Touch screen with virtual joystick and methods for use therewith

A method for use with an electronic device that includes a touch screen, the method comprising:

• generating joystick display data for display on the touch screen of the electronic device, wherein the joystick display data creates a visual representation of a virtual joystick when displayed on the touch screen, wherein the visual representation of the virtual joystick includes an actuator that moves within a boundary;
• determining when touch data of the touch screen indicates user interaction with the virtual joystick;
• when the touch data indicates user interaction with the virtual joystick:
• adjusting the joystick display data based on the touch data to reflect the user interaction with the virtual joystick, by modifying a position of the actuator to correspond to a position of the touch of the touch screen;
• generating joystick data based on the user interaction with the virtual joystick, wherein display of a game object of a game on the touch screen is controlled based on the joystick data and wherein generating the joystick data based on the user interaction with the virtual joystick includes:
• generating orientation data that indicates an orientation of the virtual joystick;
• when the orientation data compares favorably to one of a plurality of capture orientation ranges, generating the joystick data to indicate a corresponding capture orientation associated with the one of the plurality of capture orientation ranges;
• when the orientation data compares favorably to at least one non-capture orientation range that is distinct from the plurality of capture orientation ranges, generating the joystick data to indicate the orientation indicated by the orientation data;
• and
• when the orientation data compares favorably to at least one null orientation range that is distinct from the plurality of capture orientation ranges and the at least one non-capture orientation range, generating the joystick data to indicate a null orientation corresponding to the at least one null orientation range, wherein the at least one null orientation range, the plurality of capture orientation ranges and the at least one non-capture orientation range collectively comprise a full 360 degree range of possible orientations of the joystick data.