System and method for providing real world value in a virtual world environment

Abstract

A system and a method is provided wherein real world monetary or cash values are placed on virtual world avatars, avatar possessed or avatar purchasable virtual world items, environmental virtual world items and virtual world computer generated non-player characters (NPCs), such as slayable beasts, monsters, creatures, or humanoids. These NPCs or other avatars (i.e., other players' avatars) have the ability to defeat and collect the cash value of avatars and their gear, thus gaining cash value for the NPC or the avatars. This cash value is then winnable by any avatar with the skill to best the NPC or other avatar. In this system and method, a real world cash value of an avatar is established and can be increased or decreased based upon the avatar's interaction with other avatars, the virtual world environment and/or a player's investment of real world cash value.

1 . A method of providing an online tournament, comprising:
 providing a first avatar with an associated cash value;   providing a competition by which a designated portion of the first avatar's associated cash value is transferred to a second avatar;   transferring the designated portion of the first avatar's associated cash value to the second avatar; and   providing real world cash value associated with the designated portion of the first avatar's associated cash value to the player who is playing the second avatar.