Virtual Camera Direction Control via Top-Down View Transition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of virtual three-dimensional games who are not familiar with the game environment find it difficult to change the camera direction using touch operations, as they struggle to align the camera with the player character's orientation, especially when switching between different views.
Innovation Solution
The system allows users to change the camera direction by displaying a virtual space from above, enabling them to designate a new camera direction, which is then smoothly transitioned to the primary view, allowing for accurate and intuitive camera direction adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a mini-map is used to present field of view information, then camera direction information can be displayed, but it becomes difficult to perform operations while viewing both the mini-map and the virtual three-dimensional space
Solution Approach 1:
The display is segmented into two functional modes: a first display mode showing the virtual three-dimensional space and a second display mode showing a top-down map view. This segmentation allows the system to present camera direction information separately from the main 3D view, eliminating the conflict of viewing multiple interfaces simultaneously and improving operational convenience while maintaining complete directional information.
2Speed
If the virtual camera direction is changed instantly when switching from first display to second display, then camera direction change is reflected immediately, but the user cannot recognize how the imaging direction has been changed
Solution Approach 1:
Before switching from the first display to the second display, the system performs a preliminary action by displaying, on the first display, information indicating the camera direction that will be adopted in the second display. This preliminary display of directional information allows the user to recognize and understand the camera direction change before it actually occurs, maintaining both speed of response and user awareness.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a touch panel is used for operations in a virtual three-dimensional space, then the game can be played on mobile terminals, but users who are not familiar with the game cannot have sufficient spatial perception and find it difficult to change camera direction
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary interface - the top-down map view display - that mediates between the user's touch operations and the virtual three-dimensional space. This intermediary view provides a simplified, intuitive representation of spatial relationships that is easier to understand than direct 3D navigation, helping users who are not familiar with the game environment to accurately control camera direction while maintaining mobile platform compatibility.
Data Source
AI summary
Executed is processing of: performing first display obtained by taking an image of a virtual space by a virtual camera facing a first camera direction and rendering the virtual space; during the first display, switching to second display representing the virtual space as viewed from above, according to a user operation; during the second display, designating a second camera direction on the basis of a user operation, and switching to the first display according to an operation performed by the user; and during a predetermined period after switching to the first display, changing a direction of the virtual camera from the first camera direction to the second camera direction, taking an image of the virtual space, and rendering the virtual space.