JP7660441B2 - Information processing device, program, and game image generating method - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to an information processing device, a program, and a game image generation method.

In sports games such as soccer and baseball, one method known for expressing the movements of individual spectators in a crowd while reducing the processing load is to prepare a texture that resembles a crowd and map it onto a large number of polygons placed in the spectator stands. For example, technology that realizes a realistic representation in which each individual in a group is individually controlled has been known for some time (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-222413 A

For example, the technology in Patent Document 1 creates a large crowd of spectators in the stands by placing multiple spectator polygons in the stands. The spectator polygons are generated by mapping multiple spectator textures onto a single rectangular plate polygon. The spectator texture is a texture obtained by rendering a spectator model, which is an object (model) that mimics a spectator.

In recent years, Warriors games have become popular, in which the player character mows down a large number of enemy characters that appear. Since a large number of enemy characters appear at once in Warriors games, the number of polygons placed on the game screen can be reduced, and the processing load can be lightened, by generating an enemy polygon model by mapping multiple enemy textures onto a single polygon plate.

However, when using an enemy polygon model in which multiple enemy textures are mapped onto one plate polygon, for example, an enemy character model that is blown away or flees due to an attack by the player character will flee or be blown away in units of plate polygons, which could reduce the sense of realism. Patent Document 1 does not solve this problem.

The objective of this disclosure is to reduce the processing load of games that generate images of multiple objects moving separately while still maintaining a sense of realism.

According to the present disclosure, there is provided an information processing device that generates an image of an object space viewed from a predetermined viewpoint and allows a user to play a game, the information processing device having a polygon rendering unit that renders a first polygon model in which a texture on which multiple objects move is mapped onto a plate polygon whose position is controlled so that it faces the viewpoint, an image generation unit that generates an image of the game in which the first polygon model is arranged, and a polygon modification unit that changes the rendering of the first polygon model, which has become a state in which the objects move separately in the game, to a rendering of multiple second polygon models in which the textures of each of the multiple objects are mapped, and the image generation unit generates an image of the game in which the multiple second polygon models move separately.

This disclosure makes it possible to reduce the processing load of a game that generates images of multiple objects moving separately, while still maintaining a sense of realism.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an example of a game system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an information processing device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an information processing device according to the present embodiment. 1A and 1B are diagrams showing the configurations of a multiple enemy polygon model and a single enemy polygon model. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process of the game system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 13 is an example conceptual diagram of a game image in which multiple enemy polygon models and a single enemy polygon model are arranged as objects. FIG. 13 is an example conceptual diagram of an image of a game in which multiple enemy polygon models that are about to be blown away are changed to a single enemy polygon model. FIG. 13 is an example image of a game image showing a single enemy polygon that has been changed from a multiple enemy polygon model being blown away.

Below, the form for implementing this disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[System configuration]
First, a system configuration for realizing a game image generating method according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram of an example of a game system according to this embodiment. The game system according to an embodiment is configured with an information processing device 10 shown in Fig. 1 (A) or an information processing system shown in Fig. 1 (B). The information processing device 10 in Fig. 1 (A) is a computer operated by a user. The information processing device 10 in Fig. 1 (A) accepts an operation from a user via a touch panel, a controller, a mouse, a keyboard, or the like, executes information processing according to the operation, and displays the execution result.

The information processing system in FIG. 1(B) has an information processing device 10 and a server device 14 connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via a network 18. The information processing device 10 in FIG. 1(B) is a computer similar to that in FIG. 1(A). The server device 14 in FIG. 1(B) can also be realized by a computer similar to that in FIG. 1(A).

The server device 14 transmits and receives data to and from the information processing device 10, executes information processing according to the user's operation accepted by the information processing device 10, and provides the execution result to the information processing device 10. The information processing device 10 displays the execution result provided by the server device 14.

The server device 14 may be realized by a cloud computer. Note that the number of server devices 14 shown in FIG. 1(B) is not limited to one, and two or more may be used for distributed processing. The server device 14 may be used for downloading programs (applications) to the information processing device 10, user login processing, or processing for managing various databases. Note that the system configuration in FIG. 1 is an example.

[Hardware configuration]
The information processing device 10 according to this embodiment is configured, for example, as shown in Fig. 2. The configuration of the server device 14 is similar to that of the information processing device 10, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the information processing device according to this embodiment.

The information processing device 10 in FIG. 2 has, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 100, a storage device 102, a communication device 104, an input device 106, and an output device 108. The CPU 100 controls the information processing device 10 in accordance with a program. The storage device 102 is, for example, a memory such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a RAM (Random Access Memory), or a storage such as a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive). The storage device 102 stores the programs and data executed by the CPU 100.

The communication device 104 is a communication device such as a network circuit that controls communication. The input device 106 is an input device such as a touchpad, a controller, a mouse, a keyboard, a camera, or a microphone. The output device 108 is an output device such as a display or a speaker. A touch panel is realized by combining a touchpad, which is an example of the input device 106, with a display, which is an example of the output device 108. The hardware configuration in FIG. 2 is an example.

[Function block]
In the following, a functional configuration example will be described in which the information processing device 10 accepts operations for a game being executed from a user such as a player, generates and displays game images corresponding to the operations, and allows the user to play the game. The functional configuration in Fig. 3 is one example, and for example, at least a part of the functional configuration shown in Fig. 3 may be provided in the server device 14, and the information processing device 10 and the server device 14 may cooperate to perform processing.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of an information processing device according to this embodiment. The information processing device 10 in FIG. 3 has a control unit 200, an operation reception unit 202, an output control unit 204, a communication unit 206, and a storage unit 210.

The storage unit 210 stores a game program 212, an object DB 214, a texture DB 216, and a polygon DB 218. The storage unit 210 may be realized by the storage device 102, or may be realized by a storage device connected via the network 18, etc.

The game program 212 is an example of a game processing program executed by the CPU 100. The object DB 214 stores information about objects such as player characters and enemy characters that are displayed in game images.

Texture DB216 stores information about the textures of objects such as player characters and enemy characters. The textures of objects such as player characters and enemy characters are obtained by rendering models of objects such as player characters and enemy characters.

Polygon DB218 stores information about polygon models that are generated by mapping the texture of objects such as player characters and enemy characters onto at least one polygon. In 3DCG software and the like, polygons, meshes, and surfaces are distinguished by their names, but here they are simply called polygons. In this embodiment, for example, a polygon model of an enemy character (hereinafter referred to as an enemy polygon model) is placed within the object space, and an image of the object space viewed from a specified viewpoint (virtual camera) is generated to allow the user to play the game.

Object space is a space in which a polygon model of an object exists in a three-dimensional coordinate system. The polygon model of the object is placed in the object space using three-dimensional computer graphics. Note that the polygon models in this embodiment include polygon models in which an object is created using plate polygons called billboards, and polygon models in which the shape of an object is created through modeling. A billboard is a plate polygon whose position is controlled so that it faces forward relative to the viewpoint when generating an image of the object space viewed from a specific viewpoint.

The control unit 200 performs overall control of the information processing device 10. The overall control of the information processing device 10 includes the control of accepting operations from a user for a game being played, and generating and displaying game images in response to the operations.

The control unit 200 is realized by the CPU 100 executing the processes described in a program such as the game program 212. The control unit 200 in FIG. 3 is configured to have a game control unit 230. The game control unit 230 is also configured to have a texture generation unit 240, a polygon drawing unit 242, a polygon modification unit 244, an image generation unit 246, and an attack determination unit 248.

The game control unit 230 controls the game. For example, the game control unit 230 executes game processing, generates game images according to the game processing being executed, and displays them on the output device 108 as a game screen.

The texture generation unit 240 renders models of objects such as player characters and enemy characters to generate textures for the objects. The polygon drawing unit 242 maps the texture to a polygon model (described below) to render (draw) an enemy polygon model (described below).

The polygon models drawn by the polygon drawing unit 242 include polygon models in which textures that display multiple enemy characters in action are mapped onto a plate polygon called a billboard (hereafter referred to as multiple enemy polygon models).

The polygons drawn by the polygon drawing unit 242 also include polygon models onto which textures that move individual enemy characters are mapped (hereinafter referred to as individual enemy polygon models) when generating an image of the object space viewed from a specific viewpoint.

The polygon modification unit 244 performs processing to change the rendering of multiple enemy polygon models to rendering of a single enemy polygon model when multiple enemy polygon models displayed in a game image are blown away or fleeing due to an attack or the like. Note that being blown away and fleeing are examples of a state of moving separately. Below, a state in which multiple enemy characters are blown away in different directions will be described as an example of a state of moving separately. The polygon modification unit 244 changes the rendering of multiple enemy characters displayed by multiple enemy polygon models in a blown away state to rendering of multiple single enemy polygon models, making it possible to display different actions, such as multiple enemy characters being blown away separately.

The image generation unit 246 generates images of the game being played according to information about objects stored in the object DB 214, information about the textures of objects stored in the texture DB 216, information about polygon models stored in the polygon DB 218, and the like. The image generation unit 246 generates images of the game in which a polygon model of a player character, a multiple enemy polygon model, a single enemy polygon model, and the like are arranged within an object space.

Then, the attack determination unit 248 determines which enemy characters among those displayed in the game image have received an attack, and determines the multiple enemy polygon models that are in a state of being blown away.

The operation reception unit 202 receives various operations by the user on the input device 106. The output control unit 204 displays various screens on the output device 108 according to the control of the control unit 200. The operation reception unit 202 is realized by the CPU 100 controlling the input device 106 according to a program. The output control unit 204 is realized by the CPU 100 controlling the output device 108 according to a program. Various operations by the user on the input device 106 refer to operations by the user manipulating the operation reception unit 202 to cause the CPU 100 to execute processing. The output control unit 204 displays various screens and outputs sounds according to the control of the control unit 200.

The communication unit 206 communicates via the network 18, etc. The communication unit 206 is realized by the CPU 100 executing a program and controlling the communication device 104 in accordance with the program.

[Multiple enemy polygons and single enemy polygons]
4A and 4B are diagrams showing the configurations of a multiple enemy polygon model and a single enemy polygon model. Fig. 4A shows the configuration of a multiple enemy polygon model 1004. Fig. 4B shows the configuration of a single enemy polygon model 1014.

The multiple enemy polygon model 1004 is generated by mapping the texture 1000 of multiple enemy characters (three in FIG. 4) onto a plate polygon 1002 called a billboard. Note that while the texture 1000 in FIG. 4 shows an example of a texture obtained by rendering the same enemy character, it may be a texture obtained by rendering different enemy characters. Furthermore, the single enemy polygon model 1014 is generated by mapping the texture 1010 of a single enemy character onto a normal polygon model 1012.

As shown in FIG. 4, the multiple enemy polygon model 1004 can render multiple enemy characters with a single plate polygon 1002, which reduces the number of polygons to be rendered and reduces the processing load for generating game images. However, because the multiple enemy polygon model 1004 renders multiple enemy characters with a single plate polygon 1002, if an enemy character is displayed as it is, multiple enemy characters will be displayed as being blown away in exactly the same way, which may diminish the sense of realism.

On the other hand, the single enemy polygon model 1014 renders one enemy character using one polygon model 1012, so it cannot render fewer polygons than the multiple enemy polygon model 1004, but it does make it possible to display multiple enemy characters as if they were blown away separately (in pieces), maintaining a sense of realism.

In this embodiment, therefore, in order to reduce the processing load of the game that generates an image in which multiple enemy characters are blown away while still maintaining a sense of realism, the rendering of multiple enemy polygon models 1004 that are blown away among the multiple enemy polygon models 1004 arranged in the game image is changed to the rendering of multiple individual enemy polygon models 1014.

More specifically, in the example of Figure 4, when the three enemy characters displayed in the multiple enemy polygon model 1004 are in a state in which they are to be blown away, the three enemy characters are displayed in three individual enemy polygon models 1014, making it possible to display the three enemy characters as being blown away separately.

[process]
Below, a description will be given of an example of processing in which the game system according to this embodiment accepts an operation for the game from a user, generates an image of the game according to the operation, and displays (outputs) it on the output device 108. Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the game system according to this embodiment.

In step S10, the information processing device 10 receives an operation from the user to start playing the game. The game control unit 230 of the information processing device 10 starts executing game processing in accordance with the operation received from the user.

In step S12, the game control unit 230 selects models of objects such as player characters and enemy characters required for the game images to be generated, and requests the texture generation unit 240 to generate textures for each model. The texture generation unit 240 generates textures for the objects for which the request has been accepted.

The polygon rendering unit 242 maps the texture of an enemy character object onto, for example, the plate polygon 1002 or normal polygon model 1012 shown in FIG. 4, and renders a multiple enemy polygon model 1004 or a single enemy polygon model 1014. The image generation unit 246 generates a game image in which the multiple enemy polygon model 1004 and the single enemy polygon model 1014 are placed as objects in the object space. The output control unit 204 displays the game image generated by the image generation unit 246 on the output device 108.

Figure 6 is an image diagram of an example of a game image in which multiple enemy polygon models and single enemy polygon models are placed as objects. Figure 6 shows an example of a game image in which multiple enemy polygon models 2000-2014 and single enemy polygon model 1014 are placed as objects. Note that in Figure 6, multiple enemy polygon models 2000-2014 are surrounded by dotted lines to make them easier to recognize. The dotted lines surrounding multiple enemy polygon models 2000-2014 are not displayed in the actual game image. Also, Figure 6 shows an example of a game image in which a polygon model of a player character is not placed as an object.

In step S14, the game control unit 230 determines whether an attack has been made against an enemy character. If an attack has not been made against an enemy character, the game control unit 230 skips steps S16 to S20 and performs step S22.

If an attack is being made against an enemy character, the attack determination unit 248 of the game control unit 230 performs processing in step S16. In step S16, the attack determination unit 248 determines whether the multiple enemy polygon models 1004 displayed in the game image have become targets of attack and are in a state in which they are about to be blown away.

If the multiple enemy polygon model 1004 is not in a state where it is about to be blown away, the game control unit 230 determines that it is the single enemy polygon model 1014 that is in a state where it is about to be blown away, skips the processing of step S18, and performs the processing of step S20.

If the multiple enemy polygon model 1004 is in a state where it is about to be blown away, the polygon modification unit 244 performs processing in step S18. In step S18, the polygon modification unit 244 performs processing to change the drawing of the multiple enemy polygon model 1004 in a state where it is about to be blown away to the drawing of a single enemy polygon model, and then performs processing in step S20.

Figure 7 is an image diagram of an example of a game image in which multiple enemy polygon models that are about to be blown away have been changed to the rendering of a single enemy polygon model. Figure 7 shows an example of multiple enemy polygon model 2002 arranged in the game image of Figure 6 that is about to be blown away, and the rendering of multiple enemy polygon model 2002 has been changed to the rendering of three single enemy polygon models 2018-2022.

In the processing of step S18, in the case of the screen image of FIG. 7, one multiple enemy polygon model 2002 that is about to be blown away is separated into three single enemy polygon models 2018 to 2022.

In step S20, the image generation unit 246 generates a game image in which the individual enemy polygon models 1014 being blown away, including the individual enemy polygon model 1014 changed from the multiple enemy polygon model 1004, are blown away separately. The output control unit 204 displays the game image generated by the image generation unit 246 on the output device 108.

Figure 8 is an image of an example of a game image showing a single enemy polygon that has been changed from a multiple enemy polygon model being blown away. In Figure 8, three single enemy polygon models 2018-2022, which have been changed from a multiple enemy polygon model 2002 that is about to be blown away, are shown being blown away in different directions, showing different actions.

In step S22, the game control unit 230 determines whether the game has ended. If the game has not ended, the game control unit 230 returns to step S12 and continues the game processing shown after step S12. If the game has ended, the game control unit 230 ends the processing of the flowchart in FIG. 5.

In this way, in this embodiment, enemy characters before they are blown away are rendered using multiple enemy polygon models 1004 to reduce the processing load, while enemy characters that are about to be blown away due to an attack or the like are re-rendered using a single enemy polygon model 1014, making it possible to maintain the sense of realism of the scene in which the enemy character is blown away.

In this embodiment, an example of a game image has been described, but it can also be applied to a screen in which an image viewed from a specific viewpoint in a virtual space where the avatars of users of a social network service and non-player characters (NPCs) interact, change to a state in which the user's avatar or NPCs fly around or move separately.

According to this embodiment, in an information processing device 10 that generates an image of an object space viewed from a specific viewpoint and allows a user to play a game, it is possible to reduce the processing load of a game that generates images in which multiple objects are blown away in different directions or multiple objects escape in different directions, while maintaining a sense of realism.

The disclosed embodiment of the information processing device should be considered as an example and not a limitation. The above embodiment can be modified and improved in various forms without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims. Furthermore, the matters described in the above-mentioned embodiments can have other configurations as long as they are not inconsistent, and can be combined as long as they are not inconsistent.

10 Information processing device 14 Server device 18 Network 200 Control unit 202 Operation reception unit 204 Output control unit 206 Communication unit 210 Storage unit 212 Game program 214 Object DB
216 Texture DB
218 Polygon DB
230 Game control unit 240 Texture generation unit 242 Polygon drawing unit 244 Polygon modification unit 246 Image generation unit 248 Attack determination unit

Claims (4)

An information processing device that generates an image of an object space viewed from a predetermined viewpoint and allows a user to play a game,
a polygon rendering unit that renders a first polygon model in which a texture on which a plurality of objects move is mapped onto a plate polygon whose position is controlled so as to face the front with respect to the viewpoint;
an image generation unit that generates an image of the game in which the first polygon model is arranged;
a polygon modification unit that modifies a rendering of the first polygon model in which the plurality of objects move separately in the game into a rendering of a plurality of second polygon models onto which textures of the respective plurality of objects are mapped;
having
the image generation unit generates an image of the game that displays the plurality of second polygon models moving separately;
the game image includes a plurality of the first polygon models arranged therein;
An information processing device, wherein, among the plurality of first polygon models, a first polygon model that is in a fleeing state or that has been attacked in the game causes the plurality of objects to move separately . 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plate polygon is utilized to reduce the number of polygons to be rendered. An information processing device that generates an image viewed from a predetermined viewpoint within an object space and allows a user to play a game,
a polygon rendering unit that renders a first polygon model in which a texture on which a plurality of objects move is mapped onto a plate polygon whose position is controlled so as to face the front with respect to the viewpoint;
an image generation unit that generates an image of the game in which the first polygon model is arranged;
a polygon modification unit that modifies the rendering of the first polygon model in which the plurality of objects move separately in the game into rendering of a plurality of second polygon models onto which textures of the respective plurality of objects are mapped;
Function as a
the image generation unit generates an image of the game that displays the plurality of second polygon models moving separately;
the game image includes a plurality of the first polygon models arranged therein;
a first polygon model among the plurality of first polygon models that is in a fleeing state or that has been attacked in the game causes the plurality of objects to move separately . 1. A game image generating method for an information processing device that generates an image of an object space viewed from a predetermined viewpoint and allows a user to play a game, comprising:
A step of drawing a first polygon model in which a texture on which a plurality of objects move is mapped onto a plate polygon whose position is controlled so as to face the front with respect to the viewpoint;
generating an image of the game in which the first polygon model is arranged;
changing the rendering of the first polygon model in which the plurality of objects move separately in the game to rendering of a plurality of second polygon models onto which textures of the respective plurality of objects are mapped;
generating an image of the game that displays the plurality of second polygon models moving separately;
The information processing device executes
the game image includes a plurality of the first polygon models arranged therein;
A game image generating method , wherein, among the plurality of first polygon models, a first polygon model that is in a fleeing state or that has been attacked in the game causes the plurality of objects to move separately.

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