Method of conducting a trade of virtual items in a virtual world

Abstract

Conducting a trade of virtual items between a first virtual character and a second virtual character in a virtual environment is provided. Displaying a trade icon within the virtual environment such that a first user controlling the first virtual character can interact with the trade icon to initiate the trade. At least a portion of the inventory of the first virtual character is presented to the second user and at least a portion of the inventory of the second virtual character is presented to the first user. Further, a selection by the first user of at least one virtual item from the inventory of the second virtual character is communicated to the second user; and a selection by the second user of at least one virtual item from the inventory of the first virtual character is communicated to the first user.

1 . A method of conducting a trade of virtual items between a first virtual character and a second virtual character in a virtual environment, the method comprising:
 providing outputs which cause displaying the first virtual character and the second virtual character in the virtual environment, each of said first and second virtual characters representing a real-world item in the virtual environment;   maintaining an inventory of one or more virtual items owned by the first virtual character in the virtual environment and an inventory of one or more virtual items owned by the second virtual character in the virtual environment;   displaying a trade icon within the virtual environment and initiating a trade by detecting a first user controlling the first virtual character has carried out an interaction with the trade icon;   responsive to detecting said interaction with the trade icon, displaying an invitation inviting a second user controlling the second virtual character to participate in the trade;   presenting at least a first portion of the inventory of the first virtual character to the second user and presenting at least a second portion of the inventory of the second virtual character to the first user;   communicating to the second user a selection by the first user of at least one selected virtual item from the inventory of the second virtual character;   communicating to the first user a selection by the second user of at least one selected virtual item from the inventory of the first virtual character; and   responsive to approval of the selected virtual items selected by the first and second users, exchanging the at least one selected virtual items between the inventories of the first and second virtual characters by transferring said at least one selected virtual item selected by the second user to the inventory to the second virtual character, and by transferring said at least one selected virtual item selected by the first user to the inventory to the second virtual character.   
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the virtual items in the inventories of the first and second virtual characters comprise pieces to a collection, and further comprising providing a prize to a virtual character who has obtained a specified collection. 
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the pieces comprise at least one of a die, a collectable card and a playing card. 
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the trade icon is a piece of virtual furniture displayed within a virtual room, said piece of virtual furniture being approachable by the first virtual character to initiate the trade. 
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the virtual room is dedicated as a trading room, and the first user, responsive to approaching the piece of virtual furniture, is presented with a list of virtual characters in the room from which to select the second virtual character as a desired trading partner. 
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said presenting at least the portion of each inventory comprises:
 responsive to initiation of the trade, excluding from the portion of each inventory to be presented an ineligible portion of the inventory identified by the virtual character associated with the inventory as being excluded from the trade.   
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising limiting a number of virtual items that can be acquired by each of the first and second users via the trade to a predetermined number. 
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the number of virtual items that can be acquired by each of the first and second users via the trade is three or less. 
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the virtual items in the inventories of the first and second virtual characters comprise virtual representations of real-world items other than legal tender. 
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising excluding from trade eligibility a unique virtual item that does not have at least one duplicate within the inventory. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second virtual characters represents in the virtual environment a toy provided with a registration code, and said displaying of the first and second virtual characters is responsive to registration of each respective a registration code on a website. 
   
   
       12 . A method of conducting a trade of virtual items comprising:
 displaying a first virtual character to a user and displaying a second virtual character to the user;   controlling actions of the first virtual character in a virtual environment;   using a computer for selecting an inventory of one or more virtual items owned by the first virtual character in the virtual environment;   interacting with a trade icon within the virtual environment to request a trade by said user controlling the first virtual character, with another user;   selecting at least a first portion of the inventory of the first virtual character to trade to the second user;   viewing at least a second portion of the inventory of the second virtual character to be received from the second user as a trade;   approving the trade from the first user to the second user; and   responsive to approval of the trade, approving by the first user, an exchange of virtual items selected by the first user.