Simulation system, processing method, and information storage medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10955909-B2
Application number	US-201916245716-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 11, 2019
Priority date	Jul 13, 2016
Publication date	Mar 23, 2021
Grant date	Mar 23, 2021

Abstract

A simulation system includes a processor including hardware. The processor performs a moving body process of performing a process of moving a moving body corresponding to a user wearing an HMD in a virtual space, a virtual camera control process of controlling a virtual camera moving in accordance with a movement of the moving body, and a display process of generating an image as viewed from the virtual camera in the virtual space as a display image of the HMD. In the display process, the processor performs a display process of changing, when a change in acceleration of the moving body or a change in a line-of-sight direction of the virtual camera is determined to have satisfied a given change condition, the display image on the HMD to an image different from the image as viewed from the virtual camera.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A simulation system comprising a processor including hardware,
the processor being configured to perform:
a moving body process of performing a process of moving a moving body corresponding to a user wearing a head mounted display in a virtual space;
a virtual camera control process of controlling a virtual camera moving in accordance with a movement of the moving body; and
a display process of generating an image as viewed from the virtual camera in the virtual space as a display image on the head mounted display,
in the display process,
the processor performs
a display process of changing, when a change in acceleration of the moving body or a change in a line-of-sight direction of the virtual camera is determined to have satisfied a given change condition, the display image on the head mounted display to an image different from the image as viewed from the virtual camera.

2. The simulation system as defined in claim 1 , wherein
in the display process,
the processor performs
a display process of entirely changing the display image on the head mounted display when the given change condition is satisfied.

3. The simulation system as defined in claim 2 , wherein
in the display process,
the processor performs
a process of fading out the display image, as the display process of entirely changing the display image.

4. The simulation system as defined in claim 1 , wherein
in the display process,
the processor performs
a display process of performing a given effect process on the image as viewed from the virtual camera when the given change condition is satisfied.

5. The simulation system as defined in claim 1 , wherein
in the display process,
the processor performs
a display process of changing, when the given change condition is determined to have been satisfied with an acceleration change event that changes a traveling direction of the moving body to a direction different from the traveling direction occurring, the display image on the head mounted display to the image different from the image as viewed from the virtual camera.

6. The simulation system as defined in claim 5 , wherein
the acceleration change event is at least one of a collision event of the moving body and a falling off event of the moving body.

7. The simulation system as defined in claim 1 , wherein
in the display process,
the processor performs
setting at least one of a process start timing and a process level of the display process of changing to the image different from the image as viewed from the virtual camera to be different between a case where a first event satisfying the given change condition occurs and a case where a second event satisfying the given change condition occurs.

8. The simulation system as defined in claim 1 , wherein
in the virtual camera control,
the processor performs
controlling the virtual camera set as a first person point-of-view of the user.

9. The simulation system as defined in claim 1 , wherein
the processor performs
an input process of acquiring tracking information for point-of-view information about the user wearing the head mounted display, and
in the virtual camera control process,
the processor performs
setting the virtual camera so that a position and/or an orientation of the virtual camera is changed based on the tracking information, but orientation change of the virtual camera corresponding to at least one of pitching and rolling is disabled or limited in a case where a traveling direction of the moving body changes.

10. The simulation system as defined in claim 1 further comprising
a movable casing that changes a play position of the user in accordance with a change in a status of a course on which the moving body moves or a change in a traveling direction of the moving body.

11. The simulation system as defined in claim 1 , wherein
the processor performs
a sound process of generating a sound corresponding to a status of a course on which the moving body moves or an output sound corresponding to a change in a traveling direction of the moving body.

12. The simulation system as defined in claim 1 , wherein
in the display process,
the processor performs
changing at least one of a process start timing and a process level of the display process of changing to the image different from the image as viewed from the virtual camera based on setting information from the user or play history information about the user.

13. A processing method comprising:
performing a moving body process of performing a process of moving a moving body corresponding to a user wearing a head mounted display in a virtual space;
performing a virtual camera control process of controlling a virtual camera moving in accordance with a movement of the moving body; and
performing a display process of generating an image as viewed from the virtual camera in the virtual space as a display image of the head mounted display,
in the display process,
performing changing, when a change in acceleration of the moving body or a change in a line-of-sight direction of the virtual camera is determined to have satisfied a given change condition, the display image on the head mounted display to an image different from the image as viewed from the virtual camera.

14. A computer-readable information storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to perform the processing method as defined in claim 13 .

Assignees

• Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc

Inventors

• Ishii Yoshiaki
• Makino Shinya

Classifications

• A63F13/25 Primary

  Output arrangements for video game devices · CPC title

• A63F13/807

  Gliding or sliding on surfaces, e.g. using skis, skates or boards · CPC title

• A63F13/5255

  according to dedicated instructions from a player, e.g. using a secondary joystick to rotate the camera around a player's character · CPC title

• A63F13/211

  using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes · CPC title

• A63F13/90

  Constructional details or arrangements of video game devices not provided for in groups A63F13/20 or A63F13/25, e.g. housing, wiring, connections or cabinets · CPC title