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.

Abstract: Polygons forming a shadow models are sorted into front-facing polygons facing in directions toward a viewpoint of a virtual camera and back-facing polygons facing in directions opposite from the viewpoint of the virtual camera, and a shadow image is created in pixels which are pixels corresponding to the front-facing polygons minus pixels corresponding to the back-facing polygons, thereby realistically and easily creating a shadow on the outer surface of a 3D model. Accordingly, in the case that part or all the 3D model such as a character is placed in a shadow of a mountain, a building or the like, a shadow can be realistically and easily created on the outer surface of the 3D model.

Abstract: Vertices of a polygon model M0 are sorted into those on which rays are projected (visible-surface vertices M01) and those on which rays are not projected (hidden-surface vertices M02) based on normal vectors V2 of the vertices of the polygon model M0 and a light source vector V1, and shadow models (shadow volumes) M1, M2, M3 are generated by moving the hidden-surface vertices in a direction of the light source vector V1. Shadow images can be easily created by applying stenciling to these shadow models.

Abstract: A 3D image processing unit for applying a specified image processing to display a model located in a simulated 3D space on a monitor after rendering processing. The 3D image processing unit includes a memory unit for storing a rendered model image as a collection of pixel data and distance information from a viewing point of a simulated camera in correspondence with respect to said pixel data; image processing unit for applying semitransparent processing to each pixel data read from the memory unit; rewriting unit for rewriting the pixel data with said distance information from the viewing point of the simulated camera that is a specified reference value or larger; and control unit for causing the image processing unit and the rewriting unit to repeatedly operate a specified number of times while successively increasing the specified reference value and successively increasing a degree of transparency.

Abstract: A game screen display program, enabling a user to easily acquire knowledge of video game operation, is provided. A CPU 1 uses a graphic data generation processor 3 or similar to create user operation images depicting movement of a snowboarder character according to user operations accepted by a controller 19, reads from main memory 5 and reproduces operation explanation images which explain model operations to the user, and display the user operation images and operation explanation images simultaneously on a television monitor 21.

Abstract: Vertices of a polygon model M0 are sorted into those on which rays are projected (visible-surface vertices M01) and those on which rays are not projected (hidden-surface vertices M02) based on normal vectors V2 of the vertices of the polygon model M0 and a light source vector V1, and shadow models (shadow volumes) M1, M2, M3 are generated by moving the hidden-surface vertices in a direction of the light source vector V1. Shadow images can be easily created by applying stenciling to these shadow models.

Abstract: Polygons forming a shadow models are sorted into front-facing polygons facing in directions toward a viewpoint of a virtual camera and back-facing polygons facing in directions opposite from the viewpoint of the virtual camera, and a shadow image is created in pixels which are pixels corresponding to the front-facing polygons minus pixels corresponding to the back-facing polygons, thereby realistically and easily creating a shadow on the outer surface of a 3D model. Accordingly, in the case that part or all the 3D model such as a character is placed in a shadow of a mountain, a building or the like, a shadow can be realistically and easily created on the outer surface of the 3D model.

Abstract: A 3D image processing unit for applying a specified image processing to display a model located in a simulated 3D space on a monitor after rendering processing. The 3D image processing unit includes a memory unit for storing a rendered model image as a collection of pixel data and distance information from a viewing point of a simulated camera in correspondence with respect to said pixel data; image processing unit for applying semitransparent processing to each pixel data read from the memory unit; rewriting unit for rewriting the pixel data with said distance information from the viewing point of the simulated camera that is a specified reference value or larger; and control unit for causing the image processing unit and the rewriting unit to repeatedly operate a specified number of times while successively increasing the specified reference value and successively increasing a degree of transparency.