Effective image processing, apparatus and method in virtual three-dimensional space

1. An effect image processing method in a virtual three-dimensional space for representing moving objects displayed around a character when said character is viewed from a predetermined viewpoint in the virtual three-dimensional space, comprising the steps of:

generating a main image including said character and a background image included in a visual field area viewed from the viewpoint of a virtual camera located in said virtual three-dimensional space;

providing a spherical object at a position, the spherical object consisting of a three-dimensional model including the viewpoint of said virtual camera and applying a texture image of said moving objects on said spherical object functioning as a screen on which an effective image is applied;

moving said texture image to a predetermined direction on said spherical object;

generating a synthesized image of an effect image and said main image by changing said texture image to said effect image by converting a three-dimensional coordinate of said texture image to a two-dimensional coordinate in the visual field area on said spherical object viewed from the viewpoint of said virtual camera; and

performing a moving process of the position of said spherical object according to movement of said virtual camera wherein the predetermined direction of said spherical object is invariable regardless of transition in a direction of said virtual camera.

2. An effect image processing method according to claim 1 , further comprising a step of controlling the viewpoint of said virtual camera such that the viewpoint moves around said character together with said spherical object.

3. An effect image processing method according to claim 1 ,

wherein said spherical object is a spherical object consisting of polygons including all visual field areas from the viewpoint of said virtual camera.

4. An effect image processing method according to claim 1 ,

wherein said spherical object is provided in a plural form and the plurality of spherical objects are disposed so as to form stratified spherical objects.

5. An effect image processing method according to claim 4 ,

wherein, in said step of performing the applying process of said texture image, said texture image in which any one of a display content, a direction, a color, and a speed of said moving objects is different is applied on each of the plural spherical objects.

6. An effect image processing method according to claim 1 , further comprising a step of controlling at least one of said character, the viewpoint of said virtual camera, and a direction of the view so as to move according to an operational input of an operator.

7. An effective image processing method according to claim 1 , further comprising a step of changing the shape and/or size of said spherical object moving according to the move of said virtual camera by the coordinate conversion of said spherical object or by the change of said spherical object to another spherical object.

8. An effect image processing method according to claim 1 , wherein the transition in said direction of said virtual camera includes rotation of said said virtual camera as said virtual camera moves along a path in said virtual three-dimensional space.

9. A computer program embodied in a computer readable medium for processing an effect image representing moving objects displayed around a character when said character is viewed from a predetermined viewpoint in a virtual three-dimensional space, performing the steps of:

generating a main image including said character and a background image included in a visual field area viewed from the viewpoint of a virtual camera located in said virtual three-dimensional space;

proving a spherical object at a position, the spherical object consisting of a three-dimensional model including the viewpoint of said virtual camera and applying a texture image of said moving objects on said spherical object functioning as a screen on which an effective image is applied;

moving said texture image to a predetermined direction on said spherical object;

generating a synthesized image of an effect image and said main image by changing said texture image to said effect image by converting a three-dimensional coordinate of said texture image to a two-dimensional coordinate in the visual field area on said spherical object viewed from the viewpoint of said virtual camera; and

performing a moving process of the position of said spherical object according to movement of said virtual camera wherein the predetermined direction of said spherical object is invariable regardless of transition in a direction of said virtual camera.

10. A computer program embodied a in computer readable medium according to claim 9 , further comprising a step for controlling the viewpoint of said virtual camera so as to move around said character together with said spherical object.

11. A computer program embodied in a computer readable medium according to claim 9 , further comprising a step for controlling at least any one of said character, the viewpoint of said virtual camera, and a direction of the view so as to move according to an operational input of an operator.

12. A computer program embodied in a computer readable medium according to claim 9 , further comprising a step of changing the shape and/or size of said spherical object moving according to the move of said virtual camera by the coordinate conversion of said spherical object or by the change of said spherical object to another spherical object.

13. A computer program embodied in a computer readable medium according to claim 9 , wherein the transition in said direction of said virtual camera includes rotation of said said virtual camera as said virtual camera moves along a path in said virtual three-dimensional space.

14. An effective image processing apparatus for representing moving objects displayed around a character when said character is viewed from a predetermined viewpoint in the virtual three-dimensional space, the image processing apparatus comprising:

means for generating a main image including said character and a background image included in a visual field area viewed from the viewpoint of a virtual camera located in said virtual three-dimensional space;

means for providing a spherical object at a position, the spherical object consisting of a three-dimensional model including the viewpoint of said virtual camera and applying a texture image of said moving objects on said spherical object functioning as a screen on which an effective image is applied;

means for moving said texture image to a predetermined direction on said spherical object;

means for generating a synthesized image of an effect image and said main image by changing said texture image to said effect image by converting a three-dimensional coordinate of said texture image to a two-dimensional coordinate in the visual field area on said spherical object viewed from the viewpoint of said virtual camera; and

means for performing a moving process of the position of said spherical object according to movement of said virtual camera wherein the predetermined direction of said spherical object is invariable regardless of transition in a direction of said virtual camera.

15. An effect image processing apparatus according to claim 14 , further comprising viewpoint control means which controls the viewpoint such that the viewpoint moves around said character together with said spherical object.

16. An effect image processing apparatus according to claim 14 ,

wherein said spherical object is a spherical object consisting of polygons including all visual field areas from the viewpoint of said virtual camera.

17. An effect image processing apparatus according to claim 14 ,

wherein said spherical object is provided in a plural form and the plurality of spherical objects are disposed so as to form stratified spherical objects.

18. An effect image processing apparatus according to claim 17 ,

wherein, in said means for applying said texture image, said texture image in which any one of a display content, a direction, a color, and a speed of said moving objects is different is applied on each of said spherical objects.

19. An effect image processing apparatus according to claim 14 , further comprising movement control means which controls at least one of said character, the viewpoint of said virtual camera, and a direction of the view so as to move according to an operational input of an operator.

20. An effect image processing apparatus according to claim 14 , further comprising a means of changing the shape and/or size of said spherical object moving according to the move of said virtual camera by the coordinate conversion of said spherical object or by the change of said spherical object to another spherical object.

21. An effect image processing apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the transition in said direction of said virtual camera includes rotation of said said virtual camera as said virtual camera moves along a path in said virtual three-dimensional space.