Non-transitory storage medium encoded with computer readable information processing program, information processing apparatus, method of controlling information processing apparatus, and information processing system, capable of controlling virtual camera while grasping overall condition of virtual camera arranged in virtual space

An information processing apparatus, comprising a computer including a hardware processor, the computer being configured to implement at least:

• a display module for controlling displaying, on a touch screen display, of a user interface for use in controlling virtual cameras disposed in a virtual space, the user interface comprising (i) display objects, each of which represent a corresponding one of the virtual cameras, and (ii) for each of one or more respective display objects, at least a part of a region, representing a range within the virtual space, for setting a position of the respective object;
• an object orientation setting module for controlling setting, in the user interface, of an orientation of a first one of the display objects based on a touch input for rotating the first display object while a position of the first display object is maintained;
• a virtual camera control module for controlling a direction of a line of sight of the virtual camera represented by the first display object based on the set orientation of the first display object;
• and
• a picked-up image display module for displaying a picked-up image of the virtual space picked up by the virtual camera represented by the first display object.

A method of controlling an information processing apparatus, comprising:

• displaying a user interface for use in controlling virtual cameras disposed in a virtual space, the user interface comprising (i) display objects, each of which represents a corresponding one of the virtual cameras, and (ii) for each of one or more respective display objects, at least a part of a region, representing a range within the virtual space, for setting a position of the respective display object;
• setting, in the user interface, an orientation of a first one of the display objects based on a touch input for rotating the first display object while a position of the first display object is maintained;
• controlling a direction of a line of sight of the virtual camera represented by the first display object based on the set orientation of the first display object;
• and
• displaying a picked-up image of the virtual space picked up by the virtual camera represented by the first display object.

An information processing system, comprising:

• a memory storing a program;
• a display;
• and
• processing circuitry in communication with the memory and the display, the processing circuitry being configured to execute the program stored in the memory to control the information processing system to at least:
• display, on a touch screen display, a user interface for use in controlling virtual cameras disposed in a virtual space, the user interface comprising (i) display objects, each of which represents a corresponding one of the virtual cameras, and (ii) for each of one or more respective display objects, at least a part of a region representing a range within the virtual space for setting a position of the respective display object;
• set, in the user interface, an orientation of a first one of the display objects based on a touch input for rotating the first display object while a position of the first display object is maintained;
• control a direction of a line of sight of the virtual camera represented by the first display object based on the set orientation of the first display object;
• and
• display a picked-up image of the virtual space picked up by the virtual camera represented by the first display object.

An apparatus comprising:

• a touchscreen display;
• a memory storing a program;
• and
• a processor including hardware circuitry, the processor being configured to execute the program stored in the memory to control the apparatus to perform operations comprising:
• generating a display on the touchscreen display corresponding to a virtual space, the display including a touch image disposed in a region visually indicative of an allowable range for setting a position of the touch image, the touch image representing a virtual camera for capturing images of the virtual space and the allowable range representing a range in the virtual space within which the virtual camera is positionable;
• accepting a touch input to the touchscreen display for rotating the touch image while a position of the touch image is maintained;
• controlling a direction of a line of sight of the virtual camera in the virtual space based on the rotating of the touch image;
• and
• generating a display based on images of the virtual space captured by the virtual camera.