Abstract: A game apparatus includes a CPU, and when a virtual game is started, the CPU generates game image data and displays a corresponding game screen on a monitor. In the game screen, an operating instruction describing operation procedure is displayed and contents of the instruction changes according to a progress of the game. For example, as the game advances, an operating instruction including how to perform a new operation is displayed when a player object learns a new attack, or when a level (experience) of the player object increases or an operation level of the player increases. However, if the virtual game has not been played for a relatively long period of time, the operating instruction is displayed regardless of the progress of the game.

Abstract: A game apparatus stores a history in relation to a game operation as replay data in a memory, and displays a replay image on the basis of the stored replay data on a monitor. A CPU of the game apparatus creates highlight scene positional information indicating a at least temporal position of a highlight scene in the replay image on the basis of a highlight scene position designating operation, stores the created highlight scene positional information by bringing it into association with the replay data in the memory, and displays a time-line image representing a temporal position of the highlight scene in the replay image on the monitor on the basis of the highlight scene positional information when the replay image is displayed on the monitor.

Abstract: An instruction target object which is located outside a predetermined area of a virtual space is detected at an interval of the unit time, and a substitute icon associated with the instruction target object is displayed in a screen. Next, after it is detected that a first operation has been performed on the substitute icon from the operation data, it is detected that a second operation has also been performed. Based on the pointed position in the screen when the second operation was detected, the instruction target object associated with the substitute icon processed by the first operation is caused to perform a predetermined motion.

Abstract: An operating device for inputting the coordinate positions of a controlled object that moves across a screen. The present invention is directed to obviating the problems of the prior art involving the bad operability of a knob which requires rotation through a large angle to move the controlled object across the screen, and the short life-span of the knob due to frequent use. In order to overcome these problems, the rotational number of a main shaft is increased by a rotational number increasing mechanism and the rotational number of the output shaft of the rotational number increasing mechanism is optically or magnetically detected. The present invention is therefore suitable for use as an operating device for a TV game machine.