---
key: mechanic/point-and-click--family-43
type: mechanic
id: point-and-click--family-43
lang: en
title: Input and action selection
summary: >-
  The input method determines how the player expresses an intention and selects
  an action.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/point-and-click--family-43/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/point-and-click--family-43.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/point-and-click--family-43.md
aliases: []
tags:
  - Point-and-click adventures
  - Interface and assistance
sourceIds:
  - source-796ac91c3a695e59
sources:
  - id: source-796ac91c3a695e59
    title: Day of the Tentacle Remastered
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/388210/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations:
  - type: explains
    direction: incoming
    label: Understand the principle
    key: lesson/input-and-feedback
    title: Input and feedback
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/lessons/input-and-feedback/'
    jsonUrl: >-
      https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/lesson/input-and-feedback.json
    markdownUrl: >-
      https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/lesson/input-and-feedback.md
placements:
  - catalogId: point-and-click
    id: family-43
    title: Point-and-click adventures
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/point-and-click/#family-43'
    categoryIds:
      - section-7
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Input and action selection
    description: >-
      The input method determines how the player expresses an intention and
      selects an action.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/adventure-day-of-the-tentacle-07.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      crop:
        x: 180
        'y': 0
        width: 1080
        height: 810
      game: Day of the Tentacle Remastered
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/388210/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/388210/ss_9eefffbc6bf66978cb5b8570665b09774d4f604a.1920x1080.jpg?t=1731602439
      credit: Double Fine Productions / Shiny Shoe
      rights: >-
        Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Publisher-distributed
        Steam screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.
      caption: The verb and target object are selected separately
      alt: The verb and target object are selected separately
      markers:
        - x: 28
          'y': 87
          label: The verb panel expresses an intention
        - x: 68
          'y': 82
          label: Inventory supplies an action object
    tips:
      - Show the selected intention and valid target before execution.
    examples:
      - title: Day of the Tentacle Remastered
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/388210/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original taxonomy adapted from user-selected design discussions; linked
  sources support specific examples, not the whole classification.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/point-and-click
---
# Input and action selection

id: point-and-click--family-43
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/point-and-click--family-43
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/point-and-click--family-43/

The input method determines how the player expresses an intention and selects an action.

## At a glance

![The verb and target object are selected separately](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/adventure-day-of-the-tentacle-07.webp)

[Day of the Tentacle Remastered](https://store.steampowered.com/app/388210/) · Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Publisher-distributed Steam screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.

1. The verb panel expresses an intention
2. Inventory supplies an action object

- Show the selected intention and valid target before execution.

- [Day of the Tentacle Remastered](https://store.steampowered.com/app/388210/)

## How it works

The input method determines how the player expresses an intention and selects an action.

## Variants

### Variants

<a id="family-43-branch-1"></a>

- Verb panels: select an action before its target. <a id="family-43-variant-1"></a>
- Context cursors: choose actions according to object and situation. <a id="family-43-variant-2"></a>
- Pointer buttons: assign inspection, action, cancellation and commands to different buttons. <a id="family-43-variant-3"></a>
- Radial or context menus: choose around objects or from popup lists. <a id="family-43-variant-4"></a>
- Dragging: transfer items onto targets, align elements and position them. <a id="family-43-variant-5"></a>
- Holding and repetition: sustain presses, click repeatedly or vary duration. <a id="family-43-variant-6"></a>
- Text: enter commands, passwords, names, numbers or original answers. <a id="family-43-variant-7"></a>
- Device interfaces: manipulate handles, gauges, parts and panels directly. <a id="family-43-variant-8"></a>

## Context and limits

A working classification with 44 families and 355 variants. Families overlap: one puzzle can combine items, dialogue, deduction and a character schedule. Core actions, progression architecture and assistance are separate layers. Sources identify examples from neighboring adventure genres.

## Connected materials

- Understand the principle: [Input and feedback](https://gamemechanics.pro/en/lessons/input-and-feedback/) (key: lesson/input-and-feedback)

## Sources and provenance

Original taxonomy adapted from user-selected design discussions; linked sources support specific examples, not the whole classification.

- [Day of the Tentacle Remastered](https://store.steampowered.com/app/388210/) (id: source-796ac91c3a695e59)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors