Virtual space rendering/display apparatus and virtual space rendering/display method
A view image rendering module ( 102 ) generates an image of a virtual space on the basis of a first viewpoint indicating the viewpoint of a user on the virtual space, and displays the generated image on a view image presentation module ( 101 ). A map image rendering module ( 104 ) generates a map image indicating a region around the position of the first viewpoint on the virtual space, and displays the generated map image on a map image presentation module ( 103 ). The position of the first viewpoint and the visual axis direction are controlled using a viewpoint position•visual axis direction input module ( 106 ) which is provided on the display surface of the map image presentation module ( 103 ). Furthermore, a virtual object set on the virtual space undergoes manipulation control using a virtual object manipulation input module ( 107 ) which is provided on the display surface of the map image presentation module ( 103 ).
1. A virtual space presentation apparatus comprising:
a virtual space image generation unit adapted to generate an image of a virtual space, according to a viewpoint position and a visual axis direction which are set in the virtual space;
a map image generation unit adapted to generate a map image representing a region around the viewpoint position, according to the viewpoint position and the visual axis direction;
a view image displaying unit adapted to display the generated image of the virtual space;
a map image displaying unit adapted to display the generated map image; and
a viewpoint position and visual axis direction input unit, which is used to operate the viewpoint position and the visual axis direction, and which is fixed in a position on said map image displaying unit,
wherein said map image generation unit generates an image of a plan-view map that looks down the region around the viewpoint position from a position immediately above the viewpoint.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said map image generation unit generates the map image as a bird's-eye view.
3. A virtual space presentation apparatus comprising:
a virtual space image generation unit adapted to generate an image of a virtual space, according to a viewpoint position and a visual axis direction which are set in the virtual space;
a map image generation unit adapted to generate a map image representing a region around the viewpoint position, according to the viewpoint position and the visual axis direction;
a view image displaying unit adapted to display the generated image of the virtual space;
a map image displaying unit adapted to display the generated map image; and
a viewpoint position and visual axis direction input unit, which is used to operate the viewpoint position and the visual axis direction, and which is fixed in a position on said map image displaying unit,
wherein said viewpoint position and visual axis direction input unit is fixed in a position on a display screen of said map image displaying unit,
the position of said viewpoint position and visual axis direction input unit on the display screen is a viewpoint position of a map image displayed on the display screen, and
said map image displaying unit controls the viewpoint position and the visual axis direction, by scrolling a map image displayed on the display screen according to operation to said viewpoint position and visual axis direction input unit.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , said viewpoint position and visual axis direction input unit includes a trackball, a joystick, and a track pad.
5. A virtual space display method comprising the steps of:
generating an image of a virtual space, according to a viewpoint position and a visual axis direction which are set in the virtual space;
generating a map image representing a region around the viewpoint position, according to the viewpoint position and the visual axis direction;
displaying the generated image of the virtual space by a view image displaying unit;
displaying the generated map image by a map image displaying unit; and
setting the viewpoint position and the visual axis direction, according to an instruction input from a viewpoint position and visual axis direction input unit fixed in a position on said map image displaying unit,
wherein said generating step includes generating an image of a plan-view map that looks down the region around the viewpoint position from a position immediately above the viewpoint.
6. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a virtual space display method of claim 5 .
7. A virtual space presentation method comprising the steps of:
generating an image of a virtual space, according to a viewpoint position and a visual axis direction which are set in the virtual space;
generating a map image representing a region around the viewpoint position, according to the viewpoint position and the visual axis direction;
displaying the generated image of the virtual space;
displaying the generated map image; and
using an input unit to operate the viewpoint position and the visual axis direction, and wherein the input unit is fixed in a position on a display unit that is used in said step of displaying the map image, and
wherein the position of the input unit on the display unit is a viewpoint position of a map image displayed on the display unit, and
wherein said step of displaying the map image displaying includes controlling the viewpoint position and the visual axis direction, by scrolling a map image displayed on the display unit according to operation to the viewpoint position and visual axis direction input unit.
8. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a virtual space display method of claim 7 .