Method of causing object to take motion using motion data

• US 7,868,889 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2006
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix, Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Azuma, Shin
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajnik; Daniel F
• Application Number:
  US11/538,592
• Publication Number:
  US 20070139416A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,560 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/474
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/26 having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/426 involving on-screen location information, e.g. screen coordinates of an area at which the player is aiming with a light gun
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/525 Changing parameters of virtual cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/40 of characters, e.g. humans, animals or virtual beings

Abstract

A first display displays a game image which is generated by perspective transformation of a virtual three-dimensional space. A second display is provided under a touch panel to display an image of a two-dimensional plane excluding a height direction with a player character always placed in a center position. Multiple specific coordinate positions are set at predetermined positions on the touch panel, and plural pieces of motion data are prestored in association with the respective specific coordinate positions. When a player touches the touch panel, specific coordinate positions whose associated motion data is to be blended are selected according to the coordinates of the touched position. Motion data associated with selected specific coordinate positions are blended by blend ratios according to the distances from the touched position to the respective specific coordinate positions, thereby generating motion data for causing a character to take a motion.

Claims

1. An image generating apparatus that generates a motion image of an object, comprising:

a coordinate position receiver comprising a touch panel that receives a coordinate position on a virtual two-dimensional plane according to an operation of an operator;

a memory that stores plural pieces of motion data defining motions of the object present in a virtual three-dimensional space;

a motion data determiner that determines motion data for moving the object in the virtual three-dimensional space by using the plural pieces of motion data based on the two-dimensional coordinate position received on the virtual two-dimensional plane;

an object mover that moves the object using the determined motion data;

a motion image generator that generates the motion image of the object by performing perspective transformation of the moved object, the motion image being generated based on a virtual camera set to a predetermined position in the virtual three-dimensional space;

a display that displays the generated motion image of the object; and

wherein a plurality of specific coordinate positions are preset on the virtual two-dimensional plane,

the memory stores plural pieces of motion data respectively associated with the plurality of specific coordinate positions and

the motion data determiner blends the plural pieces of motion data based on a positional relationship between each of the plurality of specific coordinate positions and the received coordinate position, and determines blended motion data as the motion data for moving the object; and

wherein the plural pieces of motion data are blended according to a distance between the received coordinate position and each of the plurality of specific coordinate positions in a first direction on the virtual two-dimensional plane, and a distance between the received coordinate position and each of the plurality of specific coordinate positions in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction on the virtual two-dimensional plane.

2. The image generating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a coordinate position determiner that determines whether the received coordinate position is equal to one of the plurality of specific coordinate positions, and wherein

the motion data determiner includes:

a non-specific time determiner that, when the received coordinate position is determined to be equal to one of the plurality of specific coordinate positions, determines motion data associated with the one of the plurality of specific coordinate positions that is equal to the received coordinate position, as the motion data for moving the object; and

a specific time determiner that, when the received coordinate position is determined as different from each of the plurality of specific coordinate positions, determines the motion data blended by the motion data determiner as the motion data for moving the object.

3. The image generating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a coordinate position determiner that determines whether the received coordinate position is equal to one of the plurality of specific coordinate positions; and

a specific coordinate position selector that selects at least two of the plurality of specific coordinate positions, less than a total number of the plurality of specific coordinate positions, according to the received coordinate position when the received coordinate position is determined as different from each of the plurality of specific coordinate positions,

wherein pieces of motion data which are associated with the selected at least two of the plurality of specific coordinate positions are blended, based on a positional relationship between the at least two of the plurality of specific coordinate positions and the received coordinate position.

4. The image generating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the specific coordinate position selector selects the at least two of the plurality of specific coordinate positions according to a motion state of the object when the coordinate position is received by the coordinate position receiver.

5. The image generating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the object has a plurality of second object holders, each capable of holding a second object different from the object, and

the specific coordinate position selector selects the at least two of the plurality of specific coordinate positions according to which one of the plurality of second object holders is holding the second object.

6. The image generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plural pieces of motion data are blended at a blend ratio which becomes higher for motion data whose associated specific coordinate position becomes closer to the received coordinate position.

7. The image generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the motion data determiner includes a motion data selector that selects one piece of motion data from the plural pieces of motion data based on the received coordinate position, and determines the selected motion data as the motion data for moving the object.

8. The image generating apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

the motion data selector selects one piece of motion data from the plural pieces of motion data based on a positional relationship between the received coordinate position and the plurality of specific coordinate positions preset on the virtual two-dimensional plane.

9. The image generating apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a moving direction receiver that receives a moving direction of the object according to the operation of the operator,

wherein the motion data selector selects one piece of motion data from the plural pieces of motion data according to the received moving direction, and

the object mover includes a movement controller that moves the object in the virtual three-dimensional space according to the received moving direction.

10. The image generating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a link memory that stores link motion data defining a motion of the object between a motion of the object when a coordinate position is received from the coordinate position receiver and a motion using the motion data determined by the motion data determiner; and

a motion position determiner that determines whether the motion of the object when the coordinate position is received and the received coordinate position have a predetermined relationship,

wherein the object mover includes a link mover that moves the object using the link motion data before moving the object using the motion data determined by the motion data determiner, when it is determined that there is the predetermined relationship.

11. The image generating apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the link memory stores plural pieces of link motion data according to a positional relationship between the motion of the object and a coordinate position on the virtual two-dimensional plane, and

the link mover moves the object using a piece of link motion data which accords to the positional relationship between the motion of the object, when the coordinate position is received, and the received coordinate position.

12. The image generating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a link memory that stores link motion data defining a motion of the object between a motion defined by motion data associated with a first coordinate position received previously by the coordinate position receiver and a motion defined by motion data associated with a second coordinate position received following the first coordinate position; and

a coordinate position determiner that determines whether the first coordinate position and the second coordinate position have a predetermined relationship,

wherein the object mover includes a link mover that moves the object using the link motion data before moving the object using the motion data associated with the second coordinate position, when it is determined that the predetermined relationship exists.

13. The image generating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the link memory stores plural pieces of link motion data according to a positional relationship between preceding and succeeding coordinate positions received by the coordinate position receiver, and

the link mover moves the object using a piece of link motion data which accords to a positional relationship between the first and second coordinate positions.

14. The image generating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the coordinate position determiner determines whether a first of the plurality of specific coordinate positions closest to the first coordinate position and a second of the plurality of specific coordinate positions closest to the second coordinate position have a predetermined relationship.

15. The image generating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a plurality of areas are preset on the virtual two-dimensional plane, and

the coordinate position determiner determines whether a first of the plurality of areas where the first coordinate position lies and a second of the plurality of areas where the second coordinate position lies have a predetermined relationship.

16. The image generating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plane image generator that generates an image of a predetermined range including the object in a virtual two-dimensional space set perpendicular to a height direction of the virtual three-dimensional space; and

a plane image display controller that displays the generated image of the virtual two-dimensional space on a second display different from the display that displays the generated motion image of the object, and displays the object at a predetermined position on the second display,

wherein the coordinate position receiver comprises the touch panel that is arranged in front of the second display and transmits the image displayed on the second display.

17. The image generating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a motion receiver that receives a motion instruction relating to the motion of the object according to the operation of the operator,

wherein the object mover further moves the object according to the received motion instruction.

18. The image generating apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the object mover includes:

an instructed mover that moves the object in a mode different from a motion associated with the received coordinate position when the motion instruction is received; and

a post-instruction mover that moves the object using predetermined motion data in the plural pieces of motion data when the object stops the motion based on the received motion instruction.

19. The image generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of objects are present in the virtual three-dimensional space, and one of the plurality of objects moves using the motion data, and

the object mover includes:

a motion object changer that changes the one of the plurality of objects that moves using the motion data; and

a post-changing mover that moves another of the plurality of objects using predetermined motion data in the plural pieces of motion data when the one of the plurality of objects is changed.

20. An image generating apparatus that generates a motion image of an object, comprising:

a data storage that stores data;

a program storage that stores a program;

a processor that executes the program;

a coordinate position receiver comprising a touch panel that receives a coordinate position on the virtual two-dimensional plane according to an operation of an operator; and

a display that displays an image,

wherein the data stored in the data storage includes plural pieces of motion data defining motions of the object in a virtual three-dimensional space, and

the program includes;

a first code segment that determines motion data for moving the object in the virtual three dimensional space by using the plural pieces of motion data based on the two-dimensional coordinate position received by the coordinate position receiver on the virtual two-dimensional plane;

a second code segment that moves the object using the determined motion data;

a third code segment that generates the motion image of the object by performing perspective transformation of the moved object,

the motion image generated based on a virtual camera set to a predetermined position in the virtual three-dimensional space; and

a fourth code segment that displays the generated motion image of the object; and

wherein a plurality of specific coordinate positions are preset on the virtual two-dimensional plane,

the plural pieces of motion data respectively associated with the plurality of specific coordinate positions and

wherein the first code segment that determines motion data blends the plural pieces of motion data based on a positional relationship between each of the plurality of specific coordinate positions and the received coordinate position, and determines blended motion data as the motion data for moving the object; and

wherein the plural pieces of motion data are blended according to a distance between the received coordinate position and each of the plurality of specific coordinate positions in a first direction on the virtual two-dimensional plane, and a distance between the received coordinate position and each of the plurality of specific coordinate positions in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction on the virtual two-dimensional plane.

21. An object motion image generating method to be executed by a computer having a coordinate position receiver comprising a touch panel that receives a coordinate position on a virtual two-dimensional plane according to an operation of an operator, a storage that stores plural pieces of motion data defining motions of an object present in a virtual three-dimensional space, and a display that displays an image, the method comprising:

determining motion data for moving the object in the virtual three-dimensional space using the plural pieces of motion data stored in a memory based on the two-dimensional coordinate position received by the coordinate position receiver on the virtual two-dimensional plane;

moving the object using the determined motion data;

generating a motion image of the object by performing perspective transformation of the moved object, the motion image being generated based on a virtual camera set to a predetermined position in the virtual three-dimensional space; and

displaying the generated motion image of the object; and

wherein a plurality of specific coordinate positions are preset on the virtual two-dimensional plane,

the storage stores plural pieces of motion data respectively associated with the plurality of specific coordinate positions and

wherein the determining motion data step blends the plural pieces of motion data based on a positional relationship between each of the plurality of specific coordinate positions and the received coordinate position, and determines blended motion data as the motion data for moving the object; and

wherein the plural pieces of motion data are blended according to a distance between the received coordinate position and each of the plurality of specific coordinate positions in a first direction on the virtual two-dimensional plane, and a distance between the received coordinate position and each of the plurality of specific coordinate positions in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction on the virtual two-dimensional plane.

22. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium comprising a program and data for generating a motion image of an object present in a virtual three-dimensional space and displaying the image on a display, the program executable by a computer, the computer including a coordinate position receiver comprising a touch panel that receives a coordinate position on a virtual two-dimensional plane according to an operation of an operator, the data including plural pieces of motion data defining motions of the object, the program comprising:

a first code segment that determines motion data for moving the object in the virtual three-dimensional space by using the plural pieces of motion data based on the two-dimensional coordinate position received by the coordinate position receiver on the virtual two-dimensional plane;

a second code segment that moves the object using the determined motion data;

a third code segment that generates the motion image of the object by performing perspective transformation of the moved object, the motion image being generated based on a virtual camera set to a predetermined position in the virtual three-dimensional space; and

a fourth code segment that displays the generated motion image of the object; and

wherein a plurality of specific coordinate positions are preset on the virtual two-dimensional plane,

the plural pieces of motion data respectively associated with the plurality of specific coordinate positions and

wherein the first code segment that determines motion data blends the plural pieces of motion data based on a positional relationship between each of the plurality of specific coordinate positions and the received coordinate position, and determines blended motion data as the motion data for moving the object; and

wherein the plural pieces of motion data are blended according to a distance between the received coordinate position and each of the plurality of specific coordinate positions in a first direction on the virtual two-dimensional plane, and a distance between the received coordinate position and each of the plurality of specific coordinate positions in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction on the virtual two-dimensional plane.