Electronic game system with character units

• US 8,033,901 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2006
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Wood, Ethan
• Primary Examiner(s): D'AGOSTINO, PAUL ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US11/539,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20080085773A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,828 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463 40- 42
• US Class Current: 463/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/00 Dolls puppets or marionettes for shows or theatres A63J19/006

Abstract

An electronic game system is provided. The system may include a base station operable to communicate with an electronic system and one or more character units operable to communicate with the base station. The one or more character units store data associated with one or more characters. The data are utilized to play a game using the electronic system. The character units may have substantially similar appearances to characters in the game. The base station also may have a character appearance. The character units may be removably attachable to the base station, alone or simultaneously, at an exterior or interior portion of a body part of the character appearance such as a head, a limb and a torso.

Claims

1. An electronic game system comprising:

an electronic system used to play a game in communication with a network, the game including a game world having an area associated with a first character in the game;

a base station operable to communicate with the electronic system and having a character appearance;

a first character unit operable to communicate with the base station, the first character unit storing first data associated with the first character, wherein the first character unit has a substantially similar appearance to the first character in the game;

wherein the character appearance of the base station is similar to the appearance of the first character unit.

2. The electronic game system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second character unit operable to communicate with the base station, the second character unit storing second data associated with a second character, wherein the first data and second data are utilized to play a game using the electronic system.

3. The electronic game system of claim 1, wherein the first character unit is removably attachable to a USB port of the base station.

4. The electronic game system of claim 1, wherein the game is an Internet based game.

5. The electronic game system of claim 1, wherein the first character unit is coupled to the base unit by one or more contacts.

6. The electronic game system of claim 1, wherein the electronic system is in communication with a network.

7. The electronic game system of claim 1, wherein the first character accumulates virtual items in the area associated with the first character by playing the game.

8. The electronic game system of claim 1, wherein the first character unit includes a communication device for communicating with the base station, the communication device being concealed by a removable head.

9. The electronic game system of claim 2, wherein the character appearance of the base unit includes a head.

10. The electronic game system of claim 9, wherein the first character unit is removably attachable to the base station.

11. The electronic game system of claim 10, wherein the first character unit is removably attachable to the base station at the head.

12. The electronic game system of claim 11, wherein the base station is configured to enable the first character unit and the second character unit to be attached to the base station at the same time.

13. The electronic game system of claim 12, wherein the base station is configured to enable the first character unit and the second character unit to be attached to the base station at the same time and at the head.

14. The electronic game system of claim 5, wherein the base station is removably attachable to a USB port of the electronic system.

25. The electronic game system of claim 6, wherein the area associated with the first character is viewable by a plurality of players of the game via the network.

26. The electronic game system of claim 7, wherein the virtual items include at least one of furniture and decorative items.

15. A character unit comprising:

a housing configured to resemble a character in a game;

a communication device operable to communicate with an electronic system through a base station with a character appearance that resembles the character in the game, wherein the electronic system is used to play the game and wherein the electronic system is in communication with a network; and

a memory unit configured to store data associated with the character, wherein the data are used to play the game, wherein the game includes a game world having an area associated with the character and viewable by a plurality of players of the game via the network.

16. The character unit of claim 15, wherein the character unit is removably attachable to a USB port of the base station.

17. The character unit of claim 15, wherein the network is the Internet.

18. The character unit of claim 15, wherein the character accumulates virtual items by playing the game and wherein the virtual items are displayed to the plurality of players in the area associated with the character.

19. The character unit of claim 15, wherein the communication device is concealed by a removable head.

20. The character unit of claim 18, wherein the virtual items include at least one of furniture and decorative items.

21. A base station comprising:

a housing;

a first communication device operable to communicate with an electronic system, wherein the electronic system is used to play a game and wherein the electronic system is in communication with a network; and

a second communication device operable to communicate with a first character unit, the first character unit being configured to resemble a first character in the game and storing first data associated with the first character, wherein the first data are used to play the game and the game includes a game world having an area associated with the first character and viewable by a plurality of players of the game via the network;

wherein the housing is shaped similarly to the first character unit.

22. The base station of claim 21, wherein the first character unit is removably connectable to a USB port or one or more electronic contacts of the base station.

23. The base station of claim 21, wherein the base station further comprises:

a third communication device operable to communicate with a second character unit, the second character unit being configured to resemble a second character in the game and storing second data associated with the second character, wherein the second data are used to play the game.

24. The base station of claim 23, further comprising:

a first USB port or first set of one or more electronic contacts operable to connect to the first character unit, the first USB port or first set of one or more electronic contacts being located at an exterior or interior portion of a body part of the housing selected from the group consisting of a head, a limb and a torso; and

a second USB port or second set of electronic contacts operable to connect to the second character unit, the second USB port or second set of electronic contacts being located at a same body part as the first USB port or first set of electronic contacts.

27. An electronic game system comprising:

an electronic system used to play a game in communication with a network, the game including a game world having an area associated with a first character in the game;

a base station operable to communicate with the electronic system and having a character appearance that includes a removable head; and

a first character unit operable to communicate with the base station, the first character unit storing first data associated with the first character, wherein the first data are used to play the game and the first character unit has a substantially similar appearance to the first character in the game and to the character appearance of the base station;

wherein the first character unit is removably attachable to the base station at a location concealable by the removable head of the base station.

28. The electronic game system of claim 27, further comprising:

a second character unit operable to communicate with the base station, the second character unit storing second data associated with a second character;

wherein the second data are used to play the game using the electronic system and wherein the second character unit is removably attachable to the base station at a second location concealable by the removable head of the base station.