2d control over 3d virtual environments

A non-transitory computer-readable medium with instructions stored thereon that, responsive to execution by a processing device, causes the processing device to perform operations comprising:

• providing a three-dimensional (3D) virtual experience that includes at least one interactive displayed graphical element and a two-dimensional (2D) interaction mode, the at least one interactive displayed graphical element having at least two portions for interaction with by an avatar, and the 2D interaction mode being activatable by the avatar or a user in control of the avatar;
• receiving first indication that the avatar is within a threshold distance of the at least one interactive displayed graphical element within the virtual experience and second indication that the at least one interactive displayed graphical element is within a viewport associated with the avatar;
• receiving an activation signal to activate the 2D interaction mode;
• in response to the first indication, the second indication, and the activation signal, automatically providing a projection of the at least two portions onto a 2D plane within the viewport associated with the avatar, the provided projection including bounding box representations of each portion of the at least two portions, and the bounding box representations being selectable by the avatar;
• receiving a selection of one or more of the bounding box representations;
• and
• performing a function associated with the selection, the function identical to an associated function of the at least one interactive graphical element.

A system, comprising:

• a memory with instructions stored thereon;
• and
• a processing device, coupled to the memory and operable to access the memory, wherein the instructions when executed by the processing device, cause the processing device to perform operations including:
• providing a three-dimensional (3D) virtual experience that includes at least one interactive displayed graphical element and a two-dimensional (2D) interaction mode, the at least one interactive displayed graphical element having at least two portions for interaction with by an avatar, and the 2D interaction mode being activatable by the avatar or a user in control of the avatar;
• receiving first indication that the avatar is within a threshold distance of the at least one interactive displayed graphical element within the virtual experience and second indication that the at least one interactive displayed graphical element is within a viewport associated with the avatar;
• receiving an activation signal to activate the 2D interaction mode;
• in response to the first indication, the second indication, and the activation signal, automatically providing a projection of the at least two portions onto a 2D plane within the viewport associated with the avatar, the provided projection including bounding box representations of each portion of the at least two portions, and the bounding box representations being selectable by the avatar;
• receiving a selection of one or more of the bounding box representations;
• and
• performing a function associated with the selection, the function identical to an associated function of the at least one interactive graphical element.