Patent ID: 7235012

Claim:
A video game apparatus comprising: a processor executing a sequence of steps in accordance with a program for a game, said sequence including simulating the movement of a virtual character having an upper and a lower body portion; a screen displaying scenes of the game, including scenes presented from the viewing field of the virtual character; a controller operated by a player, said controller including a selector device having at least a side position and a neutral position, said selector device being activated by a user to move it from said neutral position to said side position and being adapted to return automatically to said neutral position after it has been released by the user; wherein said processor and said controller cooperate to define a scene change function in which said display shows lateral scenes in a manner that imitates relative rotation between the upper and lower body portions of the video character in response to the activation of said selector from said neutral position and said side position; and wherein said processor and said controller further define a locked position in which said display shows said lateral scenes after said selector device returns to said neutral position.