Abstract: A distribution chart representing a distribution of accomplishment times included in a plurality of pieces of result data is generated based on the plurality of pieces of result data including the accomplishment times of a racing game. Icons for identifying the plurality of pieces of result data are displayed on the distribution chart. When one of the icons displayed on the distribution chart is selected by a user, a process associated with the result data represented by the one of the icons having been selected is executed. Therefore, the distribution chart which includes a plurality of pieces of data as elements and is based on a predetermined index is displayed, and an interactive operation using the distribution chart can be realized.

Abstract: Ghost data used for reproducing a game process executed by user operations are transmitted from game apparatuses to a data management apparatus. The data management apparatus stores the received ghost data, according to a definition of a database in which score sections are defined based on a value represented by score data, and a maximum registration allowable number of users for which the ghost data are registered is defined for each of the score sections, or is defined so as to be the same among the score sections. The data management apparatus transmits, when a ghost data distribution request is received, the ghost data for at least one user for which the ghost data is registered so as to be associated with one of the score sections, the scores section being associated with the score data included in the ghost data distribution request, to the one of the game apparatuses.

Abstract: A distribution chart representing a distribution of accomplishment times included in a plurality of pieces of result data is generated based on the plurality of pieces of result data including the accomplishment times of a racing game. Icons for identifying the plurality of pieces of result data are displayed on the distribution chart. When one of the icons displayed on the distribution chart is selected by a user, a process associated with the result data represented by the one of the icons having been selected is executed. Therefore, the distribution chart which includes a plurality of pieces of data as elements and is based on a predetermined index is displayed, and an interactive operation using the distribution chart can be realized.

Abstract: Ghost data used for reproducing a game process having been executed in accordance with operations performed by users are transmitted, as necessary, from a plurality of game apparatuses to a data management apparatus. The data management apparatus stores the ghost data received from the plurality of game apparatuses, in accordance with a definition of a database in which a plurality of score sections are defined based on a value represented by score data, and a maximum registration allowable number of users for which the ghost data are registered is defined for each of the plurality of score sections, or is defined so as to be the same among the plurality of score sections.

Abstract: After a star peer-to-peer network is constructed, a network game is started. While the network game is executed, a mesh peer-to-peer network is gradually constructed by establishing connections between client terminals which have been connected to the star peer-to-peer network. After the network game is started, while the mesh peer-to-peer network is constructed, client terminals which have established connections therebetween transmit and receive game data to and from each other without passing via a host terminal, and client terminals which have not established connections therebetween yet transmit and receive game data to and from each other via the host terminal. Thus, a game network system can be realized, in which a time during which players wait for the network game to start is short and in which processing burdens are not concentrated on a specific user terminal.

Abstract: A game device regularly transmits communication status information to communication partners thereof, the communication status information indicating whether or not communication between the game device and each of the communication partners is possible. If, when the game device receives from each of the communication partners the communication status information about said each of the communication partners, the communication status information about any of the communication partners indicates a particular game device as being unable to perform communication, the game device updates the communication status information about the game device such that the communication status information about the game device indicates the particular game device as being unable to perform communication. When the communication status information about all of the communication partners indicate a particular game device as being unable to perform communication, the game device ceases communicating with the game device.

Abstract: A storage section stores a data belonging to a first group and data belonging to a second group, the first and second groups being distinguishable from each other. A communication section communicates with another game apparatus. A transmission control section transmits at least one piece of data of the data stored in the storage section to another game apparatus using the communication section. A reception control section receives the data transmitted from another game apparatus using the communication section. In this configuration, a game apparatus stores the data received using the reception control section, as data belonging to the second group, into the storage section.

Abstract: A free direction input area, a lateral direction input area, and a longitudinal direction input area are provided on an input surface of a touch panel. When a user performs a slide operation whose starting point is within the free direction input area, movement of a virtual camera is controlled based on a change amount of a touch position with respect to X- and Y-axis directions. When the user performs a slide operation whose starting point is within the lateral direction input area, movement of the virtual camera is controlled based on a change amount of a touch position only with respect to the X-axis direction. When the user performs a slide operation whose starting point is within the longitudinal direction input area, movement of the virtual camera is controlled based on a change amount of a touch position only with respect to the Y-axis direction.

Abstract: A game device receives from another game device through a network calculation data. The calculation data includes, at least, position data which represents a position of an object operated by using the other game device, and time data which represents time in which the object is at the position. The game device calculates, based on the position data and the time data included in the received calculation data, a calculated position of the object as of when the calculation data is received. Further, the game device determines, based on the calculated position, a position of the object in a game space as of when the calculation data is received.

Abstract: A game device measures a delay time between the game device and each of other game devices, all of which communicate with each other, and stores start time data in a memory. Furthermore, the game device calculates a time at which each of the other game devices starts executing a predetermined event based on the delay time, so as to be transmitted to each of the other game devices. When data indicating a time at which the game device starts executing the predetermined event (correction data) is transmitted from each of the game devices, the game device corrects a time indicated by the start time data based on the transmitted data. Thereafter, the game device executes the predetermined event (a racing game) at the time indicated by the start time data.

Abstract: After a star peer-to-peer network is constructed, a network game is started. While the network game is executed, a mesh peer-to-peer network is gradually constructed by establishing connections between client terminals which have been connected to the star peer-to-peer network. After the network game is started, while the mesh peer-to-peer network is constructed, client terminals which have established connections therebetween transmit and receive game data to and from each other without passing via a host terminal, and client terminals which have not established connections therebetween yet transmit and receive game data to and from each other via the host terminal. Thus, a game network system can be realized, in which a time during which players wait for the network game to start is short and in which processing burdens are not concentrated on a specific user terminal.

Abstract: A distribution chart representing a distribution of accomplishment times included in a plurality of pieces of result data is generated based on the plurality of pieces of result data including the accomplishment times of a racing game. Icons for identifying the plurality of pieces of result data are displayed on the distribution chart. When one of the icons displayed on the distribution chart is selected by a user, a process associated with the result data represented by the one of the icons having been selected is executed. Therefore, the distribution chart which includes a plurality of pieces of data as elements and is based on a predetermined index is displayed, and an interactive operation using the distribution chart can be realized.

Abstract: Ghost data used for reproducing a game process having been executed in accordance with operations performed by users are transmitted, as necessary, from a plurality of game apparatuses to a data management apparatus. The data management apparatus stores the ghost data received from the plurality of game apparatuses, in accordance with a definition of a database in which a plurality of score sections are defined based on a value represented by score data, and a maximum registration allowable number of users for which the ghost data are registered is defined for each of the plurality of score sections, or is defined so as to be the same among the plurality of score sections.

Abstract: A storage section stores a data belonging to a first group and data belonging to a second group, the first and second groups being distinguishable from each other. A communication section communicates with another game apparatus. A transmission control section transmits at least one piece of data of the data stored in the storage section to another game apparatus using the communication section. A reception control section receives the data transmitted from another game apparatus using the communication section. In this configuration, a game apparatus stores the data received using the reception control section, as data belonging to the second group, into the storage section.

Abstract: An input device comprises a first storage section for storing game data, a first communication section for communicating with a game apparatus, a first reception control section for receiving game data from the game apparatus, a first write control section for storing the game data received from the first reception control section into the first storage section, and a first transmission control section for transmitting the game data stored in the first storage section to the game apparatus. The game apparatus comprises a second storage section for storing game data, a second communication section for communicating with the input device, a second transmission control section for transmitting the game data stored in the second storage section, a second reception control section for receiving game data from the input device, and a game process control section for executing a predetermined game process using the game data received by the second reception control section.

Abstract: A game device regularly transmits communication status information to communication partners thereof, the communication status information indicating whether or not communication between the game device and each of the communication partners is possible. If, when the game device receives from each of the communication partners the communication status information about said each of the communication partners, the communication status information about any of the communication partners indicates a particular game device as being unable to perform communication, the game device updates the communication status information about the game device such that the communication status information about the game device indicates the particular game device as being unable to perform communication. When the communication status information about all of the communication partners indicate a particular game device as being unable to perform communication, the game device ceases communicating with the game device.

Abstract: A game device measures a delay time between the game device and each of other game devices, all of which communicate with each other, and stores start time data in a memory. Furthermore, the game device calculates a time at which each of the other game devices starts executing a predetermined event based on the delay time, so as to be transmitted to each of the other game devices. When data indicating a time at which the game device starts executing the predetermined event (correction data) is transmitted from each of the game devices, the game device corrects a time indicated by the start time data based on the transmitted data. Thereafter, the game device executes the predetermined event (a racing game) at the time indicated by the start time data.

Abstract: A game device receives from another game device through a network calculation data. The calculation data includes, at least, position data which represents a position of an object operated by using the other game device, and time data which represents time in which the object is at the position. The game device calculates, based on the position data and the time data included in the received calculation data, a calculated position of the object as of when the calculation data is received. Further, the game device determines, based on the calculated position, a position of the object in a game space as of when the calculation data is received.

Abstract: In response to a predetermined input operation by a player, item object initial information is produced. The item object initial information is information used for introducing an item object into a virtual game world and controlling the item object in the virtual game world. Then, the item object is introduced into the virtual game world, and controlled in the virtual game world according to a predetermined rule. The item object initial information is transmitted to other video game devices. Each of the other video game devices receives the item object initial information, based on which the video game device introduces the item object into the virtual game world and then controls the item object in the virtual game world according to a predetermined rule.