Abstract: A predetermined position in a game space is set as an appearance planned position for a predetermined character. The character is caused to appear at the appearance planned position if the appearance planned position is a position where the predetermined character can appear. If this position is a position where the predetermined character cannot appear, a searching object is placed at the appearance planned position, and a process of moving the searching object in the game space by a predetermined distance and determining whether or not the predetermined character can appear at a position after the movement, is repeated until a position where the predetermined character can appear is reached. If the searching object reaches the position where the predetermined character can appear, the predetermined character is caused to appear at this position.

Abstract: When a mistake occurs in a game stage, if another player object exists within a predetermined range, a player object is shifted to a special state where the player object does not become damaged. While the player object is in the special state, if the player object comes into contact with another player object, the player object is returned from the special state to a normal state. On the other hand, if no other player object exists within the predetermined range, or if the player object cannot come into contact with the other player object while being in the special state, play of the game stage is terminated.

Abstract: When a mistake occurs in a game stage, if another player object exists within a predetermined range, a player object is shifted to a special state where the player object does not become damaged. While the player object is in the special state, if the player object comes into contact with another player object or a placement object placed in the game stage by the other player object, the player object is returned from the special state to a normal state. On the other hand, if the player object fails to come into contact with either the other player object or the placement object, play of the game stage is terminated.

Abstract: In a data collection apparatus, a calendar display section and a file integration display section are displayed on a display screen of a two-dimensional display, a cursor for specifying the check time period of measurement data is provided in the calendar display section, the sampling time period of measurement data is also displayed therein as a line segment, and file integration information in the check time period specified with the cursor is displayed in the file integration display section.