Patent ID: 7277571

Claim:
An effect image processing method in a virtual three-dimensional space for representing moving objects displayed around a character when said character is viewed from a predetermined viewpoint in the virtual three-dimensional space, comprising the steps of: generating a main image including said character and a background image included in a visual field area viewed from the viewpoint of a virtual camera located in said virtual three-dimensional space; providing a spherical object at a position, the spherical object consisting of a three-dimensional model including the viewpoint of said virtual camera and applying a texture image of said moving objects on said spherical object functioning as a screen on which an effective image is applied; moving said texture image to a predetermined direction on said spherical object; generating a synthesized image of an effect image and said main image by changing said texture image to said effect image by converting a three-dimensional coordinate of said texture image to a two-dimensional coordinate in the visual field area on said spherical object viewed from the viewpoint of said virtual camera; and performing a moving process of the position of said spherical object according to movement of said virtual camera wherein the predetermined direction of said spherical object is invariable regardless of transition in a direction of said virtual camera.