Patent ID: 7762891

Claim:
A video game system including at least one operation device which a player manipulates to control a particular game character, the game system outputting to a display device a game screen image presenting one or more game characters, at least one of which is controllable using the operation device, comprising: at least one map storage memory for storing map data used to display a game space; at least one character storage memory for storing game character data of at least a first character and a second character different from the first character, said first and second character being separately controllable using the operation device; operation detection programmed logic circuitry configured to detect manipulation made by a player to the operation device; character switching programmed logic circuitry configured to detect when a first predetermined game condition is satisfied and change a game character controlled by the operation device between one of at least said first character and said second character upon detecting that said first predetermined game condition is satisfied; first character operation programmed logic circuitry configured to control the first character in accordance with manipulation made to the operation device when the character switching programmed logic circuitry selects the first character as the particular game character to be controlled by the operation device; first game screen output programmed logic circuitry configured to output to a display device a first game screen image presenting a full-extent field of view of the game space containing the first game character and other game characters; second character operation programmed logic circuitry configured to control the second character in accordance with manipulation made to the operation device when the character switching programmed logic circuitry selects the second character as the particular game character to be controlled by the operation device; second game screen output programmed logic circuitry configured to output to a display device a second game screen image presenting a narrow-extent field of view of the game space centered about the second game character and, at the same time, a narrow-extent field of view centered about each other player-controlled game character, if any, other than said first character, wherein different extents of a field of view of the game space are displayed depending on a predetermined handicap assigned to each player-controlled game character; a common display device having a display screen that is viewable by several players, said common display device displaying said second game screen image; and at least one personal display device for individual use by a single player, said personal display device displaying said first game screen image.