Virtual space control method

• US 7,094,153 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2002
• Issued: 08/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Shiina, Hiroshi, Kunieda, Tsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Coburn, Corbett B.
• Application Number:
  US10/092,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20020128063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,630 Days
• Field of Search: 463 31- 33
• US Class Current: 463/32
• 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 13/5255 according to dedicated instructions from a player, e.g. using a secondary joystick to rotate the camera around a player's character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6661 for changing the position of the virtual camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6676 by dedicated player input

Abstract

A program execution apparatus moves the fixation point in a virtual space in response to a change in the direction of a prescribed part of a virtual character in the virtual space. When the program execution apparatus moves the fixation point in a virtual space in response to a change in the direction of a prescribed part of a virtual character in the virtual space, it causes the occurrence of a prescribed object in the virtual space, thereby achieving a video game having a high level of reality and an improved level of entertainment.

Claims

1. A virtual space control method comprising the steps of:

changing an orientation of a prescribed part of a virtual character in a virtual space;

changing a screen image in response to the change in orientation of the prescribed part, wherein the screen image represents a virtual field of view of the virtual space defined by a viewpoint other than a viewpoint of the virtual character and including a whole image of the virtual character;

moving the virtual character in the virtual space; and

detecting an occurrence of a prescribed event,

wherein the step of changing the orientation includes a step of changing the orientation of the prescribed part in response to the occurrence of the prescribed event,

wherein the step of changing the screen image has a step of changing the screen image in response to the movement of the virtual character and to the change in orientation of the prescribed part, and

wherein the prescribed event is selected from a plurality of events occurring in the virtual space.

2. The virtual space control method according to claim 1, wherein

the step of changing the orientation of the prescribed part includes the step of changing the orientation of a head of the virtual character as the change in orientation of the prescribed part, and

the step of changing the screen image includes the step of changing the viewpoint defining the virtual field of view in response to the change in orientation of the head of the virtual character.

3. The virtual space control method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

receiving a operation command input from the virtual character,

wherein the step of changing the orientation includes a step of changing the orientation of the prescribed part in response to an operation command input.

4. The virtual space control method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

generating a prescribed object in the virtual space only when a the movement of me virtual character occurs, and the orientation of the prescribed part is changed in a prescribed manner.

5. The virtual space control method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

setting target coordinates in the virtual space,

wherein the step of changing the orientation includes a step of changing the orientation of the prescribed part of the virtual character toward the target coordinates.

6. The virtual space control method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

setting a limit to an orientation changeable range of the prescribed part of the virtual setting character.

7. The virtual space control method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

causing a change in orientation of another part of the virtual character influenced by the change in orientation of the prescribed part, the change in orientation of said another part being made in a pre-established prescribed proportion to the change in orientation of the prescribed part.

8. The virtual space control method according to claim 1,

wherein the virtual character comprises the prescribed part, a first part, and a second part,

wherein the prescribed part is connected to the first part,

wherein the first part is connected to the second part,

wherein, when the prescribed part moves at a first angle, the first part moves at a second angle, and the second part moves at a third angle, and

wherein the first angle is not less than the sum of the second angle and the third angle.

9. The virtual space control method according to claim 8, wherein

a ratio of the second angle to the first angle is established.

10. The virtual space control method according to claim 8, wherein

a ratio of the third angle to the first angle is established.

11. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded therein a virtual space control program to be executed on a computer, the virtual space control program being configured to execute the steps of:

changing an orientation of a prescribed part of a virtual character in a virtual space;

moving the virtual character in the virtual space;

changing a screen image in response to the change in orientation of the prescribed part and the movement of the virtual character in the virtual space, wherein the screen image represents a virtual field of view defined by a viewpoint other than a viewpoint of the virtual character and includes a whole image of the virtual character; and

detecting occurrence of a prescribed event,

wherein the step of changing the orientation of the prescribed part includes a step of changing the orientation of the prescribed part in response to the occurrence of the prescribed event, and

wherein the prescribed event is selected from a plurality of events occurring in the virtual space.

12. The computer-readable recording medium having recorded therein the virtual space control program to be executed on a computer according to claim 11, wherein

the step of changing the orientation of the prescribed part includes the step of changing the orientation of a head of the virtual character as the change in orientation of the prescribed part, and

the step of changing the screen image includes the step of changing the viewpoint defining the virtual field of view in response to the change in orientation of the head of the virtual character.

13. The computer-readable recording medium having recorded therein the virtual space control program to be executed on a computer according to claim 11, the virtual space control program being further configured to execute the step of:

receiving an operation command input from the virtual character,

wherein the step of changing the orientation of the prescribed part includes a step of changing the orientation of the prescribed part in response to the operation command input.

14. The computer-readable recording medium having recorded therein the virtual space control program to be executed on a computer according to claim 11, the virtual space control program being further configured to execute the step of:

generating a prescribed object in the virtual space only when the movement of the virtual character occurs, and the orientation of the prescribed part is changed in a prescribed manner.

15. The computer-readable recording medium having recorded therein the virtual space control program to be executed on a computer according to claim 11, the virtual space control program being further configured to execute the step of:

setting target coordinates in the virtual space,

wherein the step of changing the orientation includes a step of changing the orientation of the prescribed part of the virtual character toward the target coordinates.

16. The computer-readable recording medium having recorded therein the virtual space control program to be executed on a computer according to claim 11, the virtual space control program being further configured to execute the step of:

setting a limit to an orientation changeable range of the prescribed part of the virtual character.

17. The computer-readable recording medium having recorded therein the virtual space control program to be executed on a computer according to claim 11, the virtual space control program being further configured to execute the step of:

causing a change in orientation of another part of the virtual character influenced by the change in orientation of the prescribed part, the change in orientation of said another part being made in a pre-established prescribed proportion to the change in orientation of the prescribed part.

18. A program execution apparatus that executes a virtual space control program, the virtual space control program being configured to perform the steps of:

changing an orientation of a prescribed part of a virtual character in a virtual space;

changing a screen image in response to the change in orientation of the prescribed part and the movement of the virtual character in the virtual space, wherein the screen image represents a virtual field of view defined by a viewpoint other than a viewpoint of the virtual character and includes a whole image of the virtual character; and

detecting an occurrence of a prescribed event,

wherein the step of changing the orientation includes a step of changing the orientation of the prescribed part in response to the occurrence of the prescribed event, and

wherein the prescribed event is selected from a plurality of events occurring in the virtual space.

19. The program execution apparatus according to claim 18, wherein

the step of changing the orientation of the prescribed part includes the step of changing the orientation of a head of the virtual character as the change in orientation of the prescribed part, and

the step of changing the screen image includes the step of changing the viewpoint defining the virtual field of view in response to the change in orientation of the head of the virtual character.

20. The program execution apparatus according to claim 18, the virtual space control program being further configured to perform the step of:

receiving a operation command input from the virtual character,

wherein the step of changing the orientation includes a step of changing the orientation of the prescribed part in response to an operation command input.

21. The program execution apparatus according to claim 18, the virtual space control program being further configured to perform the step of:

generating a prescribed object in the virtual space only when the movement of the virtual character occurs, and the orientation of the prescribed part is changed in a prescribed manner.

22. The program execution apparatus according to claim 18, the virtual space control program being further configured to perform the step of:

setting target coordinates in the virtual space,

wherein the step of changing the orientation includes a step of changing the orientation of the prescribed part of the virtual character toward the target coordinates.

23. The program execution apparatus according to claim 18, the virtual space control program being further configured to perform the step of:

setting a limit to an orientation changeable range of the prescribed part of the virtual character.

24. The program execution apparatus according to claim 18, the virtual space control program being further configured to perform the step of:

causing a change in orientation of another part of the virtual character influenced by the change in orientation of the prescribed part, the change in orientation of said another part being made in a pre-established prescribed proportion to the change in orientation of the prescribed part.

25. A computer, that executes a virtual space control program, the virtual space control program being configured to perform the steps of:

changing an orientation of a prescribed part of a virtual character in a virtual space;

moving the virtual character in the virtual space;

changing a screen image in response to the change in orientation of the prescribed part and the movement of the virtual character in the virtual space, wherein the screen image represents a virtual field of view defined by a viewpoint other than a viewpoint of the virtual character and includes a whole image of the virtual character; and

detecting an occurrence of a prescribed event,

wherein the step of changing the orientation includes a step of changing the orientation of the prescribed part in response to the occurrence of the prescribed event, and

wherein the prescribed event is selected from a plurality of events occurring in the virtual space.