Abstract: On a plurality of paths within a virtual space, objects moving in movement directions that are determined for the paths, respectively, are displayed. When an operation input has been performed by a player, whether a plurality of the objects that satisfy a predetermined condition have been designated is determined. When it is determined that the plurality of the objects that satisfy the predetermined condition have been designated, the plurality of the designated objects are caused to enter a state of being selected. At predetermined timing, control in which a display manner of selected objects that are the objects in the state of being selected is changed or the selected objects are eliminated from the path is performed.

Abstract: On a plurality of paths within a virtual space, objects moving in movement directions that are determined for the paths, respectively, are displayed. When an operation input has been performed by a player, whether a plurality of the objects that satisfy a predetermined condition have been designated is determined. When it is determined that the plurality of the objects that satisfy the predetermined condition have been designated, the plurality of the designated objects are caused to enter a state of being selected. At predetermined timing, control in which a display manner of selected objects that are the objects in the state of being selected is changed or the selected objects are eliminated from the path is performed.

Abstract: A player character is caused to perform an action in accordance with an input. Action points that allow the player character to perform an action in a virtual world during a player turn are set, and a point is subtracted from the action points in accordance with the action of the player character during the player turn. The player turn is ended, and an opponent turn is started. Then, in causing the player character to perform an action, if the action points remain at a time of the end of the player turn, the player character is caused to automatically perform an action on a non-player character in the opponent turn.

Abstract: A first player character or a second player character is caused to perform an action by operating the first player character or the second player character in accordance with an input, and a player character as an action target for performing an action corresponding to the input is switched. Further, a position and/or a direction of a virtual camera are set in accordance with a position and/or a direction, in a virtual world, of the player character set as the action target, and the position and/or the direction of the virtual camera are changed in accordance with the action of the player character. An image of the virtual world viewed from the virtual camera set for the player character as the action target is displayed on a display apparatus. Then, the action target can be switched to the second player character as during the operation on the first player character as the action target in the same player turn.

Abstract: First, movement information that allows calculation of a movement of a first input device is sequentially obtained. During a time period in which at least one operation key is in a predetermined input state, a display image is enlarged or reduced in accordance with a change of the movement information. When it is determined that the predetermined input state is canceled, the enlarged or reduced display image is caused to return to its original magnification and an action of at least one first object in the display image is controlled.

Abstract: A first player character or a second player character is caused to perform an action by operating the first player character or the second player character in accordance with an input, and a player character as an action target for performing an action corresponding to the input is switched. Further, a position and/or a direction of a virtual camera are set in accordance with a position and/or a direction, in a virtual world, of the player character set as the action target, and the position and/or the direction of the virtual camera are changed in accordance with the action of the player character. An image of the virtual world viewed from the virtual camera set for the player character as the action target is displayed on a display apparatus. Then, the action target can be switched to the second player character as during the operation on the first player character as the action target in the same player turn.

Abstract: A player character is caused to perform an action in accordance with an input. Action points that allow the player character to perform an action in a virtual world during a player turn are set, and a point is subtracted from the action points in accordance with the action of the player character during the player turn. The player turn is ended, and an opponent turn is started. Then, in causing the player character to perform an action, if the action points remain at a time of the end of the player turn, the player character is caused to automatically perform an action on a non-player character in the opponent turn.

Abstract: Based on operation information obtained from an operating device for pointing to a position on a screen of a display device, a pointing position to which the operating device points is repeatedly calculated. Next, a change amount of the pointing position is calculated. Then, whether or not the change amount of the pointing position meets a first condition is determined. As a result, when it is determined that the change amount of the pointing position meets the first condition, predetermined processing is executed for the pointing position or a position specified based on the pointing position.

Abstract: A player character appearing in a virtual game world is caused to perform actions in accordance with operation data. Based on the actions performed by the player character, operation tendency data, which indicates a tendency in operations performed by a player operating the player character, is generated, and a group of image data and the operation tendency data of the player character is stored. Then, an image of a non-player character indicated by the stored image data is displayed on a display device in accordance with the image data. An action of the non-player character in a virtual game world is controlled in accordance with the stored operation tendency data.

Abstract: First, based on the position of a target in a taken image included in imaging information, a pointing position which an operating device points to is calculated. Next, a change amount of the pointing position within a predetermined time is calculated. Then, whether or not the change amount of the pointing position satisfies a first condition is determined. As a result, when it is determined that the change amount of the pointing position satisfies the first condition, predetermined processing is executed in which the pointing position within the predetermined time or a position calculated based on pointing positions within the predetermined time is set as a start point.

Abstract: First, movement information that allows calculation of a movement of a first input device is sequentially obtained. During a time period in which at least one operation key is in a predetermined input state, a display image is enlarged or reduced in accordance with a change of the movement information. When it is determined that the predetermined input state is canceled, the enlarged or reduced display image is caused to return to its original magnification and an action of at least one first object in the display image is controlled.

Abstract: Based on operation information obtained from an operating device for pointing to a position on a screen of a display device, a pointing position to which the operating device points is repeatedly calculated. Next, a change amount of the pointing position is calculated. Then, whether or not the change amount of the pointing position meets a first condition is determined. As a result, when it is determined that the change amount of the pointing position meets the first condition, predetermined processing is executed for the pointing position or a position specified based on the pointing position.

Abstract: First, based on the position of a target in a taken image included in imaging information, a pointing position which an operating device points to is calculated. Next, a change amount of the pointing position within a predetermined time is calculated. Then, whether or not the change amount of the pointing position satisfies a first condition is determined. As a result, when it is determined that the change amount of the pointing position satisfies the first condition, predetermined processing is executed in which the pointing position within the predetermined time or a position calculated based on pointing positions within the predetermined time is set as a start point.

Abstract: Before game data is arranged, a storage area for the game data in an internal memory is determined so that each game parameter is stored in a different storage area each time the game data is arranged. Then, arrangement information that directly or indirectly indicates the storage area for each game parameter is stored in a specified area of the internal memory. Then, the game data is loaded from an external storage medium to the determined storage area. Moreover, when a game parameter in the internal memory needs to be referred to or overwritten during the game process, the storage area for the game parameter is determined by referring to the arrangement information. Thus, it is possible to prevent general users from easily modifying the game data.

Abstract: A game machine includes a CPU and, when a game cartridge is loaded in the game machine, the CPU is electrically connected to a ROM in the game cartridge and an electronically erasable non-volatile flash memory having at least two game data storage backup areas. Game data generated during the progress of a game is maintained in a volatile work memory and, in response to an instruction provided by a user, an attempt to save this data (referred to herein as “last” game data or as the “latest” game data) in an appropriate backup storage area of a non-volatile flash memory is made. Whenever the user instructs the game machine to save a game, the CPU compares the write age of each backup area and selects a game data backup area that is stored with game data having an oldest write age.

Abstract: A player character appearing in a virtual game world is caused to perform actions in accordance with operation data. Based on the actions performed by the player character, operation tendency data, which indicates a tendency in operations performed by a player operating the player character, is generated, and a group of image data and the operation tendency data of the player character is stored. Then, an image of a non-player character indicated by the stored image data is displayed on a display device in accordance with the image data. An action of the non-player character in a virtual game world is controlled in accordance with the stored operation tendency data.

Abstract: Before game data is arranged, a storage area for the game data in an internal memory is determined so that each game parameter is stored in a different storage area each time the game data is arranged. Then, arrangement information that directly or indirectly indicates the storage area for each game parameter is stored in a specified area of the internal memory. Then, the game data is loaded from an external storage medium to the determined storage area. Moreover, when a game parameter in the internal memory needs to be referred to or overwritten during the game process, the storage area for the game parameter is determined by referring to the arrangement information. Thus, it is possible to prevent general users from easily modifying the game data.

Abstract: A plurality of programs (a plurality of games) are provided, which are classified so as to each belong to one of a plurality of channels (a plurality of game groups). When a player plays one of the programs, predetermined points in accordance with the playing result are added to channel points for the channel to which the program belongs. Stipulated points are prescribed for each program. When the channel points for the channel to which a program belongs has become equal to or greater than the stipulated points for the program, the program is newly added to the TV program table (game selection screen). As a result, new games are allowed to appear on the game selection screen with various timings and in various orders.

Abstract: A game machine includes a CPU, and when a game cartridge is loaded in the game machine, the CPU is electrically connected to a ROM in the game cartridge and a flush memory having two backup areas. Game data generated according to progress of a game is stored (renewed) in a work memory, and last game data is written in the backup area according to an instruction of a user, for example. When the last game data is written, the CPU selects as a write-objective backup area stored with the game data having an older writing time. At this time, if writing to the selected backup area cannot be performed, overwriting of the last game data on the game data written immediately before is prohibited so as to leave the game data one generation ago.

Abstract: A plurality of programs (a plurality of games) are provided, which are classified so as to each belong to one of a plurality of channels (a plurality of game groups). When a player plays one of the programs, predetermined points in accordance with the playing result are added to channel points for the channel to which the program belongs. Stipulated points are prescribed for each program. When the channel points for the channel to which a program belongs has become equal to or greater than the stipulated points for the program, the program is newly added to the TV program table (game selection screen). As a result, new games are allowed to appear on the game selection screen with various timings and in various orders.