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How to make objects target specific players in online multiplayer games

🎯 Need help with multiplayer object targeting? Want objects to move to specific players? 🚀 Get Expert Help

CC

CloudCoder_Dev

Posted on January 25, 2024 • Intermediate

🎮 Objects stuck in center - need player targeting!

Hey everyone! I’ve been following Griffpatch’s multiplayer tutorial and I’m stuck on something. I have objects in my cloud-based multiplayer game, but they just sit in the center of the screen instead of going to specific players.

What I want to achieve:

  • Objects should move directly to Player 1 when a button is pressed
  • This needs to work in an ONLINE multiplayer environment (cloud variables)
  • Other players should see the object moving to the correct target
  • The system should handle multiple players properly

I think I can figure out the button press detection, but I’m completely lost on how to make objects target specific players in a cloud game. The regular “go to Player 1” block doesn’t work the same way in multiplayer! 😅

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

ME

MultiplayerDev_Expert

Replied 2 hours later • ⭐ Best Answer

Great question @CloudCoder_Dev! Object targeting in cloud-based multiplayer games is definitely more complex than single-player. Let me walk you through a complete solution!

🎯 Multiplayer Object Targeting System

Here’s how the targeting system works in cloud games:

flowchart TD A[🎮 Button Pressed] --> B{Check Player ID} B --> C[📡 Send Target Command to Cloud] C --> D[☁️ Cloud Variable Updated] D --> E[📥 All Clients Receive Update] E --> F{Am I the Target?} F -->|Yes| G[🎯 Object Moves to Me] F -->|No| H[👀 Watch Object Move to Target] G --> I[📍 Update My Position in Cloud] H --> J[📍 Read Target Position from Cloud] I --> K[✅ Movement Complete] J --> L[🎨 Animate Object Movement] L --> K K --> M[🔄 Ready for Next Target] style A fill:#e3f2fd style D fill:#fff3e0 style G fill:#e8f5e8 style K fill:#f3e5f5

☁️ Cloud Variable Setup

First, set up the necessary cloud variables:

🆔 Player Identification System

Each player needs a unique ID for targeting:

🎯 Object Targeting Implementation

Here’s the core targeting system for your objects:

🎨 Object Movement Animation

Smooth movement animation for the targeting object:

🔄 Multi-Player Targeting System

For games with multiple players, use this enhanced system:

📍 Player Position Tracking

Track all player positions for accurate targeting:

🎯 Advanced Targeting Features

Add these features for a more robust system:

🔄 Automatic Target Switching:
⚡ Smart Targeting (Closest Player):

🛠️ Troubleshooting Tips

  • Sync Issues: Add a small delay between cloud variable updates
  • Player Disconnection: Check if target player is still active
  • Object Stuck: Reset object position if no valid target
  • Multiple Objects: Use separate cloud variables for each object

This system will give you smooth, synchronized object targeting across all players in your cloud game! 🚀

GP

GriffpatchFan_Pro

Replied 1 hour later

Excellent explanation @MultiplayerDev_Expert! 🎉

Just want to add that if you’re following Griffpatch’s tutorial specifically, make sure to adapt the player ID system to match his naming conventions. He often uses different variable names for player tracking.

Also, for better performance, consider using a “target queue” system if you have many objects that need targeting. This prevents cloud variable spam! 👍

CC

CloudCoder_Dev

Replied 3 hours later

@MultiplayerDev_Expert @GriffpatchFan_Pro This is EXACTLY what I needed! 🙌

The cloud variable system makes so much more sense now. I was trying to use local “go to” blocks which obviously don’t work in multiplayer. The player ID tracking is genius!

Just implemented this and it works perfectly. Objects now smoothly target the right players and everyone sees the same movement. Thank you both so much! 🎮✨

CV

CloudVariable_Master

Replied 1 day later

For anyone implementing this system, here’s a pro tip: use a “heartbeat” system to detect when players disconnect. If a targeted player leaves, automatically switch to the next available player!

This prevents objects from getting stuck targeting disconnected players! 🔧

VB

Vibelf_Community

Pinned Message • Moderator

🚀 Master Advanced Multiplayer Development!

Fantastic discussion on multiplayer object targeting! For developers looking to create even more sophisticated multiplayer systems, our expert tutors can help you with:

  • 🎯 Advanced targeting algorithms and AI behavior
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