Systems and methods for providing an interactive game
First Claim
1. A live-action interactive game system for entertaining or amusing multiple play participants in a live play environment, said interactive game system comprising:
- multiple game items each representing a character in an interactive game and comprising a machine-readable radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprising a short-range radio-frequency (RF) transceiver, non-volatile programmable memory and a unique identification number uniquely identifying each said corresponding game item in said interactive game;
a plurality of reader devices adapted to communicate with said multiple game items over a limited communication range less than 60 cm, each said reader device configured to wirelessly power and read said machine-readable RFID tag from each of said corresponding game items provided within said limited communication range to thereby obtain each said unique identification number;
a game device configured to generate a virtual play environment via one or more virtual play effects comprising a plurality of computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects, and further configured to generate an authenticating passcode based on successful completion of a game event by one or more play participants and wherein said authenticating passcode is unique to each said play participant and said completed game event; and
at least one writer device adapted to communicate with said multiple game items over said limited communication range, said at least one writer device configured to cause said authenticating passcode to be stored in said non-volatile programmable memory of each of said corresponding game items provided within said limited communication range upon the successful completion of the corresponding game event;
wherein said interactive game system enables multiple play participants to play and progress in said interactive game and wherein said participation and progress of each play participant in said interactive game can be individually tracked by said game device according to said corresponding unique identification number and said stored authenticating passcode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An interactive treasure hunt game is provided. Game participants receive a card, map and/or identification badge configured with an RFID tag, barcode 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.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A live-action interactive game system for entertaining or amusing multiple play participants in a live play environment, said interactive game system comprising:
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multiple game items each representing a character in an interactive game and comprising a machine-readable radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprising a short-range radio-frequency (RF) transceiver, non-volatile programmable memory and a unique identification number uniquely identifying each said corresponding game item in said interactive game; a plurality of reader devices adapted to communicate with said multiple game items over a limited communication range less than 60 cm, each said reader device configured to wirelessly power and read said machine-readable RFID tag from each of said corresponding game items provided within said limited communication range to thereby obtain each said unique identification number; a game device configured to generate a virtual play environment via one or more virtual play effects comprising a plurality of computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects, and further configured to generate an authenticating passcode based on successful completion of a game event by one or more play participants and wherein said authenticating passcode is unique to each said play participant and said completed game event; and at least one writer device adapted to communicate with said multiple game items over said limited communication range, said at least one writer device configured to cause said authenticating passcode to be stored in said non-volatile programmable memory of each of said corresponding game items provided within said limited communication range upon the successful completion of the corresponding game event; wherein said interactive game system enables multiple play participants to play and progress in said interactive game and wherein said participation and progress of each play participant in said interactive game can be individually tracked by said game device according to said corresponding unique identification number and said stored authenticating passcode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An interactive game for entertaining or amusing a plurality of play participants, said interactive game comprising:
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a plurality of game items configured to be provided to a corresponding plurality of play participants, each said game item comprising a non-volatile programmable memory and machine-readable code that uniquely identifies each said corresponding play participant within an interactive game, and wherein at least one of said game items comprises a selected portion of game-relevant information required to complete said interactive game and wherein said plurality of game items collectively comprise selected portions of game-relevant information sufficient to complete said interactive game; at least one electronic reader device configured to read the machine-readable code from each said game item when said game item is provided within readable proximity to said reader device to thereby uniquely identify a corresponding play participant associated with said game item; and at least one game devices configured to selectively reveal or provide to each said play participant who provides a corresponding game item within readable proximity to said reader device a selected portion of game-relevant information and wherein said selected portion of game-relevant information is revealed or provided based at least in part on each of said play participant'"'"'s successful completion of one or more selected game challenges, and wherein said at least one game device is further configured to generate an authenticating passcode based on the successful completion of said one or more game challenges and wherein said authenticating passcode is unique to each said play participant and each said one or more completed game challenges; at least one writer device adapted to communicate with said plurality of game items over said readable proximity, said at least one writer device configured to cause said authenticating passcode to be stored in said non-volatile programmable memory of each of said corresponding game items provided within said readable proximity upon the successful completion of the corresponding game challenges; wherein said interactive game enables said plurality of play participants to play and progress in said interactive game and wherein the progress of each said play participant in said interactive game can be individually tracked and authenticated in accordance with said authenticating passcode. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for playing an interactive game carried out within a virtual play environment using one or more physical gaming items and two or more different gaming platforms, said method comprising:
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configuring a first gaming platform to generate a virtual play environment comprising one or more computer-animated effects in accordance with a game; providing a plurality of physical gaming items each representing a specific character in said game, each said gaming item comprising a passive radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprising a short-range radio-frequency (RF) transceiver, non-volatile programmable memory and a unique identification number uniquely identifying each said corresponding gaming item; electrically coupling an RFID reader device to said first gaming platform and configuring said RFID reader device to wirelessly power and provide two-way wireless communication with each said RFID tag over a limited communication range less than 60 cm; selecting at least one of said plurality of physical gaming items to be played in said game and bringing said selected gaming item within said limited communication range of said RFID reader device; causing said RFID reader device to ascertain at least said corresponding unique identification number of said selected gaming item; using said selected gaming item to progress in said game by completing one or more game challenges or puzzles presented by said first gaming platform; causing an encryption algorithm to generate an encrypted code that communicates or authenticates said game progress, wherein said encrypted code is unique to each said gaming item and each said one or more completed game challenges or puzzles; and storing said encrypted code in said non-volatile programmable memory of said selected gaming item; and using said encrypted code to communicate or authenticate said game progress to a second gaming platform that is different from said first gaming platform. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification