Program, game virtual space providing method, and game virtual space providing apparatus

Abstract

Provided are a program, a game virtual space providing method, and a game virtual space providing apparatus for flexibly and dynamically performing display control of an object in a game virtual space. The present invention uses a computer for providing a game virtual space (50) in which a game object (GO) is placed in a predetermined plane as: a generation unit (33) for generating the game virtual space (50) as a spherical coordinate space; an acquisition unit (34) for acquiring information related to a Cartesian coordinate system including a position of an object to be displayed in the game virtual space (50); a conversion unit (35) for converting the Cartesian coordinate system into a polar coordinate system based on the information; and a display control unit (36) for displaying the object at a position in the game virtual space (50) corresponding to the position in the Cartesian coordinate system based on the information related to the polar coordinate system. The display control unit (36) controls a display form of the object in the game virtual space (50) based on a predetermined condition.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a program for providing a game virtual space, a game virtual space providing method, and a game virtual space providing apparatus. BACKGROUND

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a game apparatus or the like capable of performing image representation of a real celestial body (e.g., the sun, the moon, a star, or a star cluster, etc.) in which a position of a represented earth in a game space and the elapse of game time are reflected.

[0003] PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

[0004] PATENT DOCUMENT

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-342854 SUMMARY

[0006] PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0007] In a game apparatus such as the game apparatus described in Patent Document 1, in order to display the sun in a game space, a pre-recorded sun object is read and placed in the game space. However, in such an image processing technique, the display form of the sun in the game space cannot be finely controlled. Therefore, in the conventional image processing technique, it can not be possible to flexibly and dynamically control the display of the sun in the game space.

[0008] Therefore, an object of the present application is to provide a program, a game virtual space providing method, and a game virtual space providing apparatus for flexibly and dynamically performing display control of a target in a game virtual space.

[0009] SOLUTION TO PROBLEM

[0010] According to an aspect, the present application provides a program for causing a computer for providing a game virtual space in which a game object is placed in a predetermined plane to function as: a generation unit for generating the game virtual space as a spherical coordinate space; an acquisition unit for acquiring information related to a Cartesian coordinate system including a position of a target to be displayed in the game virtual space; a conversion unit for converting the Cartesian coordinate system into a polar coordinate system based on the information; and a display control unit for displaying the target at a position in the game virtual space corresponding to the position in the Cartesian coordinate system based on information related to the polar coordinate system, wherein the display control unit controls a display form of the target in the game virtual space based on a predetermined condition.

[0011] According to another aspect, the present application provides a game virtual space providing method, which is executed by a computer that provides a game virtual space in which game objects are placed in a predetermined plane, the game virtual space providing method including the steps of: generating the game virtual space as a spherical coordinate space; acquiring information related to a Cartesian coordinate system including a position of a target to be displayed in the game virtual space; converting the Cartesian coordinate system into a polar coordinate system based on the information; and displaying the target at a position in the game virtual space corresponding to the position in the Cartesian coordinate system based on information related to the polar coordinate system, wherein in the step of displaying, a display form of the target in the game virtual space is controlled based on a predetermined condition.

[0012] According to still another aspect, the present application provides a game virtual space providing apparatus for providing a game virtual space in which game objects are placed in a predetermined plane, the game virtual space providing apparatus including: a generation unit configured to generate the game virtual space as a spherical coordinate space; an acquisition unit configured to acquire information related to a Cartesian coordinate system including a position of a target to be displayed in the game virtual space; a conversion unit configured to convert the Cartesian coordinate system into a polar coordinate system based on the information; and a display control unit configured to display the target at a position in the game virtual space corresponding to the position in the Cartesian coordinate system based on information related to the polar coordinate system, wherein the display control unit controls a display form of the target in the game virtual space based on a predetermined condition.

[0013] Note that the present application also includes cases where "unit" and "apparatus" do not merely mean physical components and the functions of "unit" and "apparatus" are implemented by software. Furthermore, the functions of one "unit" or "apparatus" can be implemented by means of two or more physical components or apparatuses, and the functions of two or more "units" or "apparatuses" can be implemented by means of one physical component or apparatus.

[0014] Effects of the Invention

[0015] According to the above aspect of the present application, display control of a target in a game virtual space can be flexibly and dynamically performed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a spherical object that surrounds a game virtual space in which game objects are placed in a predetermined plane according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0017] Figure 2 is a diagram that schematically illustrates a structure of a game virtual space providing system according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0018] Figure 3 Fig. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a hardware structure of a game virtual space providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0019] Figure 4 Fig. 2 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a functional structure of the game virtual space providing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present application.

[0020] Figure 5 Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a coordinate system conversion process according to the embodiment of the present application.

[0021] Figure 6 Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example case of performing polar coordinate conversion of a luminous condition of the sun, a prominence shape, and the like according to the embodiment of the present application.

[0022] Figure 7 Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a condition in which a texture of the sun is placed on a sphere object that surrounds a game virtual space according to the embodiment of the present application.

[0023] Figure 8 Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display process of the sun in the game virtual space according to the embodiment of the present application.

[0024] Figure 9 Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a control process of a display form of the sun in the game virtual space according to the embodiment of the present application.

[0025] Figure 10 Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a rotation condition of the sphere object that surrounds the game virtual space according to the embodiment of the present application.

[0026] Figure 11 Fig. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the rotation condition of the sphere object that surrounds the game virtual space according to the embodiment of the present application.

[0027] Figure 12 Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a game virtual space providing process according to the embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the embodiments to be described below are merely examples and are not intended to exclude application of various modifications and technologies that are not specifically described below. That is, the present application can be embodied in various modifications (by combining examples) without departing from the spirit thereof. Furthermore, in the following description of the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals are assigned to the same or similar parts. The drawings are schematic and do not necessarily conform to actual sizes, ratios, and the like. The drawings can include parts having different sizes, ratios, and the like between the drawings.

[0029] Figure 1 This is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a sphere object according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 As shown, the sphere object 60, for example, surrounds the game virtual space 50 on which the game object GO is placed on the game field S (a predetermined plane). In this embodiment, the game virtual space 50 is, for example, a spherical coordinate space. The sphere object 60, as... Figure 1 The object shown can be a perfect sphere or a hemisphere. The game virtual space 50 is configured to allow selection of one of multiple game arenas S, for example, mimicking different regions of the Earth. The game virtual space 50 reflects the location on the corresponding region of each game arena S, or reflects the progression or passage of game time.

[0030] For example, a sun, as an example of a display object DO (target), is generated (displayed) at the pole of a sphere object 60 using a shader according to an embodiment of the present invention. The shader is, for example, a computer program for shading (shadowing) in 3D computer graphics. The shader is, for example, part of a renderer for performing calculations related to the colors of display objects in the game virtual space 50. Display objects DO include display objects formed by mimicking celestial bodies, and may include, for example, the moon, stars, star clusters, etc., in addition to the sun described above. In this embodiment, the results output from the shader used to determine the luminosity and prominence shape of the sun in the game virtual space 50 are subjected to polar coordinate transformation (e.g., transformation from a planar coordinate system to a spherical coordinate system). Then, the result of the polar coordinate transformation is mapped onto the sphere object 60 surrounding the game virtual space 50 (see description below). Figure 6 This allows the sun to be represented in the game's virtual space 50 (see explanation below). Figure 8 and Figure 9 ).

[0031] Therefore, parameters related to the sun in the game's virtual space 50 can be precisely controlled, such as parameters related to the sun's shape, light intensity, or the appearance of prominences. For example, dynamic movement of light rays (light) that resemble sunlight can be represented using procedural techniques with shaders. Thus, in this embodiment, the display control of the sun can be executed flexibly and dynamically.

[0032] Figure 2 This is a diagram that schematically illustrates the structure of a game virtual space provision system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2As shown, the game virtual space providing system 1 is configured to exemplarily include a game virtual space providing apparatus 3 for defining and providing a game virtual space, a reproduction apparatus 5 for reproducing audio data or image data including the game virtual space provided by the game virtual space providing apparatus 3, and an input apparatus 9 operated by a user.

[0033] The reproduction apparatus 5 is an apparatus for outputting an image and outputting audio, and reproduces predetermined content. For example, the reproduction apparatus 5 can be a television having a display and a speaker, or can be a computer display. The reproduction apparatus 5 can be connected to the game virtual space providing apparatus 3 through a wired cable or a wireless local area network (LAN).

[0034] The input apparatus 9 is an apparatus for transmitting a control signal corresponding to operation information input by a user to the game virtual space providing apparatus 3. In the present embodiment, the input apparatus 9 is configured to be capable of wireless communication with the game virtual space providing apparatus 3. The input apparatus 9 and the game virtual space providing apparatus 3 establish a wireless connection by using, for example, a Bluetooth (registered trademark) protocol or the like. Note that the input apparatus 9 and the game virtual space providing apparatus 3 can also be configured to transmit the above-described control signal via a wired cable.

[0035] The game virtual space providing apparatus 3 implements a game virtual space providing function by loading an application program for providing a game virtual space. The game virtual space providing apparatus 3 is, for example, a game machine, or can be a personal computer, a tablet terminal, or a mobile terminal such as a smart phone or the like.

[0036] The game virtual space providing apparatus 3 has a universal serial bus (USB) terminal, whereby it is possible to connect to an external apparatus such as a personal computer via a cable 7, and it is possible to obtain various information from the external apparatus. Further, the game virtual space providing apparatus 3 has a medium drive, and is configured to obtain various information from a ROM medium. Further, the game virtual space providing apparatus 3 can also be configured to be capable of obtaining various information from an external server or the like via a network. Note that although the input apparatus 9, the reproduction apparatus 5, and the game virtual space providing apparatus 3 are separate in the present embodiment, these apparatuses can also be configured to be integrated. For example, the input apparatus 9, the reproduction apparatus 5, and the game virtual space providing apparatus 3 can also be configured to be a mobile terminal apparatus for executing a game virtual space providing process.

[0037] Figure 3 is a diagram schematically showing a hardware structure of a game virtual space providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 8, the game virtual space providing apparatus 3 includes a CPU 31, a ROM 32, a RAM 33, a storage 34, an input / output interface 35, and a bus 36. Figure 3As shown, the game virtual space providing apparatus 3 is configured to exemplarily include a wired / wireless interface 10, an antenna 11, a data processing unit 12, a memory 14, a hard disk drive 15, a disk drive 16, a recording medium attachment / detachment unit 18, and a control unit 100. These individual components are configured to input and output various information and data via a bus 19.

[0038] The wired / wireless interface 10 is a component that connects to an external apparatus by wire or wirelessly, and transmits and receives data. The wired / wireless interface 10 is connected to the external apparatus via the above-described predetermined cable 7 to obtain various information from the external apparatus. Further, the wired / wireless interface 10 is connected to the input apparatus 9 according to a predetermined wireless communication protocol. A control signal from the input apparatus 9 is supplied to the control unit 100 via the antenna 11, the wired / wireless interface 10, and the bus 19. Note that the wired / wireless interface 10 can also be configured such that a wired interface unit and a wireless interface unit are integrated or remain separate.

[0039] The data processing unit 12 is configured to include a frame memory or the like for buffering video / audio data constituting content to be reproduced by the reproduction apparatus 5.

[0040] The memory 14 is configured as a random access memory (RAM), and is configured to include, for example, a main memory and a buffer memory.

[0041] The hard disk drive 15 is a secondary storage apparatus for storing various information and data. The hard disk drive 15 stores, for example, various information and data received via the wired / wireless interface 10, and stores various information and data read from a removable recording medium by the recording medium attachment / detachment unit 18 as will be explained later.

[0042] The disk drive 16 is an apparatus that drives a read-only ROM disk to read data therefrom. The disk drive 16 reads data stored in a ROM disk when the ROM disk is installed. The ROM disk is, for example, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or the like.

[0043] The recording medium attachment / detachment unit 18 is an apparatus for reading data from a removable recording medium when the removable recording medium is installed. Here, a program in the present embodiment related to the game virtual space providing process to be explained later can also be configured to be recorded in a removable recording medium or a ROM disk, and installed in the hard disk drive 15 from the recording medium attachment / detachment unit 18 or the disk drive 16. Further, the program can also be obtained from an external server or the like via a network.

[0044] The control unit 100 is configured to include a CPU, and controls the processing performed by the above-described respective components included in the game virtual space providing apparatus 3. Further, the control unit 100 is configured to include a plurality of processor cores in the CPU. Further, the control unit 100 is configured to include a memory controller connected to the memory 14.

[0045] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional structure of the game virtual space providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 4 , the game virtual space providing apparatus 3 is configured to exemplarily include an information processing unit 31 for performing processing for providing a game virtual space, and a recording unit 32 for recording various information required for performing the processing and information related to the result of the processing. Note that the information processing unit 31 can be realized, for example, when the control unit 100 executes a program stored in the memory 14 or the like shown in Figure 3 . The recording unit 32 corresponds to, for example, the hard disk drive 15 shown in Figure 3 .

[0046] The recording unit 32 exemplarily records virtual space information SPI, Cartesian coordinate system information CCI as information related to a Cartesian coordinate system, polar coordinate system information PCI as information related to a polar coordinate system, and display object information DOI related to a display object DO. In the recording unit 32, information related to a user who performs a game or other information can be recorded in addition to the above-described information.

[0047] The virtual space information SPI includes, for example, at least one game virtual space data template or the like for defining the game virtual space 50 shown in Figure 1 . The game virtual space data template is defined based on information indicating the shape or the like of the sphere object 60. Further, the game virtual space data template is recorded so as to be able to appropriately generate a virtual space according to a time zone of the game virtual space 50. For example, in a case where the game virtual space 50 is in the evening, a texture of a starry sky is mapped on an inner wall surface of the sphere object 60, for example, thereby generating the game virtual space 50 including a night sky. The virtual space information SPI can further include information related to a game time in the game virtual space 50.

[0048] The Cartesian coordinate system information CCI includes, for example, a position of the display object DO to be displayed in the game virtual space 50. The polar coordinate system information PCI includes information related to a polar coordinate system generated after a conversion of a Cartesian coordinate system by a conversion unit 35 to be described later.

[0049] The display object information DOI includes information for displaying the display object DO in the game virtual space 50. The display object information DOI includes, for example, geometric information related to the display object DO. The geometric information includes information related to a shape of the display object DO as a drawing target in the game virtual space 50, and a coefficient in an equation representing a figure such as a vertex coordinate, a line segment, and a surface, which define the shape.

[0050] In a case where the display object DO is the sun, the display object information DOI can include parameters related to a shape of the sun, a light amount, a representation of a solar prominence, and the like. The display object information DOI is managed, for example, by classifying the light amount of the sun in the game virtual space 50 in a stepwise manner. The brightest sun can be displayed in a case where the sun light level is 1, and the sun with a reduced degree of brightness can be displayed as the light level increases, such as 2, 3, 4, and the like. Further, the above-described parameters can be set so that the display form of the display object DO in the game virtual space 50 can be changed according to the position of the game object GO placed on the game field S in the game virtual space 50. Figure 1 The display form of the display object DO includes, for example, a display orientation or a display direction of the display object DO, in addition to a shape, a color, or a presence or absence of highlighting of the display object DO.

[0051] Further, the display object information DOI can be set according to a game time in the game virtual space 50. For example, in a case where the game time in the game virtual space 50 is daytime, the light level of the sun is set to be high so that the brightest sun appears, and in a case where the game time is dusk, the light level of the sun is set to be low so that the sun with a reduced degree of brightness appears.

[0052] Note that at least a part of the display object information DOI can be included in the Cartesian coordinate system information CCI including the position of the display object DO, and can be managed.

[0053] The recording unit 32 can also record game object information. The game object information is information related to, for example, a game object GO in the game virtual space 50. The game object information includes, for example, information related to a shape of the game object GO, a color, a position, a size, a display form, and the like. Figure 1The game object GO is associated with information shown in the game virtual space 50. The game object GO includes image information corresponding to a character or avatar that is associated with the user in advance. The game object GO can be one or more kinds of characters or avatars (for example, an image of a transformed human, an image imitating an animal, or the like). The game object GO can include, for example, information of an image imitating a plant (such as grass, a tree, and a flower, or the like) and another forest placed on the game field S in the game virtual space 50. The game object GO is not limited to the above objects, and can also include information related to an image imitating a street view or the like. Furthermore, the game object information includes information for placing the game object GO in the game virtual space 50 (for example, position information related to the game object GO or information related to a display form, or the like).

[0054] The information processing unit 31 functionally includes a generation unit 33, an acquisition unit 34, a conversion unit 35, a display control unit 36, and a rotation unit 37.

[0055] The generation unit 33 generates a game virtual space 50 based on the virtual space information SPI recorded in the recording unit 32. Figure 1 The game virtual space 50 shown. The generation unit 33 can also manage, for example, the progress or lapse of game time in the game virtual space 50.

[0056] The acquisition unit 34 obtains Cartesian coordinate system information CCI including a position of a display object DO to be displayed in the game virtual space 50. The acquisition unit 34 can obtain the Cartesian coordinate system information CCI from the recording unit 32, or from outside the game virtual space providing apparatus 3.

[0057] The conversion unit 35 converts a Cartesian coordinate system into a polar coordinate system based on the Cartesian coordinate system information CCI obtained by the acquisition unit 34.

[0058] Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a coordinate system conversion process according to an embodiment of the present application. The coordinate system conversion process will be explained below, for example, by using a 2D coordinate system. As shown in Figure 5 The conversion unit 35 converts a Cartesian coordinate (x1, y1) representing a position P1 of the display object DO into a polar coordinate (r, θ) represented by a distance r from an origin O and an angle θ with respect to an x axis, by using the following Equation 1.

[0059] (Equation 1)

[0060] x = rcosθ, y = rsinθ

[0061] where r and θ satisfy the conditions of r ≥ 0 and 0 ≤ θ < 2π.

[0062] Further, the coordinate system conversion processing can be performed by using a 3D coordinate system. For example, the conversion unit 35 can convert the Cartesian coordinates (x, y, z) of a specific position in the 3D coordinate system into three parameters of polar coordinates (r, θ, ). Here, for example, r corresponds to a distance from an origin, θ corresponds to a polar angle, and φ corresponds to an azimuth angle.

[0063] Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of polar coordinate conversion of the light emission state of the sun, the shape of a solar corona, and the like in the 2D coordinate system according to the embodiment of the present application. As Figure 6 indicated, the conversion unit 35 performs polar coordinate conversion (for example, conversion from a planar coordinate system to a spherical coordinate system) on the output result OP from the shader (for determining the state of the light of the sun and the shape of the solar corona, for example) and maps the conversion result in a spherical manner (see the conversion result CR).

[0064] Returning to Figure 4 , the display control unit 36 displays the display object DO at a position in the game virtual space 50 corresponding to a position in the Cartesian coordinate system, on the basis of the polar coordinate system information PCI obtained through the conversion processing by the conversion unit 35.

[0065] Figure 7 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a texture of the sun is placed on a sphere object that surrounds the game virtual space according to the embodiment of the present application. Figure 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of display processing of the sun in the game virtual space according to the embodiment of the present application. As Figure 7 indicated and Figure 8 indicated, the display control unit 36 refers to the polar coordinate system information PCI obtained through the polar coordinate conversion and displays the sun at a position P3 in the game virtual space 50 formed by the sphere object 60 on which the texture of the sun is placed, the position P3 corresponding to a position of the sun in the Cartesian coordinate system.

[0066] The game virtual space providing apparatus 3 of the present embodiment converts information related to the Cartesian coordinate system and uses information related to the polar coordinate system obtained after the conversion to map the display object DO on the sphere object 60. Therefore, the information processing in the mapping processing of the display object DO on the sphere object 60 having a curved surface is simplified compared to a case in which the display object DO is mapped on the sphere object 60 using information related to the Cartesian coordinate system.

[0067] Returning to Figure 4The display control unit 36 controls the display form of the display object DO in the game virtual space 50 based on a predetermined condition. The predetermined condition includes a condition related to whether or not there is a predetermined instruction from the user, a condition related to whether or not a predetermined time of the game time has advanced or elapsed, or a condition related to whether or not the game time has reached a predetermined time zone (morning, daytime, evening, night, etc.).

[0068] Figure 9 A diagram showing an example of the control process of the display form of the sun in the game virtual space according to an embodiment of the present application. Figure 9 The light intensity of the display object DO representing the sun in the game virtual space 50 shown in (A) is less than Figure 9 The light intensity of the display object DO representing the sun in the game virtual space 50 shown in (B). That is, Figure 9 The display object DO representing the sun shown in (B) is drawn brighter than Figure 9 The display object DO representing the sun shown in (A). As Figure 9 (A) and Figure 9 (B) shown, the display control unit 36 calculates the amount of attenuation of light from the center of the display object DO representing the sun in the game virtual space 50 based on a predetermined instruction from the user (for example, an input signal for controlling the light intensity of the sun by means of a shader is received) to control the light intensity of the sun so as to correspond to the instruction.

[0069] Further, in addition to the method for controlling the display form of the display object DO based on the instruction from the user, the display control unit 36 can control the display form of the display object DO based on whether or not a predetermined time of the game time has advanced or elapsed, or whether or not the game time has reached a predetermined time zone (morning, daytime, evening, night, etc.). For example, in the case where the game time corresponds to the daytime in the game virtual space 50, the display control unit 36 can cause the brightest sun to appear. Further, in the case where the game time corresponds to the evening time zone in the game virtual space 50, the display control unit 36 can cause the sun with reduced brightness to appear.

[0070] Note that the display control unit 36, for example, displays the display object DO displayed in the game virtual space 50 shown in Figure 1 with the orientation (display form) corresponding to the position of the game object GO placed on the game field S in the game virtual space 50. According to this configuration, the display object DO is always displayed to face the game object GO.

[0071] Returning to Figure 4The rotation unit 37 rotates the game virtual space 50 around at least one of the reference position and the reference axis such that the display object DO can move along a predetermined trajectory in the game virtual space 50.

[0072] Figure 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a rotation state of a sphere object that surrounds a game virtual space according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 10 The rotation unit 37 rotates the sphere object 60 around the reference axis RA, for example, in accordance with the advancement or elapse of the game time in the game virtual space 50. Further, the rotation unit 37 can rotate the sphere object 60 around the reference point RP in accordance with the advancement or elapse of the game time in the game virtual space 50.

[0073] Accordingly, the sphere object 60 (or the game virtual space 50) is rotated, whereby the display object DO displayed in the game virtual space 50 is represented as movable along a predetermined trajectory in the game virtual space 50. Thus, the movement of the display object DO in the game virtual space 50 can be easily represented. Note that the rotation of the sphere object 60 can be performed in accordance with an instruction from a user or another rule that is predetermined, in addition to the case where it is performed in accordance with the advancement or elapse of the game time. Further, as described above, the display position of the display object DO in the game virtual space 50 changes while the rotation unit 37 rotates the sphere object 60 (or the game virtual space 50). However, the display position of the display object DO can be changed by another method. For example, the display position of the display object DO can be controlled in accordance with the placement position of the game object GO placed in the game virtual space 50. More specifically, the display position of the display object DO can be controlled to be at a predetermined distance from the placement position of the game object GO placed in the game virtual space 50. Note that the predetermined distance can be fixed or variable.

[0074] The rotation unit 37 controls the rotation of the game virtual space 50 in accordance with the advancement of the game time of the game virtual space 50 (e.g., seasonal change, etc.) to change the predetermined trajectory.

[0075] Figure 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another example of a rotation state of a sphere object that surrounds a game virtual space according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 11 The rotation unit 37 controls the rotation of the game virtual space 50 such that the display object DO can move along the trajectory Tl, for example, in a case where the game time in the game virtual space 50 corresponds to a winter period. Further, the rotation unit 37 controls the rotation of the game virtual space 50 such that the display object DO can move along the trajectory T2, for example, in a case where the game time in the game virtual space 50 corresponds to a summer period.

[0076] According to this configuration, the rotation unit 37 can appropriately change the trajectory of the display object DO in the game virtual space 50 in accordance with the progress of the game time.

[0077] <game virtual space providing process>

[0078] An example of the game virtual space providing process according to an embodiment of the present application will be described below with reference to Figure 12 Figure 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the game virtual space providing process according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0079] Figure 4 The generation unit 33 of the game virtual space providing apparatus 3 illustrated in the drawing generates a game virtual space in which game objects are placed in a predetermined plane and which is a spherical coordinate space (step S1). The acquisition unit 34 obtains information related to a Cartesian coordinate system including the position of a target to be displayed in the game virtual space (step S2). The conversion unit 35 converts the Cartesian coordinate system into a polar coordinate system on the basis of the information related to the Cartesian coordinate system (step S3). The display control unit 36 displays the target at a position in the game virtual space corresponding to the position in the Cartesian coordinate system on the basis of the information related to the polar coordinate system (step S4). The display control unit 36 controls the display form of the target in the game virtual space on the basis of a predetermined condition (step S5). Note that the respective steps S1 to S5 do not necessarily have to be executed in this order. For example, step S1 need not be executed before step S2, and need only be executed at least before step S4.

[0080] According to the above-described embodiment, the game virtual space providing apparatus 3 obtains information related to a Cartesian coordinate system including the position of a target to be displayed in the game virtual space 50, converts the Cartesian coordinate system into a polar coordinate system on the basis of the obtained information, displays the target at a position in the game virtual space 50 corresponding to the position in the Cartesian coordinate system on the basis of the information related to the polar coordinate system, and controls the display form of the target in the game virtual space 50 on the basis of a predetermined condition. Thus, the game virtual space providing apparatus 3 can finely control the display form of the display object DO in the game virtual space 50. Therefore, the game virtual space providing apparatus 3 can flexibly and dynamically perform the display control of the display object DO in the game virtual space 50.

[0081] (Other Embodiments)

[0082] The above-described embodiments of the present application are intended to facilitate the understanding of the present application, and should not be interpreted as limiting the present application. The present application can be modified or improved without departing from the spirit of the present application (for example, by combining the embodiments or by omitting part of the configurations of the embodiments), and the present application encompasses equivalents thereof. ​

[0083] Reference Signs List

[0084] 1 Game virtual space providing system

[0085] 3 Game virtual space providing device

[0086] 5 Reproducing device

[0087] 7 Cable

[0088] 9 Input device

[0089] 10 Wired / wireless interface

[0090] 11 Antenna

[0091] 12 Data processing unit

[0092] 14 Memory

[0093] 15 Hard disk drive

[0094] 16 Disk drive

[0095] 18 Recording medium attachment / detachment unit

[0096] 19 Bus

[0097] 31 Information processing unit

[0098] 32 Recording unit

[0099] 33 Generating unit

[0100] 34 Acquiring unit

[0101] 35 Converting unit

[0102] 36 Display control unit

[0103] 37 Rotating unit

[0104] 50 Game virtual space

[0105] 60 Spherical object

[0106] 100 Control unit

Claims

1. A computer program product, comprising a program, wherein the program, when executed by a computer, implements a method for providing a game virtual space, wherein, The computer provides a virtual game space in which game objects are placed on a predetermined plane, and the method for providing the virtual game space includes the following steps: The generation step is used to generate the game virtual space as a spherical coordinate space; the acquisition step is used to acquire information related to the Cartesian coordinate system, including the position of the target to be displayed in the game virtual space. A transformation step is used to transform the Cartesian coordinate system into a polar coordinate system based on the information. as well as A display control step is used to display the target at a position in the game's virtual space corresponding to its position in the Cartesian coordinate system, based on information related to the polar coordinate system. The display control step controls the display format of the target in the game virtual space based on predetermined conditions. The game object corresponds to a celestial body, and the game object rotates around a reference axis within the game's virtual space.

2. The computer program product according to claim 1, wherein, The method for providing the game virtual space further includes a rotation step, which is used to rotate the game virtual space about at least one of a reference position and a reference axis, so that the target can move along a predetermined trajectory in the game virtual space.

3. The computer program product according to claim 2, wherein, The rotation step controls the rotation of the game virtual space according to the progression of time in the game virtual space, so as to change the predetermined trajectory.

4. A method for providing a virtual game space, executed by a computer, wherein the computer provides a virtual game space in which game objects are placed in a predetermined plane, the method comprising the following steps: Generate the game virtual space as a spherical coordinate space; Obtain information related to the Cartesian coordinate system, including the position of the target to be displayed in the game's virtual space; Based on the information, the Cartesian coordinate system is transformed into a polar coordinate system; as well as Based on information related to the polar coordinate system, the target is displayed at a location in the game's virtual space corresponding to its position in the Cartesian coordinate system. In the display step, the display format of the target in the game virtual space is controlled based on predetermined conditions. The game object corresponds to a celestial body, and the game object rotates around a reference axis within the game's virtual space.

5. A game virtual space providing device, used to provide a game virtual space in which game objects are placed on a predetermined plane, the game virtual space providing device comprising: A generation unit is used to generate the game virtual space as a spherical coordinate space; The acquisition unit is used to acquire information related to the Cartesian coordinate system, including the position of the target to be displayed in the game virtual space; A transformation unit is used to transform the Cartesian coordinate system into a polar coordinate system based on the information. as well as The display control unit is configured to display the target at a location in the game's virtual space corresponding to its position in the Cartesian coordinate system, based on information related to the polar coordinate system. The display control unit controls the display format of the target in the game virtual space based on predetermined conditions. The game object corresponds to a celestial body, and the game object rotates around a reference axis within the game's virtual space.

6. A computer-readable storage medium having a program stored thereon, the program, when executed by a computer, implementing the method for providing a game virtual space according to claim 4.

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