A forward direction line is set on a course, in a virtual game world, on which a player object is allowed to move. An advancing direction at a current position of the player object is determined based on the forward direction line. The advancing direction is determined as a direction in which the player object advances so as to control a movement of a player character in accordance with an acceleration instruction, and a leftward-rightward movement instruction from a player. Consequently, it is possible to assist the player in controlling a direction in which an object operated by the player moves.

A method for providing a single user multiple presence implementation may include providing access for a user identified by a user account to a virtual environment hosted by a computer. The method may further include generating multiple avatars for the user account to concurrently coexist and be operative within the virtual environment. The method may further include controlling the multiple avatars at least partly in response to input from the user. The method may further include communicating virtual environment data regarding more than one of the multiple avatars to at least one client operated by the user. An apparatus for performing the method may include a processor coupled to a memory holding encoded instructions for performing operations of the method on a computer configured as a network entity.

In a communication system including a server and a plurality of communication terminals capable of communication with the server, based on a variety of parameters indicating the status of a space formed within a game playable by the user of each communication terminal over the communication system, the server transmits advisory information, which suggests the next action for the space, to the communication terminal. The communication terminal displays a screen including the received advisory information.

The invention relates to the method of simultaneous playing in video games designed for a single player. The invention is realized with a computer unit and uses at least one display device, at least one computer device that generates the game image display and at least one game controller controlled by the user. The method of controlling the figure according to the invention is characterized in that the player using one controller simultaneously controls at least two characters (1), (2) while each of the characters controlled by the same user is displayed simultaneously in a separate viewport (6), (7), which makes a separate story universe (A), (B) and the input signal from the controller is transformed by the software synchronization layer including predefined modifiers specific for a given story universe (A), (B).

In a communication system including a server and a plurality of communication terminals capable of communication with the server, based on a variety of parameters indicating the status of a space formed within a game playable by the user of each communication terminal over the communication system, the server transmits advisory information, which suggests the next action for the space, to the communication terminal. The communication terminal displays a screen including the received advisory information.

A video game processing apparatus for controlling progress of a video game is provided. A display device is caused to display multiple virtual image sets including at least a first virtual image set and a second virtual image set. The multiple virtual image sets corresponding to one input device. The first virtual image set corresponds to a first set of gameplay operations and the second virtual image set corresponds to a second set of gameplay operations. Only one of the virtual image sets is activated at a time according to a selection by a player. An input receiver receives a selection of an input of the one input device, and a gameplay operation corresponding to the input selected is executed. The gameplay operation executed corresponds to the activated set of the virtual images.

An electronic game server determines, during a disruption in a network connection between the server and a client device, a simulated gameplay input for the first client device; updates a first game state based on the simulated gameplay input, resulting in a placeholder game state; receives, upon resumption of the network connection, a recovered gameplay input initially transmitted by the first client device during the disruption; updates the first game state based on the recovered gameplay input, resulting in an intended game state; compares the placeholder game state to the intended game state; updates the placeholder game state based on the comparison of the placeholder game state to the intended game state, resulting in a subsequent game state; and transmits a frame depicting the subsequent game state to an output device associated with the first client device.

A video game processing apparatus for controlling progress of a video game is provided. An image display device is caused to display operating section images in an operating section image display area on a display screen in an arrangement pattern corresponding to arrangement positions of respective operating sections. The operating section images are operating section images respectively corresponding to the operating sections arranged in the operational input section. Identification display allowing a player to identify the operational function associated with the corresponding operating section is made for each of the group of operating section images. When to receive an operational input in response to an operation of any of the plurality of operating sections by the player, the video game processing apparatus carries out operation correspondence processing that indicates processing to exert an operational function associated with the operating section operated by the player.

In a communication system including a server and a plurality of communication terminals capable of communication with the server, based on a variety of parameters indicating the status of a space formed within a game playable by the user of each communication terminal over the communication system, the server transmits advisory information, which suggests the next action for the space, to the communication terminal. The communication terminal displays a screen including the received advisory information.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a position-independent user interface that can realize a large variety of commands and high responsiveness as perceived by a user. A control unit 30 functions when a game involving a plurality of kinds of actions corresponding to predetermined commands represented by predetermined sequences of input events is executed. An input detecting unit 31 detects an input event based on an operation of bringing something into contact with or in proximity to a touchscreen 40. An estimating unit 32 decides, as an estimated command, a command that is estimated as being an input command among the plurality of kinds of commands on the basis of a history of detection results in the input detecting unit 31. A display control unit 33 executes control for displaying an image related to the estimated command on the touchscreen 40. A command determining unit 34 determines the estimated command as being the input command in a case where the estimated command satisfies a predetermined condition. An action executing unit 35 executes the action corresponding to the determined input command.