Image processing apparatus and game apparatus

• US 20040209680A1
• Filed: 06/07/2004
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega
• Inventors: Oyamada, Hideyuki, Masuda, Ryosuke
• Granted Patent: US 7,593,014 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/57 Simulating properties, behaviour or motion of objects in the game world, e.g. computing tyre load in a car race game A63F13/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/828 Managing virtual sport teams
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6607 for animating game characters, e.g. skeleton kinematics
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/40 of characters, e.g. humans, animals or virtual beings

Abstract

An image processing apparatus including image creation means (S14) for creating an animated image of a character in accordance with shape data of the character (S11) shifting with a predetermined motion in a virtual space, motion data (S12) indicating the predetermined action, and shift amount data (S13) of a shift amount for each of the predetermined actions of the character, and reproduction/display means (S16) for displaying the animated images of the characters on display means. The characters have shapes different in size. The motion data is common to all the characters. The shift amount data is set to a shift amount proportional to the character size. The reproduction/display means changes the reproduction speed (S15) of the animated image of the character created by the image creation means, in accordance with the shift amount data of the character.

Claims

1. An image processing method for creating an animated image of a character in accordance with:

shape data of the character;

motion data indicating variations per unit of time of the shape data for a predetermined motion of the character in a virtual space;

motion displaying speed data indicating a speed to display the predetermined motion in accordance with the motion data;

shift amount data indicating a shift amount per unit of motion for the predetermined motion of the character; and

ability data indicating a shift amount per unit of time for the predetermined motion of the character,

wherein, size data indicating a character size in the virtual space and the ability data are individually set for different characters, and the method comprises;

a step for creating second shift amount data by changing the shift amount data in accordance with the size data;

a step for creating second motion displaying speed data by changing the motion displaying speed data in accordance with the ability data; and

a step for creating, in accordance with the second shift amount data and the second motion displaying speed data, an animated image of the character shifting with the predetermined motions.

2. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of types of predetermined motions are set and the method further comprises a step for determining whether or not said changing of the motion displaying speed data is needed, in accordance with the types of the predetermined motions.

3. The image processing method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of characters are displayed and, for a motion common to the plurality of characters, common motion data is provided to the plurality of characters irrespective of the character size.

4. An image processing method for creating an animated image of a running character in accordance with:

shape data of the character;

running motion data indicating variations per unit of time of the shape data of the running motion for the character in a virtual space;

running motion displaying speed data indicating a speed to display the running motion in accordance with the running motion data;

stride data indicating a shift amount of each stride for the running motion of the character; and

running ability data indicating a distance traveled per unit of time for the running motion of the character,

wherein, size data indicating a character size in the virtual space and the running ability data are individually set for different characters, and the method comprises;

a step for creating second stride data by changing the stride data in accordance with the size data;

a step for creating second running motion displaying speed data by changing the running motion displaying speed data in accordance with the running ability data; and

a step for creating, in accordance with the second stride data and the second running motion displaying speed data, an animated image of the running character.

5. An image processing method comprising:

an image creating step for creating an animated image for each of a plurality of characters in accordance with shape data of the plurality of characters shifting with predetermined motions in a virtual space, motion data indicating the predetermined motions, and shift amount data indicating a shift amount for each of the predetermined motions of each character; and

a displaying step for displaying the animated image of each of the characters on display means,

wherein, the plurality of characters have shapes different in size;

the motion data is common to all the characters;

the shift amount data is a shift amount proportional to the character size; and

, in the image creating step, a reproduction speed of the animated image for each character changes in accordance with the shift amount data of the character.

6. An image processing method comprising:

an image creating step for creating an animated image for each of a plurality of characters in accordance with shape data of the plurality of characters that are set in different sizes and shifting with predetermined motions in a virtual space, motion data indicating the predetermined motions, and shift amount data indicating a shift amount for each of the predetermined motions of each character; and

a displaying step for displaying the animated image of each of the characters on display means,

wherein, in the image creating step, scaling of the shift amount data is performed and a reproduction speed of the animated images changes, in accordance with the character'"'"'s size.

7. The image processing method according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of types of predetermined motions are set and the method further comprises a determination step for determining whether or not to perform the scaling of the shift amount data in accordance with each character'"'"'s size, depending on the types of the predetermined motions.

8. The image processing method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the image creating step involves the scaling of the shift amount data by using the shape data.

9. An image processing apparatus for creating an animated image of a character in accordance with shape data of the character shifting with a predetermined motion in a virtual space, motion data indicating variations per unit of time of the shape data for the predetermined motion, and shift amount data indicating a shift amount per unit of motion for the predetermined motion of the character, comprising:

means for changing the reproduction speed of the animated image in accordance with the character size; and

means for creating the animated image of the character by using the reproduction speed based on the character size.

10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a plurality of types of predetermined motions are set and the apparatus further comprises means for determining whether or not said changing of the reproduction speed in accordance with the types of the predetermined motions.

11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, wherein a plurality of characters are displayed and, for a motion common to the plurality of characters, common motion data is provided to the plurality of characters irrespective of the character size.

12. An image processing apparatus comprising:

image creation means for creating an animated image of a character in accordance with shape data of the character shifting with a motion in a virtual space, motion data indicating the predetermined motion, and shift amount data indicating a shift amount for each of the predetermined motions of the character; and

display means for displaying a plurality of the animated images of the characters,

wherein, a plurality of characters has shapes different in size;

the motion data is common to all the characters;

the shift amount data is set to a shift amount proportional to the character size; and

the image creation means changes a reproduction speed of the animated image of each character in accordance with the shift amount data of the character.

13. An image processing apparatus comprising:

image creation means for creating an animated image for each of a plurality of characters in accordance with shape data of the plurality of characters that are set in different sizes and shifting with predetermined motions in a virtual space, motion data indicating the predetermined motions, and shift amount data of a shift amount for each of the predetermined motions of each character; and

display means for displaying the animated image of each of the characters,

wherein, the image creation means performs scaling of the shift amount data and changes a reproduction speed of the animated image, in accordance with the character'"'"'s size.

14. The image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a plurality of types of predetermined motions are set and the apparatus further comprises determination means for determining whether or not to perform the scaling of the shift amount data in accordance with the character'"'"'s size, depending on the types of the predetermined motions.

15. The image processing apparatus according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the image creation means performs the scaling of the shift amount data by using the shape data.

16. A game apparatus with which a user can manipulate a player character on one team in a team game using a game medium such as a ball, the game apparatus comprising:

manipulation control means for controlling motions of the character manipulated by the user, in accordance with a manipulation signal for the relevant player character;

control means for controlling motions of player characters other than the player character manipulated by the user;

passing control means for controlling a pass action in accordance with a pass instruction by the user, when the player character manipulated by the user controls the game medium;

determination means for determining when passing whether or not to change an object player character to be manipulated by the user, in accordance with an manipulation by the user; and

object changing means for making a player character who is going to receive the game medium to become the object player character, when changing the object player character to be manipulated by the user in accordance with the determination by the determination means.

17. The game apparatus according to claim 16, wherein when the determination means determines not to change the object player character of the manipulation by the user, the object player character of the manipulation by the user is changed from the player character making the pass to the player character who is going to receive the game medium in accordance with a subsequent manipulation by the user.

18. A game controlling method for a game apparatus with which a user can manipulate a player character on one team in a team game using a game medium such as a ball, executing:

manipulation control processing for controlling motion of the character manipulated by the user, in accordance with a manipulation signal for the relevant player character;

control processing for controlling motion of player characters other than the player character manipulated by the user;

passing control processing for controlling a pass action in accordance with a pass instruction by the user, when the player character manipulated by the user controls the game medium;

determination processing for determining when passing, whether or not to change an object player character to be manipulated by the user, in accordance with a manipulation by the user; and

object changing processing for making a player character who is going to receive the game medium to become the object player character, when changing the object player character to be manipulated by the user in accordance with the determination made in the determination processing.

19. A game apparatus with which a first user and a second user respectively manipulate player characters on competing first and second teams respectively, comprising:

means for selecting, from the first team, a plurality of candidates for a player character who will execute a predetermined play and displaying such candidates;

means for accepting a selection of a player character who will execute the predetermined play, made by the first user in a manner that the second user cannot see which player character among the candidates is selected;

means for displaying a feint action by a player character among the candidates, different from the selected player character; and

means for making the selected player character execute the predetermined play and displaying such play.

20. The game apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the means for accepting the selection made by the first user displays the selection on a display element such that only the first user can see.

21. The game apparatus according to claim 19 or 20, further comprising selection means with which the first user selects a player character who will execute the feint action.

22. The game apparatus according to any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein a plurality of player characters can be selected to execute the feint actions and the game apparatus further comprises feint action execution sequence selection means, with which the first user selects an execution sequence of the feint actions for the plurality of player characters.

23. A game controlling method for a game apparatus with which a first and second users manipulate player characters on competing first and second teams respectively, comprising:

a step for selecting and displaying, from the first team, a plurality of candidates for a player character who will execute a predetermined play;

a step for accepting a selection of a player character who will execute the predetermined play, made by the first user in a manner that the second user cannot see which player character among the candidates is selected;

a step for displaying a feint action by a player character among the candidates, different from the selected player character; and

a step for making the selected player character execute the predetermined play and displaying such play.

24. The game controlling method according to claim 23, further comprising a step of accepting the selection, made by the first user, of a player character to execute the feint action.

25. The game controlling method according to claim 23 or 24, wherein a plurality of player characters can be selected to execute the feint actions and the method further comprises a step for accepting the selection, made by the first user, of a execution sequence of the feint actions for the plurality of player characters.

26. A game apparatus simulating a team game involving passing of a game medium such as a ball, comprising:

pass instruction means for enabling to pass the game medium in accordance with a manipulation by a user;

pass direction specifying means for specifying a direction of passing the game medium; and

search means for specifying a player character to whom the game medium is passed,

wherein, when the pass instruction means and the search means are used simultaneously, the game medium is passed to the player character specified by the search means, whereas when the pass instruction means is operated without the search means being operated, the game medium is passed in a direction specified by the pass direction specifying means.

27. The game apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the pass direction specifying means determines a traveling direction of a player character manipulated by the user as the direction of passing the game medium.

28. The game apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the pass direction specifying means determines the direction specified by a key operation which is not related to a traveling direction of a player character manipulated by the user, as a direction of passing the game medium.

29. The game apparatus according to any one of claims 26 to 28, wherein a plurality of pass instruction means are provided depending on passing distances, and if the search means is not operated when any one of the pass instruction means is operated, the game medium is passed a distance that corresponds to the operated pass instruction means, in a direction specified by the pass direction specifying means.

30. The game apparatus according to any one of claims 26 to 29, wherein a plurality of pass instruction means are provided and the search means specifies a player character among same team player characters to whom the game medium is passed which is within a distance that corresponds to the operated pass instruction means among the plurality of pass instruction means.

31. The game apparatus according to any one of claims 26 to 30, wherein a plurality of pass instruction means are provided depending on passing distances.

32. The game apparatus according to any one of claims 26 to 31, wherein when the pass direction specifying means is operated, the search means specifies a player character among same team player characters to whom the game medium is passed who is in a direction specified by the pass direction specifying means.

33. The game apparatus according to any one of claims 26 to 32, wherein a path of travel for the game medium is altered in accordance with the length of time during which the pass instruction means has been operated.

34. A game controlling method for a game apparatus simulating a team game involving passing of a game medium such as a ball, the game apparatus comprising:

pass instruction means for enabling to pass the game medium in accordance with a manipulation by a user;

pass direction specifying means for specifying a direction of passing the game medium; and

search means for specifying a player character to whom the game medium is passed,

wherein, the method comprises;

executing a pass to the player character specified by the search means when the pass instruction means and the search means are used simultaneously; and

executing a pass in a direction specified by the pass direction specifying means when the pass instruction means is operated without the search means being operated.

35. The game controlling method according to claim 34, wherein the pass direction specifying means determines a traveling direction of a player character manipulated by the user as the direction of passing the game medium.

36. The game controlling method according to claim 34, wherein the pass direction specifying means determines the direction specified by a key operation which is not related to a traveling direction of a player character manipulated by the user, as the direction of passing the game medium.

37. The game controlling method according to any one of claims 34 to 36, wherein a plurality of pass instruction means are provided, and if the search means is not operated when any one of the pass instruction means is operated, the game medium is passed by a distance that corresponds to the operated pass instruction means, in a direction specified by the pass direction specifying means.

38. The game controlling method according to any one of claims 34 to 37, wherein a plurality of pass instruction means are provided depending on passing distances.

39. The game controlling method according to any one of claims 34 to 38, wherein a plurality of pass instruction means are provided depending on passing distances, and the search means specifies a player character among same team player characters to whom the game medium is passed who is within a distance that corresponds to the operated pass instruction means among the plurality of pass instruction means.

40. The game controlling method according to any one of claims 34 to 39, wherein when the pass direction specifying means is operated, the search means specifies a player character among same team player characters to whom the game medium is passed which is in a direction specified by the pass direction specifying means.

41. The game controlling method according to any one of claims 34 to 40, wherein a path of travel for the game medium is altered in accordance with the length of time during which the pass instruction means has been operated.