Techniques for improved user interface helping super guides

Abstract

User interface approaches to providing help to players by playing back previously recorded inputs. Certain exemplary embodiments involve displaying, with the recorded playback, an input device icon to show where the inputs are occurring and/or where the inputs should occur if the player were to make them. Modifications are made to the previously recorded input to improve the user's ability to see what is happening, as well as making the playback seem more consistent, mechanical, and automatic. The help makes the computer application seem like the user interface is operating itself in a way that is easy to follow, rather than giving the impression that a previously recorded user input stream simply is being played back in accordance with the more organic and potentially idiosyncratic behaviors of the recorded person. The modifications may in certain exemplary embodiments include, for example, path smoothing/correction, automatic snapping, delay periods, speed normalization, etc.