Patent ID: 8850342

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of splitting an avatar into multiple avatars at a split point in a virtual world, to allow independent control of the multiple avatars in the virtual world, the method comprising: determining one or more split points within the virtual world, wherein each split point corresponds to a respective location in the virtual world, at which a first avatar is selectively split within the virtual world into multiple avatars; monitoring presence of the first avatar within the virtual world; wherein selection of whether to split the first avatar in the virtual world is precluded, in the event that the first avatar is at a first location not corresponding to any of the one or more split points; upon determining that the first avatar is at a second location, different from the first location and corresponding to one of the one or more split points, issuing a prompt in order to permit selection of whether to split the first avatar in the virtual world; responsive to the prompt, receiving a request to split the first avatar; creating a second avatar from the first avatar by operation of one or more computer processors and responsive to the request to split the first avatar, thereby splitting the first avatar; and controlling actions of the first avatar and the second avatar independently of one another in the virtual world, based on avatar control input received subsequent to splitting the first avatar.