Method, apparatus, storage medium, program, and program product for generating image data of virtual space

1. A method for generating image data of a virtual space viewed from a predetermined view point, comprising:

providing a particle system object group comprising at least one particle system object which includes a plurality of particles in the virtual space, according to a predetermined rule, continuously or intermittently;

determining a displacement point as a basis for moving the provided particle system object group, in the virtual space;

moving the determined displacement point in a predetermined direction as time passes; and

moving the provided particle system object group on the basis of the moved displacement point.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

providing the particle system object group so as to attach to or follow a moving object moving in the virtual space.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising:

determining the displacement point on the basis of a position of the moving object at predetermined time intervals.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising:

determining the predetermined direction to be at least a substantially vertical direction to a moving direction of the moving object at the displacement point, to move the displacement point in the predetermined direction.

5. The method as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising:

changing at least one of providing one particle system object group or a predetermined number of particle system object groups, a size of the particle system object group, and a transparency of the particle system object group, on the basis of at least one of a position, a moving speed, a moving direction and a type of the moving object, to provide the particle system object group or the predetermined number of particle system object groups.

6. The method as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising:

changing at least one of providing the particle system object group comprising one particle system object or a predetermined number of particle system objects, a position of the particle system object, a size of the particle system object, and a transparency of the particle system object, on the basis of at least one of a position, a moving speed, a moving direction and a type of the moving object, to provide the particle system object group.

7. The method as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising:

changing at least one of the predetermined direction and a moving speed of the displacement point, on the basis of at least one of a moving speed, a moving direction, a movement and a type of the moving object, to move the displacement point.

8. The method as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising:

moving the particle system object group on the basis of the displacement point, according to a moving direction of the moving object.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

changing at least one of a size and a transparency of the particle system object group as time passes.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

changing at least one of a position, a size and a transparency of the particle system object of the particle system object group as time passes.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

turning the particle system object which is formed in a board, in a predetermined direction based on the predetermined view point.

12. An apparatus adapted to carry out the method as claimed in claim 1 .

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , further comprising a game execution unit for executing a predetermined game according to the image data generated.

14. A storage medium having a program recorded thereon, when the program is loaded onto an operating apparatus, the program making the operating apparatus execute the method as claimed in claim 1 .

15. A program, when the program is loaded onto an operating apparatus, to make the operating apparatus execute the method as claimed in claim 1 .

16. A program product comprising a storage medium having a program recorded thereon, when the program is loaded onto an operating apparatus, the program making the operating apparatus execute the method as claimed in claim 1 .

17. A method for generating image data of a virtual space viewed from a predetermined view point, comprising:

providing a particle system object group representing a particle system of a cloud, so as to attach to or follow a moving object moving in the virtual space, continuously or intermittently;

changing a position of the provided particle system object group as time passes; and

stopping representing the particle system object group or deleting the particle system object group among the provided particle system object group including the particle system object group of which position is changed, when the particle system object group is provided for a predetermined time.

18. An apparatus adapted to carry out the method as claimed in claim 17 .

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18 , further comprising a game execution unit for executing a predetermined game according to the image data generated.

20. A storage medium having a program recorded thereon, when the program is loaded onto an operating apparatus, the program making the operating apparatus execute the method as claimed in claim 17 .

21. A program, when the program is loaded onto an operating apparatus, to make the operating apparatus execute the method as claimed in claim 17 .

22. A program product comprising a storage medium having a program recorded thereon, when the program is loaded onto an operating apparatus, the program making the operating apparatus execute the method as claimed in claim 17 .

23. A method for generating image data of a virtual space viewed from a predetermined view point, comprising:

providing a particle system object group representing a particle system of a cloud or a bubble, so as to attach to or follow a moving object moving in the virtual space, continuously or intermittently; and

moving the provided particle system object group in a moving direction at a moving speed, as time passes, while

changing at least one of the moving direction and the moving speed of the provided particle system object group according to a movement of the moving object.

24. An apparatus adapted to carry out the method as claimed in claim 23 .

25. The apparatus as claimed in claim 24 , further comprising a game execution unit for executing a predetermined game according to the image data generated.

26. A storage medium having a program recorded thereon, when the program is loaded onto an operating apparatus, the program making the operating apparatus execute the method as claimed in claim 23 .

27. A program, when the program is loaded onto an operating apparatus, to make the operating apparatus execute the method as claimed in claim 23 .

28. A program product comprising a storage medium having a program recorded thereon, when the program is loaded onto an operating apparatus, the program making the operating apparatus execute the method as claimed in claim 23 .

29. A method for generating image data of a virtual space viewed from a predetermined view point, comprising:

providing a particle system object group representing a particle system of a bubble, so as to attach to or follow a moving object moving in the virtual space, continuously or intermittently;

changing a position of the provided particle system object group as time passes; and

stopping representing the particle system object group or deleting the particle system object group among the provided particle system object group including the particle system object group of which position is changed, when the particle system object group is provided for a predetermined time.

30. An apparatus adapted to carry out the method as claimed in claim 29 .

31. The apparatus as claimed in claim 30 , further comprising a game execution unit for executing a predetermined game according to the image data generated.

32. A storage medium having a program recorded thereon, when the program is loaded onto an operating apparatus, the program making the operating apparatus execute the method as claimed in claim 29 .

33. A program, when the program is loaded onto an operating apparatus, to make the operating apparatus execute the method as claimed in claim 29 .

34. A program product comprising a storage medium having a program recorded thereon, when the program is loaded onto an operating apparatus, the program making the operating apparatus execute the method as claimed in claim 29 .

35. A method for generating image data of a virtual space viewed from a predetermined view point, comprising:

providing a particle system object group comprising at least one particle system object which includes a plurality of particles in the virtual space, according to a predetermined rule, continuously or intermittently;

determining a displacement point as a basis for moving the provided particle system object group, in the virtual space;

moving the determined displacement point in a predetermined direction as time passes;

moving the provided particle system object group on the basis of the moved displacement point; and

changing a size of each provided particle system object group and diffusing the provided particle system object group of which size is changed as time passes.

36. The method as claimed in claim 35 , further comprising:

providing the particle system object group so as to attach to or follow a moving object moving in the virtual space.

37. The method as claimed in claim 36 , further comprising:

determining the displacement point on the basis of a position of the moving object at predetermined time intervals.

38. The method as claimed in claim 36 , further comprising:

determining the predetermined direction to be at least a substantially vertical direction to a moving direction of the moving object at the displacement point, to move the displacement point in the predetermined direction.

39. The method as claimed in claim 36 , further comprising:

changing at least one of providing one particle system object group or a predetermined number of particle system object groups, a size of the particle system object group, and a transparency of the particle system object group, on the basis of at least one of a position, a moving speed, a moving direction and a type of the moving object, to provide the particle system object group or the predetermined number of particle system object groups.

40. The method as claimed in claim 36 , further comprising:

changing at least one of providing the particle system object group comprising one particle system object or a predetermined number of particle system objects, a position of the particle system object, a size of the particle system object, and a transparency of the particle system object, on the basis of at least one of a position, a moving speed, a moving direction and a type of the moving object, to provide the particle system object group.

41. The method as claimed in claim 36 , further comprising:

changing at least one of the predetermined direction and a moving speed of the displacement point, on the basis of at least one of a moving speed, a moving direction, a movement and a type of the moving object, to move the displacement point.

42. The method as claimed in claim 36 , further comprising:

moving the particle system object group on the basis of the displacement point, according to a moving direction of the moving object.

43. The method as claimed in claim 35 , further comprising:

changing a transparency of the particle system object group as time passes.

44. The method as claimed in claim 35 , further comprising:

changing at least one of a position, a size and a transparency of the particle system object of the particle system object group as time passes.

45. The method as claimed in claim 35 , further comprising:

turning the particle system object which is formed in a board, in a predetermined direction based on the predetermined view point.

46. An apparatus adapted to carry out the method as claimed in claim 35 .

47. The apparatus as claimed in claim 46 , further comprising a game execution unit for executing a predetermined game according to the image data generated.

48. A storage medium having a program recorded thereon, when the program is loaded onto an operating apparatus, the program making the operating apparatus execute the method as claimed in claim 35 .

49. A program, when the program is loaded onto an operating apparatus, to make the operating apparatus execute the method as claimed in claim 35 .

50. A program product comprising a storage medium having a program recorded thereon, when the program is loaded onto an operating apparatus, the program making the operating apparatus execute the method as claimed in claim 35 .