Image processing apparatus and storing medium that stores image processing program

Abstract

An image processing apparatus includes a CPU, and viewpoint location data each of which is correlated with each plurality of operating objects different in size, which are stored in a main memory, for example. When the operating object appearing in a virtual three-dimensional space is selected based on an operation by a player, the viewpoint location data corresponding to the operating object is read, and a viewpoint location is set. The viewpoint location data is set in such a manner as to display the operating object approximately the same in size even if any operating object different in size is selected, for example. Then, based on this viewpoint location, a three-dimensional image including the operating object is displayed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An image processing apparatus that displays on a display an image in which an operating object appearing in a virtual three-dimensional space is seen from a predetermined viewpoint location, said image processing apparatus comprising:
 an operation controller operated by a player; and   a processing system, including one or more computer processors configured to:   select the operating object appearing in said virtual three-dimensional space, out of a plurality of the operating objects different in size, based on an operation of said operation controller;   set the viewpoint location in correspondence with said selected operating object; and   display a three-dimensional image including said operating object based on the set viewpoint location, wherein   the viewpoint-locations are set in such a manner so that each of the selected operating objects is displayed such that the difference in the displayed size of the selected operating objects is reduced.   
     
     
         2 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 viewpoint-location-data storing locations for storing each viewpoint location data correlated with each of said plurality of the operating objects; and the processing system is further configured to:   read out from said viewpoint-location-data storing locations said viewpoint location data corresponding to said selected operating object to set said viewpoint location.   
     
     
         3 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 said viewpoint location data comprises parameters associated with a relationship between said selected operating object and a virtual camera.   
     
     
         4 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein
 said viewpoint location data includes distance data from a point-of-regard, and the processing system is further configured to:   read out said distance data corresponding to said selected operating object to set said viewpoint location.   
     
     
         5 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein
 said viewpoint location data includes angle data or height data from the point-of-regard, and the processing system is further configured to:   read out said angle data or said height data corresponding to said selected operating object to set said viewpoint location.   
     
     
         6 . A non-transitory storing medium that stores an image processing program to be executed by an image processing apparatus that is provided with an operation controller operated by a player, and displays on a display an image in which an operating object appearing in a virtual three-dimensional space is seen from a predetermined viewpoint location, said image processing program allows a computer of said image processing apparatus to execute:
 selecting the operating object appearing in said virtual three-dimensional space, out of a plurality of the operating objects different in size, based on an operation of said operation controller;   setting the viewpoint location in correspondence with said selected operating object; and   displaying a three-dimensional image including said selected operating object based on said set viewpoint location, wherein   said setting the viewpoint-location sets the viewpoint-locations in such a manner so that each of the selected operating objects is displayed such that the difference in the displayed size of the selected operating objects is reduced.   
     
     
         7 . The non-transitory storing medium that stores an image processing program according to  claim 6 , said image processing apparatus further comprising
 viewpoint-location-data storing locations for storing each viewpoint location data correlated with each of said plurality of the operating objects; wherein   said setting the viewpoint-location reads out from said viewpoint-location-data storing locations said viewpoint location data corresponding to said selected operating object so as to set said viewpoint location.   
     
     
         8 . The non-transitory storing medium that stores an image processing program according to  claim 7 , wherein
 said viewpoint location data comprises parameters associated with a relationship between said selected operating object and a virtual camera.   
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory storing medium that stores an image processing program according to  claim 8 , wherein
 said viewpoint location data includes distance data from a point-of-regard,   said setting the viewpoint-location reads out said distance data corresponding to said selected operating object so as to set said viewpoint location.   
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory storing medium that stores an image processing program according to  claim 8 , wherein
 said viewpoint location data includes angle data or height data from the point-of-regard,   said setting the viewpoint-location reads out said angle data or said height data corresponding to said selected operating object so as to set said viewpoint location.   
     
     
         11 . An image processing method to be executed in an image processing apparatus that is provided with an operation controller operated by a player and displays on a display an image in which an operating object appearing in a virtual three-dimensional space is seen from a predetermined viewpoint location, said image processing method comprising:
 selecting the operating object appearing in said virtual three-dimensional space, out of a plurality of the operating objects different in size, based on an operation of said operation controller;   setting the viewpoint location in correspondence with said selected operating object; and   displaying a three-dimensional image including said selected operating object based on said set viewpoint location, wherein   said setting the viewpoint-location sets the viewpoint-locations in such a manner so that each of the selected operating objects is displayed such that the difference in the displayed size of the selected operating objects is reduced.   
     
     
         12 . The image processing method according to  claim 11 , said image processing apparatus comprising viewpoint-location-data storing locations for storing each viewpoint location data correlated with each of said plurality of the operating objects; wherein
 said setting the viewpoint-location reads out from said viewpoint-location-data storing locations said viewpoint location data corresponding to said selected operating object so as to set said viewpoint location.   
     
     
         13 . The image processing method according to  claim 12 , wherein
 said viewpoint location data comprises parameters associated with a relationship between said selected operating object and a virtual camera.   
     
     
         14 . The image processing method according to  claim 13 , wherein
 said viewpoint location data includes distance data from a point-of-regard,   said setting the viewpoint-location reads out said distance data corresponding to said selected operating object so as to set said viewpoint location.   
     
     
         15 . The image processing method according to  claim 13 , wherein
 said viewpoint location data includes angle data or height data from the point-of-regard,   said setting the viewpoint-location reads out said angle data or said height data corresponding to said selected operating object so as to set said viewpoint location.   
     
     
         16 . An image processing apparatus that displays on a display an image in which an operating object appearing in a virtual three-dimensional space is seen from a predetermined viewpoint location, said image processing apparatus comprising:
 an operation controller operated by a player; and   a processing system, including one or more computer processors configured to:   select the operating object appearing in said virtual three-dimensional space, out of a plurality of the operating objects different in size, based on an operation of said operation controller, wherein   all said operating objects different in size appear in the same virtual three-dimensional space scene;   set the viewpoint location in correspondence with said selected operating object; and display a three-dimensional image including said operating object based on the set viewpoint location, wherein   the viewpoint-locations are set in such manner to change one or more parameters associated with a relationship between the viewpoint and each of the selected operating objects.   
     
     
         17 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein
 said one or more parameters are set as different values for each of the selected operating objects.   
     
     
         18 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein
 said one or more parameters include a distance between the viewpoint and each of the selected operating objects.   
     
     
         19 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein
 said one or more parameters include an angle to the viewpoint.   
     
     
         20 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein
 said one or more parameters comprise both a horizontal distance between the viewpoint and the selected operating object and an angle to the viewpoint, or a vertical distance between the selected operating object and the viewpoint.