Game Device, Image Generation Method, Information Recording Medium And Program

• US 20100304808A1
• Filed: 11/26/2008
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Kawabata, Yasuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,465,352 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/2
• 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 13/577 using determination of contact between game characters or objects, e.g. to avoid collision between virtual racing cars
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/643 by determining the impact between objects, e.g. collision detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/646 for calculating the trajectory of an object
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 Shooting

Abstract

A plane defining unit (241) defines a horizontal plane in the field of view, within whose bounds an own character exists. A block division unit (242) divides the defined plane into a plurality of blocks. An aiming position selecting unit (243) randomly selects a predetermined number of aiming positions, which are arbitrary positions in each of the blocks thus divided. An reaching determining unit (244) determines whether a bullet can reach each of the target positions thus selected, based on a positional relationship with an opponent character, who conducts shooting, and the like. An aiming position deciding unit (245) randomly decides one target position from among the target positions determined to be reachable. An image generating unit (250) generates a game image including the own character attacked by a bullet shoot at the decided target position.

Claims

1. A game device wherein an opponent character shoots an object toward an own character in a virtual space, the device comprising:

a dividing unit (242) divides a predetermined plane in a field of vision, within whose bounds a character exists, into a plurality of blocks;

a selecting unit (243) randomly selects a predetermined number of arbitrary target positions in each of the blocks thus divided;

a determining unit (244) determines whether the object can reach each of the target positions thus selected, based on a positional relationship with the opponent character, who is an attacker;

a deciding unit (245) randomly decides at least one target position from among the target positions determined to be reachable; and

an image generating unit (250) generates a game image including the own character attacked by an object shot at the decided target position.

2. The game device according to claim 1, wherein

the dividing unit (242) divides a horizontal plane with a predetermined shape and a variable length in a depth direction, into a predetermined number of blocks, based on a virtual viewpoint position,

3. The game device according to claim 1, wherein

the selecting unit (243) selects, the target positions except an area corresponding to the own character in each of the blocks.

4. The game device according to claim 1, wherein

the determining unit (244) determines whether the object can reach target positions based on whether an obstacle is present or absent on paths between a position of the opponent character and the target positions.

5. The game device according to claim 4, wherein

even when an obstacle exists on the path, the determining unit (244) determines that the object can reach a target position if the obstacle is located near the own character in the field of vision;

and

when the deciding unit (245) decides a target position on whose path an obstacle exists, the image generating unit (250) generates a game image of the object colliding the obstacle.

6. An image generation method performed by a game device comprising a calculating unit and a drawing unit, wherein an opponent character shoots an object toward an own character in a virtual space, the method comprising:

a dividing step (S302), wherein the calculating unit divides a predetermined plane in a field of vision, within whose bounds a character exists, into a plurality of blocks;

a selecting step (S303), wherein the calculating unit randomly selects a predetermined number of arbitrary target positions in each of the blocks thus divided;

a determining step (S305), wherein the calculating unit determines whether the object can reach each of the target positions thus selected, based on a positional relationship with the opponent character, who is an attacker;

a deciding step (S309), wherein the calculating unit randomly decides at least one target position from among the target positions determined to be reachable; and

an image generating step (S310), wherein the drawing unit generates a game image including the own character attacked by an object shot at the decided target position.

7. An information recording medium recording a program that causes a computer, wherein an opponent character shoots an object toward an own character in a virtual space, to act as:

a dividing unit (242) divides a predetermined plane in a field of vision, within whose bounds a character exists, into a plurality of blocks;

a selecting unit (243) randomly selects a predetermined number of arbitrary target positions in each of the blocks thus divided;

a determining unit (244) determines whether the object can reach each of the target positions thus selected, based on a positional relationship with the opponent character, who is an attacker;

a deciding unit (245) randomly decides at least one target position from among the target positions determined to be reachable; and

an image generating unit (250) generates a game image including the own character attacked by a object shot at the determined target position.

8. A program that causes a computer, wherein an opponent character shoots an object toward an own character in a virtual space, to act as:

a dividing unit (242) divides a predetermined plane in a field of vision, within whose bounds a character exists, into a plurality of blocks;

a selecting unit (243) randomly selects a predetermined number of arbitrary target positions in each of the blocks thus divided;

a determining unit (244) determines whether the object can reach each of the target positions thus selected, based on a positional relationship with the opponent character, who is an attacker;

a deciding unit (245) randomly decides at least one target position from among the target positions determined to be reachable; and

an image generating unit (250) generates a game image including the own character attacked by a object shot at the decided target position.