Example systems and methods relate to a multi-player video game in which multiple players each supply inputs to a respective input device to control a corresponding game character in a game world displayed on a display screen. Movements of each game character in the game world are controlled in accordance with respective first game character control operations during the playing of the multi-player video game. In response to satisfaction of any one of a first condition and a second condition, one player's game character is protected from harm in the game world, wherein a position at which the protected game character appears when the first condition is satisfied is different than that when the second condition is satisfied. Movements of the protected game character are controlled in the game world and the protecting of the one player's game character is stopped in response to any one of one or more protecting stopping conditions, whereby the movements of the one player's game character in the game world are controllable in accordance with the first game character control operation for that game character.