System and method for playing an interactive game

• US 10,010,790 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2016
• Issued: 07/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MQ Gaming LLC
• Original Assignee: MQ Gaming LLC
• Inventors: Weston, Denise Chapman, Barney, Jonathan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): LIM, SENG HENG
• Application Number:
  US15/255,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20170113133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/21 characterised by their sensors, purposes or types
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/48 Starting a game, e.g. activating a game device or waiting for other players to join a multiplayer session
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/201 Playing authorisation given at platform level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/636 involving process of starting or resuming a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00145 Board games concerning treasure-hunting, fishing, hunting capturing fishing games A63F9/305

Abstract

An interactive treasure hunt game is provided. Game participants receive a card, map and/or identification badge configured with an RFID tag, bar-code or a magnetic “swipe” strip or the like. The RFID tag or other identifying device is used to store certain information identifying each play participant and/or describing certain powers or abilities possessed by an imaginary character that the card may represent. Players advance in the game by finding clues and solving various puzzles presented by the game. Players may also gain (or lose) certain attributes, such as magic skills, magic strength, fighting ability, various spell-casting abilities, etc. All of this information is preferably stored on the RFID tag or card so that the character attributes may be easily and conveniently transported to other similarly-equipped play facilities, computer games, video games, home game consoles, hand-held game units, and the like. In this manner, the game can seamlessly transcend from one play environment and/or entertainment medium to the next.

Claims

1. A physical gaming item for accessing selected features or portions of a virtual game carried out on one or more compatible gaming platforms, said gaming item comprising:

a wirelessly-powered radio frequency (RF) transceiver that provides two-way wireless communications with a wireless-compatible reader device associated with said one or more compatible gaming platforms over a limited wireless communication range of less than 60 cm;

non-volatile memory storing a selection of information uniquely associated with said gaming item;

said selection of information comprising at least one item of encrypted information that can be decrypted or authenticated using an encryption algorithm and at least one encryption key, and wherein said encrypted information, when decrypted or authenticated, enables a game participant to access one or more optional features or portions of a computer-animated game played on said one or more compatible gaming platforms; and

wherein said at least one encryption key is uniquely associated with said gaming item and is ascertainable from information stored in said non-volatile memory.

2. The gaming item of claim 1 wherein said gaming item embodies a toy depicting or representing a person or character relevant to said computer-animated game.

3. The gaming item of claim 1 wherein said at least one encryption key comprises a unique identification number uniquely associated with said gaming item.

4. The gaming item of claim 1 in combination with said wireless-compatible reader device, and wherein said reader device wirelessly powers and provides two-way wireless communications with said gaming item over a limited communication range of less than 60 cm and wherein said two-way wireless communications are facilitated at least in part through inductive coupling between said reader device and said RF transceiver, and wherein said reader device ascertains said selection of information from said gaming item and communicates said selection of information to said one or more compatible gaming platforms to thereby enable said game participant to access said one or more optional features or portions of said computer-animated game.

5. The combination of claim 4 further comprising a second gaming item comprising a second wirelessly-powered radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless communications with said reader device and a second non-volatile memory storing a second selection of information uniquely associated with said second gaming item.

6. The combination of claim 4 further comprising game software comprising program instructions stored in a non-transient medium that causes said compatible gaming platform to generate said computer-animated game comprising a first game play experience in accordance with a first portion of said computer-animated game and a second game play experience in accordance with a second portion of said computer-animated game, and to use said encrypted information to control access to at least said second game play experience.

7. A physical gaming item for enabling a game participant to securely access one or more selected portions or features of a virtual game played on a compatible gaming device, said gaming item comprising a passive radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprising:

an antenna that is energized by an RFID reader associated with a computerized gaming device comprising a personal computer, home game console or portable gaming device;

a radio frequency (RF) transceiver electrically coupled to said antenna that provides short-range two-way wireless communications with said RFID reader over a limited communication range of less than 60 cm and wherein said short-range two-way wireless communications are facilitated at least in part through inductive coupling between said antenna and said RFID reader; and

non-volatile memory storing;

(i) a unique identification number; and

(ii) at least one access code that is encrypted using an encryption algorithm and at least one encryption key derived from said unique identification number; and

wherein said at least one access code, when decrypted and communicated to said computerized gaming device, authorizes said game participant to access one or more selected portions or features of a computer-animated game played on said computerized gaming device.

8. The gaming item of claim 7 wherein said gaming item embodies a toy depicting or representing a person or character relevant to said computer-animated game.

9. The gaming item of claim 7 further comprising a printed access code that enables said game participant to access said one or more selected portions or features of said computer-animated game by manually entering said printed access code into said computerized gaming device.

10. The gaming item of claim 7 further comprising an LCD display that displays said at least one access code.

11. The gaming item of claim 7 in combination with said RFID reader.

12. The gaming item of claim 7 in combination with game software comprising program instructions stored in a non-transient medium that direct said computerized gaming device to generate a virtual play environment comprising a first game play experience in accordance with a first portion of said computer-animated game and a second game play experience in accordance with a second portion of said computer-animated game, and to control access to at least said second game play experience using said at least one access code.

13. The gaming item of claim 7 wherein said non-volatile memory stores selected game-relevant information comprising progress or development of a corresponding game character played by said game participant in said computer-animated game.

14. A physical gaming item for accessing a virtual game played on a compatible gaming device, said gaming item comprising:

a portable body that can be selectively moved or positioned by a game participant; and

a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag disposed within said portable body and comprising;

an antenna that becomes energized whenever said gaming item is selectively positioned within communication range of an RFID reader associated with said compatible gaming device;

a radio frequency (RF) transceiver electrically coupled to said antenna that provides short-range two-way wireless communications with said RFID reader, and wherein said short-range two-way wireless communications are facilitated at least in part through inductive coupling between said antenna and said RFID reader; and

non-volatile memory storing;

(i) a unique identification number, (ii) game-relevant information comprising selected powers or abilities of a corresponding game character in a computer-animated game played by said game participant on said compatible gaming device, and (iii) at least one access code configured to enable said game participant to access one or more optional portions or features of said computer-animated game; and

wherein said access code is encrypted using an encryption algorithm and at least one encryption key that is uniquely associated with said gaming item and ascertainable from information stored in said non-volatile memory.

15. The gaming item of claim 14 wherein said at least one encryption key comprises said unique identification number.

16. The gaming item of claim 14 wherein said access code is encrypted using said at least one encryption key and a second encryption key that is not ascertainable from information stored in said non-volatile memory.

17. The gaming item of claim 14 further comprising a printed access code configured to enable said game participant to access said one or more portions or features of said computer-animated game by manually entering said printed access code into said compatible gaming device.

18. The gaming item of claim 14 wherein said portable body comprises a toy depicting or representing a character relevant to said computer-animated game.

19. The gaming item of claim 14 in combination with game software comprising program instructions stored in a non-transient medium that directs said compatible gaming device to generate a virtual play environment comprising a first game play experience in accordance with a first portion of said computer-animated game and a second game play experience in accordance with a second portion of said computer-animated game, and to use said access code to control access to at least said second game play experience.

20. The gaming item of claim 14 further comprising non-volatile programmable memory configured to store progress or development of said corresponding game character in said computer-animated game.