Multi-platform gaming systems and methods
First Claim
1. A multi-media play system for entertaining one or more participants as part of an interactive entertainment experience carried out across multiple different play environments, said multi-media play system comprising:
- a first plurality of play elements provided within a physical play environment, said first plurality of play elements arranged and configured to enable said one or more participants to access and play a first game by moving within said physical play environment or by manipulating one or more physical objects within said physical play environment;
a computer tracking system configured to track the progress or performance of each of said one or more participants in said first game using;
i) one or more radiofrequency (RF) identification devices carried or worn by each of said one or more participants, and ii) one or more compatible RF transceivers distributed throughout said physical play environment and communicatively coupled to said computer tracking system;
a second plurality of play elements provided within a computer-simulated play environment displayed on a gaming platform selected from the group consisting of a game console, a handheld game unit, and a personal computer, said second plurality of play elements arranged and configured to enable said one or more participants to access and play a second game on said gaming platform; and
a data storage system communicatively coupled to said computer tracking system and said gaming platform, said data storage system configured to receive a first selection of information relevant to said first game, a second selection of information relevant to said second game, and to create or update an overall progress record for each of said one or more participants based at least in part on said first and second selections of information and a third selection of information uniquely identifying each of said one or more participants.
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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.
1370 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A multi-media play system for entertaining one or more participants as part of an interactive entertainment experience carried out across multiple different play environments, said multi-media play system comprising:
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a first plurality of play elements provided within a physical play environment, said first plurality of play elements arranged and configured to enable said one or more participants to access and play a first game by moving within said physical play environment or by manipulating one or more physical objects within said physical play environment; a computer tracking system configured to track the progress or performance of each of said one or more participants in said first game using;
i) one or more radiofrequency (RF) identification devices carried or worn by each of said one or more participants, and ii) one or more compatible RF transceivers distributed throughout said physical play environment and communicatively coupled to said computer tracking system;a second plurality of play elements provided within a computer-simulated play environment displayed on a gaming platform selected from the group consisting of a game console, a handheld game unit, and a personal computer, said second plurality of play elements arranged and configured to enable said one or more participants to access and play a second game on said gaming platform; and a data storage system communicatively coupled to said computer tracking system and said gaming platform, said data storage system configured to receive a first selection of information relevant to said first game, a second selection of information relevant to said second game, and to create or update an overall progress record for each of said one or more participants based at least in part on said first and second selections of information and a third selection of information uniquely identifying each of said one or more participants. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A multi-media gaming system for providing an interactive gaming experience carried out across multiple different play environments, said multi-media gaming system comprising:
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a first game module comprising computer-executable instructions configured to instruct a first host computer to carry out a first interactive gaming experience conducted within a physical play environment wherein a machine-readable identifier is used to track the locations or movements of one or more game participants within said physical play environment, and wherein said first game module is configured to cause said first host computer to generate a first selection of game progress information for each of said one or more game participants in accordance with said first interactive gaming experience; a second game module comprising computer-executable instructions configured to instruct a second host computer to carry out a second interactive gaming experience conducted within a computer-simulated play environment displayed on a gaming platform selected from the group consisting of a game console, a handheld gaming device, and a personal computer, and wherein said second game module is configured to cause said second host computer to generate a second selection of game progress information for each of said one or more game participants in accordance with said second interactive gaming experience; and an internet-accessible data storage system configured to receive, via the internet, said first selection of game progress information from said first host computer and said second selection of game progress information from said second host computer, and wherein said data storage system is further configured to create or update an overall progress record for each of said one or more game participants based at least in part on said first and second selections of game progress information and a third selection of information uniquely identifying each of said one or more game participants. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for entertaining one or more participants in a multi-media interactive gaming experience carried out in multiple different play environments, said method comprising:
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providing each participant with a first identifier comprising a portable radiofrequency (RF) identification device configured to uniquely identify each said corresponding participant in a first game played out in a physical play environment; recording for each said corresponding participant a first selection of game progress information relevant to said first game, and wherein said first selection of game progress information is based at least in part on one or more wireless communications exchanged between said corresponding portable RF identification device and one or more compatible RF transceivers distributed throughout said physical play environment; providing each said participant with a second identifier comprising a username configured to uniquely identify each said corresponding participant in a second game played out in a computer-simulated play environment displayed on a gaming platform selected from the group consisting of a game console, a handheld game system, and a personal computer; recording for each said corresponding participant a second selection of game progress information relevant to said second game played on said gaming platform; creating or updating an overall progress record for each said participant based, at least in part, on said corresponding first and second selections of game progress information and a third selection of information uniquely identifying each said corresponding participant; and adjusting for each said corresponding participant one or more game parameters of said second game based at least in part on information contained in said overall progress record for each said corresponding participant. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification