Game apparatus and storage medium storing game program

• US 7,942,743 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2005
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Nishimura, Kentaro, Tahara, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis; David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim; Kevin Y
• Application Number:
  US11/038,788
• Publication Number:
  US 20050227762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,307 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36, 463/37, 463/30, 463/47
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/26 having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/426 involving on-screen location information, e.g. screen coordinates of an area at which the player is aiming with a light gun
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/63 by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/67 adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface

Abstract

A game apparatus includes two LCDs, a touch panel is provided in association with the one LCD. On the touch panel, an operation button corresponding to each player character is set. A setting of the operation button is changed according to an operation state (frequency of usage, operation coordinates position) by a player during playing the game. For example, a size of an operation effective area and a display position of the operation button are changed according to the frequency of usage. Furthermore, at least any one of the operation effective areas and the display position of the operation button is changed according to the operation coordinates position.

Claims

1. A game apparatus utilizing a pointing device, comprising:

a display portion for displaying one or more figures operated by a player;

figure position setting programmed logic circuitry for setting at least one of said one or more figures at an arbitrary position of said display portion on the basis of an instruction from the player;

operation effective area setting programmed logic circuitry for setting a display area of said figure set by said figure position setting programmed logic circuitry as an operation effective area;

operation coordinates position detecting programmed logic circuitry for detecting an operation coordinates position on the basis of operation information detected by an operation of said pointing device;

operation coordinates position determining programmed logic circuitry for determining whether or not the operation coordinates position detected by said operation coordinates position detecting programmed logic circuitry is within said operation effective area;

operation state detecting programmed logic circuitry for detecting an operation state of said figure, wherein said operation state detecting programmed logic circuitry makes a determination about an alteration of a characteristic of said figure, when the operation coordinates are determined to be within the operation effective area by said operation coordinates position determining programmed logic circuitry, based at least in part on a positional relationship of where the detected position of the operation coordinates is located within the operation effective area in relation to the operation effective area; and

game processing programmed logic circuitry for executing a game process corresponding to the operation of said figure also when the operation coordinates are determined to be within said operation effective area by said operation coordinates position determining programmed logic circuitry.

2. The game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising figure selecting programmed logic circuitry for selecting a figure to be displayed on said display portion out of a plurality of kinds of figures, wherein said figure position setting programmed logic circuitry sets the figure selected by said figure selecting programmed logic circuitry to an arbitrary position of said display portion.

3. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said figure position setting programmed logic circuitry sets the display area of the figure rendered on said display portion according to the operation of said pointing device by said player as a figure position.

4. The game apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising

display position changing programmed logic circuitry for changing the display position of said figure on the basis of the operation state detected by said operation state detecting programmed logic circuitry.

5. The game apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said operation effective area setting programmed logic circuitry sets the display area of the figure changed by said display position changing programmed logic circuitry as an operation effective area.

6. The game apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising

operation effective area changing programmed logic circuitry for changing the operation effective area of said figure on the basis of the operation state detected by said operation state detecting programmed logic circuitry.

7. The game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising figure size changing programmed logic circuitry for changing a size of the figure displayed on said display portion;

wherein said operation effective area setting programmed logic circuitry sets a display area of the figure changed by said figure size changing programmed logic circuitry as an operation effective area.

8. A game apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said figure size changing programmed logic circuitry changes the size of said figure according to an operation time of said pointing device by said player.

9. A game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising

a figure display area changing programmed logic circuitry for changing the display area of said figure on the basis of the operation state detected by said operation state detecting programmed logic circuitry;

wherein

said operation effective area setting programmed logic circuitry sets the display area of the figure changed by said figure display area changing programmed logic circuitry as an operation effective area.

10. A game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising

game proceeding detecting programmed logic circuitry for detecting a game proceeding;

and

figure display state changing programmed logic circuitry for changing a display state of the figure displayed on said display portion when it is detected that said game proceeding is shifted to a predetermined state by said game proceeding detecting programmed logic circuitry, wherein

said operation effective area setting programmed logic circuitry sets the display area of the figure changed by said figure display state changing programmed logic circuitry as an operation effective area.

11. A game apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising

figure function setting programmed logic circuitry for setting a function of said figure;

figure function displaying programmed logic circuitry for displaying in association with said figure the function set by said figure function setting programmed logic circuitry; and

figure function changing programmed logic circuitry for changing the function set by said figure function setting programmed logic circuitry when said game proceeding is shifted to a predetermined state by said game proceeding detecting programmed logic circuitry;

wherein

said figure display state changing programmed logic circuitry changes in a displaying manner from the function displayed by said figure function displaying programmed logic circuitry to the function changed by said figure function changing programmed logic circuitry.

12. A game apparatus according to claim 10, wherein

said figure display state changing programmed logic circuitry displays a new figure on said display portion when said game proceeding is shifted to a predetermined state by said game proceeding detecting programmed logic circuitry, and said operation effective area setting programmed logic circuitry sets a display area of said figure newly displayed as an operation effective area.

13. A game apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising character selecting programmed logic circuitry for selecting an arbitrary character out of a plurality of kinds of characters;

wherein

said figure position setting programmed logic circuitry sets said figure at an arbitrary position of said display portion for each character selected by said character selecting programmed logic circuitry,

said game proceeding detecting programmed logic circuitry detects whether or not the character selected by said character selecting programmed logic circuitry is changed,

said figure display state detecting programmed logic circuitry, when the character is changed by said game proceeding detecting programmed logic circuitry, changes the position of

said figure to the figure position set to the changed character, and said operation effective area setting programmed logic circuitry sets the display area of the figure changed by said figure display state changing programmed logic circuitry as an operation effective area.

14. A game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pointing device is a touch panel provided in association with said display portion, and said operation effective area setting programmed logic circuitry sets an area of said touch panel corresponding to the display area of said figure as an operation effective area.

15. A game apparatus utilizing a pointing device, comprising:

a first display portion for displaying a game image;

a second display portion arranged in proximity to said first display portion for displaying one or more figures to be operated by the player;

figure position setting programmed logic circuitry for setting at least one of said one or more figures at an arbitrary position of said display portion on the basis of an instruction from the player;

operation effective area setting programmed logic circuitry for setting a display area of said figure set by said figure position setting programmed logic circuitry as an operation effective area;

operation coordinates position detecting programmed logic circuitry for detecting an operation coordinates position on the basis of operation information detected by an operation of said pointing device;

operation coordinates position determining programmed logic circuitry for determining whether or not the operation coordinates position detected by said operation coordinates position detecting programmed logic circuitry is within said operation effective area; and

operation state detecting programmed logic circuitry for detecting an operation state of said figure, wherein said operation state detecting programmed logic circuitry makes a determination about an alteration of a characteristic of said figure, when the operation coordinates are determined to be within the operation effective area by said operation coordinates position determining programmed logic circuitry, based at least in part on a positional relationship of where the detected position of the operation coordinates is located within the operation effective area in relation to the operation effective area; and

a game processing programmed logic circuitry for changing a game image displayed on at least said first display portion in response to the operation of said figure also when the operation coordinates are determined to be within said operation effective area by said operation coordinates position determining programmed logic circuitry.

16. A game apparatus utilizing a pointing device, comprising:

display portion for displaying one or more figures to be operated by a player;

figure position setting programmed logic circuitry for setting said figure at a predetermined position of said display portion;

operation effective area setting programmed logic circuitry for setting a display area of said figure set by said figure position setting programmed logic circuitry as an operation effective area;

operation coordinates position detecting programmed logic circuitry for detecting an operation coordinates position on the basis of operation information detected by an operation of said pointing device;

operation coordinates position determining programmed logic circuitry for determining whether or not the operation coordinates position detected by said operation coordinates position detecting programmed logic circuitry is within said operation effective area;

game processing programmed logic circuitry for executing a game process corresponding to said figure when the operation coordinates are determined to be within said operation effective area by said operation coordinates position determining programmed logic circuitry;

operation state detecting programmed logic circuitry for detecting an operation state of said figure by the player, wherein said operation state detecting programmed logic circuitry makes a determination about an alteration of a characteristic of said figure, when the operation coordinates are determined to be within the operation effective area by said operation coordinates position determining programmed logic circuitry, based at least in part on a positional relationship of where the detected position of the operation coordinates is located within the operation effective area in relation to the operation effective area; and

operation effective area changing programmed logic circuitry for changing at least the operation effective area of said figure on the basis of the determination made by said operation state detecting programmed logic circuitry.

17. A game apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising figure display area changing programmed logic circuitry for changing the display area of said figure on the basis of the operation state detected by said operation state detecting programmed logic circuitry.

18. A game apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising representative coordinates position extracting programmed logic circuitry for extracting a representative coordinates position out of a plurality of operation coordinates positions detected by said operation coordinates position detecting programmed logic circuitry;

wherein

said operation effective area changing programmed logic circuitry changes a position of the operation effective area of said figure on the basis of the representative coordinates position extracted by said representative coordinates position extracting programmed logic circuitry.

19. A game apparatus utilizing a pointing device, comprising:

display portion for displaying one or more figures to be operated by a player;

figure position setting programmed logic circuitry for setting said figure at a predetermined position of said display portion;

operation effective area setting programmed logic circuitry for setting a display area of said figure set by said figure position setting programmed logic circuitry as an operation effective area;

operation coordinates position detecting programmed logic circuitry for detecting an operation coordinates position on the basis of operation information detected by an operation of said pointing device;

operation coordinates position determining programmed logic circuitry for determining whether or not the operation coordinates position detected by said operation coordinates position detecting programmed logic circuitry is within said operation effective area;

game processing programmed logic circuitry for executing a game process corresponding to said figure when it is determined to be within said operation effective area by said operation coordinates position determining programmed logic circuitry;

operation state detecting programmed logic circuitry for detecting an operation state of said figure by the player;

operation effective area changing programmed logic circuitry for changing at least the operation effective area of said figure on the basis of the operation state detected by said operation state detecting programmed logic circuitry; and

representative coordinates position extracting programmed logic circuitry for extracting a representative coordinates position out of a plurality of operation coordinates positions detected by said operation coordinates position detecting programmed logic circuitry;

wherein

said operation effective area changing programmed logic circuitry changes a position of the operation effective area of said figure on the basis of the representative coordinates position extracted by said representative coordinates position extracting programmed logic circuitry, and

said representative coordinates position extracting programmed logic circuitry extracts an operation coordinates position being the greatest in number out of said plurality of operation coordinates positions as said representative coordinates position.

20. A game apparatus utilizing a pointing device, comprising:

display portion for displaying one or more figures to be operated by a player;

figure position setting programmed logic circuitry for setting said figure at a predetermined position of said display portion;

operation effective area setting programmed logic circuitry for setting a display area of said figure set by said figure position setting programmed logic circuitry as an operation effective area;

operation coordinates position detecting programmed logic circuitry for detecting an operation coordinates position on the basis of operation information detected by an operation of said pointing device;

operation coordinates position determining programmed logic circuitry for determining whether or not the operation coordinates position detected by said operation coordinates position detecting programmed logic circuitry is within said operation effective area;

game processing programmed logic circuitry for executing a game process corresponding to said figure when it is determined to be within said operation effective area by said operation coordinates position determining programmed logic circuitry;

operation state detecting programmed logic circuitry for detecting an operation state of said figure by the player; and

operation effective area changing programmed logic circuitry for changing at least the operation effective area of said figure on the basis of the operation state detected by said operation state detecting programmed logic circuitry, wherein

said operation state detecting programmed logic circuitry detects a difference between a central coordinates position of said figure and the operation coordinates position detected by said operation coordinates position detecting programmed logic circuitry, and

said operation effective area changing programmed logic circuitry changes a position of the operation effective area of said figure on the basis of said difference.

21. A game apparatus according to claim 20, wherein

said operation effective area changing programmed logic circuitry changes the positions of the operation effective areas as to all figures displayed on said display portion on the basis of said difference.

22. A game apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising average value calculating programmed logic circuitry for calculating an average value of differences detected by said operation state detecting programmed logic circuitry every operation of said figure;

wherein

said operation effective area changing programmed logic circuitry changes the position of the operation effective area of said figure on the basis of the average value calculated by said average value calculating programmed logic circuitry.

23. A game apparatus utilizing a pointing device, comprising:

display portion for displaying one or more figures to be operated by a player;

figure position setting programmed logic circuitry for setting said figure at a predetermined position of said display portion;

operation effective area setting programmed logic circuitry for setting a display area of said figure set by said figure position setting programmed logic circuitry as an operation effective area;

operation coordinates position detecting programmed logic circuitry for detecting an operation coordinates position on the basis of operation information detected by an operation of said pointing device;

operation coordinates position determining programmed logic circuitry for determining whether or not the operation coordinates position detected by said operation coordinates position detecting programmed logic circuitry is within said operation effective area;

game processing programmed logic circuitry for executing a game process corresponding to said figure when it is determined to be within said operation effective area by said operation coordinates position determining programmed logic circuitry;

operation state detecting programmed logic circuitry for detecting an operation state of said figure by the player; and

operation effective area changing programmed logic circuitry for changing at least the operation effective area of said figure on the basis of the operation state detected by said operation state detecting programmed logic circuitry, wherein

said operation state detecting programmed logic circuitry detects the number of times of operations of said figure, and

said operation effective area changing programmed logic circuitry changes a size of the operation effective area of said figure on the basis of said number of times of operations.

24. A game apparatus utilizing a pointing device, comprising:

a display portion for displaying at least one or more figures to be operated by a player;

figure position setting programmed logic circuitry for setting at least one of said one or more figures at a predetermined position of said display portion;

operation effective area setting programmed logic circuitry for setting a display area of said figure set by said figure position setting programmed logic circuitry as an operation effective area;

operation coordinates position detecting programmed logic circuitry for detecting an operation coordinates position on the basis of operation information detected by an operation of said pointing device;

operation coordinates position determining programmed logic circuitry for determining whether or not the operation coordinates position detected by said operation coordinates position detecting programmed logic circuitry is within said operation effective area;

game processing programmed logic circuitry for executing a game process corresponding to said figure when the operation coordinates are determined to be within said operation effective area by said operation coordinates position determining programmed logic circuitry;

operation state detecting programmed logic circuitry for detecting an operation state of said figure by the player, wherein said operation state detecting programmed logic circuitry makes a determination about an alteration of a characteristic of said figure, when the operation coordinates are determined to be within the operation effective area by said operation coordinates position determining programmed logic circuitry, based at least in part on a positional relationship of where the detected position of the operation coordinates are located within the operation effective area in relation to the operation effective area; and

figure display area changing programmed logic circuitry for changing the display area of said figure on the basis of the determination made by said operation state detecting programmed logic circuitry.

25. A game apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising an operation effective area changing programmed logic circuitry for changing the operation effective area of said figure in correspondence to the display area of the figure changed by said figure display area changing programmed logic circuitry.

26. A game apparatus utilizing a pointing device, comprising

a display portion for displaying at least one or more figures to be operated by a player;

figure position setting programmed logic circuitry for setting at least one of said one or more figures at a predetermined position of said display portion;

operation effective area setting programmed logic circuitry for setting a display area of said figure set by said figure position setting programmed logic circuitry as an operation effective area;

operation coordinates position detecting programmed logic circuitry for detecting an operation coordinates position on the basis of operation information detected by an operation of said pointing device;

operation coordinates position determining programmed logic circuitry for determining whether or not the operation coordinates position detected by said operation coordinates position detecting programmed logic circuitry is within said operation effective area;

game processing programmed logic circuitry for executing a game process corresponding to said figure when it is determined to be within said operation effective area by said operation coordinates position determining programmed logic circuitry;

operation state detecting programmed logic circuitry for detecting an operation state of said figure by the player; and

figure display area changing programmed logic circuitry for changing the display area of said figure on the basis of the operation state detected by said operation state detecting programmed logic circuitry, wherein

said operation state detecting programmed logic circuitry detects a difference between a central coordinates position of said figure and the operation coordinates position detected by said operation coordinates position detecting programmed logic circuitry, and

said figure display area changing programmed logic circuitry changes a position of the display area of said figure on the basis of said difference.

27. A game apparatus utilizing a pointing device, comprising

a display portion for displaying at least one or more figures to be operated by a player;

figure position setting programmed logic circuitry for setting at least one of said one or more figures at a predetermined position of said display portion;

operation effective area setting programmed logic circuitry for setting a display area of said figure set by said figure position setting programmed logic circuitry as an operation effective area;

operation coordinates position detecting programmed logic circuitry for detecting an operation coordinates position on the basis of operation information detected by an operation of said pointing device;

operation coordinates position determining programmed logic circuitry for determining whether or not the operation coordinates position detected by said operation coordinates position detecting programmed logic circuitry is within said operation effective area;

game processing programmed logic circuitry for executing a game process corresponding to said figure when it is determined to be within said operation effective area by said operation coordinates position determining programmed logic circuitry;

operation state detecting programmed logic circuitry for detecting an operation state of said figure by the player; and

figure display area changing programmed logic circuitry for changing the display area of said figure on the basis of the operation state detected by said operation state detecting programmed logic circuitry, wherein

said operation state detecting programmed logic circuitry detects the number of times of operations of said figure, and

said figure display area changing programmed logic circuitry changes a size of the display area of said figure on the basis of said number of times of operations.

28. A game apparatus according to claim 27, wherein

said figure display area changing programmed logic circuitry reduces the display area of said figure when said number of times of operations is equal to or less than a first setting number of times, and enlarges the display area of said figure when said number of times of operations is equal to or more than a second setting number of times.

29. A game apparatus according to claim 27, wherein

said figure display area changing programmed logic circuitry enlarges the display area of said figure when said number of times of operations is equal to or less than a first setting number of times, and reduces the display area of said figure when said number of times of operations is equal to or more than a second setting number of times.

30. A game apparatus according to claim 27, wherein

said figure display area changing programmed logic circuitry erases the display area of said figure when said the number of times of operations is equal to or less than a third setting number of times.

31. A non-transitive storage medium storing a game program to be executed by a game apparatus that utilizes a pointing device, and is provided with a display portion for displaying at least one or more figures to be operated by a player, said game program causes a processor of said game apparatus to execute a following steps of:

setting at least one of said one or more figures at an arbitrary position of said display portion on the basis of an instruction from the player;

setting a display area of said figure set by said setting one or more figures as an operation effective area;

detecting an operation coordinates position on the basis of operation information detected by an operation of said pointing device;

determining whether or not the operation coordinates position detected by said detecting a coordinates position is within said operation effective area;

detecting an operation state of said figure by the player, wherein said detecting the operation state includes making a determination about an alteration of a characteristic of said figure, when the operation coordinates are determined to be within the operation effective area, based at least in part on a positional relationship of where the detected position of the operation coordinates are located within the operation effective area in relation to the operation effective area; and

executing a game process corresponding to the operation of said figure also when the operation coordinates are determined to be within said operation effective area by said determining.

32. A non-transitive storage medium storing a game program according to claim 31, wherein

said game program further executes selecting a figure to be displayed on said display portion out of a plurality of kinds of figures, and said setting one or more figures sets the figure selected by said selecting to an arbitrary position of said display portion.

33. A non-transitive storage medium storing a game program according to claim 31, wherein said setting sets the display area of the figure rendered in said display portion according to an operating of said pointing device by said player as a figure position.

34. A non-transitive storage medium storing a game program according to claim 31, wherein changing a size of the figure displayed on said display portion is further executed based at least in part on the determination made by said detecting an operation state, and said setting a display area sets a display area of the figure changed by said changing as an operation effective area.

35. A non-transitive storage medium storing a game program according to claim 31, wherein

said game program further executes detecting a game proceeding, and changing a display state of the figure displayed on said display portion when it is detected that said game proceeding is shifted to a predetermined state by said detecting a game proceeding, and

said setting a display sets the display area of the figure changed by said changing as an operation effective area.

36. A non-transitive storage medium storing a game program to be executed by a game apparatus utilizing a pointing device that is provided with a first display portion for displaying a game image and a second display portion that is arranged in proximity to said first display portion and displays at least one or more figures to be operated by a player, said game program causes a processor of said game apparatus to execute a following steps of:

setting at least one of said one or more figures at an arbitrary position of said display portion on the basis of an instruction from the player;

setting a display area of said figure set by said setting at least one or more figures as an operation effective area;

detecting an operation coordinates position on the basis of operation information detected by an operation of said pointing device;

determining whether or not the operation coordinates position detected by said detecting an operation coordinates position is within said operation effective area;

detecting an operation state of said figure by the player, wherein said detecting the operation state of said figure includes making a determination about an alteration of a characteristic of said figure, when the operation coordinates are determined to be within the operation effective area, based at least in part on a positional relationship of where the detected position of the operation coordinates are located within the operation effective area in relation to the operation effective area; and

changing a game image displayed on at least said first display portion in response to an operation of said figure also when the operation coordinates are determined to be within said operation effective area by said determining the operation coordinates and based at least in part on the determination made by said detecting an operation state.

37. A non-transitive storage medium storing a game program of a game apparatus utilizing a pointing device that is provided with a display portion for displaying one or more figures to be operated by a player, said game program causes a processor of said game apparatus to execute following steps of:

setting at least one of said one or more figures at a predetermined position of said display portion;

setting a display area of said figure set by said setting one or more figures as an operation effective area;

detecting an operation coordinates position on the basis of operation information detected by an operation of said pointing device;

determining whether or not the operation coordinates position detected by said detecting is within said operation effective area;

executing a game process corresponding to said figure when the operation coordinates are determined to be within said operation effective area by said operation coordinates position determining step;

detecting an operation state of said figure by the player, wherein said detecting an operation state includes making a determination about an alteration of a characteristic of said figure, when the operation coordinates are determined to be within the operation effective area, based at least in part on a positional relationship of where the detected position of the operation coordinates is located within the operation effective area in relation to the operation effective area; and

changing at least the operation effective area of said figure also on the basis of the operation state detected by said detecting an operation state when the operation coordinates are determined to be within the operation effective area.

38. A non-transitive storage medium storing a game program according to claim 37, wherein said game program further executes changing the display area of said figure on the basis of the operation state detected by said detecting an operation state.

39. A non-transitive storage medium storing a game program according to claim 37, wherein

said game program further executes extracting a representative coordinates position out of a plurality of operation coordinates positions detected by said detecting operation coordinates, and

said changing for changing a position of the operation effective area of said figure on the basis of the representative coordinates position extracted by said extracting.

40. A non-transitive storage medium storing a game program of a game apparatus utilizing a pointing device that is provided with a display portion for displaying one or more figures to be operated by a player, said game program causes a processor of said game apparatus to execute following steps of:

setting at least one of said one or more figures at a predetermined position of said display portion;

setting a display area of said figure set by said setting one or more figures as an operation effective area;

detecting an operation coordinates position on the basis of operation information detected by an operation of said pointing device;

determining whether or not the operation coordinates position detected by said detecting is within said operation effective area;

executing a game process corresponding to said figure when it is determined to be within said operation effective area by said operation coordinates position determining step;

detecting an operation state of said figure by the player;

changing at least the operation effective area of said figure on the basis of the operation state detected by said detecting an operation state; and

extracting a representative coordinates position out of a plurality of operation coordinates positions detected by said detecting operation coordinates, wherein said

said changing changes a position of the operation effective area of said figure on the basis of the representative coordinates position extracted by said extracting, wherein said extracting extracts an operation coordinates position being the greatest in number out of said plurality of operation coordinates positions as said representative coordinates position.

41. A non-transitive storage medium storing a game program of a game apparatus utilizing a pointing device that is provided with a display portion for displaying one or more figures to be operated by a player, said game program causes a processor of said game apparatus to execute following steps of:

setting at least one of said one or more figures at a predetermined position of said display portion;

setting a display area of said figure set by said setting one or more figures as an operation effective area;

detecting an operation coordinates position on the basis of operation information detected by an operation of said pointing device;

determining whether or not the operation coordinates position detected by said detecting is within said operation effective area;

executing a game process corresponding to said figure when it is determined to be within said operation effective area by said operation coordinates position determining step;

detecting an operation state of said figure by the player; and

changing at least the operation effective area of said figure on the basis of the operation state detected by said detecting an operation state, wherein

said detecting an operation state detects a difference between a central coordinates position of said figure and the operation coordinates position detected by said detecting operation coordinates, and

said changing changes a position of the operation effective area of said figure on the basis of said difference.

42. A non-transitive storage medium storing a game program according to claim 41, wherein said changing changes the positions of the operation effective areas as to all figures displayed on said display portion on the basis of said difference.

43. A non-transitive storage medium storing a game program according to claim 41, wherein

said game program executes calculating an average value of differences detected by said detecting an operation state every operation of said figure, and

said changing changes a position of the operation effective area of said figure on the basis of the average value calculated by said calculating.

44. A non-transitive storage medium storing a game program of a game apparatus utilizing a pointing device that is provided with a display portion for displaying one or more figures to be operated by a player, said game program causes a processor of said game apparatus to execute following steps of:

setting at least one of said one or more figures at a predetermined position of said display portion;

setting a display area of said figure set by said setting one or more figures as an operation effective area;

detecting an operation coordinates position on the basis of operation information detected by an operation of said pointing device;

determining whether or not the operation coordinates position detected by said detecting is within said operation effective area;

executing a game process corresponding to said figure when it is determined to be within said operation effective area by said operation coordinates position determining step;

detecting an operation state of said figure by the player; and

changing at least the operation effective area of said figure on the basis of the operation state detected by said detecting an operation state, wherein said detecting an operation state detects the number of times of operations of said figure, and said changing changes a size of the operation effective area of said figure on the basis of said number of times of operations.

45. A non-transitive storage medium storing a game program of a game apparatus utilizing a pointing device that is provided with a display portion for displaying one or more figures operated by a player, said game program causes a processor of said game apparatus to execute following steps of:

setting at least one of said one or more figures at a predetermined position of said display portion;

setting a display area of said figure set by said figure position setting step as an operation effective area;

detecting an operation coordinates position on the basis of operation information detected by an operation of said pointing device;

determining whether or not the operation coordinates position detected by said detecting is within said operation effective area;

executing a game process corresponding to said figure when the operation coordinates are determined to be within said operation effective area by said determining;

detecting an operation state of said figure by the player, wherein said detecting the operation state includes making a determination about an alteration of a characteristic of said figure, when the operation coordinates are determined to be within the operation effective area, based at least in part on a positional relationship of where the location of the operation coordinates is within the operation effective area in relation to the operation effective area; and

changing the display area of said figure on the basis of the operation state detected by detecting an operation state.

46. A non-transitive storage medium storing a game program according to claim 45, wherein said game program further executes changing the operation effective area of said figure in correspondence to the display area of the figure changed by said changing the display area.

47. A non-transitive storage medium storing a game program of a game apparatus utilizing a pointing device that is provided with a display portion for displaying one or more figures operated by a player, said game program causes a processor of said game apparatus to execute following steps of:

setting at least one of said one or more figures at a predetermined position of said display portion;

setting a display area of said figure set by said figure position setting step as an operation effective area;

detecting an operation coordinates position on the basis of operation information detected by an operation of said pointing device;

determining whether or not the operation coordinates position detected by said detecting is within said operation effective area;

executing a game process corresponding to said figure when it is determined to be within said operation effective area by said determining;

detecting an operation state of said figure by the player; and

changing the display area of said figure on the basis of the operation state detected by detecting an operation state, wherein

said detecting an operation state detects a difference between a central coordinates position of said figure and the operation coordinates position detected by said detecting operation coordinates, and

said changing the display area changes a position of the display area of said figure on the basis of said difference.

48. A non-transitive storage medium storing a game program of a game apparatus utilizing a pointing device that is provided with a display portion for displaying one or more figures operated by a player, said game program causes a processor of said game apparatus to execute following steps of:

setting at least one of said one or more figures at a predetermined position of said display portion;

setting a display area of said figure set by said figure position setting step as an operation effective area;

detecting an operation coordinates position on the basis of operation information detected by an operation of said pointing device;

determining whether or not the operation coordinates position detected by said detecting is within said operation effective area;

executing a game process corresponding to said figure when it is determined to be within said operation effective area by said determining;

detecting an operation state of said figure by the player; and

changing the display area of said figure on the basis of the operation state detected by detecting an operation state, wherein

said detecting an operation state detects the number of times of operations of said figure, and

said changing the display area changes a size of the display area of said figure on the basis of said number of times of operations.

49. A non-transitive storage medium storing a game program according to claim 48, wherein said changing the display area reduces the display area of said figure when said number of times of operations is equal to or less than a first setting number of times, and enlarges the display area of said figure when said number of times of operations is equal to or more than a second setting number of times.

50. A non-transitive storage medium storing a game program according to claim 48, wherein said changing the display area enlarges the display area of said figure when said number of times of operations is equal to or less than a first setting number of times, and reduces the display area of said figure when said number of times of operations is equal to or more than a second setting number of times.

51. A non-transitive storage medium storing a game program according to claim 48, wherein said changing the display area erases the display area of said figure when said number of times of operation is equal to or less than a third setting number of times.