Information processing apparatus capable of achieving improved usability, method of controlling information processing apparatus, non-transitory storage medium encoded with program readable by computer of information processing apparatus, and information processing system

1. An information processing apparatus which is capable of communicating with an operation apparatus, the information processing apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive operation data representing an operation by a user onto the operation apparatus; and

a controller,

the controller configured to:

determine whether a main surface of the operation apparatus is vertically oriented or horizontally oriented based on the received operation data;

while a first application is executed, set, in response to instructions received by the first application and based on whether the main surface of the operation apparatus is vertically oriented or horizontally oriented, a first mode in which first information processing is performed based on the received operation data or a second mode in which second information processing is performed based on the received operation data,

transition from execution of the first application to execution of a second application showing a menu screen in which a plurality of applications including the first application can selectively be executed, wherein the first or second mode set while the first application is executed is maintained when the transition to execution of the second application is made, and

while the second application is executed, change from one set mode to the other mode when a prescribed condition is satisfied.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the first information processing is prescribed processing based on the operation data, and

the second information processing is prescribed processing which converts the operation data into converted operation data and is based on the converted operation data.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

first operation data representing a first operation in the first mode and the converted operation data resulting from conversion of second operation data representing a second operation in the second mode are identical to each other.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the controller makes transition from execution of the first application to execution of the second application based on the operation data received by the receiver.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the prescribed condition corresponds to a prescribed operation by the user.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the controller is configured to execute the second application at start-up and sets the first mode at the start-up.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the second application includes showing, simultaneously with the plurality of applications, an icon for registering the operation apparatus.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the first application includes a game application program.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the controller is configured to execute a system application stored in advance in a main body of the information processing apparatus, and

the first application indicates execution of the system application.

10. An information processing apparatus which is capable of communicating with an operation apparatus, the information processing apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive operation data representing an operation by a user onto the operation apparatus; and

a controller configured to:

while a first application is executed, set, in response to instructions received by the first application, a first mode in which first information processing is performed based on the received operation data or a second mode in which second information processing is performed based on the received operation data,

transition from execution of the first application to execution of a second application showing a menu screen in which a plurality of applications including the first application can selectively be executed, wherein the first or second mode set while the first application is executed is maintained when the transition to execution of the second application is made,

transition from execution of the second application to a sleep mode, and

change from one set mode to the other mode when returning from the sleep mode.

11. A method of controlling an information processing apparatus which is capable of communicating with an operation apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving operation data representing an operation by a user onto the operation apparatus;

determining whether a main surface of the operation apparatus is vertically oriented or horizontally oriented based on the received operation data;

while a first application is executed, setting, in response to instructions received by the first application and based on whether the main surface of the operation apparatus is vertically oriented or horizontally oriented, a first mode in which first information processing is performed based on the received operation data or a second mode in which second information processing is performed based on the received operation data;

transitioning from execution of the first application to execution of a second application showing a menu screen in which a plurality of applications including the first application can selectively be executed, wherein the first or second mode set while the first application is executed is maintained when the transition to execution of the second application is made; and

while the second application is executed, changing from one set mode to the other mode when a prescribed condition is satisfied.

12. An information processing system comprising:

an operation apparatus; and

an information processing apparatus which is capable of communicating with the operation apparatus,

the operation apparatus including

an operation portion, and

a transmitter configured to transmit operation data representing an operation by a user onto the operation portion to the information processing apparatus,

the information processing apparatus including

a receiver configured to receive the operation data from the operation apparatus, and

a controller,

the controller is configured to:

determine whether a main surface of the operation apparatus is vertically oriented or horizontally oriented based on the received operation data;

while a first application is executed, set, in response to instructions received by the first application and based on whether the main surface of the operation apparatus is vertically oriented or horizontally oriented, a first mode in which first information processing is performed based on the received operation data or a second mode in which second information processing is performed based on the received operation data,

transition from execution of the first application to execution of a second application showing a menu screen in which a plurality of applications including the first application can selectively be executed, wherein the first or second mode set while the first application is executed is maintained when the transition to execution of the second application is made, and

while the second application is executed, changing from one set mode to the other mode when a prescribed condition is satisfied.

13. An information processing system comprising:

an operation apparatus; and

an information processing apparatus which is capable of communicating with the operation apparatus,

the operation apparatus including an operation portion and a transmitter configured to transmit operation data representing an operation by a user onto the operation portion to the information processing apparatus,

the information processing apparatus including a receiver configured to receive the operation data from the operation apparatus and a controller,

the controller is configured to:

while a first application is executed, set, in response to instructions received by the first application, a first mode in which first information processing is performed based on the received operation data or a second mode in which second information processing is performed based on the received operation data,

transition from execution of the first application to execution of a second application showing a menu screen in which a plurality of applications including the first application can selectively be executed, wherein the first or second mode set while the first application is executed is maintained when the transition to execution of the second application is made, and

while the second application is executed, changing from one set mode to the other mode when a prescribed condition is satisfied, wherein the operation data indicates whether operation buttons on the operation apparatus are pressed and the first or second mode is set, in the first application, based on which of the operation buttons are simultaneously pressed.

14. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to wirelessly communicate with a user controller; and

a processing system including at least one processor and memory, the processing system coupled to the receiver and configured to:

execute a first application;

during execution of the first application, receive, from the user controller, operation data corresponding operations detected by the user controller;

based on the received operation data, determine whether the user controller is operated in a horizontal orientation or a vertical orientation;

during execution of the first application, set, based on whether the user controller is operated in the horizontal orientation or the vertical orientation, the user controller to a first mode in which information processing is performed based on the received operation data or a second mode in which information processing is performed based the received operation data which is converted into converted operation data; and

transition from execution of the first application to execution of a second application showing a menu screen in which a plurality of applications including the first application can selectively be executed, wherein the first or second mode set during execution of the first application is maintained when the transition to execution of the second application is made.

15. The information processing apparatus of claim 14 , wherein determining whether the user controller is operated in the horizontal orientation or the vertical orientation is made based on which operation buttons on the user controller are simultaneously pressed.