Motion-sensitive Input Device and Interactive Gaming System
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention provide a unique interactive game that includes multiple dynamic layers in which a participant may complete a variety of challenges and/or tasks. For example, the participant may obtain a toy “wand” from a retail phase that is usable in an interactive entertainment phase. The interactive entertainment phase may include multiple interrelated layers such that progress in one or more layers may affect the participant'"'"'s experience in one or more other layers. The participant may also receive training on how to use the wand and/or complete one or more special effects, adventures and/or quests. During or following the interactive entertainment phase, the participant may use accumulated points and/or powers to redeem prizes and/or compete against other participants, such as in a duel.
73 Citations
46 Claims
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1. (canceled)
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2. An interactive game including one or more physically collectible or tradable items for entertaining one or more game participants using an existing video game console, home game console, hand-held game unit, personal computer or live-action play facility, said interactive game comprising:
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one or more motion-sensitive input devices each configured to be held in a single hand and used by said one or more game participants to selectively actuate or control one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects produced in accordance with a particular game selected to be played using said existing video game console, home game console, hand-held game unit, personal computer or live-action play facility, said input device comprising motion- or position-sensitive circuitry for enabling said input device to be operated at least in part by moving, shaking, twisting, waving or pointing said input device to thereby actuate or control said one or more visual, aural or tactile effects, and a first identifier for uniquely identifying said input device or said one or more game participants within said game; one or more physically collectible or tradable items depicting or representing persons, characters or objects relevant to said particular selected game, each of said one or more collectible or tradable items having associated therewith an electronically-readable tag, each said tag further comprising a second identifier for identifying or tracking each said associated collectible or tradable item; and game software comprising computer program instructions stored or contained in a machine readable format, said game software adapted to be read and executed by a computing device associated with said existing video game console, home game console, hand-held game unit, personal computer or live-action play facility for conducting said particular selected game, said game software including computer program instructions for causing said computing device to selectively read said second identifier and store said second identifier in association with said first identifier such that each said collectible or tradable item can be tracked in said particular selected game in association with each of said one or more input devices or game participants; whereby said existing video game console, home game console, hand-held game unit, personal computer or live-action play facility can access and use said stored first and second identifiers in accordance with said game software and said one or more input devices to thereby adjust the game experience for said one or more game participants and/or to recreate in said one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects the appearance or traits of a corresponding depicted or represented person, character or object. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A multi-layered interactive game including one or more physically collectible or tradable items for entertaining one or more game participants using an existing gaming console having one or more associated motion-sensitive input devices for selectively activating or controlling one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects produced in accordance with a particular game selected to be played, said interactive game comprising:
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one or more physically collectible or tradable items depicting or representing persons, characters or objects relevant to said particular selected game, each of said one or more collectible or tradable items having associated therewith an electronically-readable tag, each said tag further comprising certain identification information for identifying or tracking each said associated collectible or tradable item; and game software comprising computer program instructions stored or contained in a machine readable format, said game software adapted to be read and executed by a computing device associated with said existing gaming console for conducting said particular selected game in accordance with input motions or commands provided by said one or more motion-sensitive input devices, said game software further comprising computer program instructions for causing said computing device to;
i) selectively read said identification information, ii) use said identification information to retrieve from an associated database selected attributes relevant to said corresponding depicted or represented person, character or object, and iii) recreate in said one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects the appearance or traits of said corresponding depicted or represented person, character or object;whereby a multi-layered interactive gaming experience is provided wherein game participants are able to affect the play of said particular selected game by using said one or more motion-sensitive input devices and/or by selectively presenting one or more of said collectible or tradable items. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An interactive gaming system for amusing and entertaining one or more game participants playing a game in which a computer-generated play environment is represented through various computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects, said interactive gaming system comprising:
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at least one gaming device configured and adapted to produce said one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects in accordance with a particular selected game desired to be played by said one or more game participants; at least one motion-sensitive input device configured to be held and used by said one or more game participants, said input device comprising at least a first sensor element for sensing acceleration of said input device and a second sensor element for sensing rotation of said input device and one or more finger-actuated switches, wherein said input device can be operated by said one or more game participants at least in part by moving, shaking, twisting, waving or pointing said input device and at least in part by selectively actuating said one or more finger-actuated switches to thereby activate or control said one or more visual, aural or tactile effects associated with said particular selected game; and one or more purchasable game items comprising a toy, card, trinket, token, doll, action figure or stuffed animal, each said one or more purchasable game items physically depicting or representing persons, characters or objects relevant to said particular selected game and having associated therewith an electronically-readable tag, each said electronically-readable tag further comprising tag identification information for identifying or tracking each said associated purchasable game item; said at least one gaming device being further configured and adapted to;
i) electronically read each said electronically-readable tag when a selected one or more of said purchasable game items is presented to said at least one gaming device to thereby determine said tag identification information, ii) create one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects having the particular appearance, characteristics and/or traits of said corresponding depicted or represented person, character or object, and iii) adjust the game experience for said one or more game participants according to said selected one or more of said purchasable items presented to said at least one gaming device;whereby a complex interactive entertainment experience is provided wherein game participants are able to affect the play of said particular selected game by selectively presenting said one or more purchasable game items to said at least one gaming device. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification