Abstract: Characters to be grown, growth factor data representing the growth degree of each character and background information for expressing background environment for each character are stored. According to a result of analysis of a sound characteristic of sound source data analyzed by an input data analyzing section 211, a background information processing section 213 or a character processing section 215 retrieves data for realizing a corresponding expression manner. An image managing section 220 produces CG images representing a character and background environment based on the data in question and allows them to be displayed on a screen, so that a game player can confirm musical taste of the game player by watching the images in the growth process of the character. As a result, there is provided a display control apparatus which can diversify an expression manner of images according to inputted sound source data and thus enhance attractiveness of a game.

Abstract: In a music reproducing system, each of characters is allocated in advance a favorite rhythm component and a peculiar figure expressing ability. A sound pressure data producing section produces sound pressure data for each of a pluralty of frequency bands from musical data. A frequency band identifying section identifies the frequency band which beats a rhythm most. A rhythm estimating section derives a changing period of a sound pressure component in the sound pressure data at the identified frequency band and estimates a rhythm component based on the derived changing period. A character managing section cumulatively changes a figure expressing ability of a displayed character according to the matching degree between the estimated rhythm component and a favorite rhythm component of the displayed character. A display control section changes a display figure of the displayed character according to the figure expressing ability thereof while musical data is reproduced.