System and method for playing an interactive game
DCFirst Claim
1. An interactive gaming system for entertaining one or more game participants playing a game wherein at least a first portion of said game is virtually represented in a virtual play environment and wherein at least a second portion of said game is physically represented in a physical play environment, said interactive gaming system comprising:
- a plurality of physical gaming items each comprising;
i) a wirelessly-powered radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless communications with a wireless-compatible device, ii) a unique identification number uniquely identifying said corresponding gaming item, and iii) non-volatile memory configured to store selected game-relevant information associated with said corresponding gaming item; and
at least one wireless-compatible game device configured to wirelessly power and provide two-way wireless communications with each said gaming item over a limited communication range of less than 60 cm and wherein said wireless communication is facilitated at least in part through inductive coupling between said at least one wireless-compatible game device and each said RF transceiver when each said associated gaming item is provided within said limited communication range of said at least one wireless-compatible game device, and wherein said at least one wireless-compatible game device is further configured to ascertain said selected game-relevant information from each said gaming item and to communicate said selected game-relevant information to a compatible gaming platform comprising one or more of;
a game console, a home computer, or a hand-held gaming device; and
wherein said plurality of physical gaming items comprises at least one player item depicting or representing a role-play character played by a corresponding game participant in said game and wherein said at least one player item is further configured to store selected information indicating progress or development of said corresponding role-play character played by said game participant in said game, and wherein said plurality of physical gaming items comprises at least one access item having stored therein an encrypted code configured to be decrypted or authenticated to thereby enable said game participant to access additional features or portions of said game,wherein said at least one player item comprises programmable non-volatile memory and wherein said selected game-relevant information comprises game or character progress or character attributes developed by said game participant while playing said game using said at least one player item,wherein said selected game-relevant information further comprises an authenticating passcode that communicates or authenticates said game or character progress and wherein said at least one game device is configured to automatically download said authenticating passcode to said at least one player item when said at least one player item is provided within said limited communication range of said at least one game device, andwherein said authenticating passcode comprises encrypted information indicating completion of one or more game events and wherein said encrypted information is configured to be decrypted or authenticated using an encryption key that is unique to said at least one player item.
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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, bar-code 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.
1394 Citations
38 Claims
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1. An interactive gaming system for entertaining one or more game participants playing a game wherein at least a first portion of said game is virtually represented in a virtual play environment and wherein at least a second portion of said game is physically represented in a physical play environment, said interactive gaming system comprising:
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a plurality of physical gaming items each comprising;
i) a wirelessly-powered radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless communications with a wireless-compatible device, ii) a unique identification number uniquely identifying said corresponding gaming item, and iii) non-volatile memory configured to store selected game-relevant information associated with said corresponding gaming item; andat least one wireless-compatible game device configured to wirelessly power and provide two-way wireless communications with each said gaming item over a limited communication range of less than 60 cm and wherein said wireless communication is facilitated at least in part through inductive coupling between said at least one wireless-compatible game device and each said RF transceiver when each said associated gaming item is provided within said limited communication range of said at least one wireless-compatible game device, and wherein said at least one wireless-compatible game device is further configured to ascertain said selected game-relevant information from each said gaming item and to communicate said selected game-relevant information to a compatible gaming platform comprising one or more of;
a game console, a home computer, or a hand-held gaming device; andwherein said plurality of physical gaming items comprises at least one player item depicting or representing a role-play character played by a corresponding game participant in said game and wherein said at least one player item is further configured to store selected information indicating progress or development of said corresponding role-play character played by said game participant in said game, and wherein said plurality of physical gaming items comprises at least one access item having stored therein an encrypted code configured to be decrypted or authenticated to thereby enable said game participant to access additional features or portions of said game, wherein said at least one player item comprises programmable non-volatile memory and wherein said selected game-relevant information comprises game or character progress or character attributes developed by said game participant while playing said game using said at least one player item, wherein said selected game-relevant information further comprises an authenticating passcode that communicates or authenticates said game or character progress and wherein said at least one game device is configured to automatically download said authenticating passcode to said at least one player item when said at least one player item is provided within said limited communication range of said at least one game device, and wherein said authenticating passcode comprises encrypted information indicating completion of one or more game events and wherein said encrypted information is configured to be decrypted or authenticated using an encryption key that is unique to said at least one player item. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for playing an interactive game combining both virtual and physical play elements, said method comprising:
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configuring a first gaming platform to produce a virtual play environment comprising one or more computer-animated effects in accordance with an interactive game adapted to be played by one or more game participants; providing a plurality of physical gaming items each comprising;
i) a wirelessly-powered radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless communications with a wireless-compatible device, ii) a unique identification number uniquely identifying said corresponding gaming item, and iii) non-volatile memory configured to store selected game-relevant information associated with said corresponding gaming item;providing an intermediary gaming device configured to wirelessly power and provide two-way wireless communications with said plurality of physical gaming items over a limited communication range of less than 60 cm; selecting from said plurality of physical gaming items a first gaming item depicting or representing a game-associated character configured to be played by a game participant in said game; placing said first gaming item within said communication range of said intermediary gaming device; causing or allowing said intermediary gaming device to store in said non-volatile memory of said first gaming item selected information indicating progress or development of said corresponding game-associated character as said game is played by said game participant using said first gaming platform and wherein said selected information comprises at least in part encrypted information configured to be decrypted or authenticated using an encryption key that is unique to said first gaming item; and using said first gaming item to communicate or authenticate said selected information to a second gaming platform that is different from said first gaming platform, wherein said encryption key is based at least in part on said unique identification number of said first gaming item. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A promotional gaming item configured to be provided as part of a retail purchase transaction, said promotional gaming item comprising:
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a game token or toy configured for use in conjunction with one or more compatible gaming platforms comprising one or more of;
a home game console, a personal computer, a handheld game unit, or a live-action game attraction;a wirelessly-powered radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless communications with a wireless-compatible reader device associated with said one or more compatible gaming platforms over a limited communication range of less than 60 cm; non-volatile memory configured to store selected game-relevant information uniquely associated with said promotional gaming item; and at least one item of encrypted information stored in said non-volatile memory, said encrypted information configured to be decrypted or authenticated using an encryption algorithm based on at least one encryption key that is uniquely associated with said promotional gaming item and which can be ascertained from information stored in said non-volatile memory thereof, and wherein said encrypted information is further configured when decrypted or authenticated to enable a game participant to access certain features or portions of a computer-animated game carried out on said one or more compatible gaming platforms, wherein said encrypted information is configured to be decrypted or authenticated using a multi-key encryption algorithm that uses at least a first key and a second key and wherein at least said first key is ascertainable from information stored in said non-volatile memory, and wherein at least one of said first key or said second key comprises a unique identification number stored in said non-volatile memory. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for playing an interactive game which combines both virtual and physical play aspects, said method comprising:
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configuring a gaming platform to produce a virtual play environment comprising one or more computer-animated effects in accordance with an interactive game adapted to be played by one or more game participants; providing a plurality of physical gaming items each comprising;
i) a wirelessly-powered radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless communications with a wireless-compatible device, ii) a unique identification number identifying said corresponding gaming item, and iii) non-volatile memory configured to store selected game-relevant information associated with said corresponding gaming item, and wherein a first set of said plurality of physical gaming items comprises one or more player items each depicting or representing a role-play character played by a corresponding game participant in said game and wherein a second set of said plurality of physical gaming items comprises one or more access items each having stored therein a unique access code configured to enable a game participant to access one or more additional features or portions of said game;communicatively coupling a reader device to said gaming platform, said reader device configured to wirelessly power and provide two-way wireless communications with each said gaming item over a limited communication range of less than 60 cm; selecting a player item from said first set of gaming items; selecting an access item from said second set of gaming items; placing said selected player item and said selected access item within said communication range of said reader device; and causing or allowing said reader device to i) ascertain said unique access code from said selected access item and communicate said unique access code to said gaming platform to enable said game participant to access said one or more additional features or portions of said game, and ii) store in said non-volatile memory of said player item selected information indicating progress or development of said corresponding role-play character as it is played by said game participant in said game, wherein at least a portion of said selected information indicating said progress or development of said corresponding role-play character comprises encrypted information and wherein said encrypted information is configured to be decrypted or authenticated using an encryption key that is unique to said selected player item. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification