit. The <return to first> command of data # 16 means to return to the first data # 0 of the animation data.

The movement amount data shown in FIG. 4B is composed of an X-direction movement amount, a Y-direction movement amount by which the character is moved from the previous display position, and a waiting time. These are data for managing the display position of the character. On the other hand, the initial position data is data indicating the initial display position of the character. It consists of an initial X coordinate, a Y coordinate, and a waiting time until the movement amount data is first added.

For the drawing color of the partial image, one palette icon is selected from the palette icon group shown in FIG.
The selected palette icon is used to change (set) by designating a portion to be drawn (one area forming a partial image). The selection of the palette icon is performed by moving the cursor icon to the desired position of the palette icon and then operating the enter key KY5. Designation of a portion for which the drawing color is desired to be changed is performed by moving the cursor icon to that portion and then operating the enter key KY5.

In this embodiment, a plurality of palette icon groups (palettes) are prepared so as to meet various user requests. The palette change icon is for instructing to change the palette icon group (palette) to be displayed. Each time the palette change icon is clicked, the palette (palette icon group) is cyclically switched in a predetermined order. Is displayed. The drawing color data (RGB data) to be displayed for each palette (palette icon group) is stored in the program / data ROM 102 in the format shown in FIG. 5 (in the figure,
Numbers with # are palette numbers).

These various data stored in the program / data ROM 102 are read by the CPU 101 according to the contents designated by default or the contents designated by the user operating the control pad 104. When the CPU 101 reads out these data, it sends them to the VDP 105 as they are or after processing them, depending on the type of the data.

The image (graphic) data sent from the CPU 101 to the VDP 105 is sent to the SRAM 106 via the CPU interface unit 201, the data bus 214, and the SRAM interface unit 202. S
The RAM 106 includes a CPU interface unit 201, an address bus 213, and an SRAM interface unit 2
CP to the address specified by the CPU 101 via 02
The image (graphic) data sent from U101 is stored in the format shown in FIG.

The position where the partial image excluding the background is arranged (displayed) is controlled by setting the coordinate position. C
The PU 101 generates data (attribute data) indicating attributes such as a coordinate position for displaying a partial image (image (graphic) data) stored in the SRAM 106, and VD
It is sent to P105. The VDP 105 transfers this attribute data to the CPU interface unit 201 and the data bus 21.
4 to the OAM unit 205. The OAM unit 205
The sent attribute data is stored in the address designated by the CPU 101 via the CPU interface unit 201 and the address bus 213 in the format shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, the image (graphic) data of each partial image and its attribute data have predetermined areas for storing them, and they are stored in association with each other. For each partial image, in addition to the priority of the display surface to which it is assigned, the priority within the same display surface is set. The priority within the same display surface is determined by the OAM unit 205 (SR
It is controlled by the position stored in AM 106).
In FIG. 7, the higher the priority, the higher the priority. Specifically, on the icon surface, a cursor icon, a palette change icon, and a palette icon group are set in order of higher priority.

The attribute data of the partial image is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, a left / right inversion flag indicating whether or not the partial image is horizontally displayed in reverse, a character number for identifying the partial image in the SRAM 106 corresponding to the attribute data (in the figure, character #N (N is an integer )) And the X and Y coordinates for displaying the partial image.

The object generator unit 203 accesses the SRAM interface unit 202 at each time-divided timing within each horizontal period. At this time, the object generator unit 203 calculates the timing of storing the image (graphic) data read from the SRAM 106 in the internal line buffer based on the attribute data stored in the OAM unit 205, and at that timing the image (Graphic) data is stored in the line buffer for each display surface. In these line buffers, the image (graphic) data of the partial image is stored by giving priority to the priority of the same display surface.

The other background generator section 2
04 is separate from the object generator unit 203,
SRAM at each time-divided timing within each horizontal period
Access the interface unit 202 to access the SRAM1
One line of background image (graphic) data to be displayed within the next horizontal period from 06 is read and stored in an internal line buffer.

In this way, in the two line buffers in the object generator unit 203, the image (graphic) data (color code) for the next one line to be arranged on the object plane and the icon plane is stored in each horizontal period. It is stored for each. The line buffer in the other background generator unit 204 stores image (graphic) data (color code) for the next one line to be arranged on the background surface for each horizontal period.

The object generator section 203 and the background generator section 204 receive the horizontal sync counter value output from the horizontal / vertical sync counter section 210, and read the color code corresponding to the count value from the line buffer therein. Output to the priority controller unit 206.

The priority controller unit 206 is
When the color code for each line buffer (display surface) output from each of the generator units 203 and 204 is input, one color code is selected from among the color codes set in each display surface and the CLT unit is selected. Output to 207.

As described above, the CLT section 207 stores the RGB data assigned to each color code in different storage areas, and the RGB code set in the color code output by the priority controller section 206. The data is output to the RGB D / A conversion unit 208. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, a color code is assigned to each type of partial image, and the color codes of the respective parts (areas) forming the partial image are all unified to the same value ( (See FIGS. 10 to 12).

In the animation reproduction by the sprite system, a method of realizing the operation of the partial image by changing the display position, the shape, etc. is used. In the present embodiment, as can be seen from FIG. 4, a plurality of partial images classified as the same type are prepared, the display of the partial images is switched, and the display position of the partial images is moved. The operation is realized.

When performing animation reproduction, a drawing color is set for each of the prepared partial images. Therefore, conventionally, in order to change the drawing color of the partial image, it is necessary to change the drawing color set in each partial image, which requires a very troublesome work.

In the present embodiment, the RGB data of each dot forming the display screen (after combining the display surfaces) is converted into C
The present invention is applied to a system that adopts a method of generating using the LT unit 207. Therefore, in FIG.
As shown in, the color code is assigned to each type of each partial image, and the RGB data set in each color code is CL
By storing in the storage area assigned to the color code of the T unit 207, it is possible to change the drawing color of the partial image at once for each type. In other words, it is possible to centrally manage the drawing colors of a plurality of partial images grouped by type. This simplifies the work required to change the drawing color and allows the user to finish the work in a short time. Further, since it is not necessary to store the setting information of the drawing color for each partial image, the work RAM 104, and further the program / data ROM 1
It is possible to reduce the storage capacity required for 02.

FIGS. 10 to 12 show color codes assigned to respective areas (main parts) constituting respective partial images assigned to respective display surfaces (background surface, object surface, icon surface).

In the present embodiment, even characters, backgrounds, etc. are composed of a plurality of areas and are represented by a plurality of drawing colors. Therefore, a plurality of color codes are assigned to each type of partial image.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing color codes assigned to respective parts constituting a character. As shown in FIG. 10, the character is a plurality of parts (regions) such as hair, skin, clothes, and the like.
Divided into In the present embodiment, in order to express the motion of the character, a plurality of characters (8 in total) that are divided into such a plurality of parts (regions) are prepared. However, in each of these characters having different shapes, the color code assigned to hair is 2 and the color code assigned to skin is 3.
As described above, the color code values assigned to the respective areas forming the character are unified to the same value. These color codes serve as identifiers indicating the respective parts (areas) forming the character.

Color codes are also assigned to the palette icon, each palette icon of the palette icon group, and the cursor icon, respectively, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 12.

The background is divided into a plurality of parts (areas) such as smoke, trees, roofs, clouds, mountains, and ponds. Color code 54 is assigned to the roof, color code 55 is assigned to smoke, color code 56 is assigned to trees, color code 50 is assigned to clouds, color code 51 is assigned to mountains, and color code 52 is assigned to ponds. Even in the background
The color code assigned to each part (area) constituting it becomes an identifier indicating the part (area) to which it is assigned. In addition, the contour line indicating the boundary of each part (region) is
Regardless of the type of partial image, the color code 1 in which black is set as the drawing color is assigned.

The drawing color of each portion (area) forming each partial image is designated by the user. The RGB data stored in the CLT unit 207 is rewritten to correspond to the designation of the drawing color by the user. The rewriting is performed by the CPU 101 by the CPU interface unit 20.
1. The CPU 101 transmits the RGB data sent via the data bus 214 to the CPU interface unit 201,
It is realized by writing to a specified address via the address bus 213. As a result, each partial image is expressed in the drawing color specified by the user, and the display screen desired by the user is created.

By the way, as is well known, the television 108 draws an image by raster-scanning the screen. Therefore, the VDP 105 outputs the RGB analog video signal corresponding to the scan (frame period).

The output of the video signal corresponding to the scanning of the television 108 is such that the horizontal synchronization counter value and the vertical synchronization counter value output from the decoder unit 211 are used as the horizontal synchronization signal and the vertical synchronization signal, respectively, and each unit of the VDP 105 is supplied with these signals. It is realized by operating according to the counter value. FIG.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of screen display timing. This represents the relationship between each counter value and the display coordinates of the dot indicated by that value, and the operation of each part of the VDP 105 is controlled by each counter value.

As shown in FIG. 13, the horizontal synchronization counter value output from the decoder unit 211 is 000h to 2FFh.
One horizontal period is a period that changes to (“h” is a hexadecimal number), and a period corresponding to a horizontal synchronization counter value of 256 counts of 000h to 0FFh is a horizontal display period of one line consisting of 256 dots. The period corresponding to the other horizontal synchronization counter values is the horizontal blank period. The period during which the vertical synchronization counter value output from the decoder unit 211 changes from 000h to 1FFh is 1
The vertical period is a display period for one screen (field) on the television 108. In this vertical period,
The period corresponding to the vertical synchronization counter value of 224 counts of 000h to 0DFh is the vertical display period of 224 lines in the vertical direction, and the period corresponding to the other vertical synchronization counter values is the vertical blank period.

From the CLT unit 207 to the RGB value D / A conversion unit 208, one set (1 dot) of RGB data is output each time the horizontal synchronization counter value is counted up.

CPU 101 to SRAM 106 or object attribute memory (OAM) unit 205
The setting and transfer of various data to, for example, are executed within each vertical blanking period, whereby the display screen can be changed moment by moment. Further, in the present embodiment, rewriting of the RGB data stored in the CLT unit 207 is performed using the vertical blank period. Detailed Operation of CPU 101 First, referring to FIGS. 8, 9, and 14 to 16, the CPU
The animation reproduction operation of 101 will be specifically described. FIG. 15 shows character animation data, initial position data, and movement amount data. This is data for managing the motion of the character. FIG.
FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing an operation example as an animation. This shows how a character is expressed as an action when an animation is reproduced with the data shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a data structure diagram of the work RAM 103. The CPU 101 performs animation reproduction while using the work RAM 103 as a work area. FIG. 8 shows the CPU 1 for performing animation reproduction.
Reference numeral 01 shows the structure of various management data stored in the work RAM 103.

As shown in FIG. 8, the management data is classified by type. The character management data includes a movement amount counter, a movement amount data number, an animation counter, and an animation data number. The movement amount counter and the movement amount data number are data for managing the movement of the character. In the movement amount data of FIG. 15, the movement amount counter has a waiting time of data # 2 and the movement amount data number is currently Data number being processed (data #
(Except 2) are set respectively.

The animation counter and the animation data number are data for managing the character to be displayed. In FIG. 15, the animation counter is the waiting time, and the animation data number is the currently displayed character (image (graphic)). data)
The numbers assigned to each are set.

The animation management data is data for overall management of animation reproduction, and includes an animation mode and an animation frame number.

The main mode of the mode management data indicates the currently set mode. In the present embodiment, there are an animation mode in which an animation is reproduced and a paint mode in which a drawing color is set for a partial image. These modes are switched alternately by operating the mode change key KY4 shown in FIG.

The animation management data is data for managing animation reproduction when the animation mode is set. The animation mode indicates a mode set in the animation mode, that is, whether the animation reproduction is currently performed or the reproduction is stopped (pausing).
The animation frame number is data indicating the number of frames that have passed since the animation reproduction was started.

The frequency of the animation frame is shown in FIG.
It is 60 as shown in FIG. Since the frame frequency of the NTSC system is 30, and one frame is composed of two fields, one field corresponds to one animation frame. The waiting time prepared for each partial image is a value with this one animation frame as a reference time. The CPU 101 recognizes the time of one animation frame by, for example, the timer function provided therein or by inputting the vertical synchronization counter value (see FIG. 13) output from the horizontal / vertical synchronization counter unit 210 of the VDP 105. .

When performing animation reproduction, the CPU 1
In 01, for example, when a waiting time is set in the animation counter for character management data, the set value is decremented according to the progress of the animation frame, and when the value becomes 0, the program / data indicated by the animation data number. The data in the animation data of the ROM 102 is read (see FIG. 4A), and the character (image (graphic) data) to be displayed next is specified.

After the character (image (graphic) data) is specified, the specified character (image (graphic) data) is displayed in the animation counter.
Is set, and the animation data number is set to the data number in the animation data in which the number of the character (image (graphic) data) to be displayed next is stored. The usage of other counters and data numbers is the same as above.

In FIG. 15, all the waiting times in the animation data (data # 1, # 3, ... # 1)
5) is 6, and in the moving amount data, the moving amount in the X direction is 1, the moving amount in the Y direction is 0, and the waiting time is 1. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 14, the image (graphic) data of the character is switched every 6 animation frames, and the display position moves by 1 in the positive direction of the X direction for each animation frame. Note that X
The movement amount in the direction and the Y direction is a value based on, for example, a dot on the display screen. When the movement amount 1 corresponds to 1 dot, the character moves 1 dot each time one animation frame period (1/60 seconds) elapses.

On the other hand, the CPU 101 sets 0 to the animation frame number of the animation management data when starting the animation reproduction. After setting 0, the set value is incremented every time one animation frame period elapses.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
The period for playing the animation is 10 seconds.
Therefore, when 10 seconds have passed after the animation playback was started, that is, the animation frame number is 599
When, the animation playback is terminated.

As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of palettes (palette icon group) are prepared in this embodiment. The palette number of the palette management data is a number indicating the currently selected palette (arranged on the icon surface) (palette icon group).

FIG. 16 is a mode transition diagram. this is,
The screen displayed by operating the mode change key KY4 is shown. As shown in FIG. 16, when the user operates the mode change key KY4 when the animation mode is set, the CPU 101 switches the setting to the paint mode. In other words, the main mode setting of the mode management data is changed. When this mode switching is performed, the screen when the animation frame number is 0 is displayed regardless of the current playback position indicated by the animation frame number. When this animation mode is set, the CPU 101
Hide the icon surface.

In the paint mode, the CPU 101
Is a screen whose animation frame number is 0 (first screen) and an animation frame number is 59 when the frame advance keys KY6 and KY7 are operated.
Switch to 9 (last screen) alternately. on the other hand,
Display the icon surface that was hidden in the animation mode. Thus, the user operates the frame advance keys KY6 and KY7 to display a desired screen, and operates the cursor movement key KY1 and the enter key KY4 to specify the drawing color for each screen. You can

As shown in FIG. 9, the work RAM 103 has an area for storing RGB data (palette data) of the drawing color designated by the user for each partial image in accordance with the color code assigned to the partial image. Has been done. CPU
101 is when the above paint mode is set,
The RGB data of the drawing color designated by the user for each screen is stored in the work RAM 103 in the format shown in FIG. 9 as palette data. After that, the mode change key KY
4 is operated and the setting is switched to the animation mode, the drawing color of the partial image displayed in the animation reproduction is changed in accordance with the progress of the reproduction by using the palette data stored in the work RAM 103. To change the drawing color according to the animation playback,
For example, the RGB data is divided into each component, and the equation 1 is used.

[0090]

[Equation 1]

As can be seen from Equation 1, in the present embodiment,
Using the RGB data of the drawing color specified by the user, that is, the palette data, the drawing color (RGB data) between the reproduction positions where the palette data is specified is interpolated and created. Therefore, it is not necessary to store the RGB data of the drawing color of the partial image for each reproduction position of the animation, the storage area on the work RAM 103 for storing the palette data can be made small, and the partial image ( For example, a character) can be expressed in various drawing colors. Further, since the drawing color of the partial image is only specified on the screen of two paint frames, the work for that can be performed easily and in a short time. Furthermore, as described above, since the drawing colors of the partial images are centrally managed for each group, there is an effect that it is easy to set the drawing colors for the partial images during animation reproduction.

Description of Processing Flow Referring to the operation flowcharts shown in FIGS.
The operation of the CPU 101 will be described in detail. Various operation flowcharts are realized by the CPU 101 executing the control programs stored in the program / data ROM 102.

FIG. 16 is an operation flowchart of the whole process. When the power of the system is turned on, first, the initial process of step 1701 is executed. This initial process is a process for initializing the VDP 105. By executing this process, the initial screen is displayed on the television 108. Details of the processing will be described later.

When the initial processing in step 1701 is completed, next, various keys on the control pad 104 are scanned, and processing for fetching information on operation states of these various keys is performed (step 1702). This step 170
When the process of 2 is completed, the process proceeds to step 1703.

In Step 1703, Step 1702
The type of the key currently being operated is determined from the information on the operation states of the various keys acquired in. This step 170
If it is determined in 3 that the operated key does not exist, the process proceeds to step 1718. When it is determined that any key is operated, the processes of steps 1704 to 1717 are executed according to the determination result.

At step 1703, the cursor movement key KY
If it is determined that 1 is operated, then step 17
The processing moves to 04. In step 1704, the currently set main mode is determined. The determination is made from the mode management data (see FIG. 8) stored in the work RAM 103. If the animation mode is set as the main mode, the process proceeds to step 1718, and if the paint mode is set, the process proceeds to step 1705.

The cursor movement key KY1 is composed of up / down / left / right keys. In step 1705, the current display position (XY coordinate) of the cursor icon is calculated according to the type of the key operated by the cursor movement key KY1 to calculate the position where the cursor icon should be displayed next. . This calculated value is the work RAM1.
03 is stored in a predetermined storage area. The newly calculated display position (XY coordinates) is sent to the OAM unit 205 shown in FIG. 2 as the attribute data of the cursor icon in step 1719 described later. As a result, the cursor icon moves on the display screen following the operation performed by the user on the cursor movement key KY1.
After the processing of step 1705 is completed, step 17
The process moves to 18.

If it is determined in step 1703 that the enter key KY5 has been operated, the process proceeds to step 1706. The enter key KY5 is, as described above, a key for the user to instruct the execution of the operation for realizing the desired content. The processing of steps 1707 to 1713 subsequent to step 1706 is performed according to the content of which the user has instructed the realization.

At step 1706, the currently set main mode is judged. The judgment is work RAM
The determination is made from the mode management data (see FIG. 8) stored in 103. If the animation mode is set as the main mode, the process proceeds to step 1718, and if the paint mode is set,
The process moves to step 1707.

In step 1707, it is determined whether or not the cursor icon is on any palette icon in the palette icon group. If the user operates the enter key KY5 after moving the cursor icon to any of the displayed palette icons, the determination is YES.
Then, the process proceeds to step 1708. Otherwise, the determination is no and the process moves to step 1709.

The image (graphic) data for displaying the palette icon group has a color code of 0,
That is, there is also a transparent portion (see FIG. 7). Since this transparent part (area) is not displayed,
If the cursor icon is located in that portion (area), it is determined in step 1707 that the cursor icon is not located on the palette icon. this is,
The same applies when it is determined whether or not the cursor icon is located on another partial image.

Whether or not the cursor icon is located on the palette icon is determined by, for example, the XY coordinates of the cursor icon currently stored in the OAM unit 205 and the XY coordinates of the palette icon group stored in the OAM unit 205. By comparing. This is the same when determining whether or not the cursor icon is located on another partial image. The XY coordinates of various partial images stored in the OAM unit 205 are also stored in the work RAM 103, and the CPU 101 reads the XY coordinates of the corresponding partial image from the work RAM 103 to make the above determination.

When the user operates the enter key KY5 after moving the cursor icon to any of the displayed palette icons, the selected color (RGB data) of the color code assigned to the palette icon is It is the drawing color for painting the partial image (the part that constitutes it). In step 1708, a drawing color changing process is performed in which the RGB data of the color code assigned to the palette icon is made the RGB data of the color code assigned to the cursor icon. Then, the process proceeds to step 1718.

In step 1709, it is determined whether or not the cursor icon is located on the palette change icon (see FIG. 3). If the user operates the enter key KY5 after moving the cursor icon onto the palette change icon, the determination is YES and step 171
Shift to the process of 0. Otherwise, the determination is NO
Then, the process proceeds to step 1711.

The palette change icon is for the user to instruct to change the displayed palette (palette icon group) to another palette (palette icon group). In step 1710, a palette changing process of changing the palette (palette icon group) to be displayed is executed, and then the process proceeds to step 1718.

In steps 1711 to 1713, the drawing color at that position is changed to the drawing color set in the cursor icon in accordance with the partial image in which the cursor icon is located when the enter key KY5 is operated. Is processed.

In step 1711, it is determined whether or not the cursor icon is located on the character (see FIG. 10). When the user operates the enter key KY5 after moving the cursor icon on the character, the determination becomes YES and the process proceeds to step 1712. Otherwise, the determination is no and the process moves to step 1713.

In step 1712, assuming that the user has instructed to change the color of the character, a color changing process is executed to change the portion (area) of the character where the cursor icon is located to the drawing color of the cursor icon. After this processing ends, the processing moves to the processing in step 1718.

In step 1713, assuming that the user has instructed to change the background color, a color changing process is executed to change the background portion (area) where the cursor icon is located to the drawing color of the cursor icon. After this processing ends, the processing moves to the processing in step 1718.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 1703 that the mode change key KY4 is operated, then the main mode change process of step 1714 is executed. In the main mode changing process in step 1714, the mode setting is switched from the animation mode to the paint mode or from the paint mode to the animation in accordance with the operation on the mode change key KY4. After this processing ends, the processing moves to the processing in step 1718.

If it is determined in step 1703 that any of the other keys, that is, the start / stop key KY2, the reset key KY3, the forward frame feed key KY6, and the reverse frame feed key KY7, is operated, Then, the process of step 1715 is executed. In step 1715, the currently set main mode is determined. The determination is made from the mode management data (see FIG. 8) stored in the work RAM 103. If the animation mode is set as the main mode, then the animation mode changing process of step 1716 is executed, and if the paint mode is set, then the paint frame changing process of step 1717 is executed.

The animation mode changing process in step 1716 is performed according to the key operated by the user. After this process is completed, step 1
Then, the processing proceeds to 718. On the other hand, in step 1717, the paint frame changing process is performed for each frame advance key KY6, K
According to the operation performed on Y7, the display screen of the reproduction position (paint frame) for designating the drawing color is displayed. After this is completed, the process proceeds to step 1718.

At step 1718, animation processing for advancing animation reproduction is executed.
When this process ends, the above-described steps 1704 to 1
Data to be transferred to the VDP 105 generated as a result of executing 817 is transferred using the vertical blanking period (see FIG. 13). After the transfer process is completed, the process returns to step 1702, and the subsequent processes are executed in the same manner.

FIG. 18 shows step 1701 shown in FIG.
6 is an operation flowchart of initial processing executed as. By executing this initial process, the initial screen is displayed on the screen of the television 108.

First, in step 1801, VDP10
The OAM unit 205 and the like in 5 are initialized. When this initialization is completed, next, in step 1802, the animation mode is set to pause, and the following step 180
In 3, the animation frame number is set to 0.
When the processing of these steps 1802 and 1803 is executed, the animation management data stored in the work RAM 103, that is, the animation mode and the animation frame number, are set to 0, which is a value indicating that the pose is being performed.

Step 1804 following step 1803
Then, the animation initial process for arranging the character at the display position indicated by the initial position data of FIG. 4B is executed. After this processing ends, the processing moves to step 1805.

At step 1805, the animation mode is set to the main mode. Following Step 1806
Now, set the icon face to invisible. The animation mode is set for the mode management data in FIG. 8, and the non-display of the icon surface is performed for the display control register in the VDP 105. When these are completed, the process proceeds to step 1807.

In steps 1807 to 1811, the color code and palette data respectively assigned to the contour line, the character, and the background are assigned to the drawing color (R
(GB data) is initialized. Specifically, black is set for the contour line, and white is set for all others. With this setting, the initial screen has a solid white background, and the outline of each partial image is drawn black on the background.

Step 1812 following step 1811
In 1818, a process related to the display of the palette and the cursor icon is performed. By performing these processes, the palette (palette icon group) and the cursor icon are initially displayed in the preset drawing color.

First, in step 1812, 0 is set to the palette number (see FIG. 8) which is the palette management data. In the following step 1813, the pallet number is 0
The selected colors (10 in total) assigned to each palette icon are read from the program / data ROM 102 (see FIG. 5), and these are set as selected colors (RGB data) corresponding to the color codes 246 to 255 of the CLT unit 207. set. Then, in step 1814, the drawing color of the cursor icon to which the color code 245 is assigned is set to the color code 24 set in step 1813.
Set to 6 selected colors.

Step 1815 following step 1814
Then, image (graphic) data to be transferred to the SRAM 106, the OAM unit 205 in the VDP 105, the CLT
Data to be written to the unit 207 is transferred after waiting for the vertical blanking period (see FIG. 13). When the process of step 1815 ends, a series of processes ends.

In the work RAM 103, the image (graphic) data number of each partial image to be displayed, the position at which it is displayed (arranged), and each part (area) constituting it.
Various data such as the drawing color (RGB data) of the color code assigned to is stored for control management. The result of executing the processes of steps 1804 to 1814 described above is reflected in the control management data stored in the work RAM 103. The process of step 1815 is performed based on this control management data.

Next, the animation initial processing of the character in step 1804 shown in FIG. 18 will be described in detail with reference to the operation flowchart shown in FIG. The animation initial processing for this character is based on the animation data, initial position data, etc. shown in FIG. 4, character management data (see FIG. 8) stored in the work RAM 103, and OA in the VDP 105.
This is processing for initializing data to be stored in the M unit 205.

First, in step 1901, the OAM unit 2
The X / Y coordinates to be stored in the storage area assigned to the character in 05 are stored in the program / data ROM 1
Initial position data of the character read from
Refer to the initial X and Y coordinates. In the following step 1902, the waiting time of the initial position data is set in the movement amount counter (see FIG. 8) which constitutes the character management data stored in the work RAM 103. After that, in step 1903, the movement amount data number forming the character management data is set to 0. As described above, this 0 indicates the data indicated by data # 0 in the movement amount data of FIG. 4B. After setting the movement amount data number to 0, the process proceeds to step 1904.

In step 1904, the image (graphic) data of the character to be stored in the SRAM 106 is specified from the data # 0 of the animation data shown in FIG. The specified image (graphic) data is stored in the SRAM 106 in the process of step 1815 of FIG.
Is forwarded to

In the following step 1905, the animation counter forming the data for character management is loaded into FIG.
The data # 1 of the animation of (a), that is, the waiting time is set. After the setting of the waiting time is completed, in step 1906, 2 is set to the animation data number forming the character management data. As described above, this 2 indicates the data indicated by data # 2 in the animation data of FIG. 4 (a). After setting 2 to the animation data number,
A series of processing ends.

Next, each change process executed as steps 1708, 1710, 1712, and 1713 in the overall process of FIG. 17 will be described in detail with reference to the operation flowcharts of FIGS. Each of these changing processes is executed only when the paint code is set.

Each of these changing processes changes the setting of the RGB data assigned to the color code of the corresponding partial image to the RGB data according to the contents designated by the user.

First, the drawing color changing process executed as step 1708 will be described with reference to the operation flowchart shown in FIG. In this drawing color changing process, as described above, the user specifies the drawing color of the cursor icon (the color code is 245 as shown in FIG. 12B) from the palette (palette icon group). This is processing for changing to the drawn color.

First, in step 2001, the color code of the palette icon in which the cursor icon is displayed when the user operates the enter key KY5 is determined. As shown in FIG. 12A, color codes 246 to 255 are assigned to the palette (palette icon group). From this, if the color code of the palette icon on which the cursor icon is displayed is any of 246 to 255, the process proceeds to step 2002, and if not, the series of processes is terminated.

In step 2002, the work RAM 10
Based on the pallet number stored in FIG. 3 (see FIG. 8) and the color code determined in step 2001, the corresponding RGB data (see FIG. 5) is read from the program / data ROM 102, and this RGB data is read by the VDP10.
5 is set as the RGB data of the color code 245 of the CLT unit 207 in FIG. The setting of the RGB data is performed on the RGB data for each color code stored in the work RAM 103 for control management. After the end, a series of processing ends.

FIG. 21 is an operation flowchart of the palette change process executed as step 1710 in FIG. Next, the pallet changing process will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

As described above, the palette changing process is executed when the user operates the enter key KY5 while the cursor icon is displayed on the palette changing icon.

First, in step 2101, the work RA
The pallet number stored in M103 is updated. This update is performed by, for example, incrementing the value up to that point and setting the value to 0 when the value becomes larger than the maximum value (m in FIG. 5) of the pallet number by this increment.

Step 2102 following step 2101
Then, the 10 pieces of RGB data (see FIG. 5) assigned to the palette number updated in step 2101,
Color codes 246 to 2 of the CLT unit 207 in the VDP 105
55 RGB data. The setting of the RGB data is performed on the RGB data for each color code stored in the work RAM 103 for control management. After this is finished, the series of processes is finished.

FIG. 22 is an operation flowchart of the character color changing process executed as step 1712 in FIG. Next, with reference to FIG. 22, the character color changing process will be described in detail.

As described above, the character color changing process is executed when the user operates the enter key KY5 while the cursor icon is displayed on the character.

First, in step 2201, it is determined whether or not the color code on the character for which the cursor icon is displayed when the user operates the enter key KY5 is 1 (outline). If the color code is 1, the series of processes is terminated, and if not, the process proceeds to step 2202.

In this embodiment, the reproduction position (paint frame) where the drawing color can be specified is limited to two animation frame numbers 0 and 599 (see FIG. 16). The paint frame is the frame advance key KY6,
It is selected by operating KY7. Therefore, in step 2202, the animation frame number stored in the work RAM 103 as the animation management data is determined, and the subsequent step 22
In 03 and 2204, the RGB data of the drawing color designated by the user according to the animation frame number determined in step 2202, that is, the RGB data of the drawing color set in the color code 245 assigned to the cursor icon is transferred to the work RAM 103. Store as palette data in. This is performed according to the portion (area) on the character where the cursor icon is currently displayed, because the character is composed of a plurality of portions (areas) as shown in FIG. When the execution of these processes is completed, the process proceeds to step 2205.

In step 2205, step 220
R set as pallet data in 3 or 2204
The GB data is reflected on the RGB data for each color code stored in the work RAM 103 for control management. R for each color code stored for this control management
The GB data is stored in the CLT unit 207 of the VDP 105,
Alternatively, it is stored. When the process of step 2205 is finished, the series of processes is finished.

FIG. 23 is an operation flowchart of the background color changing process executed as step 1713 of FIG. Next, the background color changing process will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

As described above, this background color changing process is executed when the user operates the enter key KY5 while the cursor icon is displayed on the background.
First, in step 2301, the user presses the enter key KY5.
It is determined whether the color code on the background on which the cursor icon is displayed when is operated is 1 (outline). If the color code is 1, the series of processes is terminated, and if not, the process proceeds to step 2302.

In this embodiment, the reproduction position (paint frame) where the drawing color can be specified is limited to two animation frame numbers 0 and 599 (see FIG. 16). The paint frame is the frame advance key KY6,
It is selected by operating KY7. Therefore, in step 2302, the animation frame number stored in the work RAM 103 as the animation management data is determined, and the subsequent step 23
In 03 and 2304, the RGB data of the drawing color designated by the user in accordance with the animation frame number determined in step 2202, that is, the RGB data of the drawing color set in the color code 245 assigned to the cursor icon is transferred to the work RAM 103. Store as palette data in. This is performed in accordance with the portion (area) on the background where the cursor icon is currently displayed since the background is composed of a plurality of portions (areas) as shown in FIG. When the execution of these processes is completed, the process proceeds to step 2305.

In step 2305, step 230
R set as palette data in 3 or 2304
The GB data is reflected on the RGB data for each color code stored in the work RAM 103 for control management. R for each color code stored for this control management
The GB data is stored in the CLT unit 207 of the VDP 105,
Alternatively, it is stored. When the process of step 2305 ends, a series of processes ends.

FIG. 24 is an operation flowchart of the main mode changing process executed as step 1714 of FIG. Next, the main mode changing process will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

This main mode changing process is executed when the user operates the mode changing key KY4 as described above. First, in step 2401, the work RA
The animation mode of the animation management data stored in M103 is set to pause. In the following step 2402, the animation frame number of the animation management data is set to 0. As a result, when the mode change key KY4 is operated, the initial screen in the animation reproduction is displayed regardless of the mode set as the main mode.

Step 2403 following step 2402
Then, the mode currently set as the main mode is determined. This is determined from the mode management data stored in the work RAM 103. If it is determined that the animation mode is currently set as the main mode, the process proceeds to step 2404, and if not, the process proceeds to step 2406.

At step 2404, the paint mode is set to the main mode. In the following step 2405,
Set the icon face to display. Then, step 240
The process shifts to the process of 8. On the other hand, in step 2406, the animation mode is set to the main mode, and in the following step 2407, the icon surface is set to non-display. Then, the process proceeds to step 2408.

At step 2408, the animation initial processing of the character is executed to display the initial screen in accordance with the mode switching. This is shown in FIG.
It is the same as the processing shown in. In the following step 1409, the palette data of the character whose animation frame number is 0, which is stored in the work RAM 103, is set as the RGB data of the drawing color of the character. In step 2410 subsequent to this, similarly to step 2409, the background palette data having the animation frame number 0, which is stored in the work RAM 103, is set as the RGB data of the background drawing color. After the setting is completed, the series of processes is ended.

The setting of the RGB data of the drawing color of the partial image is performed on the RGB data of each color code stored in the work RAM 103 for control management.

FIG. 25 shows the animation mode changing process executed as step 1716 in FIG.
This will be described in detail with reference to the operation flowchart shown in FIG. As described above, in the animation mode changing process, when the animation mode is set as the main mode, the user can start / stop the key KY12, the reset key KY3, the forward frame advance key KY6, or the reverse frame advance key. It is executed by operating KY7.

First, in step 2501, the type of key operated by the user is determined. The processes of steps 2502 to 2520 performed thereafter are performed according to the type of the key operated by the user.

If it is determined in step 2501 that the key operated by the user is the start / stop key KY2, the process proceeds to step 2502. Step 25
In 02, from the animation mode that constitutes the animation management data stored in the work RAM 103, it is determined whether or not the mode in the current animation mode, that is, the animation reproduction is being performed.

If it is determined in step 2502 that the animation is currently being reproduced, then step 2503
In, after setting the animation mode during the pause, the series of processes is ended. If it is determined in step 2502 that the animation reproduction is currently in the pause state, then in step 2504 the animation mode is set to “reproducing”, and then the series of processes is terminated.

If it is determined in step 2501 that the key operated by the user is the forward frame advance key KY6,
The process moves to step 2505. Step 2505
Then, it is determined from the animation mode forming the animation management data stored in the work RAM 103 whether or not the mode in the current animation mode, that is, the animation reproduction is being performed.

If it is determined in step 2505 that the animation is currently being reproduced, the series of processing is terminated here. If it is determined in step 2505 that the animation playback is currently paused, step 2506
Move to the processing of.

At step 2506, the work RAM 10
The animation frame number forming the animation management data stored in 3 is advanced (added) by the frame advance amount.

The frame feed amount is the forward frame feed key K.
It is the number of frames of animation (1 frame period is 1/60 second) that can be advanced by one operation on Y6, and the number of frames needs to be such a value that the characters to be arranged (displayed) are switched (frame advance). There is. Therefore, the amount of frame advance is determined, for example, from the value of the animation counter of the character management data. FIG.
When the animation data of the character is set as shown in 5, since the waiting time of the character is 6, it is possible to surely realize the frame advance by setting the frame advance amount to 6 (the number of animation frames). it can.

Step 2506 is followed by step 2506.
Then, it is determined whether the animation frame number of the animation management data is 599 (see FIG. 15) or more. When the animation has been reproduced to the end, the determination is YES and the series of processes is ended. Otherwise, the determination is no and the process moves to step 2507. In Step 2507, Step 25
In accordance with the frame feed amount determined in the process of 06, the frame feed process of frame-feeding the character in the forward direction is executed. When this is completed, then in step 2508, the RG of the drawing color to be set for the character in accordance with the frame advance.
Color interpolation processing for obtaining B data is executed. In the following step 2510, similar to step 2509, color interpolation processing for obtaining RGB data of the drawing color to be set in the background is executed. After this color interpolation processing is completed, a series of processing is completed.

If it is determined in step 2501 that the key operated by the user is the backward frame advance key KY7,
The processing moves to step 2511. Step 2511
Then, it is determined from the animation mode forming the animation management data stored in the work RAM 103 whether or not the mode in the current animation mode, that is, the animation reproduction is being performed.

If it is determined in step 2511 that the animation is currently being reproduced, the series of processes is terminated here. If it is determined in step 2511 that the animation playback is currently paused, step 2512
Move to the processing of.

In step 2512, the work RAM 10
The animation frame number forming the animation management data stored in 3 is returned (subtracted) by the frame advance amount.

The above frame feed amount is the reverse frame feed key K.
The number of animation frames returned by a single operation on Y7 (one frame period is 1/60 second), and the number of frames is the same as the above-described forward frame advance amount, and the characters to be arranged (displayed) are switched. It should be a value like this. Therefore, the amount of frame advance is determined, for example, from the value of the animation counter of the character management data. If the animation data of the character is set as shown in FIG. 15, the waiting time of the character is 6, so by setting the frame advance amount to 6 (the number of animation frames), the frame advance in the reverse direction can be performed. It can be surely realized.

Step 2513 following step 2512
Then, in step 2512, it is determined whether or not the animation frame number returned by the reverse frame feed amount is 0 or less. When the power of the system is turned on, the initial process of FIG. 18 is executed in step 1701 of FIG. 17, and 0 is set to the animation frame number. When the animation frame number is 0, the display screen on which the animation is reproduced is the initial screen. If the animation frame number is 0 or less, the determination is YES and the process proceeds to step 2517. If the animation frame number is greater than 0, the determination is NO and step 251.
The process shifts to the process of No. 4. Step 251 as described below.
The process after 7 is a process for displaying the initial screen.

In Step 2514, Step 2512
In accordance with the frame advance amount determined in the process of step 1, the frame advance process of advancing the character in the reverse direction is executed. When this is completed, next, in step 2515, color interpolation processing is executed to obtain RGB data of the drawing color to be set for the character in accordance with the frame advance. Continued Step 25
In step 16, as in step 2515, color interpolation processing for obtaining RGB data of the drawing color to be set in the background is executed. After this color interpolation processing is completed, a series of processing is completed.

When it is determined in step 2501 that the key operated by the user is the reset key KY3, the process proceeds to step 2517. Steps 2517-25
At 20, as described above, a series of processes for displaying the initial screen is performed.

First, in step 2517, the animation frame number is set to 0. In the following step 2518, the animation initial processing of the character having the above-mentioned contents is executed. Then step 25
The processing shifts to the processing of 19.

At step 2519, the work RAM 10
The animation frame number stored in 3 is 0
The pallet data of the character is set as RGB data of the drawing color of the character. Following Step 2520
Then, the background pallet data with the animation frame number 0 stored in the work RAM 103 is set as the RGB data of the background drawing color. These settings are performed on the RGB data for each color code stored in the work RAM 103, and after the settings are completed, a series of processes is completed. Determine the animation frame number and follow steps 2203, 2204
Then, according to the animation frame number determined in step 2202, the RGB data of the drawing color designated by the user, that is, the color code 24 assigned to the cursor icon
The RGB data of the drawing color set to 5 is used as the work R
It is stored in the AM 103 as palette data. this is,
As shown in FIG. 10, the character has a plurality of parts (regions).
Since it is composed of, the process is performed according to the portion (area) on the character where the cursor icon is currently displayed. When the execution of these processes is completed, the process proceeds to step 2205.

Next, steps 2508 to 251 executed in the animation mode changing process of FIG. 25 described above.
FIG. 2 shows each subroutine processing of 0 and 2514.
This will be described in detail with reference to the operation flowcharts of FIGS. Note that the processing of step 2515 and step 251
The processing of step 5 has the same contents, and step 2
The contents of the processing of 510 and the processing of step 2516 are the same.

First, the forward frame advancing process of the character will be described in detail with reference to the operation flowchart of FIG. As described above, the forward frame feed process is a process of frame-feeding the character in the forward direction according to the frame feed amount determined in step 2507 of FIG. The overall processing flow is as follows: decrement of the movement amount counter and the animation counter (see FIG. 8) that form the character management data stored in the work RAM 103 is repeated by the frame advance amount, and each time the decrement is performed once. In addition, the moving amount of the character and the image (graphic) data to be stored in the SRAM 106 are specified according to the value of each counter after decrementing.

First, in step 2601, the movement amount counter is decremented. In the following step 2602, it is determined whether or not the value of the movement amount counter after the decrement is 0. If the value of the movement amount counter is greater than 0, the determination is no and the process moves to step 2608. Otherwise, the determination is yes and the process moves to step 2603.

When the value of the movement amount counter becomes 0, the character is moved as described above. Step 260
In 3, the movement amount data number forming the character management data stored in the work RAM 103 is viewed, and the movement amount data designated by the number (see FIG. 4B).
The amount of movement in the X and Y directions, which is the data inside, is stored in the work RAM
Add to the X and Y coordinates of the current character stored in 03. The X and Y coordinates are data indicating the display position of the character stored in or stored in the OAM unit 205.

Step 2604 following step 2603
Then, the waiting time forming the moving amount data is set in the moving amount counter forming the character managing data. When the setting of the movement amount counter is completed, next, in step 2605, the movement amount data number is advanced (in the present embodiment, 3 is added) and the value is updated.
Then, the process proceeds to step 2606.

At step 2606, it is determined whether the data designated by the updated movement amount data number is a "return to first" command (see FIG. 4B). If the data is a "return to first" command, the determination is yes and the process moves to step 2607. Otherwise, the determination is no and the process moves to step 2608. In step 2607, the movement amount data number is set to the leading data number, that is, 0 according to the command. Then, the process proceeds to step 2608.

Steps 2601 to 2607 described above are
This is processing for determining the display position of the character. In steps 2608 to 2614 following this, processing for determining the character to be displayed is performed.

First, in step 2608, the animation counter is decremented. Next step 2
At 609, it is determined whether or not the value of the animation counter after the decrement is 0. If the value of the animation counter is greater than 0, the determination is no and the process moves to step 2615. Otherwise, the determination is yes and the process moves to step 2610.

When the value of the animation counter becomes 0, the characters to be displayed are switched as described above. In step 2610, the work RAM 103
See the animation data number that makes up the character management data stored in FIG.
SRAM from the data in the animation data of (a)
Image (graphic) data to be newly written in 106 is specified.

Step 2611 following step 2610
Then, the waiting time in the animation data corresponding to the image (graphic) data is set in the animation counter. When the setting of the waiting time in the animation counter is completed, next in step 2612, the animation data number is advanced (in the present embodiment, 2 is added) and updated. Then, the process proceeds to step 2613.

At step 2613, the data designated by the updated animation data number is "return to the beginning".
It is determined whether it is a command (see FIG. 4A). If the data is a "return to first" command, the determination is yes and the process moves to step 2614. Otherwise, the determination is no and step 261.
Then, the process proceeds to step S5. In step 2614, the animation data number is set to the leading data number, that is, 0 according to the command. Then, step 2615
Move to the processing of.

In step 2615, it is determined whether or not each counter has been decremented by the frame feed amount. If the counters have not been decremented by the frame feed amount, the determination is no and the process returns to step 2601. If not, the determination is YES, and the series of processes ends.

FIG. 27 is an operation flowchart of the character color interpolation process executed as step 2509 in FIG. Next, the character color interpolation processing will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

This color interpolation processing sets the drawing color of the character in accordance with the current animation reproduction position indicated by the animation frame number of the animation management data. As described above, the drawing color of the character is the palette data (see FIG. 9) stored in the work RAM 103, that is, the RG of the drawing color specified by the user when the animation frame numbers are 0 and 599.
It is obtained by the above-mentioned equation 1 using B data. A character consists of multiple parts (areas) such as hair, skin, and clothes,
A color code is assigned to each part (region). Therefore, in this color interpolation processing, the RGB data of the drawing color is obtained for each color code.

First, in step 2701, the work RA
RGB data of one color code is extracted in a predetermined order from the palette data of animation frame number 0, which is stored in M103, and is divided into RGB components. In the following step 2702, from the palette data whose animation frame number is 599, step 2
RGB data corresponding to the RGB data extracted in step 701 is extracted and divided into RGB components. Then, the process proceeds to step 2703.

In step 2703, the above step 27
Animation frame number obtained in 01, 2702 is 0
The respective RGB components and the animation frame number in the case of 599 and 599 are substituted into the above formula 1 to calculate the RGB data to be set. In the following step 2704, the calculated RGB data is set as the drawing color of the color code corresponding to it. This setting is performed on the RGB data stored in the work RAM 103 for each color code.

Step 2705 following step 2704
Then, it is determined whether all the drawing colors of the character color code have been created by interpolation. When all the drawing colors of the respective parts (areas) forming the character are newly set, the determination is Y.
It becomes ES, and a series of processing is ended. If not, the process returns to step 2701 and the palette data (RGB data) of the next color code is extracted from the work RAM 103 according to a predetermined order.

FIG. 28 is an operation flowchart of background color interpolation processing executed as step 2510 of FIG. Next, the background color interpolation processing will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

In the background color interpolation processing, like the character color interpolation processing, the background drawing color is set in accordance with the current animation reproduction position indicated by the animation frame number of the animation management data. . The background drawing color is the work RAM 1 as described above.
The pallet data stored in 03 (see FIG. 9), that is, RGB data of the drawing color designated by the user when the animation frame numbers are 0 and 599, is obtained by the above-mentioned formula 1. Similarly to the character, the background is also composed of a plurality of parts (regions) such as a roof, smoke, and mountains, and each part (region) is assigned a color code.
Therefore, the drawing color of the background is the RG for each color code.
This is done by obtaining B data.

First, in step 2801, the work RA
RGB data of one color code is extracted in a predetermined order from the palette data of animation frame number 0, which is stored in M103, and is divided into RGB components. In the following step 2802, from the palette data whose animation frame number is 599, to the step 2
RGB data corresponding to the RGB data extracted in step 801 is extracted and divided into RGB components. Then, the process proceeds to step 2803.

In step 2803, the above step 28
The animation frame number obtained in 01, 2802 is 0
The respective RGB components and the animation frame number in the case of 599 and 599 are substituted into the above formula 1 to calculate the RGB data to be set. In the following step 2804, the calculated RGB data is set as the drawing color of the color code corresponding to it. This setting is performed on the RGB data stored in the work RAM 103 for each color code.

Step 2805 following step 2804
Then, it is determined whether or not all the drawing colors of the background color code have been created by interpolation. When all the drawing colors of the respective parts (areas) forming the character are newly set, the determination is YES and the series of processes is ended. If not, the process returns to step 2801 and the work RA is performed in the predetermined order.
The palette data (RGB data) of the next color code is extracted from M103, and the subsequent processing is similarly executed.

FIG. 29 is an operation flowchart of the character backward frame advancing process executed as step 2514 in FIG. Next, with reference to FIG. 29, the character backward frame advance processing will be described in detail.

As described above, this backward frame advance process is a process of frame-feeding the character in the reverse direction according to the frame advance amount determined in step 2512 of FIG. The overall processing flow is as follows: increment of the movement amount counter and the animation counter (see FIG. 8) forming the character management data stored in the work RAM 103 is repeated by the frame advance amount, and each time the increment is performed once. In addition, the moving amount of the character and the image (graphic) data to be stored in the SRAM 106 are specified according to the value of each counter after the increment.

First, at step 2901, the movement amount counter is incremented. Following Step 2902
Then, the value of the movement counter after the increment is
In addition, it is determined whether or not the previously set waiting time has been exceeded.
If the value of the movement counter is larger than the waiting time,
The determination is YES, and the process proceeds to step 2903. Otherwise, the determination is no and the process moves to step 2908.

If the value of the movement amount counter becomes larger than the set waiting time, it means that it is necessary to move the character in the opposite direction. In step 2903, the movement amount data number forming the character management data stored in the work RAM 103 is returned (3 is subtracted), and the data number is updated. Then step 2
The processing moves to 904.

At step 2904, it is determined whether or not the updated movement amount data number is smaller than zero. If the data number is smaller than 0, the determination is yes and the process moves to step 2905. Otherwise, the determination is no and the process moves to step 2906. In step 2905, the value of the data number three before the "return to first" command, that is, 0 is set in the movement amount data number. Then, the process proceeds to step 2906.

In step 2906, the movement amount in the X and Y directions, which is the data in the movement amount data (see FIG. 4B) designated by the movement amount data number, is calculated.
Subtract from the X and Y coordinates of the current character stored in. The X and Y coordinates are, as described above,
This is data indicating the display position of the character stored in or to be stored in the OAM unit 205.

Step 2907 following step 2906
Then, 1 is set in the movement amount counter in order to take the timing to subtract the movement amount for moving the character in the opposite direction from the X and Y coordinates. Then, step 29
The processing shifts to 08.

Steps 2901 to 2907 described above are
This is processing for determining the display position of the character. In steps 2908 to 2914 following this, processing for determining the character to be displayed is performed.

First, in step 2908, the animation counter is incremented. In the following step 2909, it is determined whether or not the value of the animation counter after the increment exceeds the waiting time previously set for it. If the value of the animation counter is greater than the waiting time, the determination is yes and the process moves to step 2910. If not,
The determination is NO, and the process proceeds to step 2915.

If the value of the animation counter becomes larger than the set waiting time, it means that it is necessary to switch the character. In step 2910, the animation data number forming the character management data stored in the work RAM 103 is returned (2
Is subtracted) and the data number is updated. Then, the process proceeds to step 2911.

At step 2911, it is determined whether or not the updated animation data number is smaller than 0. If the data number is smaller than 0, the determination is YES.
Then, the process proceeds to step 2912. Otherwise, the determination is no and step 2913.
Move to the processing of. In step 2912, the animation data number is set to the value of the data number immediately before the “return to first” command, that is, 14 (see FIG. 4A). As a result, the character can be cyclically switched in the reverse order of the animation reproduction.
Then, the process proceeds to step 2913.

In step 2913, step 291 is executed.
0 or the animation data number set in step 2912 is viewed to identify the image (graphic) data to be displayed as a character. Continued Step 29
At 14, the animation counter is set to 1 in order to set the timing for switching the character next.
Then, the process proceeds to step 2915.

In step 2915, it is determined whether or not each counter has been incremented by the frame feed amount. If each counter is not incremented by the frame feed amount, the determination is no and the process returns to step 2901. If not, the determination is YES,
A series of processing ends.

FIG. 30 is an operation flowchart of the paint frame change processing executed as step 1717 of FIG. Next, the paint frame changing process will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the reproduction position for setting the drawing color of the partial image is fixed, that is, the paint frame is set only on the first and last screens. This paint frame changing process changes the paint frame, and is executed when the user sets the paint mode, as described above.

First, in step 3001, the type of key operated by the user is determined. After that, the process is performed according to the determination result. User selects forward frame feed key KY
If 6 is operated, the process proceeds to step 3002, and if the reverse frame feed key KY7 is operated, step 30
The processing moves to 03. When the user operates the other keys, the series of processes ends here.

At step 3002, it is assumed that the user has operated the forward frame feed key KY6, and the animation frame number of the animation management data is set to 599, that is, the last screen. Then, the process proceeds to step 3004. On the other hand, in step 3003, it is assumed that the user has operated the backward frame advance key KY7 and the animation frame number is set to 0, that is, the first screen is set. Then, the process proceeds to step 3004.

In steps 3004 and 3005, the work RAM 103 is executed in accordance with the animation frame number after the execution of the processing in step 3002 or 3003.
The partial image, that is, the palette data of the character and the background is read out (see FIG. 9) and set as the drawing color of each partial image. This is realized by the CPU 101 storing the RGB data of the drawing color set for each partial image in the work RAM 103 for control management. When the setting of the drawing color of each partial image is completed, the series of processes is completed.

As described above, when the paint mode is set, the user can display the final screen by operating the forward frame advance key KY6 and the initial screen by operating the reverse frame advance key KY7.

FIG. 31 is an operation flowchart of the animation processing executed as step 1718 of FIG. Next, the animation processing will be described in detail with reference to FIG. This animation process is
When the animation mode is playing, the character is arranged according to the animation data and movement amount data of the character shown in FIG.
Further, by setting the drawing color of each partial image based on the palette data stored in the work RAM 103,
This is a process of advancing animation reproduction. This animation processing is performed for each animation frame, that is, for every 1/60 seconds.

First, in step 3101, the current animation mode is determined. This judgment is based on the work R
This is performed by reading the animation mode (see FIG. 8) that constitutes the animation management data stored in the AM 103. If the animation mode is being reproduced, the process proceeds to step 3102, and if it is being paused, the series of processes ends here.

At step 3102, the animation frame number of the animation management data is read out,
It is determined whether the number is 599 or more. As shown in FIG. 16, in the present embodiment, the animation reproduction period is set to 1
It is set to 0 seconds. This is the period until the animation frame number becomes 0 to 599. If 10 seconds or more has elapsed from the start of the animation reproduction, the determination is YES, and the series of processing ends. Otherwise, the determination is no and the process moves to step 3103.

In steps 3103 to 3119, processing for displaying a screen according to the elapsed time is performed.
In steps 3103 to 3116, a process relating to character placement is performed.

As described above, the animation processing is 1
This is performed for each animation frame, and the waiting time in the animation data of the character, the movement amount data, and the like is a value based on the animation frame period, and thus constitutes the character management data stored in the work RAM 103. The movement amount counter and the animation counter are decremented, and processing is performed according to the decremented value of each counter.

First, in step 3103, the movement amount counter is decremented. In the following step 3104, it is determined whether or not the value of the movement amount counter after the decrement is 0. If the value of the movement amount counter is greater than 0, the determination is no and the process moves to step 3110. Otherwise, the determination is yes and the process moves to step 3105.

The fact that the value of the movement amount counter has become 0 means that
It means that it is necessary to move the character.
In step 3105, the movement amount data number stored in the work RAM 103 is checked, and the movement amount data in the movement amount data (see FIG. 4B) indicated by the number is calculated as the movement amount in the work RAM 103. Add to the X and Y coordinates of the current character stored in. The X and Y coordinates are data indicating the display position of the character stored in or stored in the OAM unit 205.

Step 3106 following step 3105
Then, the waiting time forming the moving amount data is set in the moving amount counter forming the character managing data. When the setting of the waiting time in the movement amount counter is completed, next, in step 3107, the movement amount data number is advanced (in the present embodiment, 3 is added) and the value is updated. Then, the process proceeds to step 3108.

At step 3108, it is determined whether or not the data designated by the updated movement amount data number is a "return to first" command (see FIG. 4B). If the data is a “return to first” command, the determination is yes and the process moves to step 3109. Otherwise, the determination is no and the process moves to step 3110. In step 3109, the movement amount data number is set to the leading data number, that is, 0 according to the command. Then, the process proceeds to step 3110.

The above steps 3103 to 3109 are
This is processing for determining the display position of the character. In the subsequent steps 3110 to 3116, processing for determining the character to be displayed is performed.

First, in step 3110, the animation counter is decremented. Next step 3
At 111, it is determined whether or not the value of the animation counter after the decrement is 0. If the value of the animation counter is greater than 0, the determination is no and the process moves to step 3117. Otherwise, the determination is yes and the process moves to step 3112.

The fact that the value of the animation counter becomes 0 means that it is necessary to switch the display of the character to be displayed as described above. Step 3
At 112, looking at the animation data number forming the character management data stored in the work RAM 103, the image (graphic) data to be newly written in the SRAM 106 from the data in the animation data of FIG. Specify.

Step 3113 following step 3112
Then, the waiting time in the animation data corresponding to the image (graphic) data is set in the animation counter. When the setting of the waiting time in the animation counter is completed, next, in step 3114, the animation data number is advanced (added 2 in this embodiment) and updated. Then, the process proceeds to step 3115.

At step 3115, the data designated by the updated animation data number is "return to the beginning".
It is determined whether it is a command (see FIG. 4A). If the data is a "return to first" command, the determination is yes and the process moves to step 3116. Otherwise, the determination is no and step 311
The process shifts to 7. In step 3116, the animation data number is set to the leading data number, that is, 0 according to the command. Then, step 3117
Move to the processing of.

In steps 3117 to 3118, a process of setting the drawing color of each partial image of the character and the background is performed. Specifically, in step 3117, character color interpolation processing is executed, and in step 3118, background color interpolation processing is executed. These color interpolation processes are shown in FIG. 27 or FIG.

When the background color interpolation processing in step 3118 is completed, the processing moves to step 3119. In step 3119, the animation frame number of the animation management data is incremented. afterwards,
A series of processing ends. -Modification In the present embodiment, the reproduction position where the drawing color can be set is fixed, but the user may arbitrarily specify it. Further, the number of reproduction positions (paint frames) at which the drawing color can be set may not be fixed as in the present embodiment, but may be selected by the user as desired. Regarding the drawing color set in the partial image, for example, when the drawing color is set with three points (paint frame), the first paint frame and the next paint frame (intermediate paint frame)
Up to, the interpolation calculation is performed using the RGB data of the drawing color set in those paint frames, and from the intermediate paint frame to the last paint frame, the RGB data of the drawing color set in the intermediate paint frame is fixed. You can

If, for example, there is only one paint frame for which the drawing color has been designated, then that paint frame
As the start point or end point of the period for changing the drawing color,
In accordance with the passage of time, for example, the drawing color set in the paint frame may be darkened as time elapses, and the drawing color within the period may be changed by a predetermined method. Also, for example, change the drawing color gradually near the start and end of animation playback,
The change in the drawing color may be controlled only in accordance with the position of the paint frame during the animation reproduction period so that the change is sharp in the vicinity of the center.

Further, in the present embodiment, there is only one method of changing the drawing color, but it is also possible to prepare several methods so that the user can select from them. The user may arbitrarily set it.

In the present embodiment, the drawing color is specified in the same paint frame for both the background and the character, but the drawing color may be specified in different paint frames for each type of partial image. Further, the method of changing the drawing color of the partial image is the same, but the method may be changed for each partial image.

In any case, since various drawing colors can be created with a small amount of data, the user can enjoy the animation reproduction in which the visual effect is reflected by simply performing the work for a short time. be able to.

In this embodiment, since a plurality of characters are prepared to express the motion of the character, a color common to each of the parts (areas) forming the plurality of characters is provided. You have assigned a code. In other words, a common color code is assigned to each type of partial image. However, for example, in the case of an image having a tree and a water surface reflecting the tree, the tree and the tree reflected on the water surface are classified into the same group, and the drawing color is changed for one of them. Then, the other drawing color may be changed accordingly. In this case, the drawing colors do not necessarily have to be the same.

Further, in the present embodiment, the display of the entire character is switched in order to express the motion of the character itself. However, a plurality of objects that mask a part of the character, such as a background object in the background, are used. The action of the character itself may be expressed by preparing and switching the display of the object. In this case, the color code assigned to the object may be the color code corresponding to that of the character, and the application of the present invention is easy.
This is the same even when a method is adopted in which a plurality of display screens are prepared and the display screens are switched to represent the operation of an object on the display screen.

Further, in this embodiment, a control pad is adopted as the input device 104, and the user operates various keys provided on the control pad 104 so that an arbitrary drawing color can be converted into a desired partial image. Although the setting is performed, icons or the like may be further displayed on the display screen so that all operations can be performed only with a pointing device such as a mouse. On the contrary, all the operations may be performed by the keys provided on the control pad 104.

With respect to the palette (group of palette icons), in the present embodiment, the user selects the program / data RO.
Only those prepared in advance in M102 can be used, but the drawing color (RGB data) of each palette icon may be freely set by the user. For animation data, movement amount data, etc. that determine the operation of each partial image, for example, a plurality of them may be prepared so that the user can freely select from them, and the user can set those data freely. You may allow it. By doing so, it becomes possible to provide the user with a wider variety of ways of enjoying. Second Embodiment Outline of Second Embodiment The first embodiment described above uses the RGB data of the drawing color set at the two points of the animation reproduction start point and the animation reproduction end point. Although the drawing color at each reproduction position is obtained by performing the linear interpolation, the change of the drawing color tends to be monotonous. In the second embodiment, a more complicated change in drawing color can be obtained.

FIG. 32 is a diagram for explaining an example of color interpolation using a Bezier curve. This is because the drawing color (R component value of RGB data) in the second embodiment changes with the passage of time. It shows the situation.

In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 32, the drawing color can be set at four points. Part 4
When expressed by an animation frame number, a point has a point of 0, a point of 200, a point of 400, and 599.
(In the figure, #N (N = 0, 200, 400, 5
99)). In the second embodiment, the drawing color during the animation reproduction period is changed using the Bezier parameter cubic polynomial, so that the above four points are respectively the start point, the control point 1, the control point 2, and the end point. I will call it.

In FIG. 32, R ₀ is the R component value of the RGB data of the drawing color set at the starting point.
R ₂₀₀ is the control point 1, R ₄₀₀ is the control point 2, and R ₅₉₉ is the R component value of the RGB data of the drawing color set at the end point. Also, t in the figure is the parameter used in equation 2. The value is the value of the animation frame number at each control point divided by the total number of animation frames during the animation reproduction period. Therefore, for example, at the control point 1, t = 200/600 = 1/3. The Bezier cubic polynomial used in the second embodiment is shown in Equation 2.

[0237]

[Equation 2]

As is well known, a desired curve can be expressed by using a Bezier cubic polynomial. Therefore, the user can easily control the change of the drawing color as well. As a result, the user can enjoy the animation reproduction in which the drawing color changes smoothly and intricately.

In the second embodiment, the above effects can be obtained as compared with the first embodiment, but the configuration and the operation of each part are almost the same as those of the first embodiment. . Therefore, only the parts different from the first embodiment will be described. -Schematic operation of CPU 101 Fig. 33 shows a work RAM 10 in the second embodiment.
3 is a configuration diagram of background palette data stored in FIG. In the second embodiment, only the drawing color of the background is changed using Equation 2.

As shown in FIG. 33, the work RAM 103
In, the RGB data (palette data) of the drawing color set by the user is collectively stored for each control point. Each control point can be designated by operating the frame advance keys KY6 and KY7 with the paint mode set. CPU 101 when the paint mode is set
Changes the control point according to the operation of the frame advance keys KY6 and KY7.

On the other hand, the CPU 101 changes the drawing color set in the cursor icon according to the operation performed on the cursor movement key KY1 and the enter key KY5, and when the enter key KY4 is operated. , A portion (area) on the area where the cursor icon was displayed, that is, a color code is specified, and the RGB data of the drawing color of the cursor icon is used as the palette data of the color data of the control point which is currently being made, the work RAM 103. Write to. In the animation reproduction, the drawing color is changed in accordance with the progress of the animation reproduction by using the palette data of each control point written in the work RAM 103. Detailed Operation of CPU 101 The operation of the CPU 101 will be described in detail with reference to the operation flowcharts shown in FIGS. In the second embodiment, the paint frame changing process of step 1717 of FIG. 17 from the first embodiment, step 171.
Background color change processing of step 3, and step 251 of FIG.
0, only the background color interpolation processing executed in step 3118 of FIG. 31 and the like is different. Therefore, only each of these subroutine processes will be described.

FIG. 34 is an operation flowchart of the background color changing process executed as step 1713 of FIG. First, with reference to FIG. 36, the background color changing process according to the second embodiment will be described in detail.

As described above, this background color changing process is executed when the user operates the enter key KY5 while the cursor icon is displayed on the background.
First, in step 3401, the user presses the enter key KY5.
It is determined whether the color code on the background on which the cursor icon is displayed when is operated is 1 (outline). If the color code is 1, the series of processes is terminated, and if not, the process proceeds to step 3402.

In this embodiment, the reproduction positions (control points) where the drawing color can be designated are fixed to four animation frame numbers 0, 200, 400 and 599 (see FIG. 32). The control point is the frame advance key KY6,
It is selected by operating KY7. Therefore, in step 3402, the animation frame number stored in the work RAM 103 as the animation management data is determined, and the subsequent step 34
In 03 to 3406, the RGB data of the drawing color designated by the user, that is, the RGB data of the drawing color set in the color code 245 assigned to the cursor icon, is stored in the work RAM 103 in accordance with the animation frame number determined in step 3402. Store as palette data in. This is performed in accordance with the portion (area) on the background where the cursor icon is currently displayed since the background is composed of a plurality of portions (areas) as shown in FIG. When the execution of these processes is completed, the process proceeds to step 3407.

In step 3407, step 3403
R set as pallet data in any of 3406
The GB data is reflected on the RGB data for each color code stored in the work RAM 103 for control management. R for each color code stored for this control management
The GB data is stored in the CLT unit 207 of the VDP 105,
Alternatively, it is stored. After the processing of this step 3407 ends, a series of processing ends.

FIG. 35 is an operation flowchart of the background color interpolation processing executed as step 2510 of FIG. 25, step 3118 of FIG. Next, in FIG.
The background color interpolation processing according to the second embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

This background color interpolation processing sets the drawing color of the background in accordance with the current animation reproduction position indicated by the animation frame number of the animation management data. As described above, the background drawing color is the palette data (see FIG. 33) stored in the work RAM 103, that is, the RGB drawing color specified by the user when the animation frame numbers are 0, 200, 400, and 599. Using the data, it is determined by the above equation 2. The background is composed of a plurality of parts (regions) such as roofs, smoke, and mountains, and color codes are assigned to the respective parts (regions). Therefore, the drawing color of the background is determined by obtaining the RGB data for each color code.

First, in step 3501, the work RA
RGB data of one color code is extracted in a predetermined order from each palette data of animation frame numbers 0, 200, 400, and 599 stored in M103, and is divided into RGB components. In the following step 3502, each RGB component of each animation frame number (control point) extracted in the above step 3501 and the current animation frame number (work R
(Animation management data of AM 103) is substituted into Equation 2 to obtain RGB data of the current drawing color.

Step 3504 following step 3503
Then, it is determined whether or not all the drawing colors of the background color code have been created by using the equation 2. When all the drawing colors of the respective parts (areas) forming the character are newly set, the determination is YES and the series of processes is ended. If not, the process returns to step 3501 to extract the palette data (RGB data) of the next color code from the work RAM 103 according to a predetermined order, and the subsequent processes are similarly executed.

FIG. 36 is an operation flowchart of the paint frame change processing executed as step 1717 of FIG. Next, the paint frame change processing according to the second embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, as described above, the reproduction position (paint frame) for setting the drawing color of the partial image.
Is fixed, that is, there are only four control points. This paint frame changing process changes the paint frame, and is executed when the user sets the paint mode, as described above.

First, in step 3601, the type of key operated by the user is determined. After that, the process is performed according to the determination result. User selects forward frame feed key KY
If 6 is operated, the process proceeds to step 3602, and if the reverse frame feed key KY7 is operated, step 36
The processing moves to 03. When the user operates the other keys, the series of processes ends here.

At step 3602, assuming that the user has operated the forward frame feed key KY6, the animation frame number of the animation management data is changed from 0 to 20.
0, 200 to 400, or 400 to 599. Then, the process proceeds to step 3604. On the other hand, in step 3603, the animation frame number is returned from 599 to 400, 400 to 200, and 200 to 0 because the user has operated the backward frame advance key KY7. Then, the process proceeds to step 3604.

In step 3604, the above step 36
According to the animation frame number after the processing of 02 or 3603, the palette data of that number is read from the work RAM 103 (see FIG. 33) and set as the background drawing color. This is because the CPU 101 converts the RGB data of the drawing color set as the background into the work RAM 103.
It is realized by storing it for control management in. Thereafter, a series of processing ends. -Modification In the second embodiment, the position and the number of control points in the animation reproduction period are fixed, but the user may arbitrarily specify these. In the Bezier curve, since the position of the control point has a great influence on the shape of the curve, this allows the user to obtain various visual effects. At this time, the user may be allowed to select a section in which the RGB data is interpolated by the Bezier's formula. Further, a method of interpolating and creating RGB data between the sections may be set separately for each section.

Further, when the user specifies four control points as shown in FIG. 32, for example, the RGB data of the starting point is used as a reference, and an interpolation operation using the Bezier's equation is performed for the section from the control point to the end point. The drawing color may be changed according to the animation reproduction by performing a predetermined calculation using the RGB data of the starting point on the value after the calculation. As described above, the present invention can be variously modified.

[0256]

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of partial images are divided into groups, the drawing color of each group is centrally managed, and based on the drawing color designated by the user,
Create drawing color data for the partial image during animation playback. Therefore, the user can perform the animation reproduction to which the desired visual effect is added by simply performing the work for a short time.

Also, the number of times the drawing color is specified is small, in other words, the amount of data of the specified drawing color is small, and on the other hand, the drawing color data that can be created can be created as necessary. The storage area required for storing the drawing color data set in the image can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall circuit configuration diagram of a system to which a first embodiment is applied.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a VDP.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hierarchical structure of a display screen.

FIG. 4 is a data configuration diagram of a ROM (No. 1).

FIG. 5 is a data configuration diagram of a ROM (No. 2).

FIG. 6 is a data configuration diagram of an SRAM and an OAM unit.

FIG. 7 is a data configuration diagram of a CLT unit.

FIG. 8 is a data configuration diagram of a work RAM (No. 1).

FIG. 9 is a data configuration diagram of the work RAM (No. 2).

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a color code assigned to each part of a partial image (No. 1).

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a color code assigned to each part of the partial image (No. 2).

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a color code assigned to each part of a partial image (part 3).

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of screen display timing.

FIG. 14 is a timing chart showing an operation example as an animation.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of data for animation.

FIG. 16 is a mode transition diagram.

FIG. 17 is an operation flowchart of overall processing.

FIG. 18 is an operation flowchart of initial processing.

FIG. 19 is an operation flowchart of a character animation initial process.

FIG. 20 is an operation flowchart of drawing color change processing.

FIG. 21 is an operation flowchart of palette change processing.

FIG. 22 is an operation flowchart of character color changing processing.

FIG. 23 is an operation flowchart of background color change processing.

FIG. 24 is an operation flowchart of main mode change processing.

FIG. 25 is an operation flowchart of animation mode change processing.

FIG. 26 is an operation flowchart of a character forward frame advancing process.

FIG. 27 is an operation flowchart of character color interpolation processing.

FIG. 28 is an operation flowchart of background color interpolation processing.

FIG. 29 is an operation flowchart of character reverse frame advancing processing.

FIG. 30 is an operation flowchart of paint frame change processing.

FIG. 31 is an operation flowchart of animation processing.

FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating an example of color interpolation using a Bezier curve (second embodiment).

FIG. 33 is a configuration diagram of background palette data on the work RAM (second embodiment).

FIG. 34 is an operation flowchart of background color changing processing (second embodiment).

FIG. 35 is an operation flowchart of background color interpolation processing (second embodiment).

FIG. 36 is an operation flowchart of paint frame change processing (second embodiment).

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 CPU 102 Program / Data ROM 104 Input Device 105 VDP 106 SRAM 108 Television 207 Color Lookup Table Unit

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A drawing color changing method applied to a method of reproducing a moving image by arranging a plurality of partial images prepared in advance on a display screen according to predetermined display management information. A plurality of partial images stored in the storage unit are divided into groups according to a preset setting, and when a drawing color of the partial image is designated, a group of the partial images to which the drawing color is designated belongs to A drawing color changing method characterized in that the drawing color of the partial image is changed according to the moving image reproduction based on the specified drawing color. 2. A drawing color changing method applied to a method of reproducing a moving image by arranging a plurality of prepared partial images on a display screen according to predetermined display management information. A plurality of partial images stored in the storage unit are divided into groups according to a preset setting, a reproduction position in which a drawing color is designated for the partial images belonging to the group is detected, and the partial images belong to the group. At least one of the drawing color specified for the partial image, the reproduction position where the drawing color is specified, and the number of reproduction positions is reflected to change the drawing color of the partial image belonging to the group according to the moving image reproduction. A method for changing the drawing color, which is characterized by: 3. The change of the drawing color for the partial images belonging to the group in accordance with the reproduction of the moving image is made uniform by assigning the same color code to each partial image belonging to the group, and the drawing color set to the color code. The drawing color changing method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the drawing color is changed according to the progress of the moving image reproduction. 4. A storage unit for storing a plurality of partial images prepared in advance, and the partial images stored in the storage unit are arranged on a display screen in accordance with predetermined display management information. By this, in a device that reproduces a moving image, a color designating unit that designates a drawing color of the partial image, and a plurality of partial images stored in the storage unit are grouped according to a preset setting, When the drawing color of the partial image is designated by the color designating unit, the partial image of the group to which the partial image designated by the drawing color belongs is designated by the color designating unit according to the reproduction of the moving image. A moving image reproducing apparatus comprising: a control unit that changes the color based on a color. 5. A storage means for storing a plurality of partial images prepared in advance is provided, and the partial images stored in the storage means are arranged on a display screen in accordance with predetermined display management information. And a reproduction position detecting unit that detects a reproduction position in which the drawing color of the partial image is specified by the color specifying unit. Means and a plurality of partial images stored in the storage means are grouped according to a preset setting, and when the drawing color is designated by the color designating means for the partial images belonging to the group, the designation is performed. Control means for changing the drawing color of the partial image to which the group belongs in accordance with the reproduction of the moving image, based on the drawn color and the reproduction position detected by the reproduction position detection means. A video playback device comprising: 6. The control unit reflects at least one of a drawing color specified for a partial image belonging to the group, a reproduction position in which the drawing color is specified, and the number of reproduction positions to reflect the group. 6. The moving picture reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the drawing color of the partial image belonging to is changed according to the reproduction of the moving picture. 7. A drawing color set to the color code is unified by assigning the same color code to each of the partial images belonging to the group, in order to change the drawing color of the partial images belonging to the group in accordance with moving image reproduction. 7. The moving picture reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein the above is changed according to the progress of the moving picture reproduction.