Disclosed is a network game system that allows a plurality of players to enter a network game without imposing a lot of load on a server apparatus for managing the entire progress of the network game. A game is played in different battle zones, and video game apparatuses which play the game in the same battle zone form each of video game apparatus groups. A server apparatus designates one of the video game apparatuses belonging to each of the video game apparatus groups as a front end server. The video game apparatus designated as the front end server controls decision of motions of non-player characters, calculation of change values of parameters of player characters, and transmission/reception of information regarding the progress of the game between the video game apparatuses belonging to each of the video game apparatus groups in a unified manner. Transmission of information regarding the progress state of the game in each battle zone to the server apparatus is performed in a unified manner. Designation of the front end server is changed for every predetermined time.