Patent ID: 7775885

Claim:
A method performed by a computing device, 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, generating, by the Video Game Central Server, a respective avatar for each of the player characters; receiving a request to create a binding agreement between a first player of the plurality of players and a second player of the plurality of players; outputting a plurality of eligible alterations; receiving, from the second player, a selection of at least one of the eligible alterations; creating, by the Video Game Central Server, a binding agreement between the first player of the plurality of players and the second player of the plurality of players, wherein the first player agrees to undertake an obligation and receive a penalty in return for failure to meet the obligation; and altering, by the Video Game Central Server, an avatar of the first player based on the player's fulfillment or failure to fulfill the obligation and based on the selected at least one alteration.