Heads-up display for a gaming environment

1. A computer-implemented method of displaying graphical elements in a virtual game environment, comprising, by operation of one or more computer processors:

outputting a graphical user object for display in a screen representing the virtual game environment, the graphical user object representing a user and being configured to be moved in the virtual game environment by input from the user;

outputting a heads-up display graphical element projected onto the graphical user object such that the heads-up display graphical element is displayed as part of the graphical user object, wherein the heads-up display graphical element moves within the screen according to the movement of the graphical user object within the screen, and wherein the heads-up display graphical element represents at least one of gaming metrics and user-selectable gaming options which, when selected by the user, affects at least one aspect of gameplay;

moving the graphical user object within the screen in response to a directional input from the user; and

moving the heads-up display graphical element closer to a focal area within the screen as a velocity of the graphical user object increases.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gaming metrics comprise at least one of (i) a current speed of the graphical user object, (ii) a current race position of the graphical user object, (iv) a current tachometer value, (iv) a current lap of a race and (v) a total number of laps in the race.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gaming metrics comprise at least one of (i) a health value, (ii) a point total, (iii) a point multiplier and (iv) a power meter.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

responsive to the directional input from the user, modifying a display position of the heads-up display graphical element in the screen by adjusting at least one of (i) a camera angle of the virtual game environment and (ii) a display angle of the heads-up display graphical element.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

adjusting a position of the heads-up display graphical element within the screen, based on an occurrence of an event within the virtual game environment.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the heads-up display graphical element is displayed as having the texture of the surface in the virtual environment.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the focal area comprises at least a portion of the graphical user object.

8. A computer-implemented method of displaying functional user-affected variables in a racing game display, comprising:

providing a computer game having (i) a user-manipulated object in a virtual environment and (ii) a set of user-controlled variables that reflect a current state of the user-manipulated object in the virtual environment;

displaying the user-manipulated object on the racing game display;

displaying the user-controlled variables within a heads-up display graphical element of the racing game display as a set of graphical representations projected onto the user-manipulated object, such that the heads-up display graphical element is displayed as part of the user-manipulated object wherein the heads-up display graphical element moves within the screen according to the movement of the user-manipulated object;

moving the user-manipulated object within the screen in response to a directional input from the user; and

adjusting a position of the heads-up display graphical element within the racing game display, wherein the heads-up display graphical element moves closer to a focal area within the racing game display as a velocity of the user-manipulated object increases.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the user-controlled variables comprise at least one of (i) a current speed of the user-manipulated object in the virtual environment, (ii) a current race position of the user-manipulated object, (iv)a current tachometer value, (iv) a current lap of a race and (v) a total number of laps in the race.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the user-controlled variables comprise at least one of (i) a health value, (ii) a point total, (iii) a point multiplier and (iv) a power meter.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein adjusting the position of the heads-up display graphical element further comprises:

in response to directional input from a user, modifying the position of the heads-up display graphical element within the screen by adjusting at least one of (i) a camera angle of the virtual game environment and (ii) a display angle of the heads-up display graphical element.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein adjusting the position of the heads-up display graphical element is further based on an occurrence of an event within the computer game.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the heads-up display graphical element is displayed as having the texture of the surface in the virtual environment.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the focal area comprises at least a portion of the user-manipulated object.

15. A system, comprising:

a computer processor; and

a memory containing a program that, when executed on the computer processor, performs an operation of displaying graphical elements in a virtual game environment, comprising:

outputting a graphical user object for display in a screen representing the virtual game environment, the graphical user object representing a user and being configured to be moved in the virtual game environment by input from the user;

outputting a heads-up display graphical element as projected onto the graphical user object, such that the heads-up display graphical element is displayed as part of the graphical user object, wherein the heads-up display graphical element moves within the screen according to the movement of the graphical user object within the screen, wherein the heads-up display graphical element represents at least one of gaming metrics and user-selectable gaming options which, when selected by the user, affects at least one aspect of gameplay;

moving the graphical user object within the screen in response to a directional input from the user; and

moving the heads-up display graphical element closer to a focal area within the screen as a velocity of the graphical user object increases.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the gaming metrics comprise at least one of (i) a current speed of the user-manipulated object in the virtual environment, (ii) a current race position of the user-manipulated object, (iv) a current tachometer value, (iv) a current lap of a race and (v) a total number of laps in the race.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the gaming metrics comprise at least one of (i) a health value, (ii) a point total, (iii) a point multiplier and (iv) a power meter.

18. The system of claim 15 , further comprising:

responsive to the directional input from the user, modifying a display position of the heads-up display in the screen by adjusting at least one of (i) a camera angle of the virtual game environment and (ii) a display angle of the heads-up display graphical element.

19. The system of claim 15 , further comprising:

adjusting a position of the heads-up display graphical element within the screen, based on an occurrence of an event within the virtual game environment.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the heads-up display graphical element is displayed as having the texture of the surface in the virtual environment.

21. The system of claim 15 , wherein the focal area comprises at least a portion of the graphical user object.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing a program that, when executed, performs an operation of displaying functional user-affected variables in a racing game display, comprising:

providing a computer game having (i) a user-manipulated object in a virtual environment and (ii) a set of user-controlled variables that reflect a current state of the user-manipulated object in the virtual environment;

displaying the user-manipulated object on the racing game display;

displaying the user-controlled variables within a heads-up display graphical element of the racing game display as a set of graphical representations projected onto the user-manipulated object, such that the heads-up display graphical element is displayed as part of the user-manipulated object, wherein the heads-up display graphical element moves within the screen according to the movement of the user-manipulated object within the screen, and wherein the heads-up display graphical element represents at least one of gaming metrics and user-selectable gaming options which, when selected by the user, affects at least one aspect of gameplay;

moving the user-manipulated object within the screen in response to a directional input from the user; and

adjusting a position of the heads-up display graphical element within the racing game display, wherein the heads-up display graphical element moves closer to a focal area within the racing game display as a velocity of the user-manipulated object increases.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22 , wherein the user-controlled variables are displayed in a predefined viewing region of the racing game display to declutter the racing game display.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22 , wherein the focal area comprises at least a portion of the user-manipulated object.