Patent ID: 7824265

Claim:
A three-dimensional video game apparatus that perspective-transforms a virtual three-dimensional space where multiple characters exist onto a virtual screen based upon a virtual camera having a viewpoint position moved in response to positions of the multiple characters, comprising: a character mover that moves at least one of the characters in the virtual three-dimensional space; a central position calculator that calculates a central position of the characters in the virtual three-dimensional space; a temporary point setter that sets multiple temporary points at once in the virtual three dimensional space with reference to the calculated central position; a temporary viewpoint position setter that sets a temporary viewpoint position on each straight line, connecting each of the temporary points to the central position, where all of the characters can be projected on the virtual screen with a predetermined visual angle; a distance calculator that calculates a distance between each of the set temporary viewpoint positions and the calculated central position; a viewpoint position evaluator that evaluates each temporary viewpoint position based on each calculated distance; a viewpoint position selector that selects a position where the viewpoint of the virtual camera should be moved among the temporary viewpoint positions based on the evaluation result; a viewpoint position mover that moves the viewpoint position of the virtual camera to the selected position; and a perspective transformer that perspective-transforms the three-dimensional space onto the virtual screen based upon the virtual camera where the viewpoint position is moved: wherein the temporary points are set around the central position and a direction to each of the temporary points from the central position is predetermined based on polar coordinates of the central position.