System and method for consumer-selected advertising and branding in interactive media

• US 6,954,728 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2000
• Issued: 10/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Slingshot Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Avatizing LLC
• Inventors: Kusumoto, Laura Lee, Sacerdoti, Earl David, Sigler, Leila Janine, Sigler, Sonya Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): OUELLETTE, JONATHAN P
• Application Number:
  US09/675,958
• Time in Patent Office: 1,838 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/14
• US Class Current: 705/14.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0212 Chance discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0213 Consumer transaction fees
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0217 involving input on products or services in exchange for incentives or rewards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0219 based on funds or budget
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0252 based on events or environment, e.g. weather or festivals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0276 Advertisement creation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement

Abstract

Participants in a virtual world in an interactive, virtual environment implemented by computer networks and other interactive media such as interactive television are recruited to advertise products and brands to the other participants and viewers in the virtual world. Each user entering the virtual world may select from a set of available advertisements, which can be displayed in association with the user'"'"'s avatar, virtual space and virtual objects in the virtual world. Users are incentivized to do this by the availability of rewards, such as coupons, real or virtual money or other resources, which are provided by the advertising sponsors, based on adoption of the advertising by the user, as well as on factors such as exposure of the selected advertisements to other users in the virtual world. Allowing the consumer to exercise advertising choice, this embodiment also facilitates collection of data regarding consumer preferences.

Claims

1. A method for selected advertising in a virtual world, comprising:

providing one or more advertisements to a participant, wherein users of said virtual world include said participant;

receiving at least one selection of said one or more advertisements from said participant;

providing one or more locations for said participant to choose to display said one or more advertisements in said virtual world;

receiving at least one selection of said one or more locations from said participant;

creating a selected advertisement from said at least one selection of said one or more advertisements and said at least one selection of said one or more locations;

providing for display to at least one of said users said selected advertisement in said virtual world, wherein said users are participants in said virtual world or viewers of said virtual world; and

providing a reward to at least said participant, wherein said reward is based on at least said providing for display to at least one of said users.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing a reward comprises:

tracking one or more interactions with said selected advertisement by said at least one of said users; and

providing a reward to at least said participant, wherein said reward is based on at least said one or more interactions.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said one or more interactions includes viewing of said selected advertisement by said at least one of said users.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said participant creates at least one of said one or more advertisements.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said participant'"'"'s creation of said one or more advertisements is provided in at least one of i) said virtual world or ii) one or more ancillary support environments.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said participant'"'"'s selection of said one or more advertisements is provided in at least one of i) said virtual world or ii) one or more ancillary support environments.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said participant'"'"'s selection of said one or more locations is provided in at least one of i) said virtual world or ii) one or more ancillary support environments.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein said one or more interactions occurs in at least one of a computer game, a video game, an online chat, an instant message, or one or more virtual scenes.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said one or more virtual scenes include at least one of a dance, party, sporting event, gambling event, meeting, shopping mall, town square, trade show, rally, conference, life simulation, or fantasy simulation.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein said tracking includes gathering information about at least one of (i) providing said one or more advertisements to said participant, (ii) receiving said at least one selection of said one or more advertisements from said participant, (iii) providing said one or more locations for said participant to chose to display said one or more advertisements, (iv) receiving said at least one selection of said one or more locations, (v) providing for said display to said at least one of said users said selected advertisement, (vi) said participant, (vii) said one or more advertisements included in said selected advertisement, or (viii) said selected advertisement'"'"'s display to at least one user.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing information based on said tracking to at least one of a host, an advertiser, said participant, or at least one of said users.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said information about said selected advertisement'"'"'s display includes at least one of (i) a measured display time of said selected advertisement to said at least one user, (ii) a number of said at least one user that viewed said selected advertisement, (iii) anticipated display time of said selected advertisement to said at least one user, (iv) said one or more locations of each of said one or more advertisements, or (v) information on exposure of said one or more advertisements to said at least one user.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more rewards include at least one of coupons, merchandise, credits, goods, services, information about said virtual world, opportunities in said virtual world, real money, or virtual money.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

creating a consumer profile for said participant, wherein said consumer profile includes at least one of (a) registration information, (b) environment continuation information to allow said participant to continue where said participant previously left in said virtual world, (c) information on one or more said selected advertisements of said participant, (d) information on said at least one selection of said one or more advertisements, or (e) information on said at least one selection of said one or more locations, or (f) reward information.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more advertisements are located on at least one of an avatar, a virtual space, or a virtual object of said participant within said virtual world.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said virtual world is implemented by interactive media.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said interactive media is provided by at least one of (a) one or more servers and one or more databases, or (b) interactive television.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more advertisements are displayed at least at one of (i) times designated by said participant, or (ii) times designated by at least one of a host or an advertiser.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more advertisements include at least one of (a) text, (b) symbols, (c) graphics, (d) graphics that are texture-mapped in said virtual world, or (e) multimedia elements of audio, video, and animation.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more advertisements include at least one of (a) corporate symbols, (b) logos, (c) trademarks, (d) advertising text or copy, (e) graphical pictures, or (f) multimedia elements.

21. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

logging said one or more interactions of said at least one user.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said logging is performed by one or more servers.

23. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

reporting information based on said one or more interactions to an advertiser.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more advertisements are created by an advertiser.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more advertisements are provided by an advertiser.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more advertisements are provided by said participant and approved by an advertiser.

27. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

billing an advertiser in connection with said one or more interactions.

28. A method for selected advertising in a virtual world, comprising:

providing one or more advertisements to a participant, wherein users of said virtual world include said participant;

receiving at least one selection of said one or more advertisements from said participant;

providing one or more locations for said participant to choose to display said one or more advertisements in said virtual world;

receiving at least one selection of said one or more locations from said participant;

creating a selected advertisement from said at least one selection of said one or more advertisements and said at least one selection of said one or more locations;

providing for display to at least one of said users said selected advertisement in said virtual world, wherein said users are participants in said virtual world or viewers of said virtual world; and

providing a reward to at least one of a host or an advertiser, wherein said reward is based on at least one of (i) providing said one or more advertisements to said participant, (ii) receiving said at least one selection of said one or more advertisements from said participant, (iii) providing said one or more locations for said participant to choose to display said one or more advertisements, (iv) receiving said at least one selection of said one or more locations, or (v) providing for said display to said at least one of said users said selected advertisement.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein providing a reward comprises:

tracking one or more interactions with said selected advertisement by said at least one of said users; and

providing a reward to said at least one of a host or an advertiser, wherein said reward is based on at least said one or more interactions.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said one or more interactions includes viewing of said selected advertisement by said at least one of said users.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein said participant creates at least one of said one or more advertisements.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said participant'"'"'s creation of said one or more advertisements is provided in at least one of i) said virtual world or ii) one or more ancillary support environments.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein said participant'"'"'s selection of said one or more advertisements is provided in at least one of i) said virtual world or ii) one or more ancillary support environments.

34. The method of claim 28, wherein said participant'"'"'s selection of said one or more locations is provided in at least one of i) said virtual world or ii) one or more ancillary support environments.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein said one or more interactions occurs in at least one of a computer game, a video game, an online chat, an instant message, or one or more virtual scenes.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said one or more virtual scenes include at least one of a dance, party, sporting event, gambling event, meeting, shopping mall, town square, trade show, rally, conference, life simulation, or fantasy simulation.

37. The method of claim 29, wherein said tracking includes gathering information about at least one of (i) providing said one or more advertisements to said participant, (ii) receiving said at least one selection of said one or more advertisements from said participant, (iii) providing said one or more locations for said participant to chose to display said one or more advertisements, (iv) receiving said at least one selection of said one or more locations, (v) providing for said display to said at least one of said users said selected advertisement, (vi) said participant, (vii) said one or more advertisements included in said selected advertisement, or (viii) said selected advertisement'"'"'s display to at least one user.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

providing information based on said tracking to at least one of a host, an advertiser, said participant, or at least one of said users.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein said information about said selected advertisement'"'"'s display includes at least one of (i) a measured display time of said selected advertisement to said at least one user, (ii) a number of said at least one user that viewed said selected advertisement, (iii) anticipated display time of said selected advertisement to said at least one user, (iv) said one or more locations of each of said one or more advertisements, or (v) information on exposure of said one or more advertisements to said at least one user.

40. The method of claim 28, wherein said one or more rewards include at least one of coupons, merchandise, credits, goods, services, information about said virtual world, opportunities in said virtual world, real money, or virtual money.

41. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

creating a consumer profile for said participant, wherein said consumer profile includes at least one of (a) registration information, (b) environment continuation information to allow said participant to continue where said participant previously left in said virtual world, (c) information on one or more said selected advertisements of said participant, (d) information on said at least one selection of said one or more advertisements, or (e) information on said at least one selection of said one or more locations, or (f) reward information.

42. The method of claim 28, wherein said one or more advertisements are located on at least one of an avatar, a virtual space, or a virtual object of said participant within said virtual world.

43. The method of claim 28, wherein said virtual world is implemented by interactive media.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein said interactive media is provided by at least one of (a) one or more servers and one or more databases, or (b) interactive television.

45. The method of claim 28, wherein said one or more advertisements are displayed at least at one of (i) times designated by said participant, or (ii) times designated by at least one of a host or an advertiser.

46. The method of claim 28, wherein said one or more advertisements include at least one of (a) text, (b) symbols, (c) graphics, (d) graphics that are texture-mapped in said virtual world, or (e) multimedia elements of audio, video, and animation.

47. The method of claim 28, wherein said one or more advertisements include at least one of (a) corporate symbols, (b) logos, (c) trademarks, (d) advertising text or copy, (e) graphical pictures, or (f) multimedia elements.

48. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

logging said one or more interactions of said at least one user.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein said logging is performed by one or more servers.

50. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

reporting information based on said one or more interactions to an advertiser.

51. The method of claim 28, wherein said one or more advertisements are created by an advertiser.

52. The method of claim 28, wherein said one or more advertisements are provided by an advertiser.

53. The method of claim 28, wherein said one or more advertisements are provided by said participant and approved by an advertiser.

54. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

billing an advertiser in connection with said one or more interactions.

55. A system for selected advertising in a virtual world, comprising:

first means for providing one or more advertisements to a participant, wherein users of said virtual world include said participant;

first means for receiving at least one selection of said one or more advertisements from said participant;

second means for providing one or more locations for said participant to choose to display said one or more advertisements in said virtual world;

second means for receiving at least one selection of said one or more locations from said participant;

first means for creating a selected advertisement from said at least one selection of said one or more advertisements and said at least one selection of said one or more locations;

third means for providing for display to at least one of said users said selected advertisement in said virtual world, wherein said users are participants in said virtual world or viewers of said virtual world; and

fourth means for providing a reward to at least said participant, wherein said reward is based on at least said providing for display to at least one of said users.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein said fourth means for providing a reward comprises:

means for tracking one or more interactions with said selected advertisement by said at least one of said users; and

fifth means for providing a reward to at least said participant, wherein said reward is based on at least said one or more interactions.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein said one or more interactions includes viewing of said selected advertisement by said at least one of said users.

58. The system of claim 55, wherein said participant creates at least one of said one or more advertisements.

59. The system of claim 58, wherein said participant'"'"'s creation of said one or more advertisements is provided in at least one of i) said virtual world or ii) one or more ancillary support environments.

60. The system of claim 55, wherein said participant'"'"'s selection of said one or more advertisements is provided in at least one of i) said virtual world or ii) one or more ancillary support environments.

61. The system of claim 55, wherein said participant'"'"'s selection of said one or more locations is provided in at least one of i) said virtual world or ii) one or more ancillary support environments.

62. The system of claim 56, wherein said one or more interactions occurs in at least one of a computer game, a video game, an online chat, an instant message, or one or more virtual scenes.

63. The system of claim 62, wherein said one or more virtual scenes include at least one of a dance, party, sporting event, gambling event, meeting, shopping mall, town square, trade show, rally, conference, life simulation, or fantasy simulation.

64. The system of claim 56, wherein said means for tracking includes gathering information about at least one of (i) providing said one or more advertisements to said participant, (ii) receiving said at least one selection of said one or more advertisements from said participant, (iii) providing said one or more locations for said participant to chose to display said one or more advertisements, (iv) receiving said at least one selection of said one or more locations, (v) providing for said display to said at least one of said users said selected advertisement, (vi) said participant, (vii) said one or more advertisements included in said selected advertisement, or (viii) said selected advertisement'"'"'s display to at least one user.

65. The system of claim 64, further comprising:

sixth means for providing information based on said tracking to at least one of a host, an advertiser, said participant, or at least one of said users.

66. The system of claim 64, wherein said information about said selected advertisement'"'"'s display includes at least one of (i) a measured display time of said selected advertisement to said at least one user, (ii) a number of said at least one user that viewed said selected advertisement, (iii) anticipated display time of said selected advertisement to said at least one user, (iv) said one or more locations of each of said one or more advertisements, or (v) information on exposure of said one or more advertisements to said at least one user.

67. The system of claim 55, wherein said one or more rewards include at least one of coupons, merchandise, credits, goods, services, information about said virtual world, opportunities in said virtual world, real money, or virtual money.

68. The system of claim 55, further comprising:

second means for creating a consumer profile for said participant, wherein said consumer profile includes at least one of (a) registration information, (b) environment continuation information to allow said participant to continue where said participant previously left in said virtual world, (c) information on one or more said selected advertisements of said participant, (d) information on said at least one selection of said one or more advertisements, or (e) information on said at least one selection of said one or more locations, or (f) reward information.

69. The system of claim 55, wherein said one or more advertisements are located on at least one of an avatar, a virtual space, or a virtual object of said participant within said virtual world.

70. The system of claim 55, wherein said virtual world is implemented by interactive media.

71. The system of claim 70, wherein said interactive media is provided by at least one of (a) one or more servers and one or more databases, or (b) interactive television.

72. The system of claim 55, wherein said one or more advertisements are displayed at least at one of (i) times designated by said participant, or (ii) times designated by at least one of a host or an advertiser.

73. The system of claim 55, wherein said one or more advertisements include at least one of (a) text, (b) symbols, (c) graphics, (d) graphics that are texture-mapped in said virtual world, or (e) multimedia elements of audio, video, and animation.

74. The system of claim 55, wherein said one or more advertisements include at least one of (a) corporate symbols, (b) logos, (c) trademarks, (d) advertising text or copy, (e) graphical pictures, or (f) multimedia elements.

75. The system of claim 56, further comprising:

means for logging said one or more interactions of said at least one user.

76. The system of claim 75, wherein said means for logging is performed by one or more servers.

77. The system of claim 56, further comprising:

means for reporting information based on said one or more interactions to an advertiser.

78. The system of claim 55, wherein said one or more advertisements are created by an advertiser.

79. The system of claim 55, wherein said one or more advertisements are provided by an advertiser.

80. The system of claim 55, wherein said one or more advertisements are provided by said participant and approved by an advertiser.

81. The system of claim 56, further comprising:

means for billing an advertiser in connection with said one or more interactions.

82. A system for selected advertising in a virtual world, comprising:

first means for providing one or more advertisements to a participant, wherein users of said virtual world include said participant;

first means for receiving at least one selection of said one or more advertisements from said participant;

second means for providing one or more locations for said participant to choose to display said one or more advertisements in said virtual world;

second means for receiving at least one selection of said one or more locations from said participant;

first means for creating a selected advertisement from said at least one selection of said one or more advertisements and said at least one selection of said one or more locations;

third means for providing for display to at least one of said users said selected advertisement in said virtual world, wherein said users are participants in said virtual world or viewers of said virtual world; and

fourth means for providing a reward to at least one of a host or an advertiser, wherein said reward is based on at least one of (i) providing said one or more advertisements to said participant, (ii) receiving said at least one selection of said one or more advertisements from said participant, (iii) providing said one or more locations for said participant to choose to display said one or more advertisements, (iv) receiving said at least one selection of said one or more locations, or (v) providing for said display to said at least one of said users said selected advertisement.

83. The system of claim 82, wherein fourth means for providing a reward comprises:

means for tracking one or more interactions with said selected advertisement by said at least one of said users; and

fifth means for providing a reward to said at least one of a host or an advertiser, wherein said reward is based on at least said one or more interactions.

84. The system of claim 83, wherein said one or more interactions includes viewing of said selected advertisement by said at least one of said users.

85. The system of claim 82, wherein said participant creates at least one of said one or more advertisements.

86. The system of claim 85, wherein said participant'"'"'s creation of said one or more advertisements is provided in at least one of i) said virtual world or ii) one or more ancillary support environments.

87. The system of claim 82, wherein said participant'"'"'s selection of said one or more advertisements is provided in at least one of i) said virtual world or ii) one or more ancillary support environments.

88. The system of claim 82, wherein said participant'"'"'s selection of said one or more locations is provided in at least one of i) said virtual world or ii) one or more ancillary support environments.

89. The system of claim 83, wherein said one or more interactions occurs in at least one of a computer game, a video game, an online chat, an instant message, or one or more virtual scenes.

90. The system of claim 89, wherein said one or more virtual scenes include at least one of a dance, party, sporting event, gambling event, meeting, shopping mall, town square, trade show, rally, conference, life simulation, or fantasy simulation.

91. The system of claim 83, wherein said means for tracking includes gathering information about at least one of (i) providing said one or more advertisements to said participant, (ii) receiving said at least one selection of said one or more advertisements from said participant, (iii) providing said one or more locations for said participant to chose to display said one or more advertisements, (iv) receiving said at least one selection of said one or more locations, (v) providing for said display to said at least one of said users said selected advertisement, (vi) said participant, (vii) said one or more advertisements included in said selected advertisement, or (viii) said selected advertisement'"'"'s display to at least one user.

92. The system of claim 91, further comprising:

sixth means for providing information based on said tracking to at least one of a host, an advertiser, said participant, or at least one of said users.

93. The system of claim 91, wherein said information about said selected advertisement'"'"'s display includes at least one of (i) a measured display time of said selected advertisement to said at least one user, (ii) a number of said at least one user that viewed said selected advertisement, (iii) anticipated display time of said selected advertisement to said at least one user, (iv) said one or more locations of each of said one or more advertisements, or (v) information on exposure of said one or more advertisements to said at least one user.

94. The system of claim 82, wherein said one or more rewards include at least one of coupons, merchandise, credits, goods, services, information about said virtual world, opportunities in said virtual world, real money, or virtual money.

95. The system of claim 82, further comprising:

second means for creating a consumer profile for said participant, wherein said consumer profile includes at least one of (a) registration information, (b) environment continuation information to allow said participant to continue where said participant previously left in said virtual world, (c) information on one or more said selected advertisements of said participant, (d) information on said at least one selection of said one or more advertisements, or (e) information on said at least one selection of said one or more locations, or (f) reward information.

96. The system of claim 82, wherein said one or more advertisements are located on at least one of an avatar, a virtual space, or a virtual object of said participant within said virtual world.

97. The system of claim 82, wherein said virtual world is implemented by interactive media.

98. The system of claim 97, wherein said interactive media is provided by at least one of (a) one or more servers and one or more databases, or (b) interactive television.

99. The system of claim 82, wherein said one or more advertisements are displayed at least at one of (i) times designated by said participant, or (ii) times designated by at least one of a host or an advertiser.

100. The system of claim 82, wherein said one or more advertisements include at least one of (a) text, (b) symbols, (c) graphics, (d) graphics that are texture-mapped in said virtual world, or (e) multimedia elements of audio, video, and animation.

101. The system of claim 82, wherein said one or more advertisements include at least one of (a) corporate symbols, (b) logos, (c) trademarks, (d) advertising text or copy, (e) graphical pictures, or (f) multimedia elements.

102. The system of claim 83, further comprising:

means for logging said one or more interactions of said at least one user.

103. The system of claim 102, wherein said means for logging is performed by one or more servers.

104. The system of claim 83, further comprising:

means for reporting information based on said one or more interactions to an advertiser.

105. The system of claim 82, wherein said one or more advertisements are created by an advertiser.

106. The system of claim 82, wherein said one or more advertisements are provided by an advertiser.

107. The system of claim 82, wherein said one or more advertisements are provided by said participant and approved by an advertiser.

108. The system of claim 83, further comprising:

means for billing an advertiser in connection with said one or more interactions.

109. A computer program product that is capable of providing instructions which when executed by a computing platform cause said computer platform to perform operations for selected advertising in a virtual world, comprising:

providing one or more advertisements to a participant, wherein users of said virtual world include said participant;

receiving at least one selection of said one or more advertisements from said participant;

providing one or more locations for said participant to choose to display said one or more advertisements in said virtual world;

receiving at least one selection of said one or more locations from said participant;

creating a selected advertisement from said at least one selection of said one or more advertisements and said at least one selection of said one or more locations;

providing for display to at least one of said users said selected advertisement in said virtual world, wherein said users are participants in said virtual world or viewers of said virtual world; and

providing a reward to at least said participant, wherein said reward is based on at least said providing for display to at least one of said users.

110. The computer program product of claim 109, wherein providing a reward comprises:

tracking one or more interactions with said selected advertisement by said at least one of said users; and

providing a reward to at least said participant, wherein said reward is based on at least said one or more interactions.

111. The computer program product of claim 110, wherein said one or more interactions includes viewing of said selected advertisement by said at least one of said users.

112. The computer program product of claim 109, wherein said participant creates at least one of said one or more advertisements.

113. The computer program product of claim 112, wherein said participant'"'"'s creation of said one or more advertisements is provided in at least one of i) said virtual world or ii) one or more ancillary support environments.

114. The computer program product of claim 109, wherein said participant'"'"'s selection of said one or more advertisements is provided in at least one of i) said virtual world or ii) one or more ancillary support environments.

115. The computer program product of claim 109, wherein said participant'"'"'s selection of said one or more locations is provided in at least one of i) said virtual world or ii) one or more ancillary support environments.

116. The computer program product of claim 110, wherein said one or more interactions occurs in at least one of a computer game, a video game, an online chat, an instant message, or one or more virtual scenes.

117. The computer program product of claim 116, wherein said one or more virtual scenes include at least one of a dance, party, sporting event, gambling event, meeting, shopping mall, town square, trade show, rally, conference, life simulation, or fantasy simulation.

118. The computer program product of claim 110, wherein said tracking includes gathering information about at least one of (i) providing said one or more advertisements to said participant, (ii) receiving said at least one selection of said one or more advertisements from said participant, (iii) providing said one or more locations for said participant to chose to display said one or more advertisements, (iv) receiving said at least one selection of said one or more locations, (v) providing for said display to said at least one of said user said selected advertisement, (vi) said participant, (vii) said one or more advertisements included in said selected advertisement, or (viii) said selected advertisement'"'"'s display to at least one user.

119. The computer program product of claim 118, further comprising:

providing information based on said tracking to at least one of a host, an advertiser, said participant, or at least one of said users.

120. The computer program product of claim 118, wherein said information about said selected advertisement'"'"'s display includes at least one of (i) a measured display time of said selected advertisement to said at least one user, (ii) a number of said at least one user that viewed said selected advertisement, (iii) anticipated display time of said selected advertisement to said at least one user, (iv) said one or more locations of each of said one or more advertisements, or (v) information on exposure of said one or more advertisements to said at least one user.

121. The computer program product of claim 109, wherein said one or more rewards include at least one of coupons, merchandise, credits, goods, services, information about said virtual world, opportunities in said virtual world, real money, or virtual money.

122. The computer program product of claim 109, further comprising:

creating a consumer profile for said participant, wherein said consumer profile includes at least one of (a) registration information, (b) environment continuation information to allow said participant to continue where said participant previously left in said virtual world, (c) information on one or more said selected advertisements of said participant, (d) information on said at least one selection of said one or more advertisements, or (e) information on said at least one selection of said one or more locations, or (f) reward information.

123. The computer program product of claim 109, wherein said one or more advertisements are located on at least one of an avatar, a virtual space, or a virtual object of said participant within said virtual world.

124. The computer program product of claim 109, wherein said virtual world is implemented by interactive media.

125. The computer program product of claim 124, wherein said interactive media is provided by at least one of (a) one or more servers and one or more databases, or (b) interactive television.

126. The computer program product of claim 109, wherein said one or more advertisements are displayed at least at one of (i) times designated by said participant, or (ii) times designated by at least one of a host or an advertiser.

127. The computer program product of claim 109, wherein said one or more advertisements include at least one of (a) text, (b) symbols, (c) graphics, (d) graphics that are texture-mapped in said virtual world, or (e) multimedia elements of audio, video, and animation.

128. The computer program product of claim 109, wherein said one or more advertisements include at least one of (a) corporate symbols, (b) logos, (c) trademarks, (d) advertising text or copy, (e) graphical pictures, or (f) multimedia elements.

129. The computer program product of claim 110, further comprising:

logging said one or more interactions of said at least one user.

130. The computer program product of claim 129, wherein said logging is performed by one or more servers.

131. The computer program product of claim 110, further comprising:

reporting information based on said one or more interactions to an advertiser.

132. The computer program product of claim 109, wherein said one or more advertisements are created by an advertiser.

133. The computer program product of claim 109, wherein said one or more advertisements are provided by an advertiser.

134. The computer program product of claim 109, wherein said one or more advertisements are provided by said participant and approved by an advertiser.

135. The computer program product of claim 110, further comprising:

billing an advertiser in connection with said one or more interactions.

136. A computer program product that is capable of providing instructions which when executed by a computing platform cause said computer platform to perform operations for selected advertising in a virtual world, comprising:

providing one or more advertisements to a participant wherein users of said virtual world include said participant;

receiving at least one selection of said one or more advertisements from said participant;

providing one or more locations for said participant to choose to display said one or more advertisements in said virtual world;

receiving at least one selection of said one or more locations from said participant;

creating a selected advertisement from said at least one selection of said one or more advertisements and said at least one selection of said one or more locations;

providing for display to at least one of said users said selected advertisement in said virtual world, wherein said users are participants in said virtual world or viewers of said virtual world; and

providing a reward to at least one of a host or an advertiser, wherein said reward is based on at least one of (i) providing said one or more advertisements to said participant, (ii) receiving said at least one selection of said one or more advertisements from said participant. (iii) providing said one or more locations for said participant to choose to display said one or more advertisements, (iv) receiving said at least one selection of said one or more locations, or (v) providing for said display to said at least one of said users said selected advertisement.

137. The computer program product of claim 136, wherein providing a reward comprises:

tracking one or more interactions with said selected advertisement by said at least one of said users; and

providing a reward to said at least one of a host or an advertiser, wherein said reward is based on at least said one or more interactions.

138. The computer program product of claim 137, wherein said one or more interactions includes viewing of said selected advertisement by said at least one of said users.

139. The computer program product of claim 136, wherein said participant creates at least one of said one or more advertisements.

140. The computer program product of claim 139, wherein said participant'"'"'s creation of said one or more advertisements is provided in at least one of i) said virtual world or ii) one or more ancillary support environments.

141. The computer program product of claim 136, wherein said participant'"'"'s selection of said one or more advertisements is provided in at least one of i) said virtual world or ii) one or more ancillary support environments.

142. The computer program product of claim 136, wherein said participant'"'"'s selection of said one or more locations is provided in at least one of i) said virtual world or ii) one or more ancillary support environments.

143. The computer program product of claim 137, wherein said one or more interactions occurs in at least one of a computer game, a video game, an online chat, an instant message, or one or more virtual scenes.

144. The computer program product of claim 143, wherein said one or more virtual scenes include at least one of a dance, party, sporting event, gambling event, meeting, shopping mall, town square, trade show, rally, conference, life simulation, or fantasy simulation.

145. The computer program product of claim 137, wherein said tracking includes gathering information about at least one of (i) providing said one or more advertisements to said participant, (ii) receiving said at least one selection of said one or more advertisements from said participant, (iii) providing said one or more locations for said participant to chose to display said one or more advertisements, (iv) receiving said at least one selection of said one or more locations, (v) providing for said display to said at least one of said users said selected advertisement, (vi) said participant, (vii) said one or more advertisements included in said selected advertisement, or (viii) said selected advertisement'"'"'s display to at least one user.

146. The computer program product of claim 145, further comprising:

providing information based on said tracking to at least one of a host, an advertiser, said participant, or at least one of said users.

147. The computer program product of claim 145, wherein said information about said selected advertisement'"'"'s display includes at least one of (i) a measured display time of said selected advertisement to said at least one user, (ii) a number of said at least one user that viewed said selected advertisement, (iii) anticipated display time of said selected advertisement to said at least one user, (iv) said one or more locations of each of said one or more advertisements, or (v) information on exposure of said one or more advertisements to said at least one user.

148. The computer program product of claim 136, wherein said one or more rewards include at least one of coupons, merchandise, credits, goods, services, information about said virtual world, opportunities in said virtual world, real money, or virtual money.

149. The computer program product of claim 136, further comprising:

creating a consumer profile for said participant, wherein said consumer profile includes at least one of (a) registration information, (b) environment continuation information to allow said participant to continue where said participant previously left in said virtual world, (c) information on one or more said selected advertisements of said participant, (d) information on said at least one selection of said one or more advertisements, or (e) information on said at least one selection of said one or more locations, or (f) reward information.

150. The computer program product of claim 136, wherein said one or more advertisements are located on at least one of an avatar, a virtual space, or a virtual object of said participant within said virtual world.

151. The computer program product of claim 136, wherein said virtual world is implemented by interactive media.

152. The computer program product of claim 151, wherein said interactive media is provided by at least one of (a) one or more servers and one or more databases, or (b) interactive television.

153. The computer program product of claim 136, wherein said one or more advertisements are displayed at least at one of (i) times designated by said participant, or (ii) times designated by at least one of a host or an advertiser.

154. The computer program product of claim 136, wherein said one or more advertisements include at least one of (a) text, (b) symbols, (c) graphics, (d) graphics that are texture-mapped in said virtual world, or (e) multimedia elements of audio, video, and animation.

155. The computer program product of claim 136, wherein said one or more advertisements include at least one of (a) corporate symbols, (b) logos, (c) trademarks, (d) advertising text or copy, (e) graphical pictures, or (f) multimedia elements.

156. The computer program product of claim 137, further comprising:

logging said one or more interactions of said at least one user.

157. The computer program product of claim 156, wherein said logging is performed by one or more servers.

158. The computer program product of claim 137, further comprising:

reporting information based on said one or more interactions to an advertiser.

159. The computer program product of claim 136, wherein said one or more advertisements are created by an advertiser.

160. The computer program product of claim 136, wherein said one or more advertisements are provided by an advertiser.

161. The computer program product of claim 136, wherein said one or more advertisements are provided by said participant and approved by an advertiser.

162. A computer program product of claim 137, further comprising:

billing an advertiser in connection with said one or more interactions.