User interface control cluster for enhancing a gaming experience

An apparatus, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory having computer executable instruction stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:
• cause a user interface comprising an interactive virtual environment to be output by a display;
• cause a control cluster to be included in the user interface and overlapping with the interactive virtual environment, the control cluster comprising an array of icon areas positioned in an arced pattern around a trigger icon area;
• cause a first image to be displayed in a first icon area of the array of icon areas and a second image in a second icon area of the array of icon areas;
• cause a copy of the first image to be displayed in the trigger icon area or a copy of the second image to be displayed in the trigger icon area;
• cause a readiness level of a game play feature to be executed based on a user input to change based on one or more of a first type of occurrence in the interactive virtual environment associated with the first image or a second type of occurrence in the interactive virtual environment associated with the second image;
• cause the readiness level to change by a first amount based on the first type of occurrence in the interactive virtual environment or by a second amount based on the second type of occurrence in the interactive virtual different from the first amount;
• and
• cause the copy of the first image displayed in the trigger icon area or the copy of the second image displayed in the trigger icon area to be replaced with a trigger image indicating the game play feature is ready to be executed.