Three dimensional image processing program, three dimensional image processing method, and video game device

Abstract

A three dimensional image processing program, a three dimensional image processing method, and a video game device are provided that can render a large number of objects. A graphics data generating processor computes the post-movement position coordinates of objects in a virtual three dimensional space, modifies the post-movement position coordinates of objects calculated thereby such that the position coordinates are kept inside a display area in which the objects are displayed, and a rendering processor renders the objects inside the display area.

1 . A three dimensional image processing program for rendering a plurality of objects that move in a virtual three dimensional space and which controls a video game device, comprising: 
 a position coordinate computation unit that computes post-movement position coordinates of objects in a virtual three dimensional space;    a position coordinate modification unit that modifies the post-movement position coordinates of the objects such that the post-movement position coordinates are kept within a display area in which the object will be displayed; and    a rendering unit that renders the objects within the display area.    
   
   
       2 . The three dimensional image processing program set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the display area is rectangular in shape; and 
 the position coordinate modification unit modifies the post-movement position coordinates of the objects such that the post-movement position coordinates are kept within the display area by subtracting the length of at least one side of the display area from the post-movement position coordinates of the objects.    
   
   
       3 . The three dimensional image processing program set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the position coordinates of the objects are expressed in integers; and 
 the position coordinate modification unit keeps the objects inside the display area by means of a mask process that acquires the low order bits of the position coordinates.    
   
   
       4 . The three dimensional image processing program set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the video game device further functions as a texture storage unit that stores a plurality of textures that have different shapes; and 
 the rendering unit renders the objects based upon the textures stored in the texture storage unit.    
   
   
       5 . The three dimensional image processing program set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the textures include textures that express snow.  
   
   
       6 . The three dimensional image processing program set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the video game device comprises an arithmetic processing unit that can execute a variety of processes including switch processing, and a render processing unit that is provided exclusively for render processing; and 
 the render processing unit functions as the position coordinate computation unit and the position coordinate modification unit.    
   
   
       7 . A three dimensional image processing method that renders a plurality of objects that move in a virtual three dimensional space, comprising the steps of: 
 computing post-movement position coordinates of objects in a virtual three dimensional space;    modifying the post-movement position coordinates of the objects such that the post-movement position coordinates are kept within a display area in which the objects will be displayed; and    rendering the objects within the display area.    
   
   
       8 . A video game device that renders a plurality of objects that move in a virtual three dimensional space, comprising: 
 a position coordinate computation unit that computes post-movement position coordinates of objects in a virtual three dimensional space;    a position coordinate modification unit that modifies the post-movement position coordinates of the objects such that the post-movement position coordinates are kept within a display area in which the objects will be displayed; and    a rendering unit that renders the objects within the display area.