Abstract:
A display device system for driving a display having one of a plurality of predetermined sizes provides a scalable instruction picture to instruct an operator in operation of input devices. The system includes a device for accepting an operator input selecting a scaling factor to adjust the size of the instruction picture such that indicators in the instruction picture are arranged at spacings substantially equal to spacing of the input devices. In an embodiment, the size of the instruction picture is only adjusted in a width wise horizontal direction. Furthermore, scaling indicators corresponding to a plurality of predetermined display sizes are optionally provided to permit the user to select a scaling factor corresponding to the display.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an operation instruction system capable of being used in a computer game machine or the like and a storage medium to be used for such game machine. 
   As an amusement system using a computer, there is provided a system which displays, on a screen, a picture containing an operation instruction picture associated with an input device, generates a visual change in the operation instruction picture to instruct to an operator an operation position of the input device, and evaluates a fidelity of the operator&#39;s operation corresponding to the instruction, thereby giving points thereto. For example, there is disclosed, in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication HEI No. 8-305356, a system which uses a keyboard as an input device, displays a picture of the keyboard on a display device and generates visual changes in an operation instruction picture to thereby allow an operator to grasp which key should be operated. 
   In the above described traditional system, a ratio of the operation instruction picture to the entire picture is fixed at a certain value, and the operator cannot adjust that ratio. On the other hand, a screen size of a display device is variable in a household game machine or in a personal computer, so that an actual size of the operation instruction picture is varied in accordance with the screen size of the display device. It means that a relationship between a size of the input device and a size of the operation instruction picture seen on the screen of the display device differs in accordance with the screen size of the display device, and it may cause a possibility to obstruct the operator to grasp a correspondence relationship between the input device and the operation instruction picture. 
   With respect to the input device, as it is comprehensible when citing an instance of keyboards for personal computers, the size of the input devices differ from each other, even though the arrangement of operation portions of each keyboard is identical with each other. Accordingly, depending on the size of the input device, similarly to the above discussed case, there may cause a possibility to obstruct the operator to grasp a correspondence relationship between the input device and the operation instruction picture. 
   There has been provided a display device capable of changing the size of its display area, and it is possible to change the size of the operation instruction picture by using such adjustment function. However, in such case, the entire picture seen on the display device is enlarged or reduced, and the size of a portion that is needless to be adjusted also varies, and it cause a disadvantage of, for example, making characters in the picture hard to read. Also, there is no way to adjust in the display device which cannot change the size of the display area. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an operation instruction system capable of properly setting a correspondence relationship between an input device and an operation instruction picture, and a storage medium suitable for being used in such system. 
   To achieve the above object, there is provided an operation instruction system comprising: a device for causing a display device to display, in a display area thereof, an operation instruction picture associated with an operation object range defined in at least a portion of an input device; a device for generating a visual change in the operation instruction picture to instruct an operator in an operation position of the input device; and a device for changing a ratio of the operation instruction picture in the display area in accordance with an instruction from the operator. 
   According to this operation instruction system, it is possible to change the size of the operation instruction picture in accordance with the instruction from the operator, so that a correspondence relationship between the input device and the operation instruction picture can be set to a state preferable for the operator. The correspondence relationship between the operation object range of the input device and the operation instruction picture may be determined in such a manner that the operator can grasp a positional correspondence relationship between the operation object range and the operation instruction device through his or her sight. The visual change to be generated in the operation instruction picture may be generated by various means such as means for generating a change like a dynamic picture on a specific position in the operation instruction picture to thereby indicate an operation, means for changing colors, means for lighting, means for blinking, or the like. 
   In the operation instruction system, a plurality of operation portions may be provided in the operation object range of the input device, and a plurality of operation instruction portions, which are associated with the plurality of operation portions, respectively, may be provided in the operation instruction picture in an arrangement correlative to an arrangement of the plurality of operation portions. In this case, there is a correlative relationship between the arrangement of the operation portions of the input device and the arrangement of the operation instruction portions in the operation instruction picture. Therefore, the operator can grasp a correspondence relationship between the operation portions and the operation instruction portions at first sight. Incidentally, it is preferable to create the one-to-one relationship between the operation portions on the input device and the operation instruction portions in the operation instruction picture, but it may acceptable to associate one of the operation instruction portions with the plurality of operation portions. For example, the correspondence relationship may be created by providing a right-and-left pair of operation instruction portions in the operation instruction picture, and using the right side operation instruction portion to instruct the operator in operations of the operation portions to be done with the right hand, while using the left side operation instruction portion to instruct the operator in operations of the operation portions to be done with the left hand. The operation portions is not limited to those to be operated by hands, but may be operated by foot. 
   The plurality of operation portions may be provided to be arranged in at least one direction, and the device for changing may change, in accordance with the instruction from the operator, a size of the operation instruction picture with respect to an arrangement direction of the plurality of operation instruction portions, said arrangement direction corresponding to an arrangement direction of the plurality of operation portions. In such embodiment, it is possible to properly establish a relationship between a width occupied by the operation portions in their arrangement direction and a width occupied by the operation instruction portions in their arrangement direction irrespective of the size of the display device. 
   The operation instruction picture may include a picture imitating said at least the portion of the input device. According to such embodiment, it is possible to grasp the relationship between the input device and the operation instruction device more easier. 
   A plurality of operation portions may be arranged in the operation object range in a right-and-left direction when viewed from the operator, a plurality of operation instruction portions, which are associated with the plurality of operation portions, respectively, may be provided in the right-and-left direction in the display area, and the device for changing may change a width of the operation instruction picture with respect to the right-and-left direction in accordance with the instruction from the operator. In this case, it is possible to properly adjust a width occupied by the operation instruction portions in the operation instruction picture with respect to the right-and-left direction to the width of the operation object range on the input device. 
   The plurality of operation portions and the plurality of operation instruction portions in the operation instruction picture may be associated with each other to keep a one-to-one relationship therebetween, and the device for changing may change the width of the operation instruction picture so as to generally adjust a width occupied by the plurality of operation instruction portions in the operation instruction picture in the right-and-left direction to a width occupied by the plurality of operation portions in the right-and-left direction. In this case, it is possible to adjust the width of the operation instruction picture to that of the input device, thereby providing an intuitively and easily understandable operation instruction system. 
   An adjustment range of the width of the operation instruction picture by the device for changing may be determined to generally adjust the width occupied by the plurality of operation instruction portions in the operation instruction picture in the right-and-left direction to the width occupied by the plurality of operation portions in the right-and-left direction with respect to a plurality of display devices with different sizes. According to such embodiment, even though the screen size of the display device changes, it is possible to adjust the width of the operation instruction picture to that of the input device, thereby providing an intuitively and easily understandable operation instruction system. 
   According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an operation instruction system comprising: a device for causing a display device to display a picture imitating an input device in a display area thereof; a device for generating a visual change in the picture imitating the input device to instruct an operator in an operation position of the input device; and a device for changing a ratio of the picture imitating the input device in the display area in accordance with an instruction from the operator. 
   In this case, it is possible to change the size of the picture imitating the input device in accordance with the instruction from the operator. Therefore, a correspondence relationship between the input device and the picture imitating the input device can be set to a state preferable for the operator. As is discussed above, the visual change to be generated in the operation instruction picture may be generated by various means such as means for generating a change like a dynamic picture on a specific position in the operation instruction picture to thereby indicate an operation, means for changing colors, means for lighting, means for blinking, or the like. 
   According to further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to provide an operator with an instruction of an operation to an input device, said program being configured to cause the computer to serve as devices for: causing a display device to display, in a display area thereof, an operation instruction picture associated with an operation object range defined in at least a portion of the input device; generating a visual change in the operation instruction picture to instruct an operator in an operation position of the input device; and changing a ratio of the operation instruction picture in the display area in accordance with an instruction from the operator. 
   In the above storage medium according to the present invention, the program may be adapted to a case that the input device has a plurality of operation portions in the operation object range, and a plurality of operation instruction portions, which are associated with the plurality of operation portions, respectively, may be provided in the operation instruction picture in an arrangement correlative to an arrangement of the plurality of operation portions. The program may be adapted to a case that the plurality of operation portions are provided to be arranged in at least one direction, the device for changing may change, in accordance with the instruction from the operator, a size of the operation instruction picture with respect to an arrangement direction of the plurality of operation instruction portions, and said arrangement direction corresponds to an arrangement direction of the plurality of operation portions. The operation instruction picture may include a picture imitating said at least the portion of the input device. The program may be adapted to a case that a plurality of operation portions are arranged in the operation object range in a right-and-left direction when viewed from the operator, a plurality of operation instruction portions, which are associated with the plurality of operation portions, respectively, may be provided in the right-and-left direction in the display area, and the device for changing may change a width of the operation instruction picture with respect to the right-and-left direction in accordance with the instruction from the operator. The plurality of operation portions and the plurality of operation instruction portions in the operation instruction picture may be associated with each other to keep a one-to-one relationship therebetween, and the device for changing may change the width of the operation instruction picture so as to generally adjust a width occupied by the plurality of operation instruction portions in the operation instruction picture in the right-and-left direction to a width occupied by the plurality of operation portions in the right-and-left direction. An adjustment range of the width of the operation instruction picture by the device for changing may be determined to generally adjust the width occupied by the plurality of operation instruction portions in the operation instruction picture in the right-and-left direction to the width occupied by the plurality of operation portions in the right-and-left direction with respect to a plurality of display devices with different sizes. 
   According to still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to provide an operator with an instruction of an operation to an input device, said program being configured to cause the computer to serve as devices for: causing a display device to display a picture imitating the input device in a display area thereof; generating a visual change in the picture imitating the input device to instruct an operator in an operation position of the input device; and changing a ratio of the picture imitating the input device in the display area in accordance with an instruction from the operator. 
   In the present invention, the display area of the display device means a screen area to be defined by a function provided in the display device itself. The device for changing the size of the operation instruction picture or the picture imitating the input device does not imply a device changing a size of the display area itself. The storage medium includes various storage means such as a magnetic storage medium, an optical storage medium, a magneto-optical storage medium, a semiconductor storage device or the like. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the accompanying drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of a household game machine provided as one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram showing a state of connecting a controller and a monitor with a game machine main body of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram showing an operation instruction picture displayed in a game picture; 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram showing an adjustment picture displayed when adjusting width of the operation instruction picture; 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart showing a procedure for adjusting the width of the operation instruction picture; and 
       FIG. 6  is a diagram showing an application to a typing practice system. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Now, an embodiment in which a present invention is applied to a household game machine will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1  to  5 .  FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram as an example of a household game machine. This household game machine performs a predetermined game in accordance with a game program stored in a CD-ROM  15  as a storage medium. The game system comprises a CPU  1  using a microprocessor, a ROM 2  and RAM  3  as a main storage device to the CPU  1 , a graphics processing unit (GPU)  4  for graphics processing and a sound processing unit (SPU)  6  for sound processing, buffers  5  and  7  for respective units, and a CD-ROM reader  8 . The ROM  2  stores an operating system as a program necessary for entire operation control of a game machine. The RAM  3  stores, on demand, a game program or data read out from the CD-ROM  15  as a storage medium. The GPU  4  receives image data from the CPU  1 , renders a game picture on the buffer  5 , converts the image data into predetermined video reproduction signals, and outputs those signals to a monitor  9 . The SPU 6  reproduces data of voice, musical sound or the like, data of sound sources and the like which are read out from the CD-ROM  15  and stored in the sound buffer  7 , and outputs them from a loudspeaker  10 . The CD-ROM reader  8  reads out the program and data recorded on the CD-ROM  15  in accordance with an instruction from the CPU  1 , and outputs signals corresponding to the readout contents. On the CD-ROM  15  are stored the program and data necessary for execution of the game. A household television set is used as the monitor  9 , and a built-in loudspeaker thereof is used as the loudspeaker  10 . 
   Further, a communication control device  11  is connected via a bus  14  to the CPU  1 , and a controller  12  and an auxiliary storage device  13  are detachably connected to the device  11 . The controller  12  serves as an input device, and is provided with input members to accept operation of a player. The communication input device  11  scans an operation state of the controller  12  at a certain cycle (for example {fraction (1/60)} seconds), and outputs signals corresponding to a scanning result to the CPU  1 . The CPU  1  determines the operation state of the controller  12  base on those signals. A plurality of controllers  12  and auxiliary storage devices  13  can be connected to the communication control device  11  in parallel. 
   In the above described structure, elements except the monitor  9 , the loudspeaker  10 , the controller  12 , the CD-ROM  15  and the auxiliary storage device  13  are integrally housed in a predetermined housing to thereby constitute a game machine main body  16 . The game machine main body  16  serves as a computer. 
   The game executed in accordance with a game program recorded on the CD-ROM  15  is the so-called music simulation game in which a music performance data recorded on the CD-ROM  15  is outputs from the SPU  6  to the loudspeaker  10  to reproduce a BGM based on the performance data, operation on the controller  12  to be in time to the BGM is visually instructed to a player through the monitor  9 , and proper music is mixed with the BGM if the player operates the controller  12  in accordance with the instruction, thereby allowing the player to experience feeling of performing a musical instrument. 
     FIG. 2  shows a state in which the controller  12  and the monitor  9  are connected with the game machine main body  16 . The controller  12  is a dedicated controller designed for the above described music simulation game, and is configured to imitate a keyboard instrument in this example, of course, the controller  12  is not limited to one imitating the keyboard instrument, and may imitate various musical instruments (for example, a drum set, a guitar or the like). 
   The controller  12  shown in  FIG. 2  has a housing  20 , for example made of resin, and the housing  20  is provided with a keyboard portion  21 , a wheel portion  22 , and push button switches  24  and  25 . A true keyboard instrument is diverted to the keyboard portion  21 , and the portion  21  has fourteen white keys  21   a  . . .  21   a  and ten black keys  21   b  . . .  21   b  corresponding to two octaves. These are capable of being depressed like those of the musical instruments. For example, it is possible to use a MIDI keyboard as the keyboard portion  21 , and MIDI signals output therefrom may be converted through an interface to signals available to the game machine main body  16 . 
   The wheel portion  22  comprises a wheel  23  rotatably operable about a rotation shaft  23   a  extending in a right-and-left direction in FIG.  2 . The rotation shaft  23   a  is arranged in the housing  20 , so that at least lower half of the wheel  23  is accommodated in the housing  20 . A player (operator) can rotatably operate the wheel  23  in a front-and-rear direction (directions indicated by arrows A and B in  FIG. 2 ) with putting a finger on an upper surface thereof. The white keys  21   a , the black keys  21   b  and the wheel  23  are provided as operation portions used in a game play. Also, the push button switches  24  and  25  are provided as operation portions through which a start, an interruption or the like is instructed. The controller  12  transmits signals associated with operation states of these white keys  21   a , black keys  21   b , wheel  23  and push button switches  24  and  24  through a signal conductor  26  to the game machine main body  16 . With respect to the white keys  21   a  and black keys  21   b , signals indicating a key stroke and a key release are output, while signals indicating a rotation amount and a rotation direction are output with respect to the wheel  23 . 
   During a game play to be executed in accordance with the game program recorded on the CD-ROM  15 , a game picture  30  is displayed on a screen  9   a  of the monitor  9 . In the game picture  30 , there is included an operation instruction picture  31  for instructing operation of the controller  12 . The view of the operation instruction picture  31  is shown in FIG.  3 . 
   As is apparent from  FIG. 3 , in a lower portion of the operation instruction picture  31 , there is provided a controller picture  32  having a correspondence relationship to the controller  12  as an input device. The controller picture  32  includes a keyboard picture  33  corresponding to the keyboard portion  21  of the controller  12  and a wheel picture  34  corresponding to the wheel portion  22 . The keyboard picture  33  includes virtual white keys  33   a  and black keys  33   b  corresponding to the white keys  21   a  and black keys  21   b  of the actual keyboard potion  21 , respectively. Also, the wheel picture  34  includes a virtual wheel  35  corresponding to the actual wheel  23 . With respect to a correspondence relationship between these pictures and the respective portions of the actual keyboard portion  21  in external views thereof, it is not necessary to keep complete sameness therebetween, and it is acceptable to keep the sameness in a level that a player can grasp a correspondence relationship between the operation portions of the controller  12  and the operation portions in the controller picture  32  at a first sight. For example, it may possible to allow the player to distinguish the correspondence relationship between the controller  12  and the controller picture  32  by providing sameness with respect to a configuration or color of each operation portion, or providing sameness with respect to a letter or a mark attached to each operation portion. 
   In the controller picture  32 , there is displayed a reference line  36  traversing the keyboard picture  33  in its right-and-left direction (key arrangement direction), and a reference mark  37  is displayed beside the wheel picture  34  with its position being coincided with the reference line  36  in a vertical direction. These reference line  36  and the reference mark  37  serve as reference signs for indicating an operation time of the controller  12 . 
   Above the keyboard picture  33 , there are displayed partition lines  40  . . .  40  extending in the vertical direction to accord with boundary positions of the white keys  33   a . By these partition lines  40 , there are provided areas  41  . . .  41  of the same numbers as those of the white keys  33   a  above the keyboard picture  33  in the operation instruction picture  31 . Also, above the wheel picture  35 , there are displayed partition lines  42  to thereby provide an area  43 . Accordingly, the areas  41  . . .  41  correspond to the actual white keys  21   a  . . .  21   a  with a one-to-one relationship through the virtual white keys  33   a  . . .  33   a , while the area  43  corresponds to the actual wheel  23  through the virtual wheel  35 . Further, the partition lines  40  . . .  40  correspond to the virtual black keys  33   b  . . .  33   b  with a one-to-one relationship. 
   In each area  41 , there are displayed objects  45  . . .  45  as movable signs, which are flat in the right-and-left direction, and on the partition lines  40  (but only on lines overlapping the black keys) are displayed the similar objects  46 . The similar object is displayed in the area  43 , but its illustration is omitted in FIG.  3 . Each of the objects  45  and  46  appears in the upper end of the operation instruction picture  31  at a predetermined time during the musical performance of the BGM, and then gradually goes down in a tempo in compliance with the BGM. When the object  45  has reached the reference line  36 , an operation time of the white key  21   a  corresponding to the area  41  in which the object  45  is displayed has just come. Similarly, when the object  46  has reached the reference line  36 , an operation time of the black key  21   b  corresponding to the partition line  40  in which the object  46  is displayed has just come. Similarly, the consistency between the object in the area  43  and the reference mark  37  is associated with an operation time of the wheel  23 . 
   As is discussed in the above, in the operation instruction picture  31 , the player is allowed to grasp an operation position on the controller  12  with referring a correspondence relationship between display positions of the objects  45  or  46  in the right-and-left direction and the keyboard picture  33  or the wheel picture  34 . Accordingly, if the width of the operation instruction picture  31  seen on the monitor  9  in the right-and-left direction coincides with the width of the operation portion (the keyboard portion  21  and the wheel portion  23 ) of the actual controller  12 , the player can intuitively grasp a correspondence relationship among the objects  45  and  46 , the white keys  21   a , the black keys  21   b  and the wheel  23 . Such setting is possible if the size of the screen  9   a  of the monitor  9  is fixed at a certain value. 
   However, in the household game machine, a television set is generally used as the monitor  9 , so that the size of the screen  9   a  is not fixed. Accordingly, if the ratio of the width (the dimension in the right-and-left direction) of the operation instruction picture  31  to the game picture  30  is fixed at a certain value, the actual display width of the operation instruction picture  31  changes in accordance with the size of the monitor  9 , so that there may be an excessive deviation between the width of the operation instruction picture  31  and the width of the operation portion of the controller  12 . 
   In this embodiment, to avoid such disadvantage, as indicated by a phantom line X in  FIG. 2 , the width of the operation instruction picture  31  can be adjusted in the game picture  30  in accordance with an instruction of an operator. One example of the way to change the width of the operation instruction picture  31  like the above may contain the steps of preparing a parameter (hereinafter referred to as a width setting value) designating the width of the operation instruction picture  31  in the game picture  30 , allowing the width setting value to be changed in accordance with setting operation of a player, and adding a procedure of determining the width of the operation instruction picture  31  in the game picture  30  based on the width setting value to a program for displaying the game picture  30 . 
     FIG. 4  shows a configuration of an adjustment picture  50  to be displayed when adjusting the width of the operation instruction picture  31 . In the adjustment picture  50 , there is displayed the operation instruction picture  31  which has been described in FIG.  3 . The operation instruction picture  31  is displayed in the adjustment picture  50  in a left adjusted manner, and a space to expand the operation instruction picture  31  is reserved on the right side thereof. In the space  51 , there are displayed scale lines  52   a  . . .  52   e  for indicating right-end-positions of the operation instruction picture  31  in the case where the width of the keyboard picture  33  and the width of the keyboard portion  21  substantially accord with each other, and numerals or marks indicating the size of monitor  9  are displayed therewith. For example, if a monitor having a size of 21 inches in its diagonal direction is used, the width of the operation instruction picture  32  and the width of the keyboard portion  21  generally accord with each other by adjusting the right end of the operation instruction picture  31  to the scale line  52   d  with a sign of “#21”. 
   Above the adjustment picture  50 , there are provided an operation guidance portion  53  for guiding an adjustment operation of the operation instruction picture  31  and a magnification indication portion  54  for indicating a display magnification of the operation instruction picture  31 . In this example, the width of the operation instruction picture  31  increases when the wheel  23  is rotated to the direction indicated by the arrow A in  FIG. 2 , while the width of the operation instruction picture  31  decreases when the wheel  23  is rotated to the direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG.  2 . Therefore, a picture  53   a  indicating the wheel  23  is displayed in the operation guidance portion  53 , and letters of “SIZE UP” and “SIZE DOWN” are displayed so as to be associated with respective upper and lower ends of the picture  53   a , to thereby show which direction the wheel  23  is to be operated to expand or reduce the picture  31 . The display magnification displayed in the magnification indication portion  54  indicates a magnification of the of the width of the operation instruction picture  31  to an initial value thereof. The initial value is applicable to a state in which the width of the operation instruction picture  31  are adjusted in accordance with a monitor of a maximum size. Namely, a minimum value of the ratio of the operation instruction picture  31  to the game picture  30  in its width direction is set as the initial value. However, it is not necessary to set the initial value to such value. 
     FIG. 5  shows processing executed by the CPU  1  to change the width of the operation instruction picture  31 . This processing is executed, for example, in the case where an item of changing display width is prepared in a game menu picture or a sub-menu picture to be selected from the menu picture, and the item is selected. When executing this processing, there is displayed the adjustment picture  50  shown in  FIG. 4  is displayed on the monitor  9 . After starting the processing, it is judged at step S 1  whether or not initial setting operation (for example depressing operation of the push button switch  24 ), and if a negative judgment is done, then it is judged whether or not rotational operation of the wheel  23  is done (step S 2 ). In case that the rotational operation has been done, it is judged whether or not the width setting value is a limit value in an adjustment possible range (step S 3 ). To describe concretely, in the case that the wheel  23  is operated in a direction for increasing the width of the picture  31 , it is judged whether or not the width reaches a maximum value in the adjustment possible range, while in the case where the wheel  23  is operated in a direction for decreasing the width of the picture  31 , it is judged whether or not the width reaches a minimum value in the adjustment possible range. 
   If a negative judgment has been made at step S 3 , the width setting value is increased or decreased at a predetermined unit amount in accordance with the rotation direction of the wheel  23  (step S 4 ). Continuing that, the operation instruction picture  31  in the adjustment picture  50  is expanded or reduced based on the width setting value after being changed (step S 5 ). After that, it is judged whether or not the width setting value accords with any one of predetermined intermediate setting values (step S 6 ). Each of the intermediate setting values is a value when the right end of the operation instruction picture accords with any one of the scale lines  52   b-   52   d  in FIG.  4 . 
   When the width setting value does not accord with the intermediate setting value, it is judged at step S 7  whether or not determination operation (for example depressing operation of the push button switch  25 ) is done, and if a negative judgment has been made, then the processing returns to step S 1 . If it is judged at step S 6  that the width setting value accords with the intermediate setting value, then the processing goes to step S 8 , and width changing operation is temporary suspended (for example one second pending). During this time, the instruction picture  31  is not changed even if the wheel  23  keeps rotating. By doing this, it is easy to adjust the instruction picture  31  with any one of the scale lines  51   b-   51   d . After releasing the pending, the processing goes to step S 7 . 
   If an affirmative judgment has been made at step S 3 , warning is done to indicate that further width changing operation is not possible (step S 9 ), and after that, the processing goes to step S 7 . The warning may carry out by employing various warning means, such as means for displaying an message, calling attention by sound or the like, alone or jointly. If the affirmative judgment has been made at step S 1 , the width setting value is set to the initial value (step S 10 ), and the width of the operation instruction picture  31  in the adjustment picture  50  is changed to the initial value (step S 11 ). After that, the processing goes to step S 7 . 
   If it has been judged at step S 7  that the determination operation has been done, the display width adjustment processing is terminated The width setting values set through the above described processing is stored in a predetermined area in the RAM  3 , and is used as a value defining the width of the operation instruction picture  31  when displaying the game picture  30  after in a subsequent game. The width setting value may be recorded in the auxiliary storage device  13  in accordance with operation of the player. 
   The present invention is not limited to a system which indicates operation using the above described operation instruction picture  31 , and can be carried out in various embodiments. For example, the operation instruction picture  31  may be a picture in which the objects  45  and  46  are fixed, while the reference line  36  is scrolled to indicate operation time. The present invention may be embodied as a system in which displays of the partition lines  40  and  42  are omitted, while allowing a player to grasp operation positions by the objects  45  and  46  and the controller picture  32 . Further, the controller picture  32  and the partition lines  40  and  42  may be omitted, and which position of the controller  12  should be operated is indicated only by positions of the objects  45  and  46  in the right-and-left direction. 
   The input device is not limited to one in which operation positions are arranged in right-and-left direction, but the operation portions can be arranged to form an annular shape, a matrix, or a zigzag line. In these cases, the operation instruction picture may have an arrangement associated with the arrangement of the operation portions. For example, if the operation portions of the input device are arranged to form an annular shape, it is supposed that the operation instruction picture may be displayed as a picture of an annular shape. In this case, it is preferable to change a diameter of the annular shape picture in accordance with the size of a monitor. 
   The present invention is not limited to a music simulation game system, but can be adapted to various types of amusement systems and the like, as long as the system employs an operation instruction method using a picture associated with the input device to indicate to a player a position to be operated. As shown in  FIG. 6 , in the so-called typing practice system in which an operation instruction picture  31  imitating a key arrangement of a typing device is displayed on the screen  9   a  of the monitor  9 , and a key to be operated is displayed in a different state (for example, color or blink) than that of the other keys to let an operator practice typing operation, it is possible to allow the payer to easily grasp an operation position by expanding or reducing the operation instruction picture  31  as shown by a phantom line X in  FIG. 6  to generally accord the size of the operation instruction picture  31  with a practice range on a keyboard  60 . The present invention is not limited to a household game machine, but is applied to an amusement machine to be installed in a game arcade. 
   As is discussed in the above, according to the present invention, since the size of an operation instruction picture or a picture imitating an input device in a display area of a display device can be adjusted in accordance with an instruction from an operator, it is possible to properly set a correspondence relationship between the input device and the operation instruction device, even in a circumstance that the size of the display area of the display device or the input device is not fixed at a certain value. Also, it is possible to provide an operation instruction system according to the present invention by making a computer read out a program recorded on a storage medium according to the present invention and execute that program.