Three-dimensional simulator apparatus and image synthesis method using texture computation and texture information storage

Abstract

The present invention provides a three-dimensional simulator apparatus and image synthesis method which may realistically simulate the real world when the velocity and/or rotational velocity of a display object has changed or when the surface state of that display object is to change in accordance with simulation circumstances. An image synthesis section ( ) contains a texture computation section ( ) for performing computations to map textures onto the display objects and a texture information storage section ( ) for storing information of the textures to be mapped. Different types of texture information is stored in the texture information storage section ( ) for the same display object. Either the type of information of the texture to be mapped onto the display object or information specifying that type is changed in accordance to the velocity and/or rotational velocity of the display object, or with the surface state of the display object which surface state changes with simulation circumstances. This enables an increase in realism of the simulation.