Network game system, a network game terminal, a method of displaying a game screen, a computer program product and a storage medium

A terminal apparatus for executing a network game, the terminal apparatus being connected to a server apparatus via a network, the terminal apparatus operated by the player for allowing a plurality of player characters to participate in the network game, the plurality of player characters controlled by the player and existing in a common virtual space, the terminal apparatus comprising:

• a character login processor that logs each of the plurality of player characters into the network game and displays a tab for each player character on a display device in response to the player character being logged into the network game;
• an active character controller that controls a first character of the plurality of player characters as an active character that is activated among the plurality of player characters during a progress of the network game;
• an active character switcher that switches the active character during the progress of the network game from the first character to a second character of the plurality of player characters different than the first character in accordance with a first operation of the player of the terminal apparatus, the player causing the plurality of player characters to participate in the network game;
• an active character information transmitter that transmits active character information to the server apparatus via the network, the active character information specifying the active character switched by the active character switcher and non-active characters, the non-active characters including the plurality of player characters other than the active character;
• a movement instruction input controller that inputs a movement instruction in accordance with a second operation of the player, the movement instruction being used to move the active character switched by the active character switcher in the virtual space;
• a movement information transmitter that transmits movement information to the server apparatus via the network, the movement information corresponding to the movement instruction inputted by the movement instruction input controller;
• a visible range information receiver that receives visible range information transmitted by the server apparatus via the network in accordance with the information transmitted by each of the active character information transmitter and the movement information transmitter, the visible range information specifying each of the plurality of player characters that exists in a visible range, the visible range being set to a predetermined range of the virtual space within a range displayed on the display device with which the terminal apparatus is provided, at least the active character being included in the visible range of the virtual space;
• and
• a display controller that causes the display device to display the visible range, each of the plurality of player characters specified by the visible range information received by the visible range information receiver being arranged in the visible range,
• wherein the display controller causes the display device to display the visible range in which each of the plurality of player characters specified by the visible range information is arranged so that each of the plurality of player characters that exists in the visible range is distinguished from other player characters, controlled by other players, which exist in the visible range, and so that the active character is distinguished from the non-active characters that exist in the visible range,
• wherein the first operation includes a selection of the tab of the second character by the player during the progress of the video game, and
• wherein the active character controller controls one of the plurality of player characters that is finally logged into the network game as the first character until the active character switcher switches the first character to the second character in accordance with the first operation.

A method of displaying a game screen on a display device of each of a plurality of terminal apparatuses to execute a network game in a network game system, in the network game system the plurality of terminal apparatuses being connected to a server apparatus via a network, each of the plurality of terminal apparatuses operated by a player for allowing a plurality of player characters to participate in the network game, each of the plurality of player characters controlled by the player and existing in a common virtual space, the method comprising, by each of the plurality of terminal apparatuses:

• logging each of the plurality of player characters into the network game and displaying tab for each player character on the display device in response to the player character being logged into the network game;
• controlling a first character of the plurality of player characters as an active character that is activated among the plurality of player characters during a progress of the network game;
• switching the active character during the progress of the network game from the first character to a second character of the plurality of player characters different than the first character in accordance with a first operation of an input controller by the player, the player causing the plurality of player characters to participate in the network game;
• transmitting active character information to the server apparatus via the network using a communication interface, the active character information specifying the active character and non-active characters, the non-active characters including the plurality of player characters other than the active character;
• inputting a movement instruction in accordance with a second operation of the input controller by the player, the movement instruction being used to move the active character in the virtual space;
• transmitting movement information to the server apparatus via the network using the communication interface, the movement information corresponding to the inputted movement instruction;
• receiving visible range information transmitted by the server apparatus via the network in accordance with the active character information and the movement information, the visible range information specifying each of the plurality of player characters that exists in a visible range, the visible range being set to a predetermined range of the virtual space within a range displayed on the display device, at least the active character being included in the visible range of the virtual space;
• and
• causing the display device to display the visible range in which each of the plurality of player characters specified by the visible range information is arranged so that each of the plurality of player characters that exists in the visible range is distinguished from other player characters, controlled by other players, which exist in the visible range, and so that the active character is distinguished from the non-active characters that exist in the visible range,
• wherein the first operation includes a selection of the tab of the second character with the input controller by the player during the progress of the video game, and
• wherein the active character controller controls one of the plurality of player characters that is finally logged into the network game as the first character until the active character switcher switches the first character to the second character in accordance with the first operation.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium including a computer program product for displaying a game screen on a display device of each of a plurality of terminal apparatuses to execute a network game in a network game system, in the network game system the plurality of terminal apparatuses being connected to a server apparatus via a network, each of the plurality of terminal apparatuses operated by a player for allowing a plurality of player characters to participate in the network game, each of the plurality of player characters controlled by the player and existing in a common virtual space, the computer program product causing each of the plurality of terminal apparatuses to execute:

• logging each of the plurality of player characters into the network game and displaying tab for each player character on the display device in response to the player character being logged into the network game;
• controlling a first character of the plurality of player characters as an active character that is activated among the plurality of player characters during a progress of the network game;
• switching the active character during the progress of the network game from the first character to a second character of the plurality of player characters different than the first character in accordance with a first operation of the player, the player causing the plurality of player characters to participate in the network game;
• transmitting active character information to the server apparatus via the network using a communication interface, the active character information specifying the active character and non-active characters, the non-active characters including the plurality of player characters other than the active character;
• inputting a movement instruction in accordance with a second operation of the player, the movement instruction being used to move the active character in the virtual space;
• transmitting movement information to the server apparatus via the network using the communication interface, the movement information corresponding to the inputted movement instruction;
• receiving visible range information transmitted by the server apparatus via the network in accordance with the active character information and the movement information, the visible range information specifying each of the plurality of player characters that exists in a visible range, the visible range being set to a predetermined range of the virtual space within a range displayed on the display device, at least the active character being included in the visible range of the virtual space;
• and
• causing the display device to display the visible range in which each of the plurality of player characters specified by the visible range information is arranged so that each of the plurality of player characters that exists in the visible range is distinguished from other player characters, controlled by other players, which exist in the visible range, and so that the active character is distinguished from the non-active characters that exist in the visible range,
• wherein the first operation includes a selection of the tab of the second character by the player during the progress of the video game, and
• wherein the active character controller controls one of the plurality of player characters that is finally logged into the network game as the first character until the active character switcher switches the first character to the second character in accordance with the first operation.