Feature codes and bonuses in virtual worlds

Abstract

An Entertainment System including a website, in combination with a commercially purchased product, wherein the system allows a product user to register a primary product online using a registration code, allowing the user access to various activities and scenarios in a “virtual world” including a virtual representation of the product, via a computer connected to the Internet. Additional ancillary products are also provided that may be related to the primary product or the virtual world, with these ancillary products also being provided with one or more codes to provide additional content, bonus items, and/or bonus access in the virtual world.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A virtual world system, comprising:
 a virtual world creation computer, having a network connection that communicates with multiple users,   where the computer creates a computer-generated virtual world, and accepts commands from a user to interact with a virtual representation of a product in the virtual world, the computer programmed to:   associate the user with a user ID;   receive a registration code from the user, the registration code representing the product that has been purchased in the real world;   register the product on the computer, to associate the product with the user ID;   obtain a virtual replica of the product, the virtual replica being the virtual representation of the product in the virtual world;   allow the user to interact with the virtual representation of the product as registered;   responsive to registering the product on the computer, provide access to content in the virtual world, along with providing access to the virtual product in the virtual world;   responsive to the user logging in using said user ID, providing access to said content and said virtual replica in the virtual world, to allow the user to interact;   accept a feature code registration code entered into the computer;   responsive to accepting said feature code registration code, provide an ancillary operation in the virtual world that is related to the first product, where there are different ancillary operations associated with different feature codes, and a first feature code causes a first ancillary operation and a second feature code causes a second ancillary operation, associated with said user ID; and   display information about feature codes as part of the virtual world, including information about the specific ancillary operation that has been provided by entering the feature code.   
     
     
         2 . The system as in  claim 1 , where the first ancillary operation creates an object that changes a way the product looks in the virtual world. 
     
     
         3 . The system as in  claim 2 , where the second ancillary operation provides a new ability for the virtual representation of the product in the virtual world. 
     
     
         4 . The system as in  claim 3 , where there is also a third ancillary operation unlocked by a feature code, which provides a download of content from the virtual world, for use by the user. 
     
     
         5 . The system as in  claim 3 , wherein the computer also causes a display of a feature code catalog that shows feature codes that a user can obtain, and where the feature codes are divided by categories. 
     
     
         6 . The system as in  claim 5 , where the categories include 1) feature codes that are used with the virtual replica and change the look of the virtual replica, 2) new abilities for the virtual replica, and 3) downloads related to the virtual replica. 
     
     
         7 . The system as in  claim 5 , wherein the computer also causes a display of a degree of rarity of each of plurality of feature codes. 
     
     
         8 . The system as in  claim 7 , wherein the rarity includes common rarity, uncommon rarity, rare rarity, and super rare rarity. 
     
     
         9 . The system as in  claim 5 , where the feature code catalog includes a description explaining use of the feature code, and information about where the user can obtain the feature code. 
     
     
         10 . The system as in  claim 9 , where the information about where the user can obtain the feature code includes what product to purchase to get the feature code. 
     
     
         11 . The system as in  claim 1 , wherein, responsive to accepting said feature code registration code, a message is sent to the user, telling the user what feature has been unlocked by entering the feature code. 
     
     
         12 . The system as in  claim 1 , where the second ancillary operation provides a new ability for the virtual representation of the product in the virtual world.