System and method for cross-platform and cross-game virtual asset creation and management

Abstract

A system for cross-platform virtual asset creation and management comprises a first computer game having a first set of virtual assets denominated in a first currency, a second computer game having a second set of virtual assets denominated in second currency and a gamer set of virtual assets denominated in a third currency. The games are accessible through a centralized server connected to a communications network. The system includes a currency exchange engine which permits the gamer to play a first game denominated in the first currency, win assets in that first currency and then exchange those assets for assets denominated in the third currency. Therefore, the gamer can play one game, win assets and then exchange the assets using the currency exchange engine for assets used on a second game and denominated in another currency.

1 . A system for cross-platform virtual asset creation and management comprising:
 a. a first computer game operating on a first gaming platform and providing a first set of virtual assets denominated in a first currency;   b. at least a second computer game operating on a second gaming platform and providing a second set of virtual assets denominated in a second currency;   c. a centralized server accessible by a gamer and comprising a computer processor which operates said first gaming platform and said second gaming platform, a memory for storing the first gaming platform in a first file and the second gaming platform in a second file and a software program executable by said computer processor for translating said first set of virtual assets into said second set of virtual assets;   d. a currency exchange engine for exchanging said first currency into said second currency;   e. a centralized server authority for controlling access by said gamer to said centralized server;   f. a communications network connecting the centralized server to;   g. a device through which the gamer can access the server.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first gaming platform and the second gaming platform are downloadable onto said device for game play. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the device is one of a portable cellular telephone having a display screen and a computer keyboard/monitor combination. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the said memory stores in a third file a gamer virtual asset account denominated in a third currency. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said currency exchange engine includes a weighting sub-routine which ensures an appropriate exchange rate between said first, second and third currencies. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein said appropriate exchange rate is dependent upon a relative difficulty between the first computer game and the second computer game and a level of play selected by the gamer. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said communication network is one of a wireless cellular communications network and a hard-wired global computer network. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said centralized server authority provides the gamer access to the server through an encrypted portal. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the gamer possesses a unique identifier issued by the centralized server for entering said encrypted portal. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein said unique identifier permits the gamer to access said gamer virtual asset account. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the centralized server authority provides the gamer access through said encrypted portal on a fee for use basis. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said fee for use basis is operable using credit card payment means. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of computer games operating on a respective plurality of operating platforms stored on the centralized server. 
     
     
         14 . A computer controlled method for cross-platform virtual asset creation and management comprising the steps of:
 a. Providing a centralized server accessible by a gamer wherein said centralized server comprises a computer processor connected to a memory;   b. Providing said gamer access through said centralized server to a first gaming platform and a second gaming platform;   c. Storing within said memory a first file comprising a set of first game virtual assets denominated in a first currency, a second file comprising a set of second game virtual assets denominated in a second currency and a third file comprising said gamer's account of virtual assets denominated in a third currency; and,   d. Providing a currency exchange engine operable by said computer processor for exchanging between said first, second and third currencies.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the step of providing the gamer access to the centralized server includes the steps of:
 a. Connecting the centralized server to a communications network; 
 b. Establishing a centralized server authority for gamer access control; 
 c. Providing a permission to the game player from said centralized server authority to access the centralized server; 
 d. Providing an encrypted portal accessible by the gamer over said communications network whereby the game may exercise said permission to access the centralized server. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the step of providing the permission includes the step of the centralized server authority issuing the gamer a unique identifier for entering said encrypted portal. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the step of the gamer paying for access to the centralized server by payment means. 
     
     
         18 . A computer controlled method for cross-platform virtual asset creation and management comprising the steps of:
 a. Providing a gamer permission-based access by a centralized server authority to a centralized server comprising at least two gaming platforms comprising a respective file of virtual assets having a respective currency for said at least two gaming platforms and a gamer account file comprising a record of said gamer's virtual assets valued in a third currency;   b. Said gamer selecting a game and a level of play from a menu of the at least two gaming platforms;   c. Said centralized server uploading an appropriate file of virtual assets in said respective currency for said selected game;   d. The gamer executing the selected game and winning a plurality of virtual assets pertaining to the selected game and having a value established by the respective currency of the selected game;   e. The gamer terminating the selected game;   f. Wherein said currency of the selected game is the same as the currency of gamer's virtual asset file;   g. Adding the value of said plurality of assets won to the gamer's virtual asset file.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein after step ( 18 (e)) the currency of the plurality of virtual assets won in the selected game is different than the currency of the gamer's virtual asset file necessitating the following steps:
 a. Executing a currency exchange engine operable by the central server for translating the value of virtual assets won from the currency of the selected game to the currency of the gamer's virtual asset file; 
 b. Adding the value of the plurality of assets won to the gamer's virtual asset file. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  whereby using said currency exchange engine the gamer can upload a predetermined amount of gamer's virtual assets in one currency into a game using another currency.