SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING REAL WORLD VALUE IN A VIRTUAL WORLD ENVIRONMENT

• US 20110112662A1
• Filed: 11/08/2010
• Published: 05/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Scott Edward Thompson, Thompson J. David
• Original Assignee: Scott Edward Thompson, Thompson J. David
• Inventors: THOMPSON, Scott Edward, Thompson, J. David
• Application Number:
  US12/941,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20110112662A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/91
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• 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 2300/513 server hierarchy, e.g. local, regional, national or dedicated for different tasks, e.g. authenticating, billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5513 involving billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/558 by assessing the players' skills or ranking
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/57 details of game services offered to the player
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

A system and a method is provided wherein real world monetary or cash values are placed on virtual world avatars, avatar possessed or avatar purchasable virtual world items, environmental virtual world items and virtual world computer generated non-player characters (NPCs), such as slayable beasts, monsters, creatures, or humanoids. These NPCs or other avatars (i.e., other players'"'"' avatars) have the ability to defeat and collect the cash value of avatars and their gear, thus gaining cash value for the NPC or the avatars. This cash value is then winnable by any avatar with the skill to best the NPC or other avatar. In this system and method, a real world cash value of an avatar is established and can be increased or decreased based upon the avatar'"'"'s interaction with other avatars, the virtual world environment and/or a player'"'"'s investment of real world cash value.

Claims

1. A method of providing an online tournament, comprising:

providing a first avatar with an associated cash value;

providing a competition by which a designated portion of the first avatar'"'"'s associated cash value is transferred to a second avatar;

transferring the designated portion of the first avatar'"'"'s associated cash value to the second avatar; and

providing real world cash value associated with the designated portion of the first avatar'"'"'s associated cash value to the player who is playing the second avatar.