Abstract: An example system includes a game device including a game processing unit performing information processing concerning a game and a communication unit performing communication via a network, and a communication unit performing communication with the game device via the network. The game device includes a purchase request transmission unit transmitting a purchase request for the first item to be used in the game to the server by communication through the communication unit. The server includes a purchase request reception unit receiving the purchase request transmitted by the purchase request transmission unit, and a first item imparting unit imparting the first item in response to the purchase request received by the purchase request reception unit. An upper limit is set to the cumulative number of the purchased first items for the user who plays the game using the game device.

Abstract: A game system includes a plurality of pedometers. The plurality of step count data respectively counted by the plurality of pedometers are acquired in the game apparatus. In the game apparatus, by utilizing the plurality of step count data, a predetermined arithmetic operation is executed, and the result of the arithmetic operation is reflected on the game. Alternatively, in a server, a predetermined arithmetic operation is executed by utilizing the plurality of step count data, and the result of the arithmetic operation is reflected on the game in the game apparatus. For example, game processing depending on the number of players walking in the same time slot is executed, or game processing according to the totalized value of the accumulated total step count values of the plurality of pedometers is executed.

Abstract: A game system includes a plurality of pedometers. The plurality of step count data respectively counted by the plurality of pedometers are acquired in the game apparatus. In the game apparatus, by utilizing the plurality of step count data, a predetermined arithmetic operation is executed, and the result of the arithmetic operation is reflected on the game. Alternatively, in a server, a predetermined arithmetic operation is executed by utilizing the plurality of step count data, and the result of the arithmetic operation is reflected on the game in the game apparatus. For example, game processing depending on the number of players walking in the same time slot is executed, or game processing according to the totalized value of the accumulated total step count values of the plurality of pedometers is executed.

Abstract: A game system includes a plurality of pedometers. The plurality of step count data respectively counted by the plurality of pedometers are acquired in the game apparatus. In the game apparatus, by utilizing the plurality of step count data, a predetermined arithmetic operation is executed, and the result of the arithmetic operation is reflected on the game. Alternatively, in a server, a predetermined arithmetic operation is executed by utilizing the plurality of step count data, and the result of the arithmetic operation is reflected on the game in the game apparatus. For example, game processing depending on the number of players walking in the same time slot is executed, or game processing according to the totalized value of the accumulated total step count values of the plurality of pedometers is executed.

Abstract: A game apparatus takes an image of a marker placed in the real space. The game apparatus calculates the position and the orientation of the marker with respect to the game apparatus on the basis of the marker included in the taken image, and sets a marker coordinate system on the marker. In addition, the game apparatus detects the direction of gravity on the basis of acceleration detected by an acceleration sensor included in the game apparatus. Next, the game apparatus calculates the direction of gravity in the marker coordinate system on the basis of the detected direction of gravity, and determines the orientation of the virtual character on the basis of the calculated direction of gravity in the marker coordinate system. Then, the game apparatus displays the virtual character on a display device.

Abstract: A computer-readable storage medium has stored therein an information processing program that causes a computer of an information processing apparatus to operate as: means for sequentially obtaining an image; means for detecting a specific object from the obtained image; means for detecting, on the basis of a first threshold and a pixel value obtained from a first region of the detected specific object, first region information on the first region; calculation means for calculating a second threshold on the basis of the pixel value obtained from the first region when the first region information is detected; means for detecting, on the basis of the second threshold calculated by the calculation means and a pixel value obtained from a second region of the detected specific object that is different from the first region, second region information on the second region; and means for outputting at least the second region information detected.

Abstract: A computer-readable storage medium has stored therein an information processing program for causing a computer of an information processing apparatus to operate as: means for sequentially obtaining an image; specific object detection means for detecting a specific object from the obtained image; means for detecting, on the basis of a pixel value obtained from a central region of the detected specific object, first region information on the central region; means for determining whether or not a result of the detection meets a predetermined condition; means for detecting, on the basis of a pixel value obtained from a surrounding region of the specific object that is present around the central region, second region information on the surrounding region; and means for outputting at least the second region information detected by the second region information detection means when a result of the determination is positive.

Abstract: A step count measuring system includes a pedometer and a step count managing apparatus which are able to communicate with each other. In the pedometer, a step count value sequentially detected for each unit of time is stored, and a time counted in the pedometer is stored as first time data by being brought into associated with each of the step count values. When a battery is replaced in the pedometer, a reset is executed to start initialization processing, and the time stored as first time data is stored as second time data which can be discriminated from the first time data. A recording time of each of the step count values being associated with the first time data before the initialization processing is set on the basis of the time counted by the step count managing apparatus, and a recording time of each of the step count values being associated with the second time data after the initialization processing is set on the basis of the second time data.

Abstract: A computer-readable storage medium has stored therein an information processing program for causing a computer of an information processing apparatus to operate as: means for sequentially obtaining an image; specific object detection means for detecting a specific object from the obtained image; means for detecting, on the basis of a pixel value obtained from a central region of the detected specific object, first region information on the central region; means for determining whether or not a result of the detection meets a predetermined condition; means for detecting, on the basis of a pixel value obtained from a surrounding region of the specific object that is present around the central region, second region information on the surrounding region; and means for outputting at least the second region information detected by the second region information detection means when a result of the determination is positive.

Abstract: A game apparatus takes an image of a marker placed in the real space. The game apparatus calculates the position and the orientation of the marker with respect to the game apparatus on the basis of the marker included in the taken image, and sets a marker coordinate system on the marker. In addition, the game apparatus detects the direction of gravity on the basis of acceleration detected by an acceleration sensor included in the game apparatus. Next, the game apparatus calculates the direction of gravity in the marker coordinate system on the basis of the detected direction of gravity, and determines the orientation of the virtual character on the basis of the calculated direction of gravity in the marker coordinate system. Then, the game apparatus displays the virtual character on a display device.

Abstract: A computer-readable storage medium has stored therein an information processing program that causes a computer of an information processing apparatus to operate as: means for sequentially obtaining an image; means for detecting a specific object from the obtained image; means for detecting, on the basis of a first threshold and a pixel value obtained from a first region of the detected specific object, first region information on the first region; calculation means for calculating a second threshold on the basis of the pixel value obtained from the first region when the first region information is detected; means for detecting, on the basis of the second threshold calculated by the calculation means and a pixel value obtained from a second region of the detected specific object that is different from the first region, second region information on the second region; and means for outputting at least the second region information detected.

Abstract: Before game data is arranged, a storage area for the game data in an internal memory is determined so that each game parameter is stored in a different storage area each time the game data is arranged. Then, arrangement information that directly or indirectly indicates the storage area for each game parameter is stored in a specified area of the internal memory. Then, the game data is loaded from an external storage medium to the determined storage area. Moreover, when a game parameter in the internal memory needs to be referred to or overwritten during the game process, the storage area for the game parameter is determined by referring to the arrangement information. Thus, it is possible to prevent general users from easily modifying the game data.

Abstract: A game system includes a plurality of pedometers. The plurality of step count data respectively counted by the plurality of pedometers are acquired in the game apparatus. In the game apparatus, by utilizing the plurality of step count data, a predetermined arithmetic operation is executed, and the result of the arithmetic operation is reflected on the game. Alternatively, in a server, a predetermined arithmetic operation is executed by utilizing the plurality of step count data, and the result of the arithmetic operation is reflected on the game in the game apparatus. For example, game processing depending on the number of players walking in the same time slot is executed, or game processing according to the totalized value of the accumulated total step count values of the plurality of pedometers is executed.

Abstract: A game apparatus includes an LCD, and on the LCD, a touch panel is set. When a player object encounters an enemy object, a battle screen is displayed on the LCD. A player performs a sliding operation on the touch panel with a stick or the like in such a manner as to surround the enemy object and tries to obtain the enemy object. At this time, when the enemy object (affecting object) already obtained is selected, an ability (effect) equipped with the affecting object can be produced. For example, a flame according to a surrounding line is generated. When the flame hits the enemy object, the enemy object is damaged to decrease its moving speed and stop moving.

Abstract: A game system includes a plurality of game cards, a game cartridge and a game machine. Each game card visually portrays a figure of a character, stores ability data for the character, and mechanically readably records an identification code and individuality expressing data of the character. The game information storage medium stores a game program for generating at least some of the characters of the game cards in an image display game. The game machine receives therein the game information storage medium. The game machine includes a CPU to execute a game program for an image display game. The game information storage medium is provided with a data reader to read out the identification data and individuality expressing data of the character recorded on the game card. The CPU, when supplied with the identification data and individuality expressing data from the reader, adds the individuality expressing data to the game program thereby executing a game process for the image display game.

Abstract: A coded image on a recording medium (a card) which records desired information as an optically readable coded image (a dot code) contains predetermined record location information indicating a record location at which the image is recorded on the card, as, for example, an element of a physical format of the image. A coded image reading apparatus for reading the coded image from the card has image inputting means (a pickup). The apparatus includes a CPU, which includes and can execute record location determining means (a program) for obtaining record location information from an input image and determining a record location of the image. The card is guided so that the proper read operation can be performed in accordance with this function of determination.

Abstract: Before game data is arranged, a storage area for the game data in an internal memory is determined so that each game parameter is stored in a different storage area each time the game data is arranged. Then, arrangement information that directly or indirectly indicates the storage area for each game parameter is stored in a specified area of the internal memory. Then, the game data is loaded from an external storage medium to the determined storage area. Moreover, when a game parameter in the internal memory needs to be referred to or overwritten during the game process, the storage area for the game parameter is determined by referring to the arrangement information. Thus, it is possible to prevent general users from easily modifying the game data.

Abstract: A code reading apparatus main body optically reads a code from a recording medium, recording it as optically readable code, and stores the outcome of the reading operation and the parameters acquired during the reading operation in the data RAM of an application program storing cartridge. When a program processing apparatus reads the outcome of the reading operation as stored in the data RAM, it provides randomness to the outcome of the reading operation according to the parameters stored in the data RAM.

Abstract: An image-display game system which can attract players for a long time to play a game can be implemented by presenting helping data of a0 to a63, and b1 to b5 beneficial in the course of a game to friends, and accordingly communications accompanying therewith can be stimulated and activated thereamong, and the game can be effectively utilized as a communications tool. Such image-display game system is so structured that the players' ID data IDn is communicable or exchangeable therein. With the other player's ID received, items beneficial in the course of the game or the helping data of 10 to 163, and b1 to b5 is generated based on the ID data, and is presented to the player. As a result, exchanging of the ID data IDn is activated among the players. The items presented based on the ID data IDn are determined by operating the ID data using an equation in FIG. 17 which is based on a predetermined rule, or in an operation processing by combining the ID data IDn and a random number R.

Abstract: An image-display game system with an idea of monsters' virus infection comprises an information storage medium 10A in which a game program is stored, an actuator 22, a processor 23 for information processing responding to the actuator 22 and based on the program, an image display 27, and a temporal writable/readable storage 12, 25 including an infection data region 12c where data indicating whether or not the character has been virus infected is stored. When a predetermined condition is satisfied, data is written into at least one infection data region corresponding to the captured characters stored in the temporal storage means.