Rapid target selection with priority zones

Abstract

In various examples, when a user presses a button to interact with an object while playing a mobile video game, a prioritization zone around a targeting reticle can be defined. If the user positions the prioritization zone on a group of objects, a set of prioritization rules are applied to identify high importance objects (e.g., game Champions) in the prioritization zone. Based on the prioritization rules, the system can select the identified high importance object found inside the prioritization zone that is closest to the targeting reticle. In some embodiments, the prioritization zone is activated only for a defined period of time after the user presses the attack button. If the user releases the attack button during the defined period of time, the system can identify any of the objects in the prioritization zone and select a high importance object to interact with (e.g., launch an attack).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for selecting a target object, the method comprising:
 detecting termination of a touch gesture that was initiated at a graphic input element of a graphic user interface (GUI);   responsive to the detected termination of the touch gesture, determining a duration of the touch gesture and an orientation of another GUI element; and   responsive to the duration of the touch gesture being less than a duration threshold, selecting the target object within the GUI, wherein the target object is selected at least partially based on the orientation of the other GUI element.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implement method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting the target object includes:
 determining a targeting area for a player avatar within the GUI based on the orientation of the other GUI element; and   determining the target object is within the targeting area.   
     
     
         3 . The computer-implement method of  claim 2 , wherein selecting the target object further includes:
 determining direction of the touch gesture from initiation to termination;   determining a subarea within the targeting area based on the direction of the touch gesture; and   determining the target object is within the subarea.   
     
     
         4 . The computer-implement method of  claim 3 , wherein determining the subarea further includes:
 determining a distance of the touch gesture from initiation to termination; and   positioning the subarea within the targeting area based on the distance of the touch gesture.   
     
     
         5 . The computer-implement method of  4 , wherein size and shape of the subarea increases as the distance between the other GUI element player avatar and the first targeting subarea increases. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implement method of  4 , wherein the subarea dynamically adjusts in size and shape based on the distance of the touch gesture. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implement method of  claim 2 , wherein selecting the target object includes:
 identifying a plurality of potential target objects within the target area;   determining a class for each potential target object of the plurality of potential target objects, wherein the target object is selected from the plurality of potential target objects based on the class of each potential target and a set of priority rules.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the duration threshold is defined by a number of game logic frames. 
     
     
         9 . A non-transitory computer storage medium storing computer-usable instructions that, when used by one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to perform operations comprising:
 detecting termination of a touch gesture that was initiated at a graphic input element of a graphic user interface (GUI);   responsive to the detected termination of the touch gesture, determining a duration of the touch gesture and an orientation of another GUI element; and   responsive to the duration of the touch gesture being less than a duration threshold, selecting the target object within the GUI, wherein the target object is selected at least partially based on the orientation of the other GUI element.   
     
     
         10 . The computer storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein selecting the target object includes:
 determining a targeting area for a player avatar within the GUI based on the orientation of the other GUI element; and   determining the target object is within the targeting area.   
     
     
         11 . The computer storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein selecting the target object further includes:
 determining direction of the touch gesture from initiation to termination;   determining a subarea within the targeting area based on the direction of the touch gesture; and   determining the target object is within the subarea.   
     
     
         12 . The computer storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein determining the subarea further includes:
 determining a distance of the touch gesture from initiation to termination; and   positioning the subarea within the targeting area based on the distance of the touch gesture.   
     
     
         13 . The computer storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein size and shape of the subarea increases as the distance between the other GUI element player avatar and the first targeting subarea increases. 
     
     
         14 . The computer storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein the subarea dynamically adjusts in size and shape based on the distance of the touch gesture. 
     
     
         15 . The computer storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein selecting the target object includes:
 identifying a plurality of potential target objects within the target area;   determining a class for each potential target object of the plurality of potential target objects, wherein the target object is selected from the plurality of potential target objects based on the class of each potential target and a set of priority rules.   
     
     
         16 . A system comprising:
 at least one processor, and   at least one storage medium storing computer-usable instructions that, when used by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:
 detecting termination of a touch gesture that was initiated at a graphic input element of a graphic user interface (GUI); 
 responsive to the detected termination of the touch gesture, determining a duration of the touch gesture and an orientation of another GUI element; and 
 responsive to the duration of the touch gesture being less than a duration threshold, selecting the target object within the GUI, wherein the target object is selected at least partially based on the orientation of the other GUI element. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein selecting the target object includes:
 determining a targeting area for a player avatar within the GUI based on the orientation of the other GUI element; and   determining the target object is within the targeting area.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein selecting the target object further includes:
 determining direction of the touch gesture from initiation to termination;   determining a subarea within the targeting area based on the direction of the touch gesture; and   determining the target object is within the subarea.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein determining the subarea further includes:
 determining a distance of the touch gesture from initiation to termination; and   positioning the subarea within the targeting area based on the distance of the touch gesture.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein selecting the target object includes:
 identifying a plurality of potential target objects within the target area;   determining a class for each potential target object of the plurality of potential target objects, wherein the target object is selected from the plurality of potential target objects based on the class of each potential target and a set of priority rules.