Precision Placement Tool for Accurate Touchscreen Map Pings
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games on mobile devices face challenges with map visibility due to small screen sizes and processing limitations, leading to decreased accuracy in placing communication pings and limited big-picture views, as current solutions like panning and pinch to zoom are too slow for real-time gameplay.
Innovation Solution
A precision placement tool that displays an enlarged depiction of the map portion obscured by a touch gesture, allowing simultaneous display of the remainder of the map, with visual context indicators to assist in accurate placement of communication pings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If panning and pinch to zoom tools are used to increase map visibility accuracy, then placement precision is improved, but gameplay speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-renders and stores map textures at multiple resolution levels and generates thumbnail previews before they are needed during gameplay. This preliminary preparation allows the precision placement tool to instantly display high-resolution map portions without requiring real-time rendering, thus maintaining both placement precision and gameplay speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The precision placement tool dynamically adjusts the displayed map portion based on the player's touch gesture position and movement. As the player drags their finger across the screen, the tool continuously updates to show the corresponding obscured map area, providing real-time feedback without requiring slow panning operations. This dynamic adaptation eliminates the need for manual panning while maintaining placement accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If panning and pinch to zoom tools are used to view map portions, then placement accuracy is improved, but the time required to navigate the map increases
Solution Approach 1:
The precision placement tool acts as an intermediary overlay that simultaneously displays both the current visible map area and the obscured map portions. This intermediary interface allows players to see placement targets that are currently hidden under their finger while maintaining context of the overall map, eliminating the need to pause gameplay for navigation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-generates thumbnail previews of map portions at various locations, allowing the precision placement tool to instantly display high-resolution views of obscured areas without requiring real-time rendering or navigation. This pre-computation eliminates navigation delays while maintaining placement accuracy.
3Area of stationary object
If the map is displayed at full size to maintain big-picture view, then strategic overview is improved, but placement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The map display is segmented into multiple resolution levels: the full map is displayed at normal size for strategic overview, while the precision placement tool overlays a segmented, high-resolution view of the specific obscured portion being targeted. This segmentation allows players to maintain big-picture awareness while accessing detailed views for precise placement without sacrificing either benefit.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A system and method for precise positioning of items such as communication pings in a map of a multiplayer game with touchscreen gestures. Specifically, the method can include displaying a dynamic image or map on a touchscreen and receiving a touch gesture thereon. The touch gesture can begin at a tool selection icon and end at a release location within the map. Then the method can include, in response to the touch gesture, displaying a precision placement tool that depicts a portion of the map obscured by the received touch gesture. The depiction can be an enlarged depiction of the obscured portion and is displayed outside of the obscured portion. Finally, the method can include displaying a change to the map at the release location when the touch gesture ends. Specifically, at the release location, items such as communication pings can be placed onto the map.