Multiple Purchase Options for Virtual Purchases

Abstract

The disclosure provides novel video game methods and systems. Methods and systems for allowing game players to purchase virtual items using either virtual currency or real world currency are disclosed. A virtual barter system where items can be purchased with a bartered item and/or a combination of a bartered item and real world or virtual currency is also disclosed.

1 . A method comprising: 
 providing a virtual environment that is accessible to one or more players;    receiving a purchase request for a desired virtual item from a player;    providing a virtual currency price for the desired virtual item to the player; and    providing a real currency price for the desired virtual item to the player.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of providing a real currency price comprises converting the virtual currency price into a real currency price based on a current exchange rate.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising receiving a selection of either the virtual currency price or the real currency price from the player.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein if the player selects the virtual currency price, the virtual currency amount is debited from a virtual currency account associated with the player.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein if the player selects the real currency price, the real currency amount is charged to a credit card associated with the player.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing a list of virtual items the player could trade in exchange for the desired virtual item.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising receiving an offer from the player to exchange a virtual item owned by the player for the desired virtual item.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising determining a value for the virtual item offered by the player.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising comparing the value for the offered virtual item with the value for the desired virtual item.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising allowing the player to make up for any shortfall in the value of the offered virtual item compared to the desired virtual item with virtual or real currency.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 3  where if the player selects the virtual currency price, the virtual currency is paid with a virtual loan.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 3  where, if the player selects the virtual currency price, the virtual currency is paid with a virtual financing option.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 3  where, if the player selects the virtual currency price, the player is offered an option of taking out a virtual loan.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 3  where, if the player selects the virtual currency price, the player is offered a virtual financing option.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising tracking purchases by the user where the user has selected the real cash currency up to a threshold amount and, when the threshold amount is reached, charging the sum of the purchases to a credit card associated with the player.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising charging a first amount to a credit card associated with the player to create a real currency account for the player and debiting any real currency purchases from the player's real currency account.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising charging the first amount to the credit card when the real currency account is depleted.  
   
   
       18 . A user-interface in a virtual environment comprising: 
 a purchase screen comprising: 
 at least one virtual item for sale;  
 a real currency purchase price for the virtual item; and  
 a virtual currency purchase price for the virtual item.  
   
   
   
       19 . The user-interface of  claim 18  wherein the purchase screen further comprises a list of one or more virtual items that could be offered to trade for the virtual item for sale.  
   
   
       20 . The user-interface of  claim 18  further comprising a user-selectable option that allows the user to select the types of currencies that are displayed by the purchase screen.