8. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of characters is associated with a personality profile.
1. A method implemented in a computing environment for presenting educational materials in a video game environment, the method comprising: a computing system providing a game interface for displaying game characters, each character comprising corresponding attributes that include at least an attack attribute and a defense attribute, the computing system comprising memory operatively coupled to one or more processors; assigning a first character to a first human participant; assigning a second character to a second human participant; the computing system presenting a game environment within the game interface that involves the first character in a storyline and that includes game actions that the first character participates in, wherein the first human participant is presented with educational materials corresponding to a first subject matter, and wherein the game actions include at least one of modifying the attributes that correspond to the first character, obtaining possessions for the first character and using the first character to interact with at least the second game character; the computing system presenting questions to the first human participant when the first character participates in a particular game action within the game environment, wherein the presented questions correspond to educational materials of the first subject matter, and wherein at least one question is presented to the first human participant, corresponding to a virtual attack of the first character by the second character within the game environment; the computing system displaying a first health display element within the game environment that reflects a health status of the first character and that reflects at least a decrease in the health status of the first character as a consequence to damage inflicted by the virtual attack if the first human participant provides an incorrect answer to the at least one question; the computing system displaying a questions menu option within the game environment to the first human participant with which the first human participant is enabled to select or create one or more questions for use in connection with an offensive virtual attack applied by the first character within the game environment; the computing system displaying a second health display element that reflects a health status of the second character and that reflects at least a decrease in the health status of the second character in connection with damage inflicted by the offensive virtual attack by the first character within the game environment; and the computing system providing at least one portal within the game interface which, when entered by the first character, transports the first character to a new world where educational materials presented to the first character correspond to a second subject matter that is different than the first subject matter.