Information storage medium and image generation device

1. A non-transitory computer-readable information storage medium storing a program, which when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to generate an image of a virtual three-dimensional space, the program causing a computer to function as:

a virtual three-dimensional space setting section that disposes an object in the virtual three-dimensional space;

a capture direction specifying section that specifies a capture direction based on input information, a capture point being disposed in the capture direction within the virtual three-dimensional space;

a capture target specifying section that specifies a capture target within the virtual three-dimensional space based on the capture direction;

a marker placement control section that sets a depth value of the capture point based on a capture target specifying result, and disposes a marker at the capture point within the virtual three-dimensional space; and

an image generation section that generates an image of the virtual three-dimensional space viewed from a virtual camera, objects including the marker being disposed in the virtual three-dimensional space,

the capture target specifying section determining whether or not the capture target is present in the capture direction within the virtual three-dimensional space, and specifying the capture target when the capture target is present, and

the marker placement control section determining the depth value of the capture point based on a depth value corresponding to the capture target when the capture target is present, setting a depth value of a drawn object that is positioned furthest from the virtual camera in the capture direction, or a predetermined depth value, as the depth value of the capture point when the capture target is not present, and performing a depth value correction process that corrects the depth value of the capture point when a transition has occurred from a state in which the capture target is present to a state in which the capture target is not present.

2. The information storage medium as defined in claim 1 ,

wherein the marker placement control section performs at least one of a process that does not change the depth value of the capture point for a predetermined period, a process that limits an amount of change in the depth value of the capture point, and a process that corrects the depth value of the capture point so that the depth value of the capture point does not instantaneously change to the depth value of the drawn object that is positioned furthest from the virtual camera, or the predetermined depth value, as the depth value correction process.

3. The information storage medium as defined in claim 1 ,

wherein the marker placement control section sets the depth value of the capture point so that a moving speed of the marker disposed at the capture point increases with time when a transition has occurred from a state in which the capture target is present to a state in which the capture target is not present.

4. The information storage medium as defined in claim 1 ,

wherein the marker placement control section changes a depth value setting condition based on a type, size, or disposition state of the objects disposed within the virtual three-dimensional space, a predetermined parameter, or a given condition.

5. The information storage medium as defined in claim 1 ,

wherein the capture target specifying section predicts a change in the capture direction based on a change history of the capture direction, and specifies the capture target taking account of the predicted change in the capture direction.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable information storage medium storing a program, which when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to generate an image of a virtual three-dimensional space, the program causing a computer to function as:

a virtual three-dimensional space setting section that disposes an object in a virtual three-dimensional space;

a capture direction specifying section that specifies a capture direction based on input information, a capture point being disposed in the capture direction within the virtual three-dimensional space;

a capture target specifying section that specifies a capture target within the virtual three-dimensional space based on the capture direction;

a marker placement control section that sets a depth value of the capture point based on a capture target specifying result, and disposes a marker at the capture point within the virtual three-dimensional space; and

an image generation section that generates an image of the virtual three-dimensional space viewed from a virtual camera, objects including the marker being disposed in the virtual three-dimensional space,

the capture target specifying section predicting a change in the capture direction based on a change history of the capture direction, and specifying the capture target taking account of the predicted change in the capture direction, and

the marker placement control section determining the depth value of the capture point based on a depth value corresponding to the capture target when the capture target is present, and disposing the marker at a position in the capture direction corresponding to the determined depth value.

7. The information storage medium as defined in claim 1 ,

wherein the capture target specifying section detects an object present in the capture direction as a capture target detection process; and

wherein the marker placement control section determines the depth value of the capture point based on a depth value corresponding to a capture target object when the capture target object has been detected.

8. The information storage medium as defined in claim 6 ,

wherein the capture target specifying section detects an object present in the capture direction as a capture target detection process; and

wherein the marker placement control section determines the depth value of the capture point based on a depth value corresponding to a capture target object when the capture target object has been detected.

9. The information storage medium as defined in claim 1 ,

wherein the capture target specifying section groups a plurality of objects, and detects an object group present in the capture direction as a capture target detection process; and

wherein the marker placement control section determines the depth value of the capture point based on a depth value corresponding to a capture target object group when the capture target object group has been detected.

10. The information storage medium as defined in claim 6 ,

wherein the capture target specifying section groups a plurality of objects, and detects an object group present in the capture direction as a capture target detection process; and

wherein the marker placement control section determines the depth value of the capture point based on a depth value corresponding to a capture target object group when the capture target object group has been detected.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable information storage medium storing a program, which when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to generate an image of a virtual three-dimensional space, the program causing a computer to function as:

a virtual three-dimensional space setting section that disposes an object in a virtual three-dimensional space;

a capture direction specifying section that specifies a capture direction based on input information, a capture point being disposed in the capture direction within the virtual three-dimensional space;

a capture target specifying section that specifies a capture target within the virtual three-dimensional space based on the capture direction;

a marker placement control section that sets a depth value of the capture point based on a capture target specifying result, and disposes a marker at the capture point within the virtual three-dimensional space; and

an image generation section that generates an image of the virtual three-dimensional space viewed from a virtual camera, objects including the marker being disposed in the virtual three-dimensional space,

the capture target specifying section grouping a plurality of objects, and detecting an object group present in the capture direction as a capture target detection process, and

the marker placement control section determining the depth value of the capture point based on a depth value corresponding to a capture target object group when the capture target object group has been detected.

12. The information storage medium as defined in claim 1 ,

wherein the capture target specifying section sets a first hit check plane or a first hit check volume to an object or an object group disposed within the virtual three-dimensional space, performs a hit check based on the first hit check plane or the first hit check volume and the capture direction, and determines a capture target object based on a hit check result.

13. The information storage medium as defined in claim 6 ,

wherein the capture target specifying section sets a first hit check plane or a first hit check volume to an object or an object group disposed within the virtual three-dimensional space, performs a hit check based on the first hit check plane or the first hit check volume and the capture direction, and determines a capture target object based on a hit check result.

14. The information storage medium as defined in claim 11 ,

wherein the capture target specifying section sets a first hit check plane or a first hit check volume to an object or an object group disposed within the virtual three-dimensional space, performs a hit check based on the first hit check plane or the first hit check volume and the capture direction, and determines a capture target object based on a hit check result.

15. The information storage medium as defined in claim 1 ,

wherein the capture target specifying section detects the capture target present in the capture direction by using a direction that connects the capture point and the virtual camera positioned in part of a controller as the capture direction.

16. The information storage medium as defined in claim 6 ,

wherein the capture target specifying section detects the capture target present in the capture direction by using a direction that connects the capture point and the virtual camera positioned in part of a controller as the capture direction.

17. The information storage medium as defined in claim 11 ,

wherein the capture target specifying section detects the capture target present in the capture direction by using a direction that connects the capture point and the virtual camera positioned in part of a controller as the capture direction.

18. The information storage medium as defined in claim 1 ,

wherein the image of the virtual three-dimensional space is a stereoscopic image; and

wherein the capture target specifying section detects the capture target present in the capture direction by using a direction that connects the capture point and the virtual camera set at a position suitable for observing the stereoscopic image as the capture direction.

19. The information storage medium as defined in claim 6 ,

wherein the image of the virtual three-dimensional space is a stereoscopic image; and

wherein the capture target specifying section detects the capture target present in the capture direction by using a direction that connects the capture point and the virtual camera set at a position suitable for observing the stereoscopic image as the capture direction.

20. The information storage medium as defined in claim 11 ,

wherein the image of the virtual three-dimensional space is a stereoscopic image; and

wherein the capture target specifying section detects the capture target present in the capture direction by using a direction that connects the capture point and the virtual camera set at a position suitable for observing the stereoscopic image as the capture direction.

21. The information storage medium as defined in claim 1 ,

wherein the image of the virtual three-dimensional space is a stereoscopic image:

wherein the image generation section performs a process that generates a first image of the virtual three-dimensional space including the marker viewed from a first virtual camera, and a process that generates a second image of the virtual three-dimensional space including the marker viewed from a second virtual camera, and generates a stereoscopic image based on the first image and the second image; and

wherein the capture target specifying section detects the capture target present in the capture direction by using a direction that connects the capture point and a third virtual camera disposed at a midpoint between the first virtual camera and the second virtual camera as the capture direction.

22. The information storage medium as defined in claim 6 ,

wherein the image of the virtual three-dimensional space is a stereoscopic image;

wherein the image generation section performs a process that generates a first image of the virtual three-dimensional space including the marker viewed from a first virtual camera, and a process that generates a second image of the virtual three-dimensional space including the marker viewed from a second virtual camera, and generates a stereoscopic image based on the first image and the second image; and

wherein the capture target specifying section detects the capture target present in the capture direction by using a direction that connects the capture point and a third virtual camera disposed at a midpoint between the first virtual camera and the second virtual camera as the capture direction.

23. The information storage medium as defined in claim 11 ,

wherein the image of the virtual three-dimensional space is a stereoscopic image;

wherein the image generation section performs a process that generates a first image of the virtual three-dimensional space including the marker viewed from a first virtual camera, and a process that generates a second image of the virtual three-dimensional space including the marker viewed from a second virtual camera, and generates a stereoscopic image based on the first image and the second image; and

wherein the capture target specifying section detects the capture target present in the capture direction by using a direction that connects the capture point and a third virtual camera disposed at a midpoint between the first virtual camera and the second virtual camera as the capture direction.

24. An image generation device that generates an image of a virtual three-dimensional space, the image generation device comprising:

a virtual three-dimensional space setting section that disposes an object in a virtual three-dimensional space;

a capture direction specifying section that specifies a capture direction based on input information, a capture point being disposed in the capture direction within the virtual three-dimensional space;

a capture target specifying section that specifies a capture target within the virtual three-dimensional space based on the capture direction;

a marker placement control section that sets a depth value of the capture point based on a capture target specifying result, and disposes a marker at the capture point within the virtual three-dimensional space; and

an image generation section that generates an image of the virtual three-dimensional space viewed from a virtual camera, objects including the marker being disposed in the virtual three-dimensional space,

the capture target specifying section determining whether or not the capture target is present in the capture direction within the virtual three-dimensional space, and specifying the capture target when the capture target is present, and

the marker placement control section determining the depth value of the capture point based on a depth value corresponding to the capture target when the capture target is present, setting a depth value of a drawn object that is positioned furthest from the virtual camera in the capture direction, or a predetermined depth value, as the depth value of the capture point when the capture target is not present, and performing a depth value correction process that corrects the depth value of the capture point when a transition has occurred from a state in which the capture target is present to a state in which the capture target is not present.