IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,268,962
Granted Patent B2
US 12,268,962 · App. 17/672,301 · Granted Apr 8, 2025

Method and apparatus for using virtual item, computer device, and storage medium

Inventor: Zhihong Liu (Guangdong, CN)
Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
A63F13/55A63F13/53A63F13/837A63F2300/8076
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,268,962
App. No.
17/672,301
Granted
Apr 8, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Some aspects of the disclosure provide a method for virtual environment control. The method includes displaying a first user interface (UI) that provides a virtual environment observed from a perspective of a first virtual character that has a first virtual item, and controlling, in response to a firing instruction, the first virtual character to use the first virtual item. The method also includes determining a category of a subject in an influence range of the first virtual item from a plurality of categories that the first virtual item is capable to influence on. The plurality of categories includes at least a virtual character category and a virtual item category. The method also includes controlling the first virtual item to produce an effect on the subject based on the determined category. The effect can change an attribute value associated with the determined category of the subject.

Claims (59)

1. A method for virtual environment control, comprising:

displaying a first user interface (UI) that provides a virtual environment observed from a perspective of a first virtual character that has a first virtual item;

controlling, by processing circuitry in a terminal device, in response to a firing instruction, the first virtual character to use the first virtual item;

determining, by the processing circuitry, a category of a subject in an influence range of the first virtual item from a plurality of categories that the first virtual item is capable to influence on, the plurality of categories comprising at least a virtual character category indicating that the subject is a second virtual character and a virtual item category indicating that the subject is a second virtual item; and

controlling, by the processing circuitry, the first virtual item to produce an effect on the subject based on the determined category, the effect changing an attribute value associated with the determined category of the subject.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the controlling the first virtual item to produce the effect on the subject further comprises:

controlling, in response to the subject being the second virtual character in the virtual character category, the first virtual item to produce a first effect on the second virtual character, the first effect affecting a first attribute value of the second virtual character; and

controlling, in response to the subject being the second virtual item in the virtual item category, the first virtual item to produce a second effect on the second virtual item, the second effect changing a second attribute value of the second virtual item.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the second effect comprises at least one of destroying the second virtual item, reducing the second attribute value of the second virtual item, or increasing the second attribute value of the second virtual item.

4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein

the controlling the first virtual item to produce the second effect on the second virtual item comprises:

obtaining a type of the first virtual item;

determining the second effect corresponding to the type of the first virtual item; and

changing a specified attribute value of the second virtual item based on the second effect corresponding to the type of the first virtual item.

5. The method according to claim 4 , further comprising:

superimposing and displaying influence prompt information on the first UI based on the second effect corresponding to a type of the second virtual item, the influence prompt information prompting the second effect.

6. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the controlling the first virtual character to use the first virtual item comprises:

controlling the first virtual character to use the first virtual item toward a landing point, the landing point being a specified position in the virtual environment, and

the influence range of the first virtual item defining a space range within which distances of points to the landing point are respectively less than an effective radius.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the first virtual item is a throwing item; and

the controlling the first virtual character to use the first virtual item toward the landing point comprises:

determining a throwing path of the first virtual item, an end point of the throwing path being the landing point, the throwing path being calculated according to at least one parameter selected from the perspective of the first virtual character, a position of the first virtual character, a throwing direction by the first virtual character, a throwing starting point, a throwing force, or a throwing speed of the first virtual item;

controlling the first virtual character to throw the first virtual item along the throwing path; and

displaying, a second UI that shows a special effect line and the first virtual item moving along the special effect line, and the special effect line being determined according to at least two points on the throwing path.

8. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the first virtual item is a shooting item; and

the controlling the first virtual character to use the first virtual item toward the landing point comprises:

determining a ballistic path of the first virtual item, an end point of the ballistic path being the landing point, the ballistic path being calculated according to at least one parameter selected from the perspective of the first virtual character, a position of the first virtual character, a shooting direction, a shooting starting point, a shooting force, or a shooting speed of the first virtual item; and

controlling the first virtual character to shoot the first virtual item along the ballistic path.

9. The method according to claim 6 , wherein after the controlling the first virtual character to use the first virtual item toward the landing point, the method further comprises:

transmitting a throwing result of the first virtual item to a server, the throwing result comprising the landing point; and

receiving a use result of the first virtual item from the server, the use result comprising the effect of using the first virtual item, and the effect comprising at least one of the first effect or the second effect.

10. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the first effect further comprises an activity limitation of the second virtual character, and the activity limitation of the second virtual character comprises at least one of movement speed reduction, line-of-sight obstruction, slow activity, control manner change, item use limitation, or movement manner limitation of the second virtual character.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform the method for virtual environment control according to claim 1 .

12. A method for virtual environment control, comprising:

displaying a third user interface (UI) that provides a virtual environment observed from a perspective of a second virtual character, and a user interaction control component;

receiving a use result of a first virtual item by a first virtual character, the use result being received from a server, wherein the use result on a subject in an influence range of the first virtual item is based on a determined category from a plurality of categories that the first virtual item is capable to influence on, the plurality of categories comprising at least a virtual character category indicating that the subject is the second virtual character and a virtual item category indicating that the subject is a second virtual item; and

displaying a fourth UI in response to the subject of the use result being the second virtual character, the fourth UI provides the virtual environment observed from the perspective of the second virtual character, and the user interaction control component that is at least partially occluded.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein after the displaying the fourth UI, the method further comprises:

controlling, in response to receiving a control instruction based on the user interaction control component that is at least partially occluded, the second virtual character to move in the virtual environment, the control instruction being generated according to a trigger operation received by the user interaction control component that is at least partially occluded.

14. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the third UI further comprises a first hit point value of the second virtual character; and

the fourth UI further comprises a second hit point value of the second virtual character, the second hit point value being less than the first hit point value, a difference between the first hit point value and the second hit point value being equal to a damage value, and the damage value being equal to 0 or less than a normal attack damage value.

15. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the use result comprises a first effect produced by the first virtual item on the second virtual character, the first effect comprises an activity limitation of the second virtual character, and the activity limitation of the second virtual character comprises at least one of a movement speed reduction, a line of sight obstruction, a slow activity, a control manner change, an item use limitation, or a movement manner limitation of the second virtual character.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform the method for virtual environment control according to claim 11 .

17. An apparatus, comprising processing circuitry configured to:

display a first user interface (UI) that provides a virtual environment observed from a perspective of a first virtual character that has a first virtual item;

control, in response to a firing instruction, the first virtual character to use the first virtual item;

determine a category of a subject in an influence range of the first virtual item from a plurality of categories that the first virtual item is capable to influence on, the plurality of categories comprising at least a virtual character category indicating that the subject is a second virtual character and a virtual item category indicating that the subject is a second virtual item;

and

control the first virtual item to produce an effect on the subject based on the determined category, the effect changing an attribute value associated with the determined category of the subject.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

control, in response to the subject being the second virtual character in the virtual character category, the first virtual item to produce a first effect on the second virtual character, the first effect affecting a first attribute value of the second virtual character; and

control, in response to the subject being the second virtual item in the virtual item category, the first virtual item to produce a second effect on the second virtual item, the second effect changing a second attribute value of the second virtual item.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:

obtain a type of the first virtual item;

determine the second effect corresponding to the type of the first virtual item; and

change a specified attribute value of the second virtual item based on the second effect corresponding to the type of the first virtual item.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein

the processing circuitry is configured to control the first virtual character to use the first virtual item toward a landing point, the landing point being a specified position in the virtual environment, and

the influence range of the first virtual item defines a space range within which distances of points to the landing point are respectively less than an effective radius.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 15, 2022
From: LIU, ZHIHONG
To: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 059115/0996 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 202010048869.9 · Jan 16, 2020 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTCN2020123672 · Oct 26, 2020
Related Publication 20220168642A1 · Jun 2, 2022
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