Game processing system, game processing method, game processing apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium having game processing program stored therein

1. A game system for displaying a scene including a predetermined object located in a virtual space, the game system comprising:

an object locating section configured to locate a polygon model as the object in the virtual space, the polygon model including a first portion and a second portion;

a normal vector evaluation section configured to perform evaluation by determining whether a direction of a normal vector associated with each polygon of the model is indicative of a hidden surface in the first portion;

hidden surface determining section configured to determine a hidden surface of the first portion as being a part of said second portion based on a result of a performed evaluation;

a game processing section configured to perform game processing;

a transparent processing section configured to increase transparency of the first portion of the object when a predetermined condition is met in the game processing; and

a rendering processing section configured to render the first portion on the basis of the set transparency and to render a polygon of the second portion.

2. The game system according to claim 1 , wherein the first portion includes the second portion.

3. The game system according to claim 1 , wherein the second portion is a model which has a feature of being able to be rendered so as to correspond to at least a portion of an edge of a polygon model of the first portion.

4. The game system according to claim 1 , wherein transparency of the second portion is constant regardless of the condition.

5. The game system according to claim 4 , wherein the second portion is constantly opaque.

6. The game system according to claim 1 , wherein

the game processing includes an operation process of controlling a player character on the basis of an operation of a player, and

the transparent processing section increases the transparency of the first portion of the object on the basis of a relative positional relationship between the player character and the object.

7. The game system according to claim 6 , wherein when the object hides a portion or the entirety of the player character from a virtual camera for rendering a scene including the virtual space, the transparent processing section increases the transparency of the first portion of the object.

8. The game system according to claim 6 , wherein when the player character is close to the object, the transparent processing section increases transparency of the object.

9. The game system according to claim 6 , wherein the operation process is an operation process of controlling a plurality of player characters on the basis of operations of a plurality of players.

10. An image processing system for displaying a scene including a predetermined object located in a virtual space, the image processing system comprising:

an object locating section configured to locate a polygon model as the object in the virtual space, the polygon model including a first portion and a second portion;

a vector evaluation section configured to perform a surface normal vector direction evaluation by determining for each polygon of the model whether a direction of a surface normal vector associated with each polygon is indicative of a hidden surface of the first portion;

hidden surface determining section configured to determine a hidden surface of the first portion as being a part of said second portion based on a result of a performed vector direction evaluation;

a transparent processing section configured to cause the first portion of the object to be translucent; and

a rendering processing section configured to render the first portion on the basis of the set transparency and to render a polygon of the second portion.

11. A game controlling method, implemented using an information processing apparatus having one or more processor, for displaying a scene including a predetermined object located in a virtual space, the game controlling method comprising:

locating a polygon model as the object in the virtual space, the polygon model including a first portion and a second portion;

performing surface normal vector direction evaluations for each poly on of the model, using said one or more processor, to determine for each polygon of the model whether direction of a surface normal vector associated with each polygon is indicative of a hidden surface of the first portion,

determining a hidden surface of the first portion as being part of said second portion based on a result of a performed normal vector direction evaluation;

performing game processing;

increasing transparency of the first portion of the object when a predetermined condition is met in the game processing; and

rendering the first portion on the basis of the set transparency and rendering a polygon of the second portion.

12. The game controlling method according to claim 11 , wherein the first portion includes the second portion.

13. The game controlling method according to claim 11 , wherein the second portion is a model which has a feature of being able to be rendered so as to correspond to at least a portion of an edge of a polygon model of the first portion.

14. The game controlling method according to claim 11 , wherein transparency of the second portion is constant regardless of the condition.

15. The game controlling method according to claim 14 , wherein the second portion is constantly opaque.

16. The game controlling method according to claim 11 , wherein the game processing includes an operation process of controlling a player character in response to an input operation of a player, and

wherein the transparency of the first portion of the object is increased based upon a relative positional relationship between the player character and the object.

17. The game controlling method according to claim 16 , wherein when the object hides a portion or the entirety of the player character from a virtual camera for rendering a scene including the virtual space, the transparency of the first portion of the object is increased.

18. The game controlling method according to claim 16 , wherein when the player character is close to the object, transparency of the object is increased.

19. The game controlling method according to claim 16 , wherein the operation process is a process of controlling a plurality of player characters based upon one or more input operations of a plurality of players.

20. An image processing method, implemented using one or more computer processor, for displaying a scene including a predetermined object located in a virtual space, the image processing method comprising:

locating a polygon model as the object in the virtual space, the polygon model including a first portion and a second portion;

performing vector evaluations for each polygon of the model, using said one or more computer processor, to determine whether a direction of a surface normal vector associated with each polygon is indicative of a hidden surface of the first portion;

determining a hidden surface of the first portion based on a result of a performed surface normal vector direction evaluation;

causing the first portion of the object to be translucent; and

rendering the first portion on the basis of the set transparency and rendering a polygon of the second portion.

21. A game apparatus for displaying a scene including a predetermined object located in a virtual space, the game apparatus comprising:

an object locating section configured to locate a polygon model as the object in the virtual space, the polygon model including a first portion and a second portion;

a vector evaluation section configured to perform surface normal vector direction evaluation by determining for each polygon of the model whether a direction of a surface normal vector associated with each polygon is indicative of a hidden surface of the first portion;

hidden surface determining section configured to determine a hidden surface of the first portion as being a part of said second portion based on a result of a performed surface normal vector direction evaluation;

a game processing section configured to perform game processing;

a transparent processing section configured to increase transparency of the first portion of the object when a predetermined condition is met in the game processing; and

a rendering processing section configured to render the first portion on the basis of the set transparency and to render a polygon of the second portion.

22. An image processing apparatus for displaying a scene including a predetermined object located in a virtual space, the image processing apparatus comprising:

an object locating section configured to locate a polygon model as the object in the virtual space, the polygon model including a first portion and a second portion;

a vector evaluation section configured to perform surface normal vector direction evaluation by determining for each polygon of the model whether a direction of a surface normal vector associated with each polygon is indicative of a hidden surface of the first portion;

hidden surface determining section configured to determine a hidden surface of the first portion as being a part of said second portion based on a result of a performed surface normal vector direction evaluation;

a transparent processing section configured to cause the first portion of the object to be translucent; and

a rendering processing section configured to render the first portion on the basis of the set transparency and to render a polygon of the second portion.

23. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein a program executable by a computer of a game system for displaying a scene including a predetermined object located in a virtual space, the program causing the computer to operate as:

an object locating section configured to locate a polygon model as the object in the virtual space, the polygon model including a first portion and a second portion;

a vector evaluation section configured to perform surface normal vector direction evaluation by determining for each polygon of the model whether a direction of a surface normal vector associated with each polygon is indicative of a hidden surface of the first portion;

hidden surface determining section configured to determine a hidden surface of the first portion as being a part of said second portion based on a result of a performed surface normal vector direction evaluation;

a game processing section configured to perform game processing;

a transparent processing section configured to increase transparency of the first portion of the object when a predetermined condition is met in the game processing; and

a rendering processing section configured to render the first portion on the basis of the set transparency and to render a polygon of the second portion.

24. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 23 , wherein the first portion includes the second portion.

25. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 23 , wherein the second portion is a model which has a feature of being able to be rendered so as to correspond to at least a portion of an edge of a polygon model of the first portion.

26. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 23 , wherein transparency of the second portion is constant regardless of the condition.

27. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 26 , wherein the second portion is constantly opaque.

28. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 23 , wherein the game processing includes an operation process of controlling a player character based upon an input operation of a player, and

wherein the transparent processing section increases the transparency of the first portion of the object based upon a relative positional relationship between the player character and the object.

29. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 28 , wherein when the object hides a portion or the entirety of the player character from a virtual camera for rendering a scene including the virtual space, the transparent processing section increases the transparency of the first portion of the object.

30. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 28 , wherein when the player character is close to the object, the transparent processing section increases transparency of the object.

31. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 28 , wherein the operation process is an operation process of controlling a plurality of player characters based upon one or more input operations of a plurality of players.

32. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein a program executable by a computer of an image processing system for displaying a scene including a predetermined object located in a virtual space, the program causing the computer to operate as:

an object locating section configured to locate a polygon model as the object in the virtual space, the polygon model including a first portion and a second portion;

a vector evaluation section configured to perform surface normal vector direction evaluation by determining for each polygon of the model whether a direction of a surface normal vector associated with each polygon is indicative of a hidden surface of the first portion;

hidden surface determining section configured to determine a hidden surface of the first portion as being a part of said second portion based on a result of a performed vector evaluation;

a transparent processing section configured to cause the first portion of the object to be translucent; and

a rendering processing section configured to render the first portion on the basis of the set transparency and to render a polygon of the second portion.