Video game processing apparatus, a method and a computer program product for processing a video game

A computer implemented method of processing a video game by causing an image display apparatus to display multiple characters, including a main character and a sub character moving in a field that includes an enterable region and an unenterable region provided in a virtual three-dimensional space, on an image display screen of the image display apparatus, the method controlling progress of the video game by controlling an action such as moving of the main character to be displayed on the image display screen in accordance with operations by a player and an action such as moving of the sub character in the field to be displayed on the image display screen in accordance with a predetermined control program, the sub character moving so as to follow the main character, the computer implemented method comprising:

• generating, using a computer, a movement determining map based on a field display map, the field display map being a three-dimensional map that represents the field provided in the virtual three-dimensional space, the movement determining map being a two-dimensional representation of the field display map that identifies the enterable region and the unenterable region of the field;
• storing, in a memory of the computer, the movement determining mare and the field display map;
• identifying, using the computer, the enterable region and the unenterable region on the field provided in the virtual three-dimensional space by using the movement determining map and determining a movement route of the sub character in the field using the movement determining map when the main character separates from the sub character by a predetermined distance;
• and
• causing, using the computer, the sub character to move in accordance with the determined movement route,
• wherein the determined movement route of the sub character causes the sub character to follow the main character in the enterable region on the field, and
• wherein the determined movement route of the sub character exists only in the enterable region on the field.

A computer readable medium that stores a program for processing a video game, progress of the video game being controlled by causing an image display apparatus to display multiple characters, including a main character and a sub character moving in a field that includes an enterable region and an unenterable region provided in a virtual three-dimensional space, on an image display screen of the image display apparatus, and controlling an action such as moving of the main character to be displayed on the image display screen in accordance with operations by a player and an action such as moving of the sub character following the moving of the main character to be displayed on the image display screen, the sub character moving so as to follow the main character, the program on the computer readable medium causing a computer to execute:

• generating a movement determining map based on a field display map, the field display map being a three-dimensional map that represents the field provided in the virtual three-dimensional space, the movement determining map being a two-dimensional representation of the field display map that identifies the enterable region and the unenterable region of the field;
• storing the movement determining map and the field display map;
• identifying the enterable region and the unenterable region on the field provided in the virtual three-dimensional space by using the movement determining map and determining a movement route of the sub character in the field using the movement determining map when the main character separates from the sub character by a predetermined distance;
• and
• causing the sub character to move in accordance with the determined movement route,
• wherein the determined movement route of the sub character causes the sub character to follow the main character in the enterable region on the field, and
• wherein the determined movement route of the sub character exists only in the enterable region on the field.