A computer-readable storage medium having an information processing program stored therein, the information processing program being executed by a computer of an information processing apparatus that is capable of receiving touch position input from a pointing device that is capable of designating an arbitrary touch position in a multidimensional designation area, the information processing program causing the computer to act as: designate coordinates receiving means for repeatedly receiving designated coordinates, represented by an X-coordinate value and a Y-coordinate value, that indicate a touch position, in the designation area, designated by the pointing device; area determination means for determining whether or not the designated coordinates received by the designated coordinates receiving means belong to a first designation area (Na) in the designation area, and determining whether or not the designated coordinates received by the designated coordinates receiving means belong to a second designation area (Xa or Ya) in the designation area; characterized by first processing means (S28 to 831) for, when the area determination means has determined that the designated coordinates belong to the first designation area, performing predetermined processing for controlling a predetermined control target in a virtual space by using a direction that is based on the change amount of both of the X-coordinate value and the Y-coordinates value of the designated coordinates received by the designated coordinates receiving means; and second processing means (S32 to S34) for, when the area determination means has determined that the designated coordinates belong to the second designation area, performing the predetermined processing for controlling the predetermined control target in the virtual space by using a direction, which is based on the change amount of only one of the X-coordinate value and the Y-coordinate value of the designated coordinates received by the designated coordinates receiving means, so as to extend along a predetermined direction. designate coordinates receiving means for repeatedly receiving designated coordinates, represented by an X-coordinate value and a Y-coordinate value, that indicate a touch position, in the designation area, designated by the pointing device; area determination means for determining whether or not the designated coordinates received by the designated coordinates receiving means belong to a first designation area (Na) in the designation area, and determining whether or not the designated coordinates received by the designated coordinates receiving means belong to a second designation area (Xa or Ya) in the designation area; characterized by first processing means (S28 to 831) for, when the area determination means has determined that the designated coordinates belong to the first designation area, performing predetermined processing for controlling a predetermined control target in a virtual space by using a direction that is based on the change amount of both of the X-coordinate value and the Y-coordinates value of the designated coordinates received by the designated coordinates receiving means; and second processing means (S32 to S34) for, when the area determination means has determined that the designated coordinates belong to the second designation area, performing the predetermined processing for controlling the predetermined control target in the virtual space by using a direction, which is based on the change amount of only one of the X-coordinate value and the Y-coordinate value of the designated coordinates received by the designated coordinates receiving means, so as to extend along a predetermined direction.