JP2001160150A - Method for displaying game character motion - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To represent a smooth motion shift with image compositing processing by software processing without preliminarily preparing an interpolation frame when a game character shifts from a series of motions A to a series of motions B whose basic pose is different. SOLUTION: A table in which the number of interpolation frames adapted to various motion shift conditions is set is provided, and an interpolation frame: Fc (p) is generated by preparing shift, expansion/reduction and turn data with respect to the polygon of a frame (Fa(m)) by an operation expression obtained by considering the correlation between the final frame (Fa(m)) of a motion A and each frame (Fb)(p)) (where, p=1 to n) between the 1st to the (n)-th frames of a motion B when the number of the interpolation frames is given as n in the case of the shift of the motions A→B.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for displaying the motion of a game character in an arcade or home video game machine, in which the motion of the displayed character shifts to another motion in which continuity is hardly ensured in an image. The present invention relates to an interpolation processing method that is performed when performing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a video game machine, a game character is created using computer graphics (CG). In general, a game character is decomposed into a plurality of objects such as limbs and heads, and these objects are modeled. Objects created individually in the coordinate system are stored as components, and in a scene that is actually represented, the entire game character is configured as an aggregate in which modeled objects are combined and arranged in the world coordinate system.
Therefore, when it is desired to move / rotate a certain part (object) or when a parent-child structure of an articulated joint is moved, the animation expression can be easily performed by converting the modeling coordinate system to the world coordinate system.

Then, motion data of each object is added to the game character in the world coordinate system to form motion data for each frame, and the entire motion of the game character is continuously displayed using the motion data. By doing so, complexly linked movements of the human body and the like are realistically expressed. In an actual game machine, a variety of motions of a game character are stored in a memory in advance as a series of frame data (motion data that is continuous in time series), and the motion from the operation unit in the course of the game progresses. A series of frame data corresponding to the instruction input is read out in time series and displayed on a display.

In actual data processing, storing frame data of a three-dimensional object composed of polygons and free-form surfaces by three-dimensional CG in a solid format in a memory requires a huge amount of data. A method is adopted in which compression processing such as is performed and stored, and reproduction is performed while decoding and decompressing on a game machine.

[0005]

In the case where each motion of the game character is prepared in advance as a series of frame data as described above, when the transition from the motion A to the motion B occurs, the motions A, B If the basic appearance of the game character is different, the movement of the game character on the display image may not be smoothly connected.

Therefore, a series of interpolated frames has been separately prepared so that a smooth movement when transitioning from motion A to motion B can be expressed. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the last frame of the motion A:
Fa (m) and the first frame of motion B: based on each vector information of the game character in Fb (1),
This is a method of inserting interpolation frames: Fv (1), Fv (2),... Fv (q) that are gradually changed so that the appearances of the game characters in both frames are connected with smooth continuity.

However, when the above-mentioned interpolation method is adopted, it is necessary to prepare an interpolation frame for each combination in a case where the connection of motion is not smooth.
A complicated interpolating frame creation operation is required, and the amount of data becomes considerable depending on the number of combinations. Also, if you try to connect the movement of the game character smoothly,
In FIG. 6, the time: ΔT is made longer to interpose more interpolation frames. However, when an instantaneous movement is required, for example, when a game character is impacted, the time: when the ΔT cannot be made longer. Therefore, even if a small number of interpolation frames are interposed, the required smoothness of the operation cannot be expressed, and rather, the expression is often visually unnatural.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention can interpolate between motions having different basic appearances of a game character only by software processing, and it is not necessary to create an interpolation frame in advance, and it is not necessary to create an interpolation frame in advance. It was created with the aim of providing a display method capable of expressing a smoother transition state of motion.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a video game machine in which a game character displayed in the course of a game program shifts from a series of first motions to a series of second motions having different appearances. A first procedure for storing the last frame relating to the first motion at the time of detecting the motion transition command in the storage means, and the number of interpolation frames: n according to the degree of connection of the game character's appearance between the respective motions are set. And a p-th (where p = 1, 2,..., N) interpolated frame following the last frame of the first motion,
Difference position data, difference scale data, and difference angle data are obtained by subtracting each corresponding polygon data in the p-th frame relating to the second motion from each polygon data of the frame stored in the storage means. (p / n) by executing an operation of moving, enlarging / reducing / rotating each polygon data of the frame stored in the storage means by an amount corresponding to p / n). A method for displaying a motion of a game character, characterized by displaying (n + 1) th and subsequent frames of the second motion after sequentially displaying the generated n frames of interpolation frames.

In the present invention, each interpolated frame for n frames at the time of transition from the first motion to the second motion is generated by moving, enlarging / reducing, and rotating each polygon of the last frame related to the first motion. Let it. And the amount of movement / enlargement / reduction / rotation is the first
It is obtained based on the relationship between each polygon of the last frame related to the motion and each corresponding polygon related to the second motion. For the p-th interpolated frame, the second motion is calculated from each polygon data of the last frame related to the first motion. Is subtracted from each corresponding polygon data in the p-th frame to obtain difference data relating to the position, scale, and angle, and is obtained as an amount corresponding to (p / n) of each difference data. Therefore, looking at the character's appearance in the interpolation frames for n frames,
In the initial interpolation frame, the appearance in the last frame of the first motion is approximated, and as p increases in time series, it gradually approximates the appearance in the p-th frame in the second motion. Eventually, the n-th frame becomes the same as the n-th frame of the second motion. Here, the number of interpolation frames: n is set in consideration of the degree of connection of the game character's appearance in the first motion and the second motion. Generally, when the appearance is far apart, n
Is set to be large, and n tends to be set to be small when approximation is performed. However, table data in which the number of interpolation frames is set in advance corresponding to the combination between each motion is prepared, and the At this time, if the number of interpolation frames: n is set with reference to the table data,
Quick setting of the optimum value becomes possible.

According to the present invention, it is only necessary to prepare a single process control program for executing the interpolation frame generation processing. There is no need to create an interpolation frame. In addition, immediately after the final frame related to the first motion is displayed, an interpolation frame in a mode in which the final frame is associated with the frame of the second motion is generated and displayed. Even if they are far apart from each other, they are not restricted by time, and can express a smooth and natural connection between motions.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the "method for displaying motion of a game character" of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described in detail with reference to FIG. First, FIG. 1 shows a system circuit diagram of an arcade game machine according to the embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU, and its bus (data bus, address bus, control bus) includes a ROM 2 storing a system control program, an interface 3a for connecting an external ROM board 3, and a work memory. Some RAM
4. To take in signals from a video controller 6, which performs read / write control on a video RAM 5 corresponding to a frame memory, a sound controller 7, and an operation unit 8 equipped with buttons and a joystick and a coin detector 9. Input interface 10 is bus-connected. The video controller 6 outputs the frame data read from the video RAM 5 to the display driver 11 to display a video on the display 12, and the sound controller 7 outputs audio data synchronized with the video to the audio output circuit 13 to Make the audio output at 14.

The features of this system are as follows: (1) A special interpolation frame generation program is stored in the ROM board 3 storing a game program, and when an MB mode setting described later is performed, interpolation is performed based on the program. (2) ROM board 3 stores a table in which the number of interpolated frames is set corresponding to various motion transition conditions (hereinafter referred to as an "interpolated frame number table") It is in.

In this arcade game machine, as shown in FIG. 2, a series of frames of motion A:.
When (m) and Fa (m) are changed to motion B, the number of interpolated frames: n is set based on the degree of connection between the respective forms of the characters related to motion A and motion B, and the interpolated frames for n frames are set. : After generating and displaying Fc (1), Fc (2),..., Fc (n), the frames related to the original motion B are displayed from the (n + 1) th frame.

The procedure of the data processing and the series of display operations related to the generation of the interpolation frame is shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, and the procedure will be described below with reference to FIG.
During the course of the game program, if a transition command to another motion is detected by a command input from the operation unit 8 while displaying a series of motions A, the CPU 1 returns to the RO.
Referring to the interpolation frame number table of the M board 3, it is confirmed whether or not the change from the motion A to the motion according to the shift command is a target of the motion blend mode (hereinafter, referred to as “MB mode”) (S1 to S3). ). That is, the interpolated frame number table indicates that, in the case of shifting from a series of motions to another series of motions, the difference in the basic appearance of the game character is large, and the combination in which smooth connection of images cannot be secured and the degree of connection The set number of interpolation frames is stored as table data, and the CPU 1 checks whether or not the above-mentioned transition of the motion exists in the interpolation frame number table.

Here, motion B is instructed by the above-mentioned transition command, and
Assume that the transition to was targeted for MB mode (S
3). In that case, CPU 1 immediately sets the MB mode,
Motion A at the time of detecting the transfer command is stored in RAM4.
Is saved (S4, S5).
The CPU 1 refers to the interpolation frame number table and sets the number of interpolation frames: n corresponding to the combination of the motion A to the motion B (S6).

By setting the MB mode, the CPU 1 sets the interpolation frame generation program stored in the ROM board 3 to a ready state,
The n frames related to the motion B of the game program are read out to the RAM 4 in a time series, and n frames are calculated using the last frame [Fa (m)] of the motion A and the respective frames of the motion B stored in the previous step S5. , Fc (1), Fc (2),..., Fc (p),.
(S8).

In this interpolated frame generation procedure, the interpolated frames are generated in time series from the first to the n-th, but here, the p-th
A procedure for generating the (p = 1, 2,..., N) th interpolation frame will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 4, the vertex coordinate vector data of an arbitrary polygon 22a constituting the game character object 21 in the final frame [Fa (m)] of the motion A at the time when the motion transition command is detected is represented by [ Vam1, Vam2, Vam3], and the vertex coordinate vector data of the polygon 22b corresponding to the polygon 22 in the p-th frame [Fb (p)] of the motion B is [Vbp1, Vbp2, Vbp3]. However, here, for the sake of convenience in simplifying the following description and mathematical expressions,
The representative values of the vertex coordinate vector data of the polygons 22a and 22b are Vami and Vbpi (i = 1, 2, 3), respectively. Here, each vector data Vami, Vbpi is stored in a homogeneous coordinate system (homo
Vami = [Xami, Yami, Z]
ami, 1], Vbpi = [Xbpi, Ybpi, Zbpi, 1], but the difference data in the X, Y, Z axis directions is ΔXpmi = Xbpi
−Xami, ΔYpmi = Ybpi−Yami, ΔZpmi = Zbpi−Z
ami. The scale data of the polygons 22a and 22b in the X, Y, and Z axis directions are respectively represented by [Sxam, Sya
m, Szam], [Sxbp, Sybp, Szbp], and each angle data in the X, Y, Z axis directions is [θxam, θyam, θza
m], [θxbp, θybp, θzbp], and each difference data is converted into ΔSxpm = Sxbp−Sxam, ΔSypm = Sybp−
Syam, ΔSzpm = Szbp−Szam, Δθxpm = θxbp−θxa
m, Δθypm = θybp−θyam, Δθzpm = θzbp−θzam.

Based on the above premise, the CPU 1 executes the operation of the following [Equation 1] based on the interpolation frame generation program of the ROM board 3 to obtain the interpolation frame [Fc
(p)], the vertex coordinate vector data Vcpi of the polygon 22c corresponding to the polygons 22a and 22b described above = Vcpi = [Xcpi, Ycpi,
Zcpi, 1] (i = 1, 2, 3).

[0020]

(Equation 1)

However, each equation multiplied from the right side to Vami on the right side is a 4 × 4 matrix in the homogeneous coordinate system,
T [(Vbpi−Vami) · p / n] is a movement matrix, Spm is an enlargement / reduction matrix, Rx [Δθxpm · p / n], Ry [Δθypm · p / n], Rz [Δθ
zpm · p / n] is equivalent to a rotation matrix, and each of the following [Equation 2]
To [Formula 6].

(Equation 2)

(Equation 3)

(Equation 4)

(Equation 5)

(Equation 6)

In this way, the vertex coordinate vector data Vcpi of the polygon 22c is obtained, and an interpolation frame [Fc (p)] is generated by forming a polygon of the entire screen. The interpolation frame [Fc (p)] Is immediately transferred to the video controller 6 and written into the video RAM 5, and the video controller 6 outputs the frame data to the display driver 11 to display it on the display 12 (S8, S9).

Then, the CPU 1 sends the last frame [Fa (m)] of the motion A and the first n frames of the motion B ([Fb (1)], [Fb (2)],..., [Fb (n)]. ]), N frames of time-series interpolated frames ([Fc (1)], [Fc
(2)],..., [Fc (n)]) are generated and displayed, and the MB mode is released when the n-th interpolated frame [Fc (n)] is generated and displayed (S7 → S8 ~). Repetition of S10, S10 → S12). Further, based on the release, the (n + 1) th and subsequent frames relating to the original motion B are read from the ROM board 3 and sequentially displayed (S12, S13). In FIG. 3, there is no need to set the MB mode because the command to shift to another motion is not detected (S2), or even if the shift command is detected, the appearance of the game character is very similar. In the case (S3), the display in the normal mode is continued (S2, S3 → S14).

By the way, in the display method according to this embodiment, the polygon of the last frame [Fa (m)] related to the motion A and the p-th polygon (p = 1, 2, , N), the difference position data, the difference scale data, and the difference angle data are obtained between the corresponding polygon of the frame [Fb (p)] and the final data related to the motion A by (p / n) equivalent of the difference data. The polygon of the frame [Fa (m)] is moved / enlarged / reduced / rotated to generate a p-th interpolated frame [Fc (p)]. Therefore, the final frame [Fa
(m)], if the first frame relating to the motion B is displayed as it is, the movement will not be smoothly connected due to the difference in the appearance of the game character. However, according to the display method of this embodiment, the interpolation frame [Fc The appearance of the game character (p) is close to the final frame [Fa (m)] related to the motion A in the initial frame (the stage where p is small), and the display number of the interpolation frame advances (p is The frame related to motion B [Fb
(p)], the n-th interpolated frame [Fc
(n)], the n-th frame [Fb
(n)], the (n) related to the original motion B
The frame continues to the (+1) th frame [Fb (n + 1)].

When the generation and display mode of the interpolation frame is viewed in a specific video frame including the game character, a time-series display as shown in FIG. 5 is obtained. In the figure, in the frame [Fa (m-1)] of motion A (shown in the upper part), the game character is hit and the final frame
[Fa (m)] has a damage pose. On the other hand, a series of frames (shown at the bottom) starting from the first frame [Fb (1)] of the motion B relates to the attacking motion of the game character, and indicates a continuous motion of shifting from the prepared pose to the kick pose. Motion data for performing Here, as is clear from the comparison between the frame [Fa (m)] and the frame [Fb (1)], the appearance of the game character is greatly different, and although it is desired to display the motion with continuity. Instead, if [Fb (1)] is continuously output after [Fa (m)], an unnatural display state such that the screen suddenly shifts to another scene is obtained.

Therefore, based on this embodiment, the number of interpolated frames: n is increased to 100 frames in consideration of the degree of connection of the game character's appearance in the frames [Fa (m)] and [Fb (1)]. It is set and the interpolation frames [Fc (1)] to [Fc (100)] are generated and displayed by the calculation by the above program. In FIG. 5, each interpolation frame [Fc (1)] to [Fc (100)]
Is displayed in the middle row, and the movement from the damage pose of frame [Fa (m-1)] of motion A to [Fb (101)] of motion B (pose during kick attack) in 100 frames. Can be expressed very smoothly and with continuity. Note that each of the interpolation frames [Fc (1)] to [Fc (100)]
Frames related to the original motion B [Fb (1)] to [Fb (10
0)], but the appearance of the game character is different. However, since the display time is at most about 3 seconds even for 100 frames, it does not result in an unnatural motion expression. Rather, the effect of smooth operation being compensated for is great.

Then, the interpolation frame [Fc (p)] (p = 1,
2,..., N) are automatically generated by an interpolation frame generation program, which can be called a process control program, if there is an MB mode setting. This is essentially different from preparing and preparing a large number of interpolation frames at the production stage, and it is not necessary to store a large amount of frame data required for interpolation. In the display method of this embodiment, the reading program of the next motion B is started from the time when the MB mode is set, and the number of frames corresponding to the last frame of the previous motion A [Fa
(m)], it simply sets whether or not to be the object of calculation, and it is not possible to secure the time to insert interpolation frames precisely as in the conventional technology, resulting in an unnatural expression. Nor. That is, the optimum number of interpolated frames obtained empirically or based on verification at the stage of game production according to the degree of connection of the appearance of the game character between various motions in the interpolated frame number table of the ROM board 3: It is sufficient to store n, and there is no need to worry about the problem that occurs in the above-described conventional technology.

On the other hand, since the displayed interpolation frame [Fc (p)] is different from the frame [Fb (p)] relating to the original motion B, the synchronization with the audio output is shifted. Since the display time is at most about 3 seconds, even if the audio data corresponding to the frame [Fb (p)] relating to the motion B is output as it is, no unnaturalness occurs. Of course, if necessary, a program for controlling the timing of audio output in accordance with the display output of the interpolation frame [Fc (p)] can be provided.

In this embodiment, the interpolation frame [Fc (p)] is generated for polygons in the world coordinate system. However, polygons in the local coordinate system constituting the game character are generated in the same manner as described above. The procedure may be such that an interpolation frame generation program based on the principle of the above is executed to generate a game character for the interpolation frame, and the game character is arranged in the world coordinate system. It may be adopted as appropriate depending on whether it is stored in the configuration.

[0030]

The "method of displaying motion of a game character" of the present invention has the above-described structure,
The following effects are obtained. During the course of the game program, the game character shifts from a series of first motions to a series of second motions having different appearances, and the transition state of the second motion is so rapid that the transition state is difficult to express smoothly with continuity. In such a case, an adaptive number of interpolation frames are automatically generated between the motions only by software processing and interpolation processing is performed to express a visually smooth motion transition state. Therefore, unlike the conventional method, it is not necessary to prepare an interpolated frame that has been created one by one in advance, and it is possible to greatly reduce time and labor and to reduce the data amount in the game program creating operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system circuit diagram of an arcade game machine according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a mode of generating and displaying an interpolation frame in an MB mode.

FIG. 3 shows data processing when the game character shifts from a series of motions A to a series of motions B.
9 is a flowchart illustrating a display procedure.

FIG. 4 shows an arbitrary polygon constituting an object of a game character in a final frame [Fa (m)] of a motion A, a corresponding polygon in a p-th frame [Fb (p)] of a motion B, and a p-th polygon. It is a schematic diagram which shows the relationship of the corresponding polygon in the 2nd interpolation frame [Fc (p)].

FIG. 5 shows a final frame [Fa (m
-1)], [Fa (m)] and the frame [Fb
(1)], [Fb (25)], [Fb (50)], [Fb (75)], [Fb (100)], [Fb
(101)] [Fb (102)] and the interpolation frames [Fc (1)] and [Fc (2
5)] is a reference diagram comparing example videos of game characters according to [Fc (50)], [Fc (75)], and [Fc (100)]. [FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing a conventional interpolation method.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 CPU, 2 ROM, 3 ROM board, 3a I / F,
4 ... RAM, 5 ... RAM, 6 ... Video controller, 7 ... Sound controller, 8 ... Operation unit, 9 ... Coin detector, 10
... Input I / F, 11 ... Display driver, 12 ... Display, 13 ... Audio output circuit, 14 ... Speaker, 21 ...
Game character objects, 22a, 22b, 22c ... polygons, ~ Fa (m-1), Fa (m) ... motion A frames,
Fb (1), Fb (2), .about.Fb (n), Fb (n + 1),..., Frame of motion B, Fc (p); [p = 1 to n]... Interpolation frame, Fv
(q); [q = 1 to q]: Interpolated frame.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. In a video game machine, when a game character displayed in the course of a game program transitions from a series of first motions to a series of second motions having different appearances, when a motion transition command is detected. A first procedure of storing the last frame of the first motion in the storage means, a second procedure of setting the number of interpolation frames: n according to the degree of connection of the appearance of the game character between the motions, P-th (p = 1, 2,
.., N) is obtained by subtracting each corresponding polygon data in the p-th frame relating to the second motion from each polygon data of the frame stored in the storage means. A third procedure of obtaining angle data and executing an operation of moving, enlarging / reducing / rotating each polygon data of the frame stored in the storage means by an amount corresponding to (p / n) of the data, and generating the same. And displaying the (n + 1) -th and subsequent frames related to the second motion after sequentially displaying the n frames of the interpolation frames generated by the third procedure. Motion display method. 2. The game according to claim 1, wherein the setting of the number of interpolated frames according to the second procedure is executed with reference to table data in which the number of interpolated frames corresponding to a combination between each motion is stored in advance. How to display the motion of the character.