Method and apparatus for using a common pointing input to control 3D viewpoint and object targeting
First Claim
1. A method of allowing a video game user to both (a) target a location in a three-dimensional (3D) virtual world and (b) pan a view presented from a virtual camera in a desired direction to reveal additional portions of the 3D virtual world with a three-dimensional video game computer graphics display system that includes at least one processor, the method comprising:
- displaying, on a display in a display area, an image of the 3D virtual world viewed through the virtual camera that has a viewing orientation;
controlling, based on and in response to user input, a targeting position in the display area, where the targeting position is used to indicate a location within the 3D virtual world;
determining whether the controlled targeting position is within a distance threshold;
targeting different locations within the 3D virtual world without panning the virtual camera as a result of the determination that the controlled targeting position is located within the distance threshold; and
panning, via the at least one processor, the virtual camera to a new viewing orientation to reveal additional portions of the 3D virtual world for display on the display area as a result of the determination that the controlled targeting position is located outside of the distance threshold.
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Abstract
A computer graphics display system such as a video game system provides virtual camera 3-D viewpoint panning control based on a pointer. When the pointer is displayed within a virtual camera panning control region, the system automatically pans the virtual camera toward the pointer. When the pointer is displayed within a different region, panning is deactivated and the user can freely move the cursor (e.g., to control the direction a weapon is pointed) without panning the virtual camera viewpoint. Flexible viewpoint control and other animated features are provided based on a pointing device such as a handheld video game optical pointing control. Useful applications include but are not limited to first person shooter type video games.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of allowing a video game user to both (a) target a location in a three-dimensional (3D) virtual world and (b) pan a view presented from a virtual camera in a desired direction to reveal additional portions of the 3D virtual world with a three-dimensional video game computer graphics display system that includes at least one processor, the method comprising:
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displaying, on a display in a display area, an image of the 3D virtual world viewed through the virtual camera that has a viewing orientation; controlling, based on and in response to user input, a targeting position in the display area, where the targeting position is used to indicate a location within the 3D virtual world; determining whether the controlled targeting position is within a distance threshold; targeting different locations within the 3D virtual world without panning the virtual camera as a result of the determination that the controlled targeting position is located within the distance threshold; and panning, via the at least one processor, the virtual camera to a new viewing orientation to reveal additional portions of the 3D virtual world for display on the display area as a result of the determination that the controlled targeting position is located outside of the distance threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer system for controlling a view of a three-dimensional (3D) virtual world presented by a virtual camera, the computer system comprising:
a processing system that includes at least one hardware processor, the processing system configured to; generate images of the 3D virtual world by using a virtual camera that is at a first viewing orientation and output the generated images to a display device that is coupled to the processing system for display within a display area of a display screen; accept and process user input that is provided to the computer system; determine, responsive and based on the user input, a targeting position within the display area, where the targeting position is used to indicate a location within the 3D virtual world; determine whether a distance between the determined targeting position and another position within the display area is outside of a threshold distance; pan, based on the distance between the determined targeting position and the another position, the virtual camera to a second viewing orientation to thereby reveal additional portions of the 3D virtual world for display within the display area; and target, when the distance is inside the threshold distance, different locations within the 3D virtual world while also maintaining the first viewing orientation of the virtual camera. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer executable instructions for use with a computer system that includes at least one hardware processor, the stored computer executable instructions comprising instructions that cause the computer system to:
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generate images of a three-dimensional (3D) virtual world by using a virtual camera with a first viewing orientation and correspondingly output the generated images to a display device that is coupled to the computer system for display within a display area of the display device; while the generated images are displayed, accept and process user input that is provided to the computer system; determine, responsive and based on the user input, a targeting position within the display area, where the targeting position is used to indicate a location within the 3D virtual world; determine whether a distance between the determined targeting position and another position within the display area is outside of a threshold distance; adjust, based on determination that the distance between the determined targeting position and the another position is outside of the threshold distance, the virtual camera to a second viewing orientation to thereby reveal additional portions of the 3D virtual world for display within the display area; and target, when the distance is inside the threshold distance, different locations within the 3D virtual world while also maintaining the first viewing orientation of the virtual camera. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification