Products and processes to facilitate financing in a video game

Abstract

According to an embodiment, players can obtain funding to assist them in developing and creating virtual assets and game environments. In return the player can provide a benefit to the funding source. Funding sources include taxes, fees, licenses, bond issuance, loans, investors, commercial paper, convertible debt, bills, notes, debt issuance, promissory notes, venture capital, the issuance of private shares, transforming the game environment into a public company through an initial public offering, or through a follow on offering such as the issuance of common stock, preferred stock, and treasury stock.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a processor; and   a tangible computer readable medium in communication with the processor;   in which the tangible computer readable medium stores instructions which, when executed by the processor, direct the processor to
 run a massive multi player online game that is operable to simultaneously support a plurality of players via a plurality of video game devices,
 in which each of the players controls at least one player character, 
 
 store data about a virtual investor comprising one or more members; 
 permit the virtual investor to enter into an agreement;
 wherein the virtual investor provides virtual funds to a first player character so that the first player character may engage in a predetermined virtual venture; and 
 
 poll at least one member of a the virtual investor as to whether or not the first player character should receive funding from the virtual investor. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus game of  claim 1  wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, direct the processor to
 receive an investment proposal from the first player character; and 
 provide the investment proposal to the one or more virtual investor members. 
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, direct the processor to
 determine if the investment proposal meets predetermined criteria. 
 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, direct the processor to
 provide a license to the first player character.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the license specifies certain requirements that must be met by the first player character in order for the entity to receive funding from the virtual investor. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the predetermined criteria comprises the requirements specified by the license. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, direct the processor to
 release funds from the virtual investor to the first player character; 
 requiring the first player character to pay a first amount to the virtual investor; 
 determining that the first player character has performed a predetermined activity; and 
 reducing the first amount to a second amount in exchange for the first player character performing the predetermined activity, thereby requiring the first player character to pay the second amount to the virtual investor. 
 
     
     
         8 . A method performed by a computer, the method comprising:
 running, by a Video Game Central Server, a massive multi player online game that is operable to simultaneously support a plurality of players via a plurality of video game devices,
 in which each of the players controls at least one player character; 
   providing, by the Video Game Central Server, a virtual environment in which player characters can interact;   receiving, by the Video Game Central Server, a funding proposal from a first player character desiring to receive virtual funds from a virtual investor in order to enter into a venture; and   polling, by the Video Game Central Server, members of the virtual investor as to whether or not to provide funds to the first player character.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein polling members of the virtual investor comprises
 receiving a single vote from one or more members of the virtual investor. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising
 weighing each vote equally. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising
 weighting the votes of some members more heavily than others. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising
 determining criteria that must be met by a proposal in order for the proposal to be sent to the members for polling. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising
 determining if the funding proposal meets the criteria. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein determining criteria that must be met comprises
 determining the field of the venture. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein determining criteria that must be met comprises determining resources available to the first player character. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising providing information related to the resources available to the first player character to the members. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  wherein determining criteria that must be met comprises
 determining skills available to the first player character. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising
 providing, by the Video Game Central Server, information related to the skills available to the first player character to the members. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising
 determining, by the Video Game Central Server, whether or not to release funds to the first player character based on the results of the poll. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising
 releasing funds from the virtual investor to the first player character; and 
 requiring the first player character to pay a first amount to the virtual investor; 
 determining that the first player character has performed a predetermined activity; and 
 reducing the first amount to a second amount in exchange for the first player character performing the predetermined activity, thereby requiring the first player character to pay the second amount to the virtual investor.