Patent ID: 7645194
Filing Date: 2010-01-12
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
1. 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, providing, by the Video Game Central Server, a virtual financial intermediary that is operable to store accounts for the plurality of player characters; providing, by the Video Game Central Server, a means for each of the plurality of players to open a respective account at the virtual financial intermediary via the game; providing, by the Video Game Central Server, a means for the plurality of player characters to perform transactions at the virtual financial intermediary via the game, securing transactions by each player by means of a real world financial security, receiving a request by a player character to withdraw an amount of a virtual cash deposit from an account of the plurality of accounts; determining an amount of virtual cash the financial intermediary has available; determining that the amount of virtual cash the financial intermediary has available is insufficient to cover the withdrawal request based on a reserve requirement of the financial intermediary; determining an amount of shortfall in the amount of virtual cash the financial intermediary would have available after the withdrawal request; determining a conversion rate of real cash to virtual cash; determining a real cash value of the amount of shortfall; charging the real cash value to the credit card accounts; permitting withdrawal of the amount of the virtual cash deposit from the account.