A game apparatus includes a display and a touch panel provided thereon. A CPU core displays a game screen on the display. A user draw a circular arc path on the touch panel by continuously touching the touch panel with a stick or the like. In either case of continuous inputs so as to draw a clockwise circular arc path in a right-hander mode or continuous inputs so as to draw a counterclockwise circular arc path in a left-hander mode, it is concluded that the same input operations have been carried out. Accordingly, a user character is moved to the right in proportion to a predetermined angle in the right-hander mode, and the user character is moved to the left in proportion to the predetermined angle in the left-hander mode.