Collections in a Virtual Environment

• US 20070225071A1
• Filed: 03/29/2007
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leviathan Entertainment, LLC
• Original Assignee: Leviathan Entertainment, LLC
• Inventors: Van Luchene, Andrew, Mueller, Raymond
• Granted Patent: US 9,440,151 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8058 Virtual breeding, e.g. tamagotchi
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8082 Virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/006 based on simulated virtual individual or collective life forms, e.g. social simulations or particle swarm optimisation [PSO]

Abstract

A virtual environment in which players are able to enter into financial transactions which result in a financial obligation such as a debt. If a player defaults on a debt, the debts may then be sold or otherwise transferred to a virtual collection agency, which may be able to mete out a consequence to the defaulting player. Alternatively, the consequence may be meted out by the game server or other entity.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a virtual environment wherein players can interact with each other and the environment via avatars;

providing a mechanism whereby players can incur debts through financial transactions in the virtual environment;

determining if a player has defaulted on a debt incurred in the virtual environment;

providing a collections process whereby the player is forced to suffer a consequence until the debt is repayed.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the consequence is alteration of the physical appearance of the player'"'"'s avatar.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the alteration is an image attached to the avatar.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the image is a ball and chain.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the image includes indicia that provides information to other players regarding the current credit worthiness of the player whose avatar has been altered.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the image is hyperlinked to the player'"'"'s financial information such that other players can click on the hyperlink and determine financial information about the player.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the consequence is banishment from one or more areas in the virtual environment.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising allowing a virtual collections agency to mete out the consequence.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising receiving bids from a plurality of virtual collections agencies for the right to repay some or all of the debt in return for the right to mete out the consequence to the player.

10. A virtual environment comprising:

a virtual economy wherein players are allowed to incur debt as a result of transactions within the virtual environment;

a module configured to track financial transactions conducted by players in the virtual economy and determine if a player has defaulted on a debt incurred as a result of a transaction in the virtual environment;

a module configured to mete out a consequence to a player who has defaulted on a debt incurred as a result of a transaction in the virtual environment.

11. The environment of claim 10 wherein the consequence is alteration of the physical appearance of the player'"'"'s avatar.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the alteration is an image attached to the avatar.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the image is a ball and chain.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the image includes indicia that provides information to other players regarding the current credit worthiness of the player whose avatar has been altered.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the image is hyperlinked to the player'"'"'s financial information such that other players can click on the hyperlink and determine financial information about the player.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the consequence is banishment from one or more areas in the virtual environment.

17. A virtual environment comprising:

a virtual economy wherein players are allowed to incur obligations as a result of transactions within the virtual environment;

a module configured to track financial transactions conducted by players in the virtual economy and determine if a player has defaulted on an obligation incurred as a result of a transaction in the virtual environment;

a module configured to identify to players and entities in the environment information regarding players who have defaulted on an obligation incurred as a result of a transaction in the virtual environment.

18. The virtual environment of claim 17 further comprising an auction module configured to receive bids from virtual collections agencies for the right to take over the obligation and determine a winner based on the bids.

19. The virtual environment of claim 18 wherein the winning virtual collection agency is permitted to determine a consequence for the defaulting player.

20. The virtual environment of claim 18 wherein the consequence is selected from the group consisting of:

banishment from one or more areas in the virtual environment;

alteration of defaulting player'"'"'s avatar; and

harassment by a non player character.