# US 8,751,343 B2 · Process and apparatus for video game development

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 8,751,343 B2
- Document ID: US8751343B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/725,095
- Filed: 2010-03-16
- Published: 2010-07-08
- Granted: 2014-06-10
- Earliest claimed: 2006-02-14
- Assignees: Leviathan Entertainment, LLC
- Applicants: Andrew Van Luchene
- Inventors: Andrew Van Luchene
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8751343B2

## CPC

- G06Q 30/0279: Fundraising management
- A63F 13/12
- A63F 13/30: Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
- G06Q 30/00: Commerce
- G07F 17/3255: {Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements}
- A63F 2300/407: Data transfer via internet
- A63F 2300/575: for trading virtual items
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00})

## Abstract

In an embodiment, apparatus and methods for video games permit obtaining funding for developing game environments. A variety of possible funding sources are possible, such as venture capital, the issuance of private shares, transforming the game environment into a public company through an initial public offering, or through a follow on offering such as the issuance of common stock, preferred stock, or treasury stock.

## Claims

### Claim 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 Venture Capital (VC) 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,
in which play of the game continues regardless of whether players are logged in to the game;
receive, from at least one of the player characters, a request to register a venture capital fund;
determine that the player character requesting to register a venture capital fund fulfills the VC fund requirements defined by the stored rules;
receive an application for a project to be funded by the VC fund;
determine if the project that is to be funded by the VC fund qualifies for funding from the VC fund; and
register the project and an ownership percentage of the VC fund in the project.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 in which the computer readable medium further stores instructions which, when executed by the processor, direct the processor to
receive VC funding fund fees from the player character; and
receive from the player character a guarantee of the funding using a credit card account.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rules stored by the computer readable medium provide a requirement that the player character own a given quantity of one or more virtual assets;
and wherein 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.

### Claim 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,
in which play of the game continues regardless of whether players are logged in to the game;
receiving, by the Video Game Central Server, from at least one of the player characters, a request to register a venture capital (VC) fund;
determining, by the Video Game Central Server, that the player character requesting to register a venture capital fund fulfills one or more VC fund requirements defined by stored rules;
receiving, by the Video Game Central Server, an application for a project to be funded by the VC fund;
determining, by the Video Game Central Server, if the project that is to be funded by the VC fund qualifies for funding from the VC fund; and
registering, by the Video Game Central Server, the project and an ownership percentage of the VC fund in the project.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4 further comprising
receiving, by the Video Game Central Server, VC funding from the player character; and
receiving, by the Video Game Central Server, from the player character a guarantee of the funding using a credit card account.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4 wherein the rules further provide a requirement that the player character own a given quantity of one or more virtual assets; and the method further comprises:
determining that the player character owns a given quantity of one or more virtual assets.