Toy figure for use with multiple, different game systems

• US 6,773,325 B1
• Filed: 02/08/2002
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hasbro Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hasbro Inc.
• Inventors: Wiesenhahn, Mark, Mawle, Miriam, Rywolt, Todd, Labarbara, Franklin, Lewinsky, David, Stratford, Victoria M., Sheppard, R. J., Peterson, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOTALING, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US10/067,973
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36-39, 463/46, 446/301, 446/298, 446/175
• US Class Current: 446/175
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/833 Hand-to-hand fighting, e.g. martial arts competition A63F13/837 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2491 with a detachable memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00075 War games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00643 Electric board games; Electric features of board games electric word or number games A63F3/0421; computer chess G06F; electric raffle games A63F3/081
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/00 Dolls puppets or marionettes for shows or theatres A63J19/006

Abstract

A game includes a toy figure that includes memory for storing information relating to the toy figure, a first game system configured to communicate with the toy figure, and a second game system configured to communicate with the toy figure. The first game system is configured to download the stored information relating to the toy figure, receive input from a user, and alter the stored information based on the received input and the downloaded information. Similarly, the second game system is configured to download the stored information relating to the toy figure, receive input from a user, and alter the stored information based on the received input and the downloaded information. The second game system provides a play pattern substantially different from a play pattern provided by the first game system.

Claims

1. A game comprising:

a toy figure that includes memory for storing information relating to the toy figure;

an action figure device configured to communicate with the toy figure, download the stored information relating to the toy figure, receive input from a user, alter the stored information based on the received input and the downloaded information, and provide a representation of the toy figure developed from the stored information when the action figure device communicates with the toy figure; and

a game system including;

an input mechanism, and

a controller configured to communicate with the toy figure, download the stored information relating to the toy figure, receive input from a user through the input mechanism independently of communication with the toy figure, alter the stored information based on user input received through the input mechanism and the downloaded information, provide a representation of the toy figure developed from the stored information, and alter the toy figure representation based on the user input received through the input mechanism when the game system controller communicates with the toy figure.

2. The game of claim 1, wherein the toy figure memory comprises re-writeable memory.

3. The game of claim 1, wherein the toy figure memory comprises read only memory.

4. The game of claim 1, wherein the toy figure comprises a connector and.the action figure device comprises a mating connector such that the action figure device communicates with the toy figure through a direct connection between the connector on the toy figure and the mating connector on the action figure device.

5. The game of claim 1, wherein information relating to the toy figure comprises statistics of past games in which the toy figure was involved, gaming rules, one or more visual representations of the toy figure, and one or more audio representations of the toy figure.

6. The game of claim 1, wherein information relating to the toy figure comprises a power type that indicates how powerful that toy figure is when interacting with a game system or another toy figure, a weakness type that indicates how weak that toy figure is when interacting with a game system or another toy figure, or a resistance type that indicates how resistant that toy figure is to damage when interacting with a game system or another toy figure.

7. The game of claim 1, wherein the action figure device alters the representation of the toy figure based on the downloaded information relating to the toy figure.

8. The game of claim 1, wherein input received from a user comprises input relating to control of the toy figure during game play.

9. The game of claim 1, wherein the game system comprises a game arena.

10. The game of claim 1, wherein the game system comprises a hand-held electronic device.

11. The game of claim 1, wherein the game system comprises a game board.

12. The game of claim 1, wherein the game system comprises a video game.

13. The game of claim 1, wherein the game system comprises a software game.

14. The game of claim 1, wherein the game system comprises an arcade game.

15. The game of claim 1, wherein the game system comprises a network-based game.

16. The game of claim 1, wherein the game system comprises a computer system game.

17. The game of claim 1, wherein the game system comprises a race track, and the toy figure comprises a vehicle associated with the race track.

18. The game of claim 1, wherein received user input comprises an indication of an action that the representation of the toy figure takes during a game.

19. The game of claim 1, the action figure device is configured to perform game tasks based on the received user input and the downloaded information.

20. The game of claim 1, wherein the action figure device comprises a processor and a speaker that emits, under control of the processor, an audio representation of a toy figure coupled to the game system, the audio representation being downloaded from the toy figure.

21. The game of claim 1, wherein the action figure device comprises a processor, memory, a clock, and a counter, the processor causing the game system to perform various tasks based on information obtained from memory, the clock, and the counter.

22. The game of claim 1, wherein the toy figure includes a code that uniquely identifies the toy figure, the unique code being stored in the memory of the toy figure.

23. A game comprising:

a toy that includes memory for storing information relating to the toy;

an action figure device including;

an input mechanism, and

a controller configured to communicate with the toy, download the stored information relating to the toy, receive input from a user through the input mechanism independently of communication with the toy, alter the stored information based on user input received through the input mechanism and the downloaded information, provide a representation of the toy based on the stored information when the action figure device controller communicates with the toy, and alter the toy representation based on user input received through the input mechanism; and

a game system configured to communicate with the toy, download the stored information relating to the toy, receive input from a user, alter the stored information based on the received input and the downloaded information, provide a representation of the toy based on the stored information, and alter the toy representation.

24. A game comprising:

a toy that includes memory for storing information relating to the toy; and

an action figure device including;

an input mechanism, and

a controller configured to communicate with the toy, download the stored information relating to the toy, receive input from a user through the input mechanism independently of communication with the toy, alter the stored information based on user input received through the input mechanism and the downloaded information, provide a representation of the toy when the action figure device communicates with the toy, and perform a play pattern procedure including altering the representation of the toy based on user input received through the input mechanism.

25. The game of claim 24, wherein the toy includes a code that uniquely identifies the toy.

26. The game of claim 25, further comprising a game system configured to communicate with the toy, download the stored information relating to the toy, receive input from a user, receive the identification code, and alter the stored information based on the received input and code and the downloaded information.

27. The game of claim 26, wherein the game system provides a play pattern the same as a play pattern provided by the action figure device.

28. The game of claim 26, wherein the game system provides a play pattern different from a play pattern provided by the action figure device.

29. The game of claim 25, wherein the code is stored in the toy'"'"'s memory.

30. The game of claim 24, wherein the action figure device comprises an action figure including:

a torso; and

an appendage connected to the torso;

wherein the appendage is movable relative to the torso.

31. The game of claim 24, wherein the action figure device provides the representation of the toy by emitting an audio representation of the toy.

32. The game of claim 25, wherein the action figure device controller alters the stored information based on the identification code.

33. A game comprising:

a toy that includes memory for storing information relating to the toy; and

an action figure including an input mechanism and a controller configured to communicate with the toy, download the stored information relating to the toy, receive input from a user through the input mechanism, alter the stored information based on user input received through the input mechanism and the downloaded information, provide a representation of the toy, and perform a play pattern procedure including altering the representation of the toy based on user input received through the input mechanism.