An input coordinate point on a display device is obtained from a pointing device. Based on the input coordinate point, an object is moved to a position in the virtual space, the position corresponding to the input coordinate point. Then, the display device is caused to display the virtual space on a display area. As the object moves in the virtual game world, the entire displayable area on the display area that represents the virtual world is set, only a subset of which is displayed on the display area based on the position of the object, which subset scrolls along with the movement of the object. Depending on the position on the displayed area in accordance with the movement of the object, either the displayed area moves or a position of the object relative to the displayed area moves.