Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Alistair J Baxter

Christopher Michael Novak

Peter W Wong

David Scott Jones

Billy Thompson

The present invention is directed generally toward computer-implemented methods for targeting objects in a gaming system. One aspect of the invention is directed toward a method for targeting an object in a gaming system that includes receiving a soft lock command and applying a soft lock to an object in the game. The soft lock designates an action site on a portion of the object that was proximate to an aiming reference when the soft lock was commanded. The action site is proximate to a location where a selected game action will occur if the game action is commanded. Once the soft lock is applied, the aiming reference can be moved away from the action site. Another aspect of the invention is directed toward a method of targeting an object in a gaming system that includes receiving a command to hard lock a portion of an object, applying the hard lock, and displaying at least one selectable sub-target associated with the object. During the hard lock, the aiming reference remains at least proximate to the portion of the object. When selected, a sub-target includes an action site on part of the object proximate to a location where game action will occur if selected.

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Dundee, United Kingdom

Alistair J Baxter