Patent ID: 7001280

Claim:
A method of displaying, in a video game device, an image of a player character and images of non-player characters, together with one type of background image from at least two or more switchable types of background images that display scene adjacent to each other in location, where the switching between background images requires a finite and unacceptable delay, comprising the steps of: predetermining a plurality of operational modes which are assigned to said player character, and preparing an image corresponding to each operational mode; displaying an image of the player character corresponding to any one of said plurality of operational modes together with images of said non-player characters, simultaneously with any one of said background images; restricting the switching of said background images from the start until the completion of a predetermined particular operational mode of said plurality of operational modes so that a finite and unacceptable delay is avoided; and switching said background images from one to another in response to manipulation of an input device of the video game device after the completion of the predetermined particular operational mode, wherein the image of said player character is an image displaying said player character in a state where it is carrying a weapon, said plurality of operational modes include a fighting mode representing a state wherein said player character is able to fight using said weapon, and a moving mode representing a state wherein said character moves whilst carrying said weapon, and said fighting mode is set as said particular operational mode, and wherein said character is unable to fight using said weapon in the moving mode.