Abstract: A housing of a game controller is capable of being held with one hand of a player. A direction instruction section is provided in the housing for performing a direction instruction input. Movement detection means is means for detecting movement of the housing. Movement direction control means of a game apparatus is means for determining a movement direction of an object, which appears in a virtual game world, in accordance with an operation of the direction instruction section. Posture control means is means for determining a posture of the object in the virtual game world in accordance with detection by the movement detection means.

Abstract: A turning point marker on a power gauge and an impact point object are displayed in a game image. The impact point object is displayed according to the current lie. The turning point marker is positioned away from the left end of the power gauge depending on the difficulty of the shot. The moving direction of a cursor moving along the power gauge is reversed at the turning point marker. With the turning point marker, it is possible to clearly indicate to the player how limited the power available is under the current situation as compared with the situation where the maximum power is available, and thus how difficult it is to play the current situation.

Abstract: Sound generated by handclaps of a player is converted into an electric signal by a microphone, and the electric signal is inputted to a game apparatus. When a jump instruction is inputted, a player character jumps. However, the character jumps in accordance with the handclaps of the player only when the character is positioned on a jump ramp set in a virtual game world. In a case where ambient noise is inputted through the microphone when the character is not positioned on the jump ramp, the player character does not jump, but performs a provocative action. The provocative action does not exert any influence on a movement of the player character. Thus, in an action game for causing the player character to perform a predetermined action in accordance with a sound input, it becomes possible to prevent the player character from performing an action which is not intended by the player, even if the sound input is mistakenly detected.

Abstract: Each time a player hits either one of right and left strike surfaces of a conga controller, it is determined whether: the right strike surface has been hit continuously; the left strike surface has been hit continuously; or the right strike surface and the left strike surface have been hit alternately. When the right strike surface has been hit continuously, a character in a game world is caused to move rightward. When the left strike surface has been hit continuously, the character is caused to move leftward. When the right strike surface and the left strike surface have been hit alternately, the character is caused to accelerate. Based on the above, a game program and a game apparatus, which are capable of giving various action instructions to the character of the virtual game world by using continuous inputs by a plurality of switches, can be provided.

Abstract: A forward direction line is set on a course, in a virtual game world, on which a player object is allowed to move. An advancing direction at a current position of the player object is determined based on the forward direction line. The advancing direction is determined as a direction in which the player object advances so as to control a movement of a player character in accordance with an acceleration instruction, and a leftward-rightward movement instruction from a player. Consequently, it is possible to assist the player in controlling a direction in which an object operated by the player moves.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a CPU, and the CPU renders a golf course in a 3-dimension virtual space in conjunction with a GPU. A grid for representing an inclination and undulations of a configuration of the golf course is also rendered. Specifically, a grid line is constructed by a series of grid line elements of plural number. With respect to each of sections of the grid, the number of the grid line elements is changed depending upon an inclination of each section, and rendering is performed as if the grid line itself flows throughout the grid at a constant speed.

Abstract: A game system moves a player character in a virtual game space in accordance with an operation by a player. Further, the player character's moving amount per predetermined unit time is detected at each predetermined time interval. A predetermined parameter (gage amount) value is calculated at each predetermined time interval based on the moving amount detected at each predetermined time interval. Also, the game system adds the predetermined parameter value calculated at each predetermined time interval for accumulation. In response to a predetermined operation performed by the player, the game system causes the player character to perform a predetermined motion (e.g., special shot) on a condition such that a value obtained as a result of the addition reaches a predetermined value.

Abstract: A game apparatus causes a character object to perform a first hitting motion on the necessary condition that a to-be-hit object is present in a first area 104a which is set based on a position of the character object in a virtual game space, and causes the character object to perform a second hitting motion on the necessary condition that the to-be-hit object is present in a second area 104b, 104c, or 104d. Furthermore, the game apparatus adjusts a position of at least one of at least a part of the character object and the to-be-hit object, such that when the character object is caused to perform the second hitting motion, the character object and the to-be-hit object are in a predetermined positional relationship.

Abstract: A game apparatus includes a game machine and a game cartridge. On a case of the game machine, operation buttons are provided. On the LCD, game images of a player object and non-player objects in a game space are displayed. For example, a player, by holding the case with both hands and operating the operation buttons, controls a holding action of a left hand and a right hand of the player object. When the player instructs the player object to perform the holding action, if the non-player object exists at a position where the hand of the player object exists, the non-player object is held. In a case that the player object holds the non-player object with one hand, the player object rotates, and by changing the non-player object to be held, the player object can move within the game space. Furthermore, if releasing the hand from it during the rotation, the player object jumps out.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a CPU, and the CPU renders a golf course in a 3-dimension virtual space in conjunction with a GPU. A grid for representing an inclination and undulations of a configuration of the golf course is also rendered. Specifically, a grid line is constructed by a series of grid line elements of plural number. With respect to each of sections of the grid, the number of the grid line elements is changed depending upon an inclination of each section, and rendering is performed as if the grid line itself flows throughout the grid at a constant speed.

Abstract: A turning point marker 241 on a power gauge 24 and an impact point object 25 are displayed in a game image. The impact point object 25 is displayed according to the current lie. The turning point marker 241 is positioned away from the left end of the power gauge 24 depending on the difficulty of the shot. The moving direction of a cursor 244 moving along the power gauge 24 is reversed at the turning point marker 241. With the turning point marker 241, it is possible to clearly indicate to the player how limited the power available is under the current situation as compared with the situation where the maximum power is available, and thus how difficult to play the current situation is.

Abstract: A game machine and a game program are provided which allow a wide variety of players to enjoy a game, represented by a golf game, in which the player performs an operation of moving an object. The present invention provides a golf game machine that displays a scene in which a player character 71 hits a ball in a game field according to a shot power and a hit location. In addition, the golf game machine displays on a display device a gauge 77 and a cursor 78 which moves on the gauge. The golf game machine adopts an auto shot operation, in which a third input is omitted in the shot operation, and a manual shot operation, which requires the third input. This allows a wide variety of players to enjoy the golf game.