Game Audio Hiding Determination Using Dual Regions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sound processing in virtual three-dimensional spaces often results in unnatural sound expressions when a large sound source, such as a river, is partially hidden from view, leading to uncomfortable audio-visual discrepancies due to simplistic hiding determinations based on the closest point to the virtual microphone.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a game program that uses a second determination region with a smaller width than the first, allowing for more nuanced hiding determinations by considering the positional relationship between the virtual microphone and this region, and applying volume attenuation and filter effects based on the hiding degree, which can include checking for obstacle presence and path existence, to provide a more natural sound expression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a hiding determination is performed based on the closest point to the virtual microphone, then the determination process is simple and fast, but the sound expression becomes unnatural when the sound source is large and only partially hidden
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sound source into multiple determination regions (first determination region for closest point, second determination region for width measurement). This segmentation allows the system to perform simple closest-point checks while also conducting more comprehensive width-based hiddenness determinations, resolving the contradiction between speed and accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different determination criteria to different parts of the sound source. The first determination region uses closest-point-based logic for quick processing, while the second determination region uses width-based logic for accurate hiddenness assessment. This local differentiation allows simple processing where appropriate and accurate processing where needed.
2Device complexity
If the entire sound source is determined as hidden when the closest point is hidden, then the sound processing is straightforward, but it causes unnatural muffled sound expressions when only part of the sound source is hidden
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the hiding determination into two independent checks: one based on the closest point (first determination region) and one based on the width (second determination region). This allows the system to maintain simple processing logic while improving accuracy by requiring both conditions to be met for a hidden determination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by using the second determination region with smaller width to check for hiddenness. This partial check (using a subset of the full sound source width) allows the system to avoid over-determining hiddenness while maintaining sufficient accuracy to prevent unnatural sound processing.
3Measurement precision
If a second determination region with smaller width is used for hiding determination, then the accuracy of hiding determination improves, but the processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the determination process into two independent regions with different characteristics. The first region (larger, for closest point) and second region (smaller, for width) can be processed in parallel or sequentially without interfering with each other, minimizing the actual complexity increase while maintaining high precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The second determination region serves multiple functions: it provides precise width-based hiddenness determination, acts as a refinement check after the first determination, and can be used for different sound source types. This multi-functionality justifies the additional complexity by providing versatile accurate determination.
Data Source
AI summary
For a sound source in a virtual space, a volume related to the sound source is set so as to be attenuated in accordance with a distance between a first determination region having a predetermined shape and a virtual microphone. In addition, a hiding determination as to the sound source is performed on the basis of a positional relationship between the virtual microphone and a second determination region having a shape different from that of the first determination region, and the shape of the second determination region satisfies at least that a part thereof is outside the first determination region or that a width thereof is smaller than that of the first determination region. When the sound source is hidden, the volume is set so as to be further attenuated.