Apparatus permitting funded actions in a video game

Abstract

Processes and products according to embodiments of the invention include video games with the possibility to obtain funding, such as through venture capital or the issuance of private shares among player characters.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a processor; and   a tangible computer readable medium in communication with the processor;   in which the computer readable medium stores rules providing one or more fund requirements that must be fulfilled by an entity desiring to register create a venture capital fund;   in which the 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, 
   receive from at least one of the player characters, a request to register a fund;   determine that the player character requesting to register a fund fulfills one or more fund requirements defined by stored rules;   receive funding from the player character;   receive from the player character a guarantee of the funding using a credit card account;   receive an application for a project to be funded by the fund;   determine that the project that is to be funded by the fund qualifies for funding from the fund;   register the project and an ownership percentage of the player character in the project;   determine that a dividend is due from the project;   determine a dividend amount based on performance of the project;   determine a real cash value of the dividend amount; and   charge the real cash value to the credit card account.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which the computer readable medium further stores a requirement that the player character own a given quantity of one or more virtual assets; and in which the computer readable medium further stores instructions which, when executed by the processor, direct the processor to
 determine that the player character owns a given quantity of one or more virtual assets. 
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , in which the computer readable medium further stores a requirement that the player character own a predetermined aggregate value of one or more virtual assets; and in which the computer readable medium further stores instructions which, when executed by the processor, direct the processor to
 determine that the player character owns at least the predetermined aggregate value of one or more virtual assets.   
     
     
         4 . 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, 
   receiving, by the Video Game Central Server, from at least one of the player characters, a request to register a fund;   determining, by the Video Game Central Server, that the player character requesting to register a fund fulfills one or more fund requirements defined by stored rules;   receiving, by the Video Game Central Server, funding from the player character;   receiving, by the Video Game Central Server, from the player character a guarantee of the funding using a credit card account;   receiving, by the Video Game Central Server, an application for a project to be funded by the fund;   determining, by the Video Game Central Server, that the project that is to be funded by the fund qualifies for funding from the fund;   registering, by the Video Game Central Server, the project and an ownership percentage of the player character in the project;   determining, by the Video Game Central Server, that a dividend is due from the project;   determining, by the Video Game Central Server, a dividend amount based on performance of the project;   determining, by the Video Game Central Server, a real cash value of the dividend amount; and   charging, by the Video Game Central Server, the real cash value to the credit card account.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 determining, by the Video Game Central Server, that the player character owns a given quantity of one or more virtual assets.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 determining, by the Video Game Central Server, that the player character owns at least the predetermined aggregate value of one or more virtual assets.