Selecting an anchored offset targeting position
Systems and methods for precise position selection of an offset anchor from items within a map of a multiplayer game with touchscreen gestures. Specifically, the systems and methods utilize inputs from a touchscreen, to selectively define an offset targeting position in relation to a selected target, e.g., for the selective teleportation of a player's character. In essence, the methods and systems facilitate a user's or “player's” ability to precisely position an character, offset from a target object (generally referenced herein as a “target”), utilizing an intuitive offset-positioning focus point reticle. The offset-positioning focus point reticle, as described herein, allows the player to precisely and efficiently select a radial and offset position for a character to be teleported to relative to a selected target.
1. A non-transitory computer storage medium storing computer-useable instructions that, when used by one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to perform operations comprising:
providing for display a character and an object, wherein the character is associated with at least a first targeting area and the object is associated with a selection perimeter;
defining a location of a focus point reticle within the first targeting area;
selecting the object based on the location of the focus point reticle and a determination that the object is within the first targeting area;
calculating a vector from the location of the focus point reticle to the object, the vector intersecting the selection perimeter at an intersecting point, the intersecting point being a closest point along the selection perimeter to the location of the focus point reticle; and
providing for display an offset target indicator at the intersecting point along the selection perimeter.
2. The computer storage media of claim 1 , wherein the character is at a center of at least the first targeting area.
3. The computer storage media of claim 2 , wherein the first targeting area is a semicircular area that is positioned based on a direction from the character to a location of the object.
4. The computer storage media of claim 1 , further comprising:
defining the point along the selection perimeter as an offset targeting position in response to a selection of the point.
5. The computer storage media of claim 4 , wherein the location of the focus point reticle is defined based on a touch input, and the point is selected in response to a detected termination of the touch input.
6. The computer storage media of claim 4 , further comprising:
in response to the offset targeting position being defined, relocating the character to the intersecting point.
7. The computer storage media of claim 4 , further comprising:
in response to the offset targeting position being defined, changing a color of the offset target indicator.
8. The computer storage media of claim 1 , wherein the vector is calculated based on a determination that the location of the focus point reticle is outside of the selection perimeter.
9. The computer storage media of claim 1 , wherein while the location of the focus point reticle is being defined within the first targeting area, a line is drawn between the focus point reticle and the character.
10. A computer-implemented method for defining an offset targeting position relative to an object in a user interface, the method comprising:
providing for display, by a computing device, a character and the object within the user interface, wherein the character is associated with at least a first targeting area and the object is associated with a selection perimeter;
defining, by the computing device, a location of a focus point reticle displayed in the user interface and within the first targeting area based on a first signal received from a touch screen coupled to the computing device, wherein the first signal indicates receipt of a touch gesture;
selecting, by the computing device, the object based on the location of the focus point reticle and a determination that the object is within the first targeting area;
calculating, by the computing device, a vector from the location of the focus point reticle to the location of the object, the vector intersecting the selection perimeter at a point along the selection perimeter, the point being a closest point along the selection perimeter to the location of the focus point reticle; and
defining, by the computing device, the point along the selection perimeter as the offset targeting position in response to a second signal from the touch screen, wherein the second signal indicates termination of the touch gesture.
11. The method of claim 10 , comprising the offset targeting position being displayed in the user interface and along the selection perimeter.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the location of the focus point reticle is defined based on a touch input, and the point is selected in response to a detected termination of the touch input.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the character is at a center of at least the first targeting area.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first targeting area is a circular area.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the vector is calculated based on a determination that the location of the focus point reticle is outside of the selection perimeter.
16. The method of claim 10 , wherein while the location of the focus point reticle is being defined within the first targeting area, a line is drawn between the focus point reticle and the character.
17. A computerized system comprising:
one or more processors; and
one or more computer storage media storing computer-usable instructions that, when used by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
provide for display a character and an object, wherein the character is associated with at least a first targeting area and the object is associated with a selection perimeter;
define a location of a focus point reticle within the first targeting area;
select the object based on the location of the focus point reticle and a determination that the object is within the first targeting area;
based on a determination that the location of the focus point reticle is outside of the selection perimeter, calculate a vector from the location of the focus point reticle to the object, the vector intersecting a point along the selection perimeter, the point being a closest point along the selection perimeter to the location of the focus point reticle; and
provide for display an offset target indicator at the point along the selection perimeter.
18. The computerized system of claim 17 , wherein the character is at a center of at least the first targeting area.
19. The computerized system of claim 18 , wherein the first targeting area is a semicircular area that is positioned based on a direction from the character to a location of the object.
20. The computerized system of claim 17 , further comprising:
defining the point along the selection perimeter as an offset targeting position in response to a selection of the point.