Program and information processing apparatus

Abstract

To make it possible to store a photo image of a character having desired characteristics of a user by allowing the user to designate, in detail, a direction of a visual line of the character.SOLUTION: If a photo image of one or more characters is stored, a photo image and an eye line operation unit operated upon designation of a two-dimensional position representing a direction of an eye line of a character in the photo image are displayed on an eye-line angle change screen. In response to an operation of the eye-line operation unit by a user, the eye-line direction is changed, and the photo image with the eye-line direction changed is displayed on the eye-line angle change screen. This technique can be applied to a gaming machine, a smart phone or the like which execute a photo image program which stores a photo image of one or more characters.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present technology relates to a program and an information processing device, and in particular to a program and an information processing device that enable a user to save a photographic image of a character having the user's desired characteristics by specifying in detail the character's line of sight. [Background technology]

[0002] There is a video game processing program that reduces the difficulty of acquiring a user's intended shooting screen by displaying a shooting screen in which an object other than the user's character, which is to be shot, performs a predetermined action based on the user's shooting operation (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This video game processing program can also make the eyes of the shooting subject face the position of the virtual camera. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-56114 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, it has not been considered that a user can specify the gaze direction of an object such as a character to be photographed in detail. As a result, there is a risk that all the photographic images of the character will look similar. Therefore, there is a demand for a method that allows a user to specify the gaze direction of the character in detail, thereby allowing the user to save a photographic image of the character that has the user's desired characteristics, but such a demand has not been fully met.

[0005] The present technology has been developed in consideration of such circumstances, and enables a user to save a photo image of a character that has the characteristics desired by the user by specifying in detail the direction in which the character is looking. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A program according to one aspect of the present technology is a program for saving photographic images of one or more characters, and for causing a computer to execute processing including: a first display control step of displaying on a screen the photographic image and an eye gaze operation unit that is operated when specifying a two-dimensional position representing the eye gaze direction of the character in the photographic image; a gaze change step of changing the eye gaze direction in response to a user's operation of the eye gaze operation unit; and a second display control step of displaying on the screen the photographic image whose eye gaze direction has been changed by processing in the gaze change step.

[0007] An information processing device of one aspect of the present technology is an information processing device that stores photographic images of one or more characters, and is equipped with a display control unit that displays on a screen the photographic images and an eye line operation unit that is operated when specifying a two-dimensional position representing the eye line direction of the character in the photographic image, and a gaze change unit that changes the eye line in response to operation of the gaze operation unit by the user, and the display control unit is an information processing device that displays on the screen the photographic image with the eye line direction changed by processing of the gaze change unit.

[0008] In one aspect of the present technology, when a photo image of one or more characters is saved, the photo image and an eye gaze control unit that is operated to specify a two-dimensional position representing the eye gaze direction of the character in the photo image are displayed on a screen, the eye gaze direction is changed in response to the user's operation of the eye gaze control unit, and the photo image with the changed eye gaze direction is displayed on the screen.

[0009] In addition, the program according to one aspect of the present technology can be provided by transmitting it via a transmission medium or by recording it on a recording medium. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present technology, a user can specify the direction of a character's gaze in detail, thereby allowing a photographic image of the character having the user's desired characteristics to be saved. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a first embodiment of a game machine to which the present technology is applied; [Diagram 2] 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a photographic image generating unit. FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a pose change screen. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a first example of a line of sight and neck angle change screen in the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a second example of the eye line neck angle change screen in the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a third example of the eye line neck angle change screen in the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a fourth example of the eye line neck angle change screen in the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a shooting information change screen. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a first example of a photographic image whose shooting information has been changed. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a second example of a photographic image whose shooting information has been changed. [Figure 11] 3 is a flowchart illustrating a line of sight and neck angle changing process performed by the photographic image generating unit of FIG. 2. [Figure 12] 11 is a flowchart illustrating a shooting information change process. [Figure 13] 13 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a photographic image generating unit in a second embodiment of an information processing device to which the present technology is applied. FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a line of sight and neck angle change screen in the second embodiment. [Figure 15] 14 is a flowchart illustrating a line of sight and neck angle changing process performed by the photographic image generating unit of FIG. 13. [Figure 16] 13 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a photographic image generating unit in a third embodiment of a game machine to which the present technology is applied. FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a first example of a line of sight and neck angle change screen in the third embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a second example of the eye line neck angle change screen in the third embodiment. [Figure 19] 13 is a flowchart illustrating a change target setting process. [Figure 20] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a game distribution system including a smartphone as an information processing device to which the present technology is applied. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present technology (hereinafter, referred to as embodiments) will be described in the following order. 1. First embodiment (game device that stores a photo image of one character) 2. Second embodiment (game device that stores a photo image of one character) 3. Third embodiment (game machine that stores photographic images of multiple characters) 4. Variations

[0013] <1. First embodiment> <Example of game console configuration> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a first embodiment of a game machine as an information processing device to which the present technology is applied.

[0014] 1 is a portable game machine. A central processing unit (CPU) 11, a read only memory (ROM) 12, and a random access memory (RAM) 13 of the game machine 1 are interconnected by a bus 14.

[0015] An input / output interface 15 is further connected to the bus 14. To the input / output interface 15, an input unit 16, a display 17, a speaker 18, a storage unit 19, a communication unit 20, and a drive 21 are connected.

[0016] The input unit 16 is composed of various buttons provided on the surface of the housing of the game machine 1, such as a cross button (cross key), a decision / selection button, and a stick button, and a touch panel provided on the display 17. The input unit 16 detects a user's operation and outputs operation information indicating the content of the operation.

[0017] The display 17 is configured by an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display, etc. The display 17 displays a game screen, etc. The speaker 18 outputs sounds, etc. related to the game.

[0018] The storage unit 19 is configured with a non-volatile memory, etc. The storage unit 19 stores various information such as programs executed by the CPU 11 and game save data.

[0019] The communication unit 20 is a wireless communication module that complies with a predetermined standard such as wireless LAN (Local Area Network), Bluetooth (registered trademark), etc. The communication unit 20 communicates with various devices such as external devices and servers on the Internet.

[0020] The drive 21 controls writing of data to the removable medium 22 and reading of data from the removable medium 22. The removable medium 22 is composed of a memory card or the like. The removable medium 22 stores a photo image program 31, which is a game program that generates photo images of characters, such as virtual characters, existing characters, and characters modeled after real people, and saves them as photographed images.

[0021] The CPU 11 of the game machine 1 configured as above functions as a photo image generating section that generates and stores a photo image of a character by executing the photo image program 31 read from the removable medium 22. Therefore, a user (player) can use the game machine 1 to generate a photo image of a character and store it in the storage section 19 or the like as save data.

[0022] <Configuration example of photo image generating unit> FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the photographic image generating unit.

[0023] The photographic image generating unit 50 in FIG. 2 is made up of an acquiring unit 51, a pose changing unit 52, a line of sight changing unit 53, a neck angle changing unit 54, a shooting changing unit 55, a screen generating unit 56, a display control unit 57, and a memory control unit 58.

[0024] Acquisition unit 51 acquires operation information output from input unit 16 in Fig. 1. Acquisition unit 51 recognizes an instruction from the user based on the operation information and the screen currently being displayed on display 17. Acquisition unit 51 supplies various information to any one of pose change unit 52, line of sight change unit 53, neck angle change unit 54, shooting change unit 55, and screen generation unit 56 according to the content of the instruction.

[0025] For example, if the command from the user is a command to change the pose of a character to a pose specified by the user (hereinafter referred to as a pose change command), the acquisition unit 51 supplies pose information representing the pose specified by the user to the pose change unit 52.

[0026] When the command from the user is a command to change the character's line of sight to a line of sight represented by a two-dimensional position specified by the user (hereinafter referred to as a line of sight change command), acquisition unit 51 supplies line of sight direction information representing the two-dimensional position to line of sight change unit 53. When the command from the user is a command to set or release a fixed mode that fixes the character's line of sight and face direction to a direction facing the front of the screen (hereinafter referred to as a fixed mode command), acquisition unit 51 supplies the fixed mode command to neck angle change unit 54.

[0027] When the command from the user is a command to change the angle of the character's neck to a neck angle represented by a two-dimensional position specified by the user (hereinafter referred to as a neck angle change command), the acquisition unit 51 supplies neck angle information representing the two-dimensional position to the neck angle change unit 54. When the command from the user is a command to change shooting information, which is information related to shooting the character in a photographic image (hereinafter referred to as a shooting information change command), the acquisition unit 51 supplies the shooting information change command to the shooting change unit 55.

[0028] When the command from the user is a command to select a predetermined character as a subject (hereinafter referred to as a subject selection command), the acquisition unit 51 supplies the subject selection command to the screen generation unit 56. When the command from the user is a command to display a change screen for changing predetermined settings in the photo image (hereinafter referred to as a change screen display command), the acquisition unit 51 supplies the change screen display command to the screen generation unit 56.

[0029] Pose change unit 52 requests a photo image of the character included in the currently displayed changed screen from storage control unit 58 in accordance with the pose information supplied from acquisition unit 51. Pose change unit 52 changes the pose of the character in the photo image supplied from storage control unit 58 in response to the request, based on the pose information. Pose change unit 52 supplies the photo image in which the character's pose has been changed to screen generation unit 56 and storage control unit 58.

[0030] The line of sight changing unit 53 requests a photographic image of the character included in the currently displayed changed screen from the storage control unit 58 in response to the line of sight direction information supplied from the acquisition unit 51. The line of sight changing unit 53 changes the line of sight of the character in the photographic image supplied from the storage control unit 58 in response to the request based on the line of sight direction information. The line of sight changing unit 53 supplies the photographic image in which the line of sight direction of the character has been changed to the screen generation unit 56 and the storage control unit 58.

[0031] Eye line changing unit 53 changes the eye line direction of the character in the photographic image supplied from neck angle changing unit 54 to a direction facing the front of the screen. Eye line changing unit 53 supplies the photographic image in which the eye line direction of the character has been changed to a direction facing the front of the screen to screen generating unit 56 and memory control unit 58.

[0032] Neck angle change unit 54 requests a photo image of the character included in the currently displayed changed screen from memory control unit 58 in accordance with the neck angle information supplied from acquisition unit 51. Neck angle change unit 54 changes the angle of the character's neck in the photo image supplied from memory control unit 58 in response to the request based on the neck angle information. Neck angle change unit 54 supplies the photo image in which the angle of the character's neck has been changed to screen generation unit 56 and memory control unit 58.

[0033] The neck angle change unit 54 sets or cancels the fixed mode based on the fixed mode command supplied from the acquisition unit 51. When the fixed mode is set, the neck angle change unit 54 changes the angle of the character's neck in the photographic image supplied from the shooting change unit 55 so that the character's face faces in a direction facing the front of the screen. The neck angle change unit 54 supplies the photographic image in which the angle of the character's neck has been changed to the line of sight change unit 53. As a result, the line of sight and face direction of the character in the photographic image whose shooting information has been changed by the shooting change unit 55 as described later are fixed so that they always face in a direction facing the front of the screen.

[0034] On the other hand, when the fixed mode is released, the neck angle change unit 54 supplies the photographic image supplied from the shooting change unit 55 as is to the screen generation unit 56 and the memory control unit 58. Therefore, in this case, the eye direction and face direction of the character in the photographic image whose shooting information has been changed by the shooting change unit 55 are not changed.

[0035] The shooting change unit 55 requests the storage control unit 58 to change the photographic image included in the currently displayed changed screen in response to the shooting information change command supplied from the acquisition unit 51. The shooting change unit 55 changes the shooting information of the photographic image supplied from the storage control unit 58 in response to the request based on the shooting information change command. The shooting information includes the angle of view, the horizontal and vertical shooting positions, the shooting angle, etc. The shooting change unit 55 supplies the photographic image with the changed shooting information to the neck angle change unit 54.

[0036] The screen generating unit 56 requests a default photo image of a predetermined character from the storage control unit 58 in response to the subject selection command supplied from the acquisition unit 51. The screen generating unit 56 generates a default changed screen including the photo image supplied from the storage control unit 58 in response to the request.

[0037] Screen generation unit 56 requests the currently displayed photo image from storage control unit 58 in response to the changed screen display command supplied from acquisition unit 51. Screen generation unit 56 generates a changed screen corresponding to the changed screen display command, including the photo image supplied from storage control unit 58 in response to the request. Screen generation unit 56 supplies the generated changed screen to display control unit 57 and storage control unit 58.

[0038] When a photographic image is supplied from pose change unit 52, line of sight change unit 53, or neck angle change unit 54, screen generation unit 56 requests the currently displayed changed screen from memory control unit 58. In response to the request, screen generation unit 56 updates the photographic image of the changed screen supplied from memory control unit 58 to the photographic image supplied from pose change unit 52, line of sight change unit 53, or neck angle change unit 54, and supplies it to display control unit 57.

[0039] The display control unit 57 supplies the changed screen supplied from the screen generating unit 56 to the display 17 in FIG.

[0040] The memory control unit 58 supplies the photographic images supplied from the pose changing unit 52, the line of sight changing unit 53, and the neck angle changing unit 54 to the memory unit 19 to store (preserve) them as photographed images. The memory control unit 58 supplies the changed screen supplied from the screen generating unit 56 to the RAM 13 or the memory unit 19 to store them.

[0041] The memory control unit 58 reads out the currently displayed photo image stored in the memory unit 19 in response to requests supplied from the pose change unit 52, the line of sight change unit 53, the neck angle change unit 54, and the shooting change unit 55. The memory control unit 58 supplies the photo image to the pose change unit 52, the line of sight change unit 53, the neck angle change unit 54, or the shooting change unit 55 that requested the photo image.

[0042] In response to a request supplied from the screen generating unit 56, the storage control unit 58 reads out a default photo image of a predetermined character stored in advance in the removable medium 22, and supplies it to the screen generating unit 56. In response to a request supplied from the screen generating unit 56, the storage control unit 58 reads out a change screen stored in the RAM 13 or the storage unit 19, and supplies it to the screen generating unit 56.

[0043] The photographic image may be stored in the RAM 13, the removable medium 22, or the like, or may be stored in a server or the like external to the game machine 1. The photographic image may be used in the game or may be made available to other users via the Internet.

[0044] In the following, when it is necessary to distinguish between the change screens for changing the pose of the character, they will be referred to as the pose change screen. Similarly, the change screen for changing the line of sight and neck angle of the character will be referred to as the line of sight neck angle change screen. The change screen for changing the shooting information of the character will be referred to as the shooting information change screen.

[0045] <Example of the pose change screen> FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the pose change screen.

[0046] The pose change screen 60 in FIG. 3 includes a photo image 70 of a character 71a, an operation method display section 71, a placement and editing start button 72, a placement and editing end button 73, a change target selection section 74, a pose designation section 75, and a completion button 76.

[0047] The operation method display section 71 shows the buttons of the input section 16 to be operated when the user issues each command on the pause change screen 60. In the example of FIG. 3, the user needs to operate the L stick button among the buttons of the input section 16 when continuously moving the cursors 74a and 75a described later and issuing a command corresponding to the position of the cursors 74a and 75a. Therefore, the operation method display section 71 displays "L" representing the L stick button, arrows pointing up, down, left and right, and the word "cursor movement" in association with each other. The L stick button is the stick button provided on the left side of the surface of the housing of the game machine 1.

[0048] The layout edit start button 72 is operated by the user using the input unit 16 when issuing a command to display the change screen of the photographing information change screen. The layout edit end button 73 is operated by the user using the input unit 16 when issuing a command to end the display of the photographing information change screen.

[0049] The change target selection unit 74 is provided with a pose change selection unit 81, a gaze neck change selection unit 82, a cursor 74a, and the like. When issuing a command to display the change screen of the pose change screen 60, the user uses the L stick button to move the cursor 74a to the pose change selection unit 81. On the other hand, when issuing a command to display the change screen of the gaze neck angle change screen, the user uses the L stick button to move the cursor 74a to the gaze neck change selection unit 82. In the example of FIG. 3, since a command to display the change screen of the pose change screen has been issued, the cursor 74a is superimposed on the pose change selection unit 81.

[0050] The operation of moving the cursor 74a can also be performed by a touch operation on the touch panel of the input unit 16. For example, the user can move the cursor 74a to the pose change selection section 81 or the gaze neck change selection section 82 by touching a position on the touch panel that corresponds to the display position of the pose change selection section 81 or the gaze neck change selection section 82.

[0051] The pose designation section 75 is provided with a cursor 75a and pose selection sections 91 representing a plurality of poses prepared in advance as candidates for the character 71a. The user uses the L stick button to move the cursor 75a to a pose selection section 91 representing a desired pose among the plurality of pose selection sections 91.

[0052] The operation of moving the cursor 75a can also be performed by a touch operation on the touch panel of the input unit 16. For example, the user can move the cursor 75a to a desired pose selection section 91 by touching a position on the touch panel that corresponds to the display position of that pose selection section 91.

[0053] When the user performs an operation to move the cursor 75a, the input unit 16 supplies operation information representing the operation to the acquisition unit 51. The acquisition unit 51 recognizes that the command from the user is a pose change command based on the operation information and the pose change screen 60. Then, the acquisition unit 51 supplies the pose information of the pose represented by the pose selection unit 91 corresponding to the cursor 75a to the pose change unit 52.

[0054] The completion button 76 is operated by the user using the input unit 16 when ending the display of the change screen, that is, when ending the change of the photographic image of the character 71a and saving the changed photographic image as a captured image.

[0055] <First example of the eye gaze angle change screen> FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a gaze direction and neck angle change screen that is displayed when the user moves cursor 74a to gaze direction and neck angle change selection section 82. As shown in FIG.

[0056] In the eye line and neck angle change screen 100 in Fig. 4, the parts corresponding to those in the pose change screen 60 in Fig. 3 are given the same reference numerals. Therefore, the explanation of those parts will be omitted as appropriate, and the explanation will focus on the parts that are different from the pose change screen 60.

[0057] The eye gaze angle change screen 100 differs from the pose change screen 60 in the position of the cursor 74a, and in that the operation method display section 71 and the pose designation section 75 are replaced by an operation method display section 101 and an eye gaze angle designation section 102, respectively.

[0058] In the example of FIG. 4, a command to display the eye gaze angle change screen has been issued, so that cursor 74a is superimposed on eye gaze angle change selection section 82.

[0059] The operation method display section 101 displays the buttons of the input section 16 to be operated when the user issues each command on the eye line and neck angle change screen 100. In the example of Fig. 4, the user needs to continuously move the cursor 74a and operate the L stick button when issuing a command corresponding to the position of the cursor 74a. Therefore, the operation method display section 101 displays "L" representing the L stick button and arrows pointing up, down, left and right in association with the text "Move cursor".

[0060] In the example of Fig. 4, the user needs to operate the R stick button among the buttons of the input unit 16 when continuously moving the star-shaped pointers 111a and 112a described later to issue a gaze change command or neck angle change command corresponding to the pointers 111a and 112a. Therefore, the operation method display unit 101 displays "R" representing the R stick button, up, down, left and right arrows, and the text "move your neck with a stick." The R stick button is a stick button provided on the right side of the surface of the housing of the game machine 1.

[0061] Eye line and neck angle designation section 102 is provided with eye line operation section 111, neck angle operation section 112, fixed mode on button 113, and fixed mode off button 114.

[0062] The eye line operation unit 111 is operated by the user using the R stick button when specifying a two-dimensional position that indicates the eye line direction of the character 71a in the photograph image 70 and issuing an eye line change command. Specifically, the eye line operation unit 111 is composed of two-dimensional coordinates with horizontal and vertical directions as axial directions, and a pointer 111a arranged at a two-dimensional position that indicates the horizontal and vertical angles of the eye line direction of the character 71a on the two-dimensional coordinates with respect to the forward direction.

[0063] The user performs an operation of moving pointer 111a to a two-dimensional position corresponding to a desired changed line of sight direction, thereby specifying the changed line of sight direction and issuing a line of sight change command.

[0064] For example, the user moves the pointer 111a to the right or left, thereby specifying a direction rotated to the right or left toward the character 71a from the previous gaze direction as the changed gaze direction, and issues a gaze change command.

[0065] On the other hand, the user moves the pointer 111a upward or downward, thereby specifying a direction rotated upward or downward from the previous line of sight direction as the changed line of sight direction, and issues a line of sight change command.

[0066] The input unit 16 supplies operation information representing this operation to the acquisition unit 51. The acquisition unit 51 recognizes that the command from the user is a line of sight change command based on this operation information and the line of sight neck angle change screen 100. The acquisition unit 51 then supplies the line of sight direction information representing the two-dimensional position where the pointer 111a is located to the line of sight change unit 53.

[0067] The neck angle operation unit 112 is operated by the user using the R stick button when specifying a two-dimensional position representing the angle of the neck 122 of the character 71a in the photograph image 70, i.e., the angle of the direction the face is facing, and issuing a neck angle change command. Specifically, the neck angle operation unit 112 is composed of two-dimensional coordinates with the horizontal and vertical directions as axial directions, and a pointer 112a arranged at a two-dimensional position representing the horizontal and vertical angles of the neck 122 of the character 71a relative to the forward direction on the two-dimensional coordinates.

[0068] The user performs an operation of moving pointer 112a to a two-dimensional position corresponding to the desired changed angle of neck 122, thereby specifying the changed angle of neck 122 and issuing a neck angle change command.

[0069] For example, the user issues a neck angle change command by performing an operation to move the pointer 111a rightward or leftward, specifying an angle to the right or leftward toward the character 71a that is greater than the angle of the neck 122 before the change as the angle of the neck 122 after the change. On the other hand, the user issues a neck angle change command by performing an operation to move the pointer 111a upward or downward, specifying an angle to the top or bottom that is greater than the angle of the neck 122 before the change as the angle of the neck 122 after the change as the angle of the neck 122 after the change.

[0070] Input unit 16 supplies operation information representing this operation to acquisition unit 51. Acquisition unit 51 recognizes that the command from the user is a neck angle change command based on this operation information and eye line neck angle change screen 100. Then, acquisition unit 51 supplies neck angle information representing the two-dimensional position where pointer 112a is placed to neck angle change unit 54.

[0071] The two-dimensional positions of the pointers 111a and 112a before the user's operation, i.e., the default two-dimensional positions of the pointers 111a and 112a, are determined according to the pose of the character 71a in the photographic image 70. In the example of FIG. 4, the default two-dimensional positions of the pointers 111a and 112a are the central positions. Therefore, the line of sight of the character 71a in the photographic image 131 is forward. That is, the position of the pupil (black eye) 121 is the center position of the eye. Also, the neck 122 is not rotated, and the face is facing forward.

[0072] The operation of moving the pointers 111a and 112a can also be performed by a touch operation on a touch panel of the input unit 16. For example, the user can move the pointer 111a to a two-dimensional position by touching a position on the touch panel corresponding to a two-dimensional position representing a desired changed line of sight direction on the line of sight operation unit 111. Alternatively, the user can move the pointer 111a to the two-dimensional position by performing a touch operation that draws a trajectory of movement on the touch panel from the current position of the pointer 111a to the two-dimensional position representing the desired changed line of sight direction.

[0073] Similarly, in neck angle operation unit 112, the user can move pointer 112a to a two-dimensional position that represents the desired changed angle of neck 122, or by performing a touch operation that draws a trajectory of movement to that position.

[0074] The fixed mode on button 113 (gaze fixation operation unit) is operated by the user using the input unit 16 when issuing a fixed mode command to set the fixed mode. The fixed mode off button 114 is operated by the user using the input unit 16 when issuing a fixed mode command to cancel the fixed mode.

[0075] <Second example of the eye gaze angle change screen> FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the eye gaze angle change screen when the user operates the pointer 111a on the eye gaze angle change screen 100 of FIG. 4 to move to the upper rightmost position within the eye gaze operation unit 111.

[0076] In the eye gaze angle change screen 130 in Fig. 5, the parts corresponding to those in the eye gaze angle change screen 100 in Fig. 4 are given the same reference numerals. Therefore, the explanation of those parts will be omitted as appropriate, and the explanation will focus on the parts that are different from the eye gaze angle change screen 100.

[0077] The eye gaze angle change screen 130 differs from the eye gaze angle change screen 100 in that the photograph image 70 is replaced by a photograph image 131 and in the position of the pointer 111a within the eye gaze operation section 111, but is otherwise configured in the same manner as the eye gaze angle change screen 100.

[0078] Photographic image 131 differs in that the position of pupil 121 of character 71a is the upper rightmost position in the eye facing character 71a, i.e., the line of sight of character 71a is the upper rightmost position facing character 71a. The rest of the configuration is the same as that of photographic image 70.

[0079] In the example of Figure 5, the user has performed an operation to move pointer 111a to the upper rightmost position within eye line operation section 111 on eye line neck angle change screen 100, so the position of pointer 111a is the upper rightmost position within eye line operation section 111.

[0080] As described above, by moving the pointer 111a to the top right most position in the eye line operation unit 111, the user can change the eye line direction of the character 71a to the top right most direction toward the character 71a.

[0081] <Third example of eye line angle change screen> FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the eye line neck angle change screen when the user operates pointer 112a on eye line neck angle change screen 130 in FIG. 5 to move to the rightmost center position of neck angle operation unit 112.

[0082] In the eye gaze angle change screen 160 in Fig. 6, the parts corresponding to the eye gaze angle change screen 130 in Fig. 5 are given the same reference numerals. Therefore, the explanation of those parts will be omitted as appropriate, and the explanation will focus on the parts that are different from the eye gaze angle change screen 130.

[0083] Eye-line-and-neck-angle-changing screen 160 differs from eye-line-and-neck-angle-changing screen 130 in that photograph image 131 is replaced with photograph image 161 and in the position of pointer 112a within neck angle operation section 112, but is otherwise configured in the same manner as eye-line-and-neck-angle-changing screen 130.

[0084] Photographic image 161 differs in that the neck 122 of character 71a is rotated in the rightmost center direction toward character 71a with respect to the front direction, i.e., the face of character 71a is facing in the rightmost center direction toward character 71a.

[0085] In the example of Figure 6, the user has performed an operation on the eye line neck angle change screen 130 to move the pointer 112a to the rightmost central position of the neck angle operation unit 112, so that the position of the pointer 112a is the rightmost central position within the neck angle operation unit 112.

[0086] As described above, by moving the pointer 112a to the rightmost central position within the neck angle operation unit 112, the user can change the angle of the neck 122 so that the face of the character 71a faces in the rightmost central direction toward the character 71a.

[0087] <Fourth example of eye line angle change screen> FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the eye line neck angle change screen when the user operates pointer 112a on eye line neck angle change screen 160 of FIG. 6 to move to the bottom leftmost position of neck angle operation unit 112.

[0088] In the eye gaze angle change screen 190 in Fig. 7, the parts corresponding to the eye gaze angle change screen 160 in Fig. 6 are given the same reference numerals. Therefore, the explanation of those parts will be omitted as appropriate, and the explanation will focus on the parts that are different from the eye gaze angle change screen 160.

[0089] Eye-line-and-neck-angle-changing screen 190 differs from eye-line-and-neck-angle-changing screen 160 in that photograph image 161 is replaced with photograph image 191, and in the position of pointer 112a within neck angle operation section 112, but is otherwise configured in the same manner as eye-line-and-neck-angle-changing screen 160.

[0090] Photographic image 191 differs in that the neck 122 of character 71a is rotated furthest to the lower left toward character 71a relative to the front direction, i.e., the face of character 71a is facing furthest to the lower left toward character 71a.

[0091] In the example of Figure 7, the user has performed an operation to move pointer 112a to the bottom leftmost position of neck angle operating unit 112 on eye line neck angle change screen 160, so pointer 112a is at the bottom leftmost position of neck angle operating unit 112.

[0092] As described above, by moving the pointer 112a to the bottom leftmost position in the neck angle operation unit 112, the user can change the angle of the neck 122 so that the face of the character 71a faces in the bottom leftmost direction toward the character 71a.

[0093] <Example of the shooting information change screen> FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a shooting information change screen that is displayed when the user operates the layout / edit start button 72 in FIG.

[0094] In the shooting information change screen 220 in Fig. 8, the parts corresponding to the pose change screen 60 in Fig. 3 are given the same reference numerals. Therefore, the description of those parts will be omitted as appropriate, and the description will focus on the parts that are different from the pose change screen 60.

[0095] The shooting information change screen 220 includes a photo image 70 of a character 71 a , an operation method display section 221 , and a back button 222 .

[0096] The operation method display section 221 shows the buttons of the input section 16 to be operated when the user issues each command on the photographing information change screen 220. In the example of Fig. 8, the user needs to operate the R stick button when issuing a photographing information change command to change the photographing position in the horizontal and vertical directions at a first speed, i.e., to issue a command to move the character 71a in the photograph image 70 in the horizontal and vertical directions at a first speed. Therefore, the operation method display section 221 displays "R" representing the R stick button and arrows pointing up, down, left and right in association with the character "Move (Normal)".

[0097] When issuing a shooting information change command to change the shooting position in the horizontal and vertical directions at a second speed faster than the first speed, the user needs to operate the R stick button while pressing the ZR button of the input unit 16. Therefore, the operation method display unit 221 displays "Z R " and the letter "R" representing the R stick button and arrows pointing up, down, left and right are displayed in correspondence with the word "move (fast)."

[0098] When issuing a command to change the shooting angle by a predetermined angle in the horizontal and vertical directions, i.e., to issue a command to rotate the character 71a in the photo image 70 in the horizontal and vertical directions, the user needs to operate the R stick button while pressing the ZL button. Therefore, the operation method display unit 221 displays "Z L The ZL button is one of the buttons that make up the input unit 16.

[0099] When issuing a command to change the shooting information to make a change to reduce the angle of view, i.e., to make a command to enlarge the size of the character 71a in the photograph image 70, the user needs to press the R button of the input unit 16. Therefore, the operation method display unit 221 displays the letter "R" representing the R button in association with the character "make larger."

[0100] When issuing a command to change the shooting information to increase the angle of view, i.e., to issue a command to reduce the size of the character 71a in the photograph image 70, the user needs to press the L button of the input unit 16. Therefore, the operation method display unit 221 displays the letter "L" representing the L button in association with the character "make small."

[0101] The shooting information change command can also be given by touching the touch panel of the input unit 16 .

[0102] The back button 222 is operated by the user using the input unit 16 when issuing a command to display the previously displayed change screen in which the photo image has been updated to the photo image included in the shooting information change screen including the back button 222.

[0103] <Fixed mode explanation> 9 and 10 are diagrams showing examples of photographic images included in the shooting information change screen when the fixed mode is set.

[0104] 9 and 10, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0105] When the fixed mode is set, the neck angle change unit 54 changes the angle of the neck 122 so that the face of the character 71a in the photographic image supplied from the shooting change unit 55 faces the front of the screen. Then, the line of sight change unit 53 changes the line of sight of the character 71a in the photographic image after the angle of the neck 122 has been changed to face the front of the screen.

[0106] Therefore, in a photographic image 251 in which the shooting position has been changed to the right side of the character 71a as viewed from the front of the screen as shown in A of Fig. 9, the line of sight and the facial orientation of the character 71a are also directed toward the front of the screen in a photographic image 252 in which the shooting position has been changed to the left side of the character 71a as viewed from the front of the screen as shown in B of Fig. 9.

[0107] In both photo image 253 in which the shooting angle has been changed to a low angle as shown in FIG. 10A, and photo image 254 in which the shooting angle has been changed to a high angle as shown in FIG. 10B, the line of sight and the direction of the face are directed toward the front of the screen.

[0108] As described above, when the fixed mode is set, the user can rotate the character 71a in the photographic image around the camera's line of sight by issuing a shooting information change command to change the shooting position or shooting angle.

[0109] <Explanation of eye gaze angle change process> 11 is a flowchart illustrating the eye-line-head angle change process by photographic image generating unit 50. This eye-line-head angle change process is started, for example, when cursor 74a is moved to eye-line-head angle change selection unit 82 by the user.

[0110] 11, screen generation unit 56 generates an eye gaze neck angle change screen based on a change screen display command supplied from acquisition unit 51 in response to a user's operation of moving cursor 74a to eye gaze neck angle change selection unit 82. Screen generation unit 56 then supplies this eye gaze neck angle change screen to display control unit 57, thereby causing display 17 to display it.

[0111] In step S12, acquisition unit 51 determines whether or not a gaze change command has been issued by the user based on the operation information and the gaze neck angle change screen supplied from input unit 16. If it is determined in step S12 that a gaze change command has been issued, acquisition unit 51 supplies gaze direction information to gaze change unit 53, and the process proceeds to step S13.

[0112] In step S13, the line of sight changing unit 53 changes the line of sight of the character 71a in the photographic image included in the currently displayed line of sight neck angle change screen, in accordance with the line of sight direction information supplied from the acquisition unit 51. The line of sight changing unit 53 supplies the changed photographic image to the screen generation unit 56 and the memory control unit 58.

[0113] In step S14, screen generation unit 56 updates the photographic image of the currently displayed eye line angle change screen to the photographic image for which the eye line direction has been changed in the processing of step S13, and supplies this to display control unit 57, thereby updating the eye line angle change screen being displayed on display 17. Then, processing proceeds to step S15.

[0114] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S12 that a line of sight change command has not been issued, the process skips steps S13 and S14 and proceeds to step S15.

[0115] In step S15, acquisition unit 51 determines whether or not a neck angle change command has been issued by the user based on the operation information and the eye line neck angle change screen supplied from input unit 16. If it is determined in step S12 that a neck angle change command has been issued, acquisition unit 51 supplies neck angle information to neck angle change unit 54, and the process proceeds to step S16.

[0116] In step S16, the neck angle change unit 54 changes the angle of the neck 122 of the character 71a in the photographic image included in the currently displayed eye line neck angle change screen, according to the neck angle information supplied from the acquisition unit 51. The neck angle change unit 54 supplies the changed photographic image to the screen generation unit 56 and the memory control unit 58.

[0117] In step S17, screen generation unit 56 updates the photographic image of the currently displayed changed screen to the photographic image in which the angle of neck 122 has been changed in the processing of step S16, and supplies the updated image to display control unit 57, thereby updating the eye line neck angle changed screen being displayed on display 17. Then, the processing proceeds to step S18.

[0118] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S15 that a neck angle change command has not been issued, the process skips steps S16 and S17 and proceeds to step S18.

[0119] In step S18, the acquisition unit 51 determines whether or not to end the eye gaze angle change process. For example, when the acquisition unit 51 determines based on the operation information supplied from the input unit 16 and the eye gaze angle change screen that the user has operated the layout editing start button 72 or the completed button 76, moved the cursor 74a, or the like, the acquisition unit 51 determines to end the eye gaze angle change process.

[0120] If it is determined in step S18 that the eye gaze angle change process should be ended, the eye gaze angle change process ends. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S18 that the eye gaze angle change process should not be ended, the process returns to step S12, and the subsequent processes are repeated.

[0121] <Explanation of shooting information change process> 12 is a flowchart for explaining the photographic information change process by the photographic image generating section 50. This photographic information change process is started, for example, when the layout and editing start button 72 is operated by the user.

[0122] 12, the screen generating unit 56 generates a shooting information change screen based on a change screen display command supplied from the acquiring unit 51 in response to a user's operation of the layout editing start button 72. Then, the screen generating unit 56 supplies this shooting information change screen to the display control unit 57, thereby causing the display 17 to display it.

[0123] In step S32, the acquisition unit 51 determines whether or not a shooting information change command has been issued by the user based on the operation information and the shooting information change screen supplied from the input unit 16. If it is determined in step S32 that a shooting information change command has been issued, the acquisition unit 51 supplies the shooting information change command to the shooting change unit 55, and the process proceeds to step S33.

[0124] In step S33, the shooting change unit 55 changes the shooting information of the photographic image included in the currently displayed shooting information change screen in response to the shooting information change command supplied from the acquisition unit 51. The shooting change unit 55 supplies the changed photographic image to the neck angle change unit 54.

[0125] In step S34, the neck angle change unit 54 determines whether or not the fixed mode is set. If it is determined in step S34 that the fixed mode is set, the process proceeds to step S35.

[0126] In step S35, the neck angle change unit 54 changes the angle of the neck 122 so that the face of the character 71a in the photographic image whose shooting information has been changed in the processing of step S33 faces in front of the screen, and supplies the resulting photographic image to the line of sight change unit 53.

[0127] In step S36, the line of sight changing unit 53 changes the line of sight of the character 71a in the photographic image in which the angle of the neck 122 has been changed in the processing of step S35 to a direction facing the front of the screen, and supplies this to the screen generating unit 56 and the memory control unit 58. Then, the processing proceeds to step S37.

[0128] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S34 that the fixed mode is not set, that is, if the fixed mode is released, the neck angle change unit 54 supplies the photographic image whose shooting information has been changed in the process of step S33 as it is to the screen generation unit 56 and the memory control unit 58. Then, the process proceeds to step S37.

[0129] In step S37, the screen generating unit 56 updates the photographic image on the currently displayed shooting information change screen to the photographic image supplied from the line of sight change unit 53 or the neck angle change unit 54, and supplies the updated image to the display control unit 57. This causes the screen generating unit 56 to update the shooting information change screen being displayed on the display 17. Then, the process proceeds to step S38.

[0130] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S32 that a shooting information change command has not yet been issued, the process proceeds to step S38.

[0131] In step S38, the acquisition unit 51 determines whether or not to end the photographing information change process. For example, when the acquisition unit 51 determines that the user has operated the back button 222 based on the operation information supplied from the input unit 16 and the photographing information change screen, the acquisition unit 51 determines to end the photographing information change process.

[0132] If it is determined in step S38 that the photographing information change process is to be ended, the photographing information change process is ended. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S38 that the photographing information change process is not to be ended, the process returns to step S32, and the subsequent processes are repeated.

[0133] As described above, in the photographic image generating unit 50 that stores the photographic image of the character 71a in the storage unit 19, the display control unit 57 displays the photographic image of the character 71a and the line of sight operation unit 111 on the line of sight neck angle changing screen. The line of sight change unit 53 changes the line of sight of the character 71a in response to the user's operation of the line of sight operation unit 111. The display control unit 57 displays the photographic image in which the line of sight has been changed by the line of sight change unit 53 on the line of sight neck angle changing screen. Thus, the user can store the photographic image of the character 71a having the line of sight as the user's desired characteristic by specifying the line of sight of the character 71a in detail.

[0134] In the photographic image generating unit 50, the display control unit 57 also displays the neck angle operation unit 112 on the line-of-sight neck angle changing screen. The neck angle changing unit 54 changes the angle of the neck 122 of the character 71a in response to the user's operation of the neck angle operation unit 112. The display control unit 57 displays the photographic image in which the angle of the neck 122 has been changed by the neck angle changing unit 54 on the line-of-sight neck angle changing screen. Thus, the user can save a photographic image of the character 71a having the angle of the neck 122 as the user's desired characteristic by specifying in detail the angle of the neck 122 of the character 71a.

[0135] In the photographic image generating section 50, the display control section 57 displays a pose change screen. Thus, the user can save a photographic image of the character 71a in a desired pose.

[0136] In the photographic image generating unit 50, the display control unit 57 displays the shooting information change screen. Therefore, the user can save a photographic image of the character 71a taken at a desired angle of view, shooting position, and shooting angle.

[0137] <2. Second embodiment> <Configuration example of photo image generating unit> The second embodiment of the game machine to which the present technology is applied differs from the game machine 1 of Fig. 1 in terms of a photographic image generating unit, and the rest of the configuration is the same as that of the game machine 1. Therefore, only the photographic image generating unit will be described below.

[0138] FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a photographic image generating unit in a second embodiment of a game machine as an information processing device to which the present technology is applied.

[0139] In the photographic image generating unit 350 in Fig. 13, the parts corresponding to those in the photographic image generating unit 50 in Fig. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Therefore, the description of those parts will be omitted as appropriate, and the description will focus on the parts that are different from the photographic image generating unit 50.

[0140] Photographic image generating unit 350 differs from photographic image generating unit 50 in that acquiring unit 51 replaces acquiring unit 351, that selecting unit 352 is newly provided, and that the eye line operating unit and neck angle operating unit are replaced by a two-dimensional position operating unit that is operated when specifying a common two-dimensional position.

[0141] The acquisition unit 351 acquires operation information output from the input unit 16, and recognizes commands from the user based on the screen currently being displayed on the display 17 and the operation information. The acquisition unit 351 supplies various information to any of the pose change unit 52, the neck angle change unit 54, the shooting change unit 55, the screen generation unit 56, and the selection unit 352 according to the content of the command.

[0142] For example, if the command from the user is a command to make the two-dimensional position operation unit function as an eye line operation unit or a neck angle operation unit (hereinafter referred to as a function selection command), the acquisition unit 351 supplies the function selection command to the selection unit 352. If the command from the user is a command to change the eye line direction or neck angle of the character to the eye line direction or neck angle represented by the two-dimensional position specified by the user, the acquisition unit 351 supplies two-dimensional position information representing that two-dimensional position to the selection unit. Note that, hereinafter, this command is referred to as a two-dimensional position change command.

[0143] The acquisition unit 351, like the acquisition unit 51, supplies pose information to the pose change unit 52 and supplies a fixed mode command to the neck angle change unit 54. The acquisition unit 351, like the acquisition unit 51, supplies a shooting information change command to the shooting change unit 55, and supplies a subject selection command and a changed screen display command to the screen generation unit 56.

[0144] Selection unit 352 selects whether the two-dimensional position operation unit functions as an eye line operation unit or a neck angle operation unit, in response to a function selection command supplied from acquisition unit 351. When selection unit 352 selects to cause the two-dimensional position operation unit to function as an eye line operation unit, it supplies the two-dimensional position information supplied from acquisition unit 351 to eye line change unit 53 as eye line direction information. On the other hand, when selection unit 352 selects to cause the two-dimensional position operation unit to function as a neck angle operation unit, it supplies the two-dimensional position information supplied from acquisition unit 351 to neck angle change unit 54 as neck angle information.

[0145] <Example of eye gaze angle change screen> FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a line of sight and neck angle changing screen in the second embodiment.

[0146] In the eye gaze angle change screen 370 in Fig. 14, the parts corresponding to those in the eye gaze angle change screen 100 in Fig. 4 are given the same reference numerals. Therefore, the explanation of those parts will be omitted as appropriate, and the explanation will focus on the parts that are different from the eye gaze angle change screen 100.

[0147] Eye gaze angle change screen 370 differs from eye gaze angle change screen 100 in that operation method display section 101 and eye gaze angle designation section 102 are replaced by operation method display section 371 and eye gaze angle designation section 372, respectively; otherwise, it is configured in the same way as eye gaze angle change screen 100.

[0148] Operation method display section 371 displays buttons of input section 16 to be operated when the user issues each command on eye line and neck angle change screen 370. Operation method display section 371 differs from operation method display section 101 in that "R" and the character "shisen" representing the R button, and "L" and the character "kubu" representing the L button are displayed in correspondence with each other.

[0149] That is, on the eye line neck angle change screen 370, the user needs to press the R button when issuing a function selection command to make the two-dimensional position operation unit 381 described later function as an eye line operation unit. The user needs to press the L button when issuing a function selection command to make the two-dimensional position operation unit 381 function as a neck angle operation unit.

[0150] Eye line and neck angle designation unit 372 differs from eye line and neck angle designation unit 102 in that it has a two-dimensional position operation unit 381 instead of eye line operation unit 111 and neck angle operation unit 112, and in that pointers 111a and 112a are replaced by pointers 381a and 381b, respectively.

[0151] The two-dimensional position operation unit 381 functions as a line of sight operation unit or a neck angle operation unit. Specifically, the two-dimensional position operation unit 381 is composed of a two-dimensional coordinate system with horizontal and vertical directions as axial directions, a circular pointer 381a, and a square pointer 381b. The pointer 381a is placed at a two-dimensional position on the two-dimensional coordinate system that represents the horizontal and vertical angles of the line of sight of the character 71a with respect to the forward direction. The pointer 381b is placed at a two-dimensional position on the two-dimensional coordinate system that represents the horizontal and vertical angles of the neck 122 of the character 71a with respect to the forward direction.

[0152] The user can operate the pointer 381a by pressing the R button and then operating the R stick button, and the user can operate the pointer 381b by pressing the L button and then operating the R stick button.

[0153] The user operates pointer 381a in the same manner as pointer 111a to specify a two-dimensional position representing the changed line of sight and issue a two-dimensional position change command. The user operates pointer 381b in the same manner as pointer 112a to specify a two-dimensional position representing the changed neck angle and issue a two-dimensional position change command.

[0154] The default two-dimensional positions of the pointers 381a and 381b are determined according to the pose of the character 71a in the photographic image 70. In the example of Fig. 14, the default two-dimensional positions of the pointers 381a and 381b are the center positions and overlap. In the example of Fig. 14, the shapes of the pointers 381a and 381b are different, but as long as the pointers 381a and 381b can be distinguished from each other, the difference may be a color, a size, or the like instead of a shape.

[0155] The function selection command can also be given by a touch operation on the touch panel of the input unit 16. For example, the user can give a function selection command to make the two-dimensional position operation unit 381 function as an eye line operation unit or a neck angle operation unit by touching a position on the touch panel corresponding to the display position of the pointer 381a or 381b.

[0156] The operation of moving the pointers 381a and 381b can also be performed by a touch operation on the touch panel, similar to the operation of moving the pointers 111a and 112a.

[0157] <Explanation of eye gaze angle change process> 15 is a flowchart illustrating the gaze direction angle change process by photographic image generation unit 350. This gaze direction angle change process is started, for example, when cursor 74a is moved to gaze direction angle change selection unit 82 by the user.

[0158] Step S111 in FIG. 15 is similar to the process of step S11 in FIG. 11, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0159] In step S112, the acquisition unit 351 determines whether or not a function selection command has been issued by the user, based on the operation information and the eye line and neck angle change screen supplied from the input unit 16. If it is determined in step S112 that a function selection command has been issued, the acquisition unit 351 supplies the function selection command to the selection unit 352, and the process proceeds to step S113.

[0160] In step S113, in response to the function selection command supplied from acquisition unit 351, selection unit 352 selects either the eye line operation unit or the neck angle operation unit as a function of the two-dimensional position operation unit.

[0161] In step S114, the acquisition unit 351 determines whether or not a two-dimensional position change command has been issued by the user, based on the operation information and the eye line and neck angle change screen supplied from the input unit 16. If it is determined in step S114 that a two-dimensional position change command has been issued, the acquisition unit 351 supplies the two-dimensional position information to the selection unit 352, and the process proceeds to step S115.

[0162] In step S115, the selection unit 352 determines whether or not the eye line operation unit is selected as a function of the two-dimensional position operation unit in step S113. If it is determined in step S115 that the eye line operation unit is selected, the selection unit 352 supplies the two-dimensional position information as eye line direction information to the eye line changing unit 53, and the process proceeds to step S116.

[0163] The processing in steps S116 and S117 is similar to the processing in steps S13 and S14 in Fig. 11, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted. After the processing in step S117, the process proceeds to step S120.

[0164] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S115 that the eye line operation section has not been selected, that is, if the neck angle operation section has been selected as a function of the two-dimensional position operation section, the process proceeds to step S118.

[0165] The processing in steps S118 and S119 is similar to the processing in steps S16 and S17 in Fig. 11, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted. After the processing in step S119, the process proceeds to step S1120.

[0166] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S112 that a function selection command has not yet been issued, or if it is determined in step S115 that a two-dimensional position change command has not yet been issued, the process proceeds to step S120.

[0167] In step S120, the acquisition unit 351 determines whether or not to end the gaze-at-neck angle change process, similar to the process in step S18. If it is determined in step S120 that the gaze-at-neck angle change process should be ended, the gaze-at-neck angle change process ends. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S120 that the gaze-at-neck angle change process should not be ended, the process returns to step S112, and the subsequent processes are repeated.

[0168] As described above, in the photographic image generating unit 350 that stores the photographic image of the character 71a in the memory unit 19, the display control unit 57 displays the photographic image of the character 71a and the two-dimensional position operation unit 381 on the eye line and neck angle changing screen. In response to the user's operation of the two-dimensional position operation unit 381, the eye line changing unit 53 changes the eye line direction of the character 71a, or the neck angle changing unit 54 changes the angle of the neck 122. The display control unit 57 displays the photographic image in which the eye line direction has been changed by the eye line changing unit 53 or the photographic image in which the angle of the neck 122 has been changed by the neck angle changing unit 54 on the eye line and neck angle changing screen.

[0169] As described above, by specifying the eye direction and neck 122 angle of the character 71a in detail, the user can save a photographic image of the character 71a having the eye direction and neck 122 angle as the user's desired characteristic.

[0170] In the second embodiment, the eye line operation unit and the neck angle operation unit are shared as a two-dimensional position operation unit 381. Therefore, a larger area can be secured as the display area of ​​the two-dimensional position operation unit 381 compared to the first embodiment. Therefore, the user can specify the eye line direction and the angle of the neck 122 in more detail. Furthermore, by sharing the eye line operation unit and the neck angle operation unit, the eye line direction and the angle of the neck 122 can be adjusted more easily.

[0171] Note that pointer 381a may be displayed only when two-dimensional position operation unit 381 functions as an eye line operation unit, and pointer 381b may be displayed only when it functions as a neck angle operation unit. In this case, pointers 381a and 381b may be shared.

[0172] <3. Third embodiment> <Configuration example of photo image generating unit> The third embodiment of the information processing device to which the present technology is applied differs from the game machine 1 in Fig. 1 in terms of a photographic image generating unit, and the rest of the information processing device is configured in the same manner as the game machine 1. Therefore, hereinafter, only the photographic image generating unit will be described.

[0173] FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a photographic image generating unit in a third embodiment of a game machine as an information processing device to which the present technology is applied.

[0174] In the photographic image generating unit 450 in Fig. 16, the parts corresponding to those in the photographic image generating unit 50 in Fig. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Therefore, the description of those parts will be omitted as appropriate, and the description will focus on the parts that are different from the photographic image generating unit 50.

[0175] Photographic image generating section 450 differs from photographic image generating section 50 in that a photo image includes a plurality of characters, but is otherwise configured similarly to photographic image generating section 50.

[0176] Specifically, the photographic image generation unit 450 is composed of an acquisition unit 451, a pose change unit 452, a line of sight change unit 453, a neck angle change unit 454, a shooting change unit 455, a screen generation unit 456, a display control unit 57, and a memory control unit 58.

[0177] Acquisition unit 451 differs from acquisition unit 51 in that acquisition unit 451 sets, as the change target, a character among multiple characters contained in a photographic image that corresponds to the operation target of an operation that changes various settings, but is otherwise configured in the same manner as acquisition unit 51.

[0178] When the command from the user is a command to select a character corresponding to the operation target of the operation to change various settings among a plurality of characters included in the photograph image, the acquisition unit 451 selects the character and sets it as the change target. Note that, hereinafter, this command is called a character selection command. The acquisition unit 451 supplies the change target to the pose change unit 452, the line of sight change unit 453, the neck angle change unit 454, and the shooting change unit 455.

[0179] Pose changing unit 452 differs from pose changing unit 52 in that the character whose pose is to be changed is the change target supplied from acquisition unit 451, and is otherwise configured in the same manner as pose changing unit 52. Eye line changing unit 453 differs from eye line changing unit 53 in that the character whose eye line direction is to be changed is the change target supplied from acquisition unit 451, and is otherwise configured in the same manner as eye line changing unit 53.

[0180] The neck angle change unit 454 differs from the neck angle change unit 54 in that the character whose neck angle is to be changed is supplied from the acquisition unit 451, and is otherwise configured in the same manner as the neck angle change unit 54. The photographing change unit 455 differs from the photographing change unit 55 in that the character whose photographing information is to be changed is supplied from the acquisition unit 451, and is otherwise configured in the same manner as the photographing change unit 55.

[0181] Screen generation unit 456 differs from screen generation unit 56 in that the photographic image included in the default modified screen generated in response to a subject selection command includes a predetermined number of characters, but is otherwise configured similarly to screen generation unit 56.

[0182] <First example of the eye gaze angle change screen> FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a gaze direction neck angle change screen that is displayed when the user moves cursor 74a to gaze direction neck angle change selection section 82 in the third embodiment.

[0183] In the eye gaze angle change screen 460 in Fig. 17, the parts corresponding to the eye gaze angle change screen 100 in Fig. 4 are given the same reference numerals. Therefore, the explanation of those parts will be omitted as appropriate, and the explanation will focus on the parts that are different from the eye gaze angle change screen 100.

[0184] The eye gaze angle change screen 460 differs from the eye gaze angle change screen 100 in that the photographic image 70 and the eye gaze angle designation section 102 are replaced by a photographic image 461 and an eye gaze angle designation section 463, respectively, and in that a character selection button 462 is newly provided.

[0185] Photographic image 461 includes not only character 71a but also character 471 as a subject.

[0186] The character selection button 462 is operated by the user using the input unit 16 when issuing a character selection command to select character 71a or character 471 as the character corresponding to the operation target in the gaze neck angle designation unit 463. By operating the character selection button 462, the user can switch the selection target from one of character 71a and character 471 to the other. In the example of Fig. 17, the default character selected by the character selection button 462 is character 71a.

[0187] Eye line and neck angle designation section 463 is provided with an eye line operation section 481, a neck angle operation section 482, a fixed mode on button 483, and a fixed mode off button 484.

[0188] Eye line operation unit 481 differs from eye line operation unit 111 in that, instead of pointer 111a, it has pointer 481a that is placed at a two-dimensional position that represents the eye line direction of the character selected by character selection button 462. Other than that, it is configured in the same way as eye line operation unit 111.

[0189] Neck angle operation unit 482 differs from neck angle operation unit 482 in that, instead of pointer 112a, it has pointer 482a that is placed at a two-dimensional position that represents the angle of the neck of the character selected by character selection button 462. Other than that, it is configured in the same way as eye line operation unit 111.

[0190] The default two-dimensional positions of the pointers 481a and 482a are determined according to the pose of the character selected by the character selection button 462. In the example of Fig. 17, the default two-dimensional positions of the pointers 481a and 482a are the center positions according to the pose of the character 71a.

[0191] Fixed mode on button 483 (gaze fixed operation section) differs from fixed mode on button 113 in that the target for setting the fixed mode is the character selected by character selection button 462, but is otherwise configured in the same way as fixed mode on button 113.

[0192] The fixed mode off button 484 differs from the fixed mode off button 114 in that the fixed mode is released from the character selected by the character selection button 462, but is otherwise configured in the same manner as the fixed mode off button 114.

[0193] <Second example of the eye gaze angle change screen> FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a line of sight and neck angle change screen when the user selects character 471 by operating character selection button 462 in FIG.

[0194] In the eye gaze angle change screen 490 in Fig. 18, the parts corresponding to the eye gaze angle change screen 460 in Fig. 17 are given the same reference numerals. Therefore, the explanation of those parts will be omitted as appropriate, and the explanation will focus on the parts that are different from the eye gaze angle change screen 460.

[0195] Eye gaze and neck angle change screen 490 is configured in the same manner as eye gaze and neck angle change screen 460, except that the positions of pointers 481a and 482a are different from those of eye gaze and neck angle change screen 460.

[0196] In the example of FIG. 18, character 471 is selected by character selection button 462, so the default two-dimensional positions of pointers 481a and 482a are determined according to the pose of character 471. In the example of FIG. 18, the default two-dimensional position of pointer 481a is the leftmost center position, and the default two-dimensional position of pointer 482a is a position slightly to the left of the center. Therefore, the line of sight of character 471 in photographic image 461 is the leftmost center direction toward character 471. In other words, the position of pupil 471a is the left center position of the eye. In addition, neck 472b is rotated slightly leftward toward character 471, and the face is facing slightly leftward toward character 471 from the forward direction.

[0197] <Explanation of change target setting process> 19 is a flowchart illustrating the change target setting process by photographic image generating section 450. This change target setting process is started, for example, when cursor 74a is moved to eye line / neck change selecting section 82 by the user.

[0198] In step S210 of FIG. 19, the acquisition unit 451 sets the change target to the default of the character selected by the character selection button 462, and supplies it to the pose change unit 452, the line of sight change unit 453, the neck angle change unit 454, and the shooting change unit 455.

[0199] In step S211, the acquisition unit 451 determines whether or not a character selection command has been issued based on the operation information supplied from the input unit 16 and the currently displayed eye line and neck angle change screen. If it is determined in step S211 that a character selection command has been issued, the process proceeds to step S212.

[0200] In step S212, the acquisition unit 451 selects a character selected by the character selection button 462 from among a plurality of characters included in the photograph image, and sets it as a change target. The acquisition unit 451 then supplies the change target to the pose change unit 452, the line of sight change unit 453, the neck angle change unit 454, and the shooting change unit 455, and the process proceeds to step S213.

[0201] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S211 that a character selection command has not been issued, the process skips step S212 and proceeds to step S213.

[0202] In step S213, the acquisition unit 451 determines whether or not to end the change target setting process. For example, when the acquisition unit 51 determines that the user has operated the layout editing start button 72 or the completed button 76, moved the cursor 74a, or the like, based on the operation information supplied from the input unit 16 and the eye line and neck angle change screen, the acquisition unit 51 determines that the change target setting process is to be ended. If it is determined in step S213 that the change target setting process is to be ended, the process is ended.

[0203] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S213 that the change target setting process should not be ended, the process returns to step S211, and the subsequent processes are repeated.

[0204] The eye gaze neck angle changing process and shooting information changing process in the third embodiment are similar to the eye gaze neck angle changing process in FIG. 11 and the shooting information changing process in FIG. 12, except that the character whose eye gaze direction, neck angle, or shooting information is being changed is the one whose shooting information is being changed.

[0205] As described above, in photo image generating unit 450 that stores a photo image including multiple characters in storage unit 19, display control unit 57 displays the photo image including multiple characters and gaze operation unit 481 on the gaze neck angle changing screen. Gaze change unit 453 changes the gaze direction of a target character among multiple characters included in the photo image in response to a user's operation of gaze operation unit 481. Display control unit 57 displays the photo image in which the gaze direction of the target character has been changed by gaze change unit 453 on the gaze neck angle changing screen.

[0206] Therefore, by specifying in detail the eye direction of a specific character among multiple characters contained in a photo image, a user can save a photo image of multiple characters, including the specific character, whose eye direction is a characteristic desired by the user.

[0207] In photographic image generation unit 450, display control unit 57 also displays neck angle operation unit 482 on the eye line neck angle change screen. Neck angle change unit 454 changes the neck angle to be changed in response to the user's operation of neck angle operation unit 482. Display control unit 57 displays a photographic image in which the neck angle to be changed has been changed by neck angle change unit 454 on the eye line neck angle change screen.

[0208] Therefore, by specifying in detail the neck angle of a specific character among multiple characters included in the photo image, the user can save photo images of multiple characters, including the specific character, having a neck angle as the user's desired feature.

[0209] The eye line and neck angle change screen also displays a character selection button 462, allowing the user to set the eye line direction and neck angle in detail for each character included in the photograph image.

[0210] In the third embodiment, one character is selected as the object of change, but multiple characters may be selected.

[0211] It should be noted that the user may operate the cross pad instead of the L stick button and the R stick button.

[0212] In the first to third embodiments, the eye direction and neck angle of the character in the photographic image whose shooting information has been changed when the fixed mode is set are changed, but it is also possible to change only the eye direction. The eye direction and neck angle may be changed in three dimensions.

[0213] The photographic images may be used in a game in which players compete for points given to photographic images based on the character's eye direction or neck angle. In this case, for example, one or more eye directions or neck angles that look good in photos are preset as ideal values, and the smaller the difference between the eye direction or neck angle and the ideal value, the higher the points given to the photographic image.

[0214] In the first to third embodiments, the line of sight and the angle of the neck are changed, but the inclination of the wrist relative to the arm, the inclination of the head relative to the neck, etc. may also be changed. In this case, an operation unit for specifying a two-dimensional position representing the inclination of the wrist or head is provided, similar to the line of sight operation unit 111 (481) and the neck angle operation unit 112 (482), and the inclination of the character's wrist or head is changed according to the operation of the operation unit. This operation unit may be displayed on the line of sight / neck angle change screen, or may be displayed on a change screen different from the line of sight / neck angle change screen.

[0215] An operation unit for specifying a one-dimensional position may be provided as an operation unit used to change the body part of a character. In this case, for example, the position of the end of the eyebrows, the degree of opening of the eyes, the position of the corners of the mouth, etc. can be changed by using the operation unit for manipulating the one-dimensional position.

[0216] The shape of the eye line operation unit 111 (481) and the neck angle operation unit 112 (482) can be any shape such as a rectangle, an ellipse, a circle, etc. For example, if the shape of the eye line operation unit 111 (481) is an ellipse or a circle that is close to the shape of the eye, the user can easily intuitively grasp the pointer 111a (481a) as the two-dimensional position of the pupil corresponding to the eye line direction, and can easily specify the changed eye line direction.

[0217] The shapes of eye line operation unit 111 (481) and neck angle operation unit 112 (482) may be the same or different. If eye line operation unit 111 (481) and neck angle operation unit 112 (482) have the same shape, the layout of the eye line neck angle change screen can be made easy to see.

[0218] This technology can be applied to information processing devices such as smartphones, tablet terminals, personal computers, stationary game machines, print sticker machines, etc., in addition to portable game machines. When this technology is applied to a print sticker machine, the photo image is a photographed image of an actual person that has been processed as necessary, and the photo image program 31 is executed, for example, when editing the photographed image.

[0219] <4. Modifications> <Example of a game distribution system> FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a game distribution system including a smartphone as an information processing device to which the present technology is applied.

[0220] The game distribution system shown in FIG. 20 is configured by connecting a program distribution server 501 and a smartphone 502 via a network 511 such as the Internet.

[0221] In the game distribution system of FIG. 20, a photo image program 31 executed by a smartphone 502 is provided by a program distribution server 501 via a network 511.

[0222] In this way, the photo image program 31 can be provided in a download format or a streaming format from the program distribution server 501, which is a server on the Internet. Alternatively, the photo image program 31 may be provided in a so-called network game format, that is, in a format in which the photo image program 31 resides on a server and the user plays the game by accessing the server. In other words, the format in which the photo image program 31 is provided is not limited to a format in which it is provided by a so-called package media.

[0223] The photo image program 31 may be a program in which processing is performed chronologically in the order described in this specification, or it may be a program in which processing is performed in parallel or at the required timing, such as when called.

[0224] The present technology can be applied not only to information processing devices that generate photographic images of characters, but also to information processing devices that generate icon images of avatars.

[0225] The embodiments of the present technology are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present technology.

[0226] For example, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which all or part of the above-described multiple embodiments are combined.

[0227] For example, the present technology can be configured as cloud computing, in which a single function is shared and processed collaboratively by multiple devices via a network.

[0228] Furthermore, each step described in the above flow chart can be executed by one device, or can be shared and executed by a plurality of devices.

[0229] Furthermore, when a single step includes multiple processes, the multiple processes included in the single step can be executed by a single device, or can be shared and executed by multiple devices.

[0230] It should be noted that the effects described in this specification are merely examples and are not limiting, and there may be effects other than those described in this specification. [Explanation of symbols]

[0231] 1 Game machine, 11 CPU, 31 Photographic image program, 53 Eye line change section, 54 Neck angle change section, 55 Shooting change section, 57 Display control section, 70 Photographic image, 71a Character, 100 Eye line neck angle change screen, 111 Eye line operation section, 112 Neck angle operation section, 113 Fixed mode on button, 122 Neck, 220 Shooting information change screen, 352 Selection section, 370 Eye line neck angle change screen, 381 Two-dimensional position operation section, 451 Acquisition section, 453 Eye line change section, 454 Neck angle change section, 460 Eye line neck angle change screen, 461 Photographic image, 471 Character, 471b Neck, 481 Eye line operation section, 482 Neck angle operation section, 502 Smartphone

Claims

1. A program for storing photographic images of one or more characters, a first display control step of displaying on a screen the photographic image and a gaze operation unit that is operated when specifying a two-dimensional position that represents the gaze direction of the character in the photographic image; a line of sight changing step of changing the line of sight direction in response to an operation of the line of sight operation unit by a user; a second display control step of displaying on the screen the photographic image whose line of sight has been changed by the processing of the line of sight change step; A program for causing a computer to execute a process including the steps of:

2. The two-dimensional position representing the line of sight is a two-dimensional position representing the horizontal and vertical angles of the line of sight.

2. The program according to claim 1, for causing a computer to execute the process.

3. a storage step of storing, as a captured image, the photographic image in which the line of sight direction has been changed by the processing in the line of sight change step; Also includes 2. The program according to claim 1, for causing a computer to execute the process.

4. The default of the two-dimensional position representing the gaze direction is determined according to the pose of the character in the photographic image.

2. The program according to claim 1, for causing a computer to execute the process.

5. a gaze target selection step of selecting, in response to an operation by the user, the character corresponding to the operation target of the gaze operation unit from among the plurality of characters included in the photographic image; Also includes 5. A program for causing a computer to execute the process according to claim 1.

6. a neck angle changing step of changing the angle of the neck in response to an operation by the user on a neck angle operation unit operated when specifying a two-dimensional position representing an angle of the neck of the character in the photographic image; a third display control step of displaying on the screen the photographic image in which the angle of the neck has been changed by the processing of the neck angle change step; Further comprising: In the processing of the first display control step, the neck angle operation unit is also displayed on the screen.

2. The program according to claim 1, for causing a computer to execute the process.

7. The two-dimensional position representing the angle of the neck is a two-dimensional position representing the angle of the neck in the horizontal and vertical directions.

7. The program according to claim 6, for causing a computer to execute the process.

8. In the processing of the first display control step, a two-dimensional position operation unit that is operated when specifying the common two-dimensional position is displayed on the screen as the eye line operation unit and the neck angle operation unit.

7. The program according to claim 6, for causing a computer to execute the process.

9. A function selection step of selecting whether the two-dimensional position operation unit functions as the eye line operation unit or the neck angle operation unit in response to the user's operation. Also includes 9. The program according to claim 8, for causing a computer to execute the process.

10. The default two-dimensional position representing the neck angle is determined according to the pose of the character in the photographic image.

7. The program according to claim 6, for causing a computer to execute the process.

11. A neck angle target selection step of selecting the character corresponding to the operation target of the neck angle operation unit from the plurality of characters included in the photographic image in response to the user's operation. Also includes 11. A program for causing a computer to execute the process according to claim 6.

12. a photographing change step of changing photographing information, which is information related to photographing the photographic image, in response to an operation by the user; a third display control step of displaying on a screen the photographic image whose photographing information has been changed by the processing of the photographing change step; Also includes 2. The program according to claim 1, for causing a computer to execute the process.

13. The shooting information is a field of view, a shooting position, or a shooting angle.

13. A program for causing a computer to execute the process according to claim 12.

14. A gaze fixing step of changing the gaze direction in the photographic image whose photographing information has been changed by the processing of the photographing change step so that the gaze direction is fixed in a direction facing the front of the screen. Further equipped with In the processing of the first display control step, a gaze fixing operation unit that is operated when fixing the gaze direction in a direction toward the front is also displayed on the screen, In the processing of the gaze fixing step, when the gaze fixing operation unit is operated by the user, the gaze direction is changed so that the gaze direction is fixed in a direction facing forward.

14. A program for causing a computer to execute the process according to claim 12 or 13.

15. An information processing device that stores photographic images of one or more characters, a display control unit that displays on a screen the photographic image and a gaze operation unit that is operated when specifying a two-dimensional position that represents the gaze direction of the character in the photographic image; a gaze change unit that changes the gaze direction in response to an operation of the gaze operation unit by the user; Equipped with The display control unit displays, on the screen, the photographic image in which the line of sight direction has been changed by the processing of the line of sight changing unit. Information processing device.

Images