Video game apparatus, method of controlling animation display in video game, and computer-readable storage medium storing animation display controlling program of video game

A video game which implements a competition between fisher characters in a simulated fishing site in which the fisher characters attempt to fish up by fishing lines fisher that exhibit predetermined behaviors, said video game apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of operating means corresponding to the respective fisher characters, for giving fishing action instructions to the respective fisher characters;
• displaying means for displaying a game display screen;
• image storing means for storing animation images representing behaviors of hooked fishes;
• fishing display controlling means for causing said displaying means to display, as said game display screen, a fishing image including said simulated fishing site and said fisher characters;
• first determining means for determining whether a predetermined first condition pertaining to fishing has been met;
• animation display controlling means for causing said displaying means to display, as said game display screen, said animation images, said animation display controlling means causes said displaying means to display, at a predetermined position on said displaying means, a letter which identifies the fisher character whose fishing line has hooked up the fish of the animation image;
• and
• switching means for switching said game display screen from said fishing image to said animation images when said first determining means has determined that said first condition has been met;
• wherein said animation display controlling means displays said animation images in such a manner as to enable identification of the fisher character whose fishing line has hooked up a fish.

An animation display controlling method for use in a video game which implements a competition between fisher characters in a simulated fishing site in which the fisher characters attempt to fish up by fishing lines fishes that exhibit predetermined behaviors, said method comprising:

• giving instructions for fishing actions to the fisher characters by means of operating means corresponding to the respective fisher characters;
• causing displaying means to display, as a game display screen, a fishing image which includes said simulated fishing site and said fisher characters;
• determining whether a predetermined first condition has been met;
• temporarily switching the game display screen from said fishing image to an animation image that represents behaviors of a fish hooked by a fishing line, when said first condition has been determined to be met;
• and
• displaying said animation image in such a manner as to enable identification of the fisher character whose fishing line has hooked up the fish of the animation image.

A readable storage medium storing an animation display controlling program for use in a video game which implements a competition between fisher characters in a simulated fishing site in which the fisher characters attempt to fish up by fishing lines fishes that exhibit predetermined behaviors, said program comprising:

• an instructing step for giving instructions for fishing actions to the fisher characters by means of operating means corresponding to the respective fisher characters;
• a fishing displaying step for causing displaying means to display, as a game display screen, a fishing image which includes said simulated fishing site and said fisher characters;
• a first determining step for determining whether a predetermined first condition pertaining to fishing has been met;
• a switching step for temporarily switching the game display screen from said fishing image to animation images that represent behaviors of a fish hooked by a fishing line, when said first condition has been determined to be met;
• and
• an animation displaying step for displaying said animation images in such a manner as to enable identification of the fisher character whose fishing line has hooked up a fish.

A video game which implements competition between a plurality of fishing characters at a simulated fishing site in which the fishing characters attempt to hook fish comprising:

• a player controller operable by plural game players for giving fishing action instructions to the respective plural fishing characters;
• a game display screen;
• a fishing display controller enabling said display screen to display fishing site images which simultaneously display plural fishing characters;
• image storing apparatus for storing animation images representing behavior of a fish hooked by said fishing characters;
• first determining apparatus for determining whether a predetermined first condition pertaining to fishing has been met;
• an animation display controller causing said display screen to display animation images of a fish hooked by one of said fishing characters and to display an identifier identifying the fishing character who has hooked said fish;
• and
• switching apparatus for switching said game display screen from displaying said fishing images to displaying said animation images when said first determining apparatus has determined that said first condition has been met;
• wherein said animation display controller causes said display screen to display said animation images in such a manner as to enable identification of the fishing character who has hooked a fish even though said fishing images including said plural fishing characters are no longer being displayed on said display screen.

A video game which implements competition between fishing characters at a simulated fishing site in which the fishing characters attempt to hook fish comprising:

• a game display screen;
• a display screen controller enabling said display screen to display fishing site images which include simultaneously display of fishing site scenery and a plurality of fishing characters;
• at least one game player-operated device operated by one game player for enabling said one game player to effect display on said display screen, as part of said fishing site images, the actions of said one fishing character attempting to hook a fish;
• at least one other game player-operated device operated by at least one other game player for enabling said other game player to effect display on said display screen, as part of said fishing site images, the actions of said other fishing character attempting to hook a fish;
• image storing apparatus for storing animation images representing behavior of hooked fish;
• first determining apparatus for determining whether a predetermined first condition pertaining to fishing has been met;
• an animation display controller causing said display screen to display said animation images, said animation display controller including an identification device enabling identification of the fishing character whose fishing line has hooked a fish;
• and
• switching apparatus for switching said game display screen from displaying said fishing site images to displaying said animation images when said first determining apparatus has determined that said first condition has been met.

A method which implements competition between fishing characters at a simulated fishing site in which the fishing characters attempt to hook fish by fishing lines comprising:

• displaying on a display screen fishing images which simultaneously display a fishing site and plural fishing characters;
• providing a player controller operable by plural game players for giving instructions for fishing action to the respective fishing characters;
• determining whether a predetermined first condition has been met;
• temporarily switching the game display screen from said fishing images to an animation image that represents behavior of a fish hooked by a fishing line when said first condition has been determined to have been met;
• and
• displaying said animation image to the exclusion of display of said fishing images in such a manner as to enable identification of the fishing character whose fishing line has hooked the fish on the animation image.

A readable storage medium storing an animation display controlling program for use in a video game which implements competition between fishing characters at a simulated fishing site in which the fishing characters attempt to fish up by fishing lines comprising:

• a fishing displaying step for causing display on a display screen fishing images which simultaneously display a fishing site and plural fishing characters;
• an instructing step for giving instructions for fishing actions to the fishing characters by means of a controller operated by plural game players;
• a first determining step for determining whether a predetermined first condition pertaining to fishing has been met;
• a switching step for temporarily excluding display of said fishing images and to effect display of animation images that represent behavior of fish hooked by a fishing line when said first condition has been determined to have been met;
• said display of animation images providing for identification of the fishing character whose fishing line has hooked the fish being displayed in the animation images.