Patent ID: 8259112
Filing Date: 2012-09-04
Classification: A63F

Abstract:
1. An image generating apparatus that generates an image by perspective transforming a specific subject existing in a virtual three-dimensional space with a viewing axis of a virtual camera aligned with the specific subject, the image generating apparatus comprising: a subject control processor that moves a first position of the specific subject in the virtual three-dimensional space; a virtual camera control processor that moves a second position of a viewing point of the virtual camera in the virtual three-dimensional space in accordance with a movement of the first position of the specific subject while aligning the viewing axis of the virtual camera with the specific subject; a perspective transformation graphics processor that generates a two-dimensional image displayed on a display by perspective transforming the virtual three-dimensional space including the specific subject on a virtual screen in accordance with the virtual camera that is controlled by the virtual camera control processor; an obstacle avoiding area setting processor that sets a camera peripheral area around the viewing point of the virtual camera and a first area that is continuously connected from the camera peripheral area to at least a third position around the specific subject as an obstacle avoiding area, with reference to at least the second position of the viewing point of the virtual camera; and an obstacle determining processor that determines whether an obstacle exists in the obstacle avoiding area set by the obstacle avoiding area setting processor, wherein the virtual camera control processor includes an obstacle avoiding control processor that moves the second position of the viewing point of the virtual camera to a fourth position for which the obstacle is not located in an updated obstacle avoiding area when it is determined that the obstacle exists in the obstacle avoiding area by the obstacle determining processor, wherein the obstacle avoiding area setting processor includes an obstacle avoiding area changer that changes a size of the obstacle avoiding area in accordance with a distance between the second position of the viewing point of the virtual camera in the virtual three-dimensional space and the first position of the specific subject, wherein the camera peripheral area is a sphere including the second position of the viewing point of the virtual camera as a center, and wherein the obstacle avoiding area setting processor changes a radius of the sphere in accordance with the distance between the second position of the viewing point of the virtual camera in the virtual three-dimensional space and the first position of the specific subject.