Abstract: A background-sound switching method and apparatus is provided for switching of background-music data. A partitioning code represents an end position of a phrase of background sounds outputted through a speaker. A switching instruction device outputs a switching-instruction signal which causes switching from the background-sound data being outputted to a D/A converter to other background-sound data. Following output of the switching-instruction signal, a data-number controller stores in RAM a data number which defines a next background-sound data to be outputted to the D/A converter. A code detector detects the partitioning code of the background-sound data being outputted. At each time the partitioning code is detected, a switching controller determines whether or not the data number is stored in the RAM and, if the data number is stored in the RAM, the background-sound data being outputted is switched to the other background-sound data defined by the data number.

Abstract: A video game device has replacement character setting unit 70 for setting replacement characters in the game beforehand, and game progress control unit 80 for controlling the progress state of the game, by performing a replacement processing between a replacement character and one play character playing in the game, during the progress of the game. The game proceeds with replacement of player characters based on information concerning replacement characters selected by the user prior to the start of the game.

Abstract: A video game machine includes a plurality of operation units corresponding to a plurality of leading characters appearing in a virtual three-dimensional space, a game-screen display unit, a coordinate storage unit for storing pairs of coordinates set so as to be related to the leading characters, a game-screen display-control unit for displaying, on the game-screen display unit, a game screen obtained by using, as a viewpoint, any one of the pairs of coordinates, an operation determination unit for determining whether a viewpoint-switching operation has been implemented among operations using one operation unit for moving one leading character related to the pair of coordinates of the viewpoint in the game screen displayed on the game-screen display unit, and a viewpoint-switching-display control unit for initiating a viewpoint-switching movement of switching the pair of coordinates of the viewpoint to another pair of coordinates when the operation determination unit has determined that the viewpoint-switchin

Abstract: A video game device includes a batting instructing input device for instructing a play character which is a batter in a baseball game with batting contents, a batting judging means for judging the batting contents based on the batting instruction contents and the instruction results of the action contents, a batting storing means for storing the batting judgment contents, and a batting record display means for reading the batting judgment contents from the batting storing means and displaying on the image display device, so that the batting record of a batter, and in particular the batting habits of the batter, can be readily known in the event that the game player is a baseball batter as a play character on the screen.

Abstract: A video game device has the following components: a character information storing unit for storing character information including multiple role information assigned to each play character; an action contents storing unit for storing one or a plurality of action contents; and a schedule creating unit for creating an action schedule for play characters by setting action contents selected from the action contents in at least one of a time period space and a role space. A video game play control method has the steps of: storing, in the character information storing unit, character information including a plurality of pieces of role information assigned to each play character; storing, in the action contents storing unit, one or a plurality of action contents; and creating an action schedule for play characters by setting action contents selected from said action contents in at least one of a time period space and a role space.

Abstract: A ROM is provided, storing a game space having a plurality of places, a main character belonging to a sport team, and a plurality of other characters provided with different capabilities regarding the sport. A wandering processing means causes the main character displayed on a monitor to move to desired places in the game space according to operation of operating keys, executing conversation processing regarding the above solicitation between the displayed main character and other characters, and in the event that the result of the conversation is success in solicitation, the other character is registered to the member registering means. Thus, a game with a high gaming nature and absorbing interest can be provided, wherein the relation between the character of the player and a specific character can be influenced via a main character, and this influence can be reflected on the game story.

Abstract: A manual controller of a video game system has a plurality of control switches for controlling the motion of an image displayed on a display screen, and an analog joystick for designating a point in a given area on the displayed image. When the analog joystick is operated by the game player of the video game system, it is tilted to a position in a desired direction in a two-dimensional plane, and outputs a positional signal depending on the tilted position thereof. A coordinate transforming unit converts first and second two-dimensional coordinates of the tilted position respectively into third and fourth two-dimensional coordinates of an image position with respect to a predetermined reference position on the displayed image, with a first conversion constant for converting the first coordinate into the third coordinate and a second conversion constant, which is different from the first conversion constant, for converting the second coordinate into the fourth coordinate.