Abstract: A dummy object is generated by copying an object. A color of the dummy object is set to be brighter than the object and the position of the dummy object is finely adjusted. After that, the object and the dummy object are drawn using the Z sort method. Polygons of the object are added to a sort table as usual, whereas polygons of the dummy object are added to the sort table after such a shift of the first address of the sort table as to locate them behind their actual depth value with respect to the view point. Since the polygons are drawn from the farthest polygon from the view point in the sort table, the object is drawn over the dummy object. In the last stage the dummy object remains only in the part projecting outside the object and the part is drawn in a brighter color than the object.

Abstract: A document display method displays information quickly and properly by receiving a description file in which multiple pages forming the documents are defined. The method includes receiving, from a server, a separate file defined in a first page to be displayed first in the received description file. The method further includes analyzing the first page of the received description file to display the first page by using the received separate file. The method further includes analyzing a second page of the description file and receiving a separate file defined in the second page, from the server, after receiving all of the separate files defined in the first page.

Abstract: A world map includes multiple regions. Each region includes one or multiple areas. A player causes his/her player character to belong to any nation. As a task given to the player character, a battle with an enemy character is provided on the map of each area (the battle may be waged by a party). When the, player character wins the battle in each area, predetermined points are given to a home nation of the player character participating in the battle. The points given to each home nation are totaled for each region, and a nation that dominates each region is decided according to a result of the total points.

Abstract: Multiple video game apparatuses are connected to a game server apparatus. This network game progresses when players of the respective video game apparatuses exchange messages via the game server apparatus. When a predetermined event is generated by processing in the game server apparatus, a specific message is transmitted to each video game apparatus. In a chat window provided on a display screen of each video game apparatus, the message sent from the game server apparatus is scrolled and displayed from the bottom to the top. When the specific message reaches an uppermost portion of the chat window, a lock window is set and the specific message is displayed therein. The specific message in the lock window is not erased by the reception of a next message.

Abstract: Graduation rendering processing brings about an effective defocused image of multi-levels of halftone according to the depth of the virtual three-dimensional space without requiring complicated operation processing. Subtraction processing is carried out in which the luminosity of an original image of the frame buffer to be displayed on a screen is reduced by a greater luminosity in the images located at the back than at the front in the depth of the virtual three-dimensional space. Then, addition processing is carried out in which images having a luminosity corresponding to the reduced value of luminosity in the subtraction processing are distributed and added around the original image of the frame buffer with the positions of the images shifted with respect to the original image. The image of the frame buffer, which has been subjected to the subtraction processing and addition processing, is displayed on the screen.

Abstract: A predetermined maximum communication amount is set for packet communication between an echo server and each of the clients (communication terminals). In addition, the packets from each of the clients (communication terminals) are set to be in a predetermined amount. Thus, a load on the network can be reduced.

Abstract: To prevent a network response to a game server from deteriorating, a flag information management unit of a game server is provided. The flag information management unit manages flags indicating information on player characters (PC) in response to requests from client systems (or communication terminals)s occurring during network game progress. A flag information transmission unit transmits only the information linked to the managed flags to the client systems (or communication terminals). Then, on the sides of the client systems (or communication terminals), a control unit controls a CD-ROM drive in accordance with the information, and the necessary information is reproduced from a CD-ROM.

Abstract: A simple model for an object to be processed is obtained, and Z-values and display coordinates of vertexes of the simple model from a predetermined viewpoint are calculated. A rectangular Z-area associated with the calculated display coordinates is detected, and an area of a predetermined size is generated based upon the detected Z-area while keeping a feature of the detected Z-area. A minimum value Z1MIN of the simple model is extracted. The minimum value Z1MIN of the simple model is compared with all of the Z-values within the generated area, which are stored in a Z-buffer at that time. If it is determined that the minimum value Z1MIN of the simple model is larger than the maximum value Z2MAX within the generated area, subsequent steps are skipped. Thus, processing of a real model can be avoided, which reduces the processing.

Abstract: When a player instructs a movement of a player character from an input device, a control section obtains a position of the player character during a current frame period. The control section obtains a distance between the position of the player character during the current period and a position of a view point of a virtual camera during a previous frame period. If the obtained distance is less than a predetermined critical near distance, the control section moves the position of the view point away from the player character. If the obtained distance exceeds a critical far distance, the control section moves the position of the view point towards the player character. If the obtained distance is in the range between the critical near distance and the critical far distance, the control section does not move the position of the view point.

Abstract: A game system provides multiple classifications of character characteristic and is capable of advancing a game by assigning the desired characteristic to a character from multiple characteristics. Two jobs, that is, a main job and a support job are selectable for a character and a fixed pattern of table configuration data is provided as characteristic value information according to the job. In addition, the table configuration data corresponding to the classification of the job is extracted and applied to a growth table for each job, and ability values of the main job and support job are weighted differently so as to achieve character characteristic having two job abilities together. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively increase the job types to be assigned to the character and to create an interesting game, while reducing necessary memory capacity.

Abstract: Images at a source side and a target side are displayed as a dynamic image that can move in real time by fading out the last scene and fading in a new scene. In the case of changing a viewpoint of a dynamic image to be displayed on a screen, a dynamic image (image depicted from a source camera) depicted from a viewpoint before changing the viewpoint and a dynamic image (image depicted from a target camera) depicted from a viewpoint after having changed the viewpoint are translucently synthesized, and a synthesized image is generated. Thereafter, with respect to the synthesized image, the source camera image (one frame image of the dynamic image) and the target camera image (one frame image of the dynamic image) are reciprocally translucently synthesized while changing the transparencies thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is based on a process comprising the steps of previously recording movie data 212b and 212c in a CD-ROM in correspondence to streams of changes in depiction of a displayed image, detecting what stream a change in depiction is in response to a manual input made by the player, reading out movie data corresponding to the detected stream of changes in depiction from the CD-ROM, and causing a change in the image in display on the basis of the thus read-out movie data.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for implementing cell-animation-looking colors as an example of non-photo-realistic rendering in three-dimensional model plot processing. Perspective transformations and light source calculations are carried out for a polygon of the three-dimensional model. Then, the luminosity of each apex of the polygon is calculated. In addition, the color for plotting the polygon is calculated for each of the luminosity ranges defined in advance. Alternatively, the colors for plotting may be calculated and stored in advance. Then, one of the luminosity range is selected from the luminosity ranges defined in advance. If the luminosity range of each pixel inside the polygon lies within the luminosity range selected, the pixel is plotted in the color for plotting corresponding to the luminosity range selected. By repeatedly performing these operations, a cell-animation-looking image is generated.

Abstract: Multiple icons are placed on a first loop-shaped orbit and a second loop-shaped orbit which are set with a certain position in a virtual space as the center thereof. Desired icons from the icons on the first loop-shaped orbit and a second loop-shaped orbit are moved to a first cursor and a second cursor respectively, in response to an operation input by a player. Selection key input by the player inputs a command corresponding to the icons within the cursors to a computer. Thus, the visual recognition of icons is improved over the conventional method of command input by selecting icons, and the number of icon images can be kept to a minimum even in the event that the number of candidates for command selection is great.

Abstract: A player is assisted in selecting an action to be executed by a character on a screen by displaying multiple options, associated with corresponding actions, on the screen. A graphic, in virtual three dimensions, is displayed on the screen to visually depict a preview of a range of effect of an action corresponding to an option selected by an operational input by the player. The position of the graphic may be based on the position of the character at the time the option is selected. The range of effect may be switched to preview another action when the player switches the selected option. The options may be represented by icons and grouped according to the types of corresponding actions.

Abstract: A player can easily select a desired game, and the information about players can be appropriately managed and provided. A user terminal transmits self-introduction information to a room master. The room master adds the self-introduction information from the user terminal to the player table list. Additionally, the self-introduction information is added to update history data, and a count value of the update history counter is incremented. The user terminal adds the current count value of the update history counter and ask the room master for an update history. Upon receipt of the update history requests from multiple user terminals, the room master transmits data to all user terminal members (addressed to the IRC channel) in the room. The data is transmitted sequentially from the update history data associated with the oldest update counter value in the requests to the update history data associated with the latest history counter value of the room master.

Abstract: An item for use in a game can be easily and appropriately dealt. When an item to be purchased is selected from an auction item list on the screen of the user terminal, and when a bid price which can be paid for the item is determined, the current bid price (old bid price) of the highest bidder is read. The read old bid price is compared with the new bid price, and it is determined whether the new bid price is the highest. If it is the highest price, then the player save data is read, and it is determined whether there is enough money to pay the bid price. If there is enough money to pay the bid price, the amount corresponding to the bid price is subtracted from the player save data.

Abstract: A rendering method for generating an image similar to that with normal lighting calculation, without the calculation, when changing the position of a light source etc. in a virtual space; including waiting for an operational input of an operator or other input; changing the position of the light source or other state in accordance with any input; generating an interpolated shadow data set based on the position etc. of the light source at the current position; and drawing an object using the interpolated shadow data set, wherein when generating the interpolated shadow data set, the positional data of the light source etc. is acquired, the shadow data set relating to the positional data of the light source acquired etc. is selected from a plurality of shadow data sets corresponding to pre-set positions of the light source etc.

Abstract: A game apparatus for display of a game image in which a moving body moves in a virtual space is provided. The game apparatus comprises: a polygon data memory for storing polygon data which define shapes of polygons constituting the moving body; a texture image memory for storing a texture image which indicates a reflected state of ambient light; a position specifying unit for specifying a position of the moving body in the virtual space; and a first image drawing unit for drawing a polygon based on the position of the moving body and the polygon data; a determination unit for determining a part of the texture image stored in the texture image memory based on the specified position of the moving body; and a second image drawing unit for drawing a translucent polygon over the polygon of the moving body, the translucent polygon having pasted thereon the part of the texture determined by the determination unit.

Abstract: Game scenes are flexibly switched to different points of view selected according to character status and game progress, thereby preventing a loss of interest in the game. A specified hit count HPX and threshold value T1 are compared, and if HPX>T1, control data is generated to display image X1 from a particular perspective. If (HPX>T1) is not true, HPX is compared with threshold value T2 (T1>T2>0). If HPX>T2, control data is generated to display image X2 from a particular perspective. If (HPX>T2) is not true, the maximum decrease D possible in the next attack is subtracted from HPX to calculate inferred value HP′, which is then compared with 0. If (HP′≦0) is not true, control data is generated to display image X3 from a particular perspective, but if HP′≦0, control data is generated to display image X4 from a particular perspective.