Information processing system, information processing method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11007428-B2
Application number	US-201514702955-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 4, 2015
Priority date	May 21, 2014
Publication date	May 18, 2021
Grant date	May 18, 2021

Abstract

A video game apparatus for generating a captured image of a virtual camera set in a virtual space includes a virtual camera setting section configured to set an imaging direction of the virtual camera, a captured image generation section configured to change a transmittance of a transmittance variable object within the virtual space based on an imaging direction of the virtual camera, and generate a captured image of the virtual camera, and a display panel configured to display the captured image generated by the captured image generation section.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An information processing system for generating a captured image of a virtual camera set in a virtual space, the information processing system comprising one or more computer processors configured to perform:
virtual camera setting to set an imaging direction of the virtual camera; and
image generation to change a transparency of a predetermined object within the virtual space based on an imaging direction of the virtual camera, and generate a captured image of the virtual camera, wherein
said predetermined object is an object locally existing in the virtual space; and
the image generation sets the transparency at a maximum when an angle between a predetermined direction in the virtual space and an imaging direction of the virtual camera is smaller than a lower limit of a predetermined change range in which the transparency changes as the angle changes.

2. The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein
the virtual camera setting sets an imaging direction of the virtual camera based on an operation performed by a user to an input device.

3. The information processing system according to claim 2 , wherein
the virtual camera setting sets an imaging direction of the virtual camera based on one or more detection values of an orientation detection sensor and/or a motion detection sensor that are included in the input device.

4. The information processing system according to claim 2 , wherein
the input device further includes a display device configured to display the generated captured image.

5. The information processing system according to claim 2 , wherein
the information processing system is included in the input device.

6. The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein
the image generation changes a transparency of the predetermined object based on a relation between the predetermined direction in the virtual space and the imaging direction of the virtual camera.

7. The information processing system according to claim 6 , wherein
the image generation changes the transparency based on the angle between the predetermined direction in the virtual space and the imaging direction of the virtual camera.

8. The information processing system according to claim 7 , wherein
the image generation linearly changes the transparency based on the angle when the angle is within the predetermined change range.

9. The information processing system according to claim 8 , wherein
the image generation linearly changes the transparency from a maximum to a minimum according to the angle, when the angle changes from a lower limit to an upper limit of the predetermined change range.

10. The information processing system according to claim 7 , wherein
the image generation sets the transparency to be higher as the angle is smaller.

11. The information processing system according to claim 5 , wherein
the predetermined direction is a direction in which the virtual camera sees down to the virtual space.

12. The information processing system according to claim 11 , wherein
the predetermined direction is a gravity direction of the virtual space.

13. The information processing system according to claim 11 , wherein
the predetermined direction is a normal direction of a field of the virtual space.

14. The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein
the predetermined object is one of the objects within the virtual space.

15. The information processing system according to claim 14 , wherein
the predetermined object is a midair object within the virtual space.

16. The information processing system according to claim 14 , wherein
the predetermined object is an object having no influence on a video game developed within the virtual space.

17. The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein
a plurality of the predetermined objects is set in the virtual space, and wherein a relation between an imaging direction of the virtual camera and the transparency is set for each of the predetermined objects.

18. The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein
the image generation changes the transparency based on a position of the virtual camera within the virtual space.

19. The information processing system according to claim 18 , wherein
the image generation changes the transparency based on a distance between the virtual camera and a player object within the virtual space.

20. A device configured to display a captured image of a virtual camera set in a virtual space, the device comprising:
a sensor configured to detect orientation and/or motion;
one or more computer processors configured to perform:
image generation to change a transparency of a predetermined object within the virtual space based on one or more detection values of the sensor, and generate a captured image of the virtual camera; and
a display device configured to display the captured image, wherein
said predetermined object is an object locally existing in the virtual space; and
the image generation sets the transparency at a maximum when an angle between a predetermined direction in the virtual space and an imaging direction of the virtual camera is smaller than a lower limit of a predetermined change range in which the transparency changes as the angle changes.

21. An information processing method for generating a captured image of a virtual camera set in a virtual space, the information processing method comprising:
setting an imaging direction of the virtual camera; and
changing a transparency of a predetermined object within the virtual space based on an imaging direction of the virtual camera, and
generating a captured image of the virtual camera, wherein
said predetermined object is an object locally existing in the virtual space; and
the generating of the captured image includes setting the transparency at a maximum when an angle between a predetermined direction in the virtual space and an imaging direction of the virtual camera is smaller than a lower limit of a predetermined change range in which the transparency changes as the angle changes.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising an information processing program for generating a captured image of a virtual camera set in a virtual space, the information processing program causing a computer to:
set an imaging direction of the virtual camera; and
change a transparency of a predetermined object within the virtual space based on an imaging direction of the virtual camera, and
generate a captured image of the virtual camera, wherein
said predetermined object is an object locally existing in the virtual space; and
generation of the captured image includes setting the transparency at a maximum when an angle between a predetermined direction in the virtual space and an imaging direction of the virtual camera is smaller than a lower limit of a predetermined change range in which the transparency changes as the angle changes.

23. An information processing system for generating a captured image of a virtual camera set in a virtual space, the information processing system comprising one or more computer processors configured to perform:
virtual camera setting to set an imaging direction of the virtual camera; and
image generation to change a transparency of a predetermined object within the virtual space based on an imaging direction of the virtual camera, and generate a captured image

Assignees

• Nintendo Co Ltd

Inventors

• Watanabe Ken
• Shirai Shunichi

Classifications

• A63F13/537

  using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen · 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

• G06T19/00

  Manipulating three-dimensional [3D] models or images for computer graphics · CPC title

• A63F13/213 Primary

  comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells (A63F13/219 takes precedence) · CPC title