Computer-readable storage medium having game program stored thereon and game apparatus

The game apparatus for displaying, on a display screen, a game image representing a movable object moving above a field which is set in a virtual three-dimensional space, the game apparatus comprising:

• a movement controller for repeatedly updating position information representing a position of the movable object in the virtual three-dimensional space, such that the movable object moves generally along a parabola above the field;
• condition determination programmed logic circuitry for determining whether or not a velocity of the movable object controlled by the movement controller has fulfilled a specific condition, said determining occurring after the moveable object has already begun its movement along the parabola above the field and occurring during the movement of the moveable object along the parabola;
• a point of attention controller for, when the velocity of the movable object has not fulfilled the specific condition, setting a point of attention of a virtual camera at a current position of the movable object so that the point of attention moves so as to follow movement of the movable object, and when the velocity of the movable object has fulfilled the specific condition, moving the point of attention of the virtual camera from the current position of the movable object toward a specific point on the field;
• and
• an image generator for generating a game image to be displayed on the display screen such that the point of attention of the virtual camera is controlled by the point of attention controller in the virtual three-dimensional space, the point of attention of the virtual camera being controlled so that the movable object is located at and remains at a specific position on the game image during the time that the velocity of the movable object has not fulfilled the specific condition.

A method of displaying, on a display screen, a game image representing a movable object moving above a field which is set in a virtual three-dimensional space, the method comprising the steps of:

• movement control including repeatedly updating position information representing a position of the movable object in the virtual three-dimensional space, such that the movable object moves generally along a parabola above the field;
• determining whether or not a velocity of the movable object controlled in the movement control has fulfilled a specific condition, said determining occurring after the movable object has already begun its movement along the parabola above the field and occurring during the movement of the movable object along the parabola;
• point of attention control including, when the velocity of the movable object has not fulfilled the specific condition, setting a point of attention of a virtual camera at a current position of the movable object so that the point of attention moves so as to follow movement of the movable object, and when the velocity of the movable object has fulfilled the specific condition, moving the point of attention of the virtual camera from the current position of the movable object toward a specific point on the field;
• and
• generating a game image to be displayed on the display screen such that the point of attention of the virtual camera is controlled in the virtual three-dimensional space, the point of attention of the virtual camera being controlled so that the movable object is located at and remains at a specific position on the game image during the time that the velocity of the movable object has not fulfilled the specific condition.

A game system for displaying, on a display screen, a game image representing a movable object moving above a field which is set in a virtual three-dimensional space, the game system comprising:

• a movement controller for repeatedly updating position information representing a position of the movable object in the virtual three-dimensional space, such that the movable object moves generally along a parabola above the field;
• condition determination programmed logic circuitry for determining whether or not a velocity of the movable object controlled by the movement controller has fulfilled a specific condition, said determining occurring after the movable object has already begun its movement along the parabola above the field and occurring during the movement of the movable object along the parabola;
• a point of attention controller for, when the velocity of the movable object has not fulfilled the specific condition, setting a point of attention of a virtual camera at a current position of the movable object so that the point of attention moves so as to follow movement of the movable object, and when the velocity of the movable object has fulfilled the specific condition, moving the point of attention of the virtual camera from the current position of the movable object toward a specific point on the field;
• and
• an image generator for generating a game image to be displayed on the display screen such that the point of attention of the virtual camera is controlled by the point of attention controller in the virtual three-dimensional space, the point of attention of the virtual camera being controlled so that the movable object is located at and remains at a specific position on the game image during the time that the velocity of the movable object has not fulfilled the specific condition.