Adjudication for contractual terms in a video game

Abstract

According to various embodiments, a video game allows one or more players to enter contracts, where credit cards or other financial instruments are used to secure the contracts. A player defaulting on such a contract can be subjected to penalties in the video game and/or in the real world.

1 . A method performed by a computer, the method comprising:
 providing, by a Video Game Central Server, a virtual environment that is accessible to one or more players;   receiving, by the Video Game Central Server, credit card information from a first player;   receiving, by the Video Game Central Server, a request to enter into a virtual contract from the first player,
 wherein the virtual contract includes a condition that requires the first player to engage in an action other than accessing the virtual environment; 
   guaranteeing, by the Video Game Central Server, the first player's performance of the condition identified in the virtual contract with the credit card information; and   penalizing, by the Video Game Central Server, the first player if the condition is not met, by charging the credit card,   where the condition is that the first player pay, within a given time period, an amount determined by a virtual adjudication in the event of a dispute between the first player and a second player.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  where the credit card information is further used to identify the first player. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising
 maintaining the player's credit history by maintaining records of the first player's contract obligations and rate of success in fulfilling the obligations.