Image generation system, image generation method, and information storage medium

1. An image generation system including a processor, comprising:

an object space setting section that sets an object space where a plurality of objects are disposed;

a character control section that controls a character that moves in the object space;

a virtual camera control section that controls a virtual camera;

an inter-camera distance setting section that sets an inter-camera distance based on at least one of position information, direction information, and moving state information about the character or the virtual camera, the inter-camera distance being a distance between a left-eye virtual camera and a right-eye virtual camera for generating a stereoscopic image, the inter-camera distance setting section changing the inter-camera distance by repeatedly increasing and reducing the inter-camera distance when a given event has been generated in connection with the character; and

an image generation section that generates a left-eye image and a right-eye image, the left-eye image being an image viewed from the left-eye virtual camera in the object space, and the right-eye image being an image viewed from the right-eye virtual camera in the object space.

2. An image generation system including a processor, comprising:

an object space setting section that sets an object space where a plurality of objects are disposed;

a character control section that controls a character that moves in the object space;

a virtual camera control section that controls a virtual camera;

an inter-camera distance setting section that sets an inter-camera distance based on at least one of position information, direction information, and moving state information about the character or the virtual camera, the inter-camera distance being a distance between a left-eye virtual camera and a right-eye virtual camera for generating a stereoscopic image, the inter-camera distance setting section acquiring map information about a place where the character or the virtual camera is positioned based on the position information about the character or the virtual camera, and setting the inter-camera distance based on the acquired map information; and

an image generation section that generates a left-eye image and a right-eye image, the left-eye image being an image viewed from the left-eye virtual camera in the object space, and the right-eye image being an image viewed from the right-eye virtual camera in the object space.

3. The image generation system as defined in claim 2 ,

the inter-camera distance setting section increasing the inter-camera distance when it has been determined that the character or the virtual camera is positioned at a high place based on the map information, and reducing the inter-camera distance when it has been determined that the character or the virtual camera is positioned at a low place based on the map information.

4. The image generation system as defined in claim 2 ,

the inter-camera distance setting section setting the inter-camera distance based on the type of accessory object attached to the character.

5. The image generation system as defined in claim 2 ,

the inter-camera distance setting section setting the inter-camera distance based on a motion of the character.

6. An image generation system including a processor, comprising:

an object space setting section that sets an object space where a plurality of objects are disposed;

a character control section that controls a character that moves in the object space;

a virtual camera control section that controls a virtual camera;

an inter-camera distance setting section setting an inter-camera distance based on at least one of direction information and moving direction information about a target object that is targeted by the character during a game, the inter-camera distance setting section setting the inter-camera distance to be a different distance depending on direction information or moving direction information about the character or the virtual camera, the inter-camera distance being a distance between a left-eye virtual camera and a right-eye virtual camera for generating a stereoscopic image;

an image generation section that generates a left-eye image and a right-eye image, the left-eye image being an image viewed from the left-eye virtual camera in the object space, and the right-eye image being an image viewed from the right-eye virtual camera in the object space.

7. The image generation system as defined in claim 6 ,

the inter-camera distance setting section changing the inter-camera distance when it has been determined that a direction of the character or the virtual camera has approximately coincided with a direction where the target object is positioned.

8. The image generation system as defined in claim 7 ,

the inter-camera distance setting section increasing the inter-camera distance when it has been determined that the target object is positioned at a long distance away from the character or the virtual camera, and reducing the inter-camera distance when it has been determined that the target object is positioned at a short distance away from the character or the virtual camera.

9. The image generation system as defined in claim 6 ,

the inter-camera distance setting section setting the inter-camera distance based on the type of accessory object attached to the character.

10. The image generation system as defined in claim 6 ,

the inter-camera distance setting section setting the inter-camera distance based on a motion of the character.

11. The image generation system as defined in claim 6 ,

the inter-camera distance setting section changing the inter-camera distance as a direction of the character becomes parallel to a direction of the target object.

12. The image generation system as defined in claim 6 ,

the inter-camera distance setting section reducing the inter-camera distance when it has been determined that a moving path of the target object is extending toward the character, or when it has been determined that a moving path of the character is extending toward the target object.

13. An image generation method comprising:

setting an object space where a plurality of objects are disposed;

controlling a character that moves in the object space;

controlling a virtual camera;

setting an inter-camera distance using a processor based on at least one of position information, direction information and moving state information about the character or the virtual camera, the inter-camera distance being a distance between a left-eye virtual camera and a right-eye virtual camera for generating a stereoscopic image;

generating a left-eye image and a right-eye image, the left-eye image being an image viewed from the left-eye virtual camera in the object space, and the right-eye image being an image viewed from the right-eye virtual camera in the object space; and

changing the inter-camera distance by repeatedly increasing and reducing the inter-camera distance when a given event has been generated in connection with the character.

14. An image generation method comprising:

setting an object space where a plurality of objects are disposed;

controlling a character that moves in the object space;

controlling a virtual camera;

setting an inter-camera distance using a processor based on at least one of position information, direction information and moving state information about the character or the virtual camera, the inter-camera distance being a distance between a left-eye virtual camera and a right-eye virtual camera for generating a stereoscopic image;

generating a left-eye image and a right-eye image, the left-eye image being an image viewed from the left-eye virtual camera in the object space, and the right-eye image being an image viewed from the right-eye virtual camera in the object space; and

acquiring map information about a place where the character or the virtual camera is positioned based on the position information about the character or the virtual camera, and setting the inter-camera distance based on the acquired map information.

15. The image generation method of claim 14 , further comprising:

increasing the inter-camera distance when it has been determined that the character or the virtual camera is positioned at a high place based on the map information, and reducing the inter-camera distance when it has been determined that the character or the virtual camera is positioned at a low place based on the map information.

16. An image generation method comprising:

setting an object space where a plurality of objects are disposed;

controlling a character that moves in the object space;

controlling a virtual camera;

setting an inter-camera distance using a processor based on at least one of direction information and moving direction information about a target object that is targeted by the character during a game, the inter-camera distance being a different distance depending on direction information or moving direction information about the character or the virtual camera, the inter-camera distance being a distance between a left-eye virtual camera and a right-eye virtual camera for generating a stereoscopic image;

generating a left-eye image and a right-eye image, the left-eye image being an image viewed from the left-eye virtual camera in the object space, and the right-eye image being an image viewed from the right-eye virtual camera in the object space.

17. The image generation method of claim 16 , further comprising:

changing the inter-camera distance when it has been determined that a direction of the character or the virtual camera has approximately coincided with a direction where the target object is positioned.

18. The image generation method of claim 17 , further comprising:

increasing the inter-camera distance when it has been determined that the target object is positioned at a long distance away from the character or the virtual camera, and reducing the inter-camera distance when it has been determined that the target object is positioned at a short distance away from the character or the virtual camera.

19. The image generation method of claim 16 , further comprising:

changing the inter-camera distance as a direction of the character becomes parallel to a direction of the target object.

20. The image generation method of claim 16 , further comprising:

reducing the inter-camera distance when it has been determined that a moving path of the target object is extending toward the character, or when it has been determined that a moving path of the character is extending toward the target object.