Multi-platform gaming systems and methods
First Claim
1. A method of game play combining physical toys and virtual play for entertaining a game participant, said method comprising:
- providing at least one physical toy comprising machine-readable information comprising a first unique identifier configured to enable a game participant to accumulate a first trackable amount of points or progress levels in accordance with a first game played on a first gaming platform comprising a play center, game console, personal computer, or handheld claming device;
providing a second unique identifier comprising a password configured to enable said game participant to accumulate a second trackable amount of points or progress levels in accordance with a second game played on a second gaming platform, and wherein said first gaming platform is different than said second gaming platform and wherein said first game is different than said second game;
configuring an intermediary device to wirelessly read said machine-readable information from said at least one physical toy and to electronically communicate said machine-readable information to at least said first gaming platform;
configuring said second gaming platform to access a website through the internet and wherein said second game comprises one or more computer-simulated play elements configured to be accessed by said game participant at least in part by logging in to said website using said password; and
creating or updating a common data record configured to track a total amount of points or progress levels accumulated by said game participant in accordance with said first and second trackable amount of points or progress levels and storing said common data record in association with information uniquely identifying said at least one physical toy.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-media interactive play system has a number of play elements situated in a variety of play environments or play media. The play elements are linked to a common record of participant performance, progress, character attributes, etc. The participant'"'"'s performance in the play elements determines the play elements to which the participant may proceed as well as the play parameters of the play element in which the participant is currently involved. The play elements are thus interlinked to define a sequence or path network along which the participant advances. By advancing through the play elements the participant carries out a plot, story, theme, etc. that attaches a significance to the successful completion of a given play element or elements. Also disclosed in a variety of play elements suitable for use in the system, an example of a plot or theme that may be carried out by the system, and a send/receive radio frequency network that may be used to track play participants in a play center.
1344 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method of game play combining physical toys and virtual play for entertaining a game participant, said method comprising:
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providing at least one physical toy comprising machine-readable information comprising a first unique identifier configured to enable a game participant to accumulate a first trackable amount of points or progress levels in accordance with a first game played on a first gaming platform comprising a play center, game console, personal computer, or handheld claming device; providing a second unique identifier comprising a password configured to enable said game participant to accumulate a second trackable amount of points or progress levels in accordance with a second game played on a second gaming platform, and wherein said first gaming platform is different than said second gaming platform and wherein said first game is different than said second game; configuring an intermediary device to wirelessly read said machine-readable information from said at least one physical toy and to electronically communicate said machine-readable information to at least said first gaming platform; configuring said second gaming platform to access a website through the internet and wherein said second game comprises one or more computer-simulated play elements configured to be accessed by said game participant at least in part by logging in to said website using said password; and creating or updating a common data record configured to track a total amount of points or progress levels accumulated by said game participant in accordance with said first and second trackable amount of points or progress levels and storing said common data record in association with information uniquely identifying said at least one physical toy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A live-action interactive entertainment system for amusing or entertaining one or more game participants playing a game wherein at least a portion of said game is physically represented in a physical play environment and wherein at least a portion of said game is visually and aurally represented in a virtual play environment through computer simulation, said entertainment system comprising:
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a physical play environment comprising a play structure, themed play space or entertainment facility configured to provide one or more physical play effects, said physical play environment having a size and operating capacity capable of supporting simultaneous use by said one or more game participants; a virtual play environment comprising at least one gaming system comprising a computing device configured to provide one or more virtual play effects comprising a one or more computer-generated audiovisual effects; one or more physically playable gaming items each representing a person, character or object relevant to said game, each of said gaming items comprising an associated radio frequency (RF) transceiver device having a corresponding unique identifier configured to wirelessly and electronically identify said associated gaming item; one or more wireless-compatible intermediary devices configured to provide wireless RF communication with each said RF transceiver device and wherein said wireless communication includes communication of at least said corresponding unique identifier; and a master control system in communication with said one or more wireless-compatible intermediary devices and configured to actuate or control said one or more physical play effects in said physical play environment and said one or more computer-generated effects in said virtual play environment so as to provide an overall interactive entertainment experience in which game progress or performance of said one or more game participants playing said game in both said physical play environment and said virtual play environment can be individually tracked at least in part according to said wireless communications received from each said one or more gaming items. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A cross-platform gaming system for entertaining one or more game participants playing a game that combines both virtual and physical play, said gaming system comprising:
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at least one physical gaming item comprising a wireless toy comprising a first radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless communication with a wireless-compatible device, a unique identification number uniquely identifying said at least one physical gaming item, and programmable non-volatile memory configured to store game-relevant information; at least one intermediary gaming device comprising a second RF transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless communication with said first RF transceiver and further configured to electronically communicate with a first compatible gaming platform comprising a game console or personal computer; game software comprising computer-readable program instructions configured to direct said first compatible gaming platform to;
i) conduct one or more game challenges in accordance with said game, and ii) cause said at least one intermediary gaming device to store in said non-volatile memory a first selection of game-relevant information; andan internet-accessible data storage system configured to;
i) receive, via the internet, said first selection of game-relevant information from said first compatible gaming platform, ii) create or update a game progress record based at least in part on said first selection of game-relevant information and information uniquely identifying said at least one physical gaming item, and iii) transmit, via the internet, a second selection of game-relevant information to a second compatible gaming platform wherein said second selection of game-relevant information is based at least in part on said game progress record. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification