Anchored offset position selection

Abstract

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.

We claim: 
     
         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:
 selecting a first object based on a location of a focus point reticle and a determination that the first object is within a targeting area, wherein the first object is associated with a selection perimeter;   calculating a vector from the location of the focus point reticle to a point on the selection perimeter closest to the location of the focus point reticle; and   providing, for display, an offset target indicator at the point along the selection perimeter.   
     
     
         2 . The computer storage media of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing, for display, a second object at a location in the targeting area.   
     
     
         3 . The computer storage media of  claim 2 , wherein the targeting area comprises an arcuate outer boundary that is positioned based on a direction from the location of the second object to a location of the first object. 
     
     
         4 . The computer storage media of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 defining the point along the selection perimeter as an offset targeting position in response to a selection of the point along the selection perimeter.   
     
     
         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 along the selection perimeter 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, displaying the second object at the point along the selection perimeter.   
     
     
         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 2 , wherein while the location of the focus point reticle is being defined within the targeting area, a line is drawn between the focus point reticle and the second object. 
     
     
         10 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 determining a first location of a focus point reticle;   determining that the first location of the focus point reticle is outside a selection perimeter associated with a first object located within a targeting area;   detecting a first input command corresponding to movement of the focus point reticle to a second location within the selection perimeter; and   based on the detecting, defining the second location of the focus point reticle as a target indicator.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 based on the detecting, determining that a vector extending from the focus point reticle to the target indicator does not begin outside the selection perimeter.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 displaying a second object at a third location in the targeting area.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 displaying the second object at the second location based on (a) the defining the second location of the focus point reticle as the target indicator and (b) a second input command.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first input command is a touch input, and wherein the second input command is a termination of the touch input. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the targeting area comprises an arcuate outer boundary that is positioned based on a direction from the location of the second object to a location of the first object. 
     
     
         16 . 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 move a second object from a first location in a virtual environment to a second location in the virtual environment, wherein the moving is based on:
 selection of a first object based on a location of a focus point reticle and a determination that the first object is within a targeting area, wherein the first object is associated with a selection perimeter; and 
 calculation of a vector from the location of the focus point reticle to a point on the selection perimeter closest to the location of the focus point reticle, wherein the point on the selection perimeter is the second location in the virtual environment. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the targeting area comprises an arcuate outer boundary that is positioned based on a direction from a location of the second object to a location of the first object. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the location of the focus point reticle is defined based on a touch input, and the point along the selection perimeter is selected in response to a detected termination of the touch input. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the second object is displayed at the point along the selection perimeter in response to the selection of the point along the selection perimeter. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to draw a line between the focus point reticle and the second object based on the defining of the location of the focus point reticle.