Interactive action figures for gaming systems
First Claim
1. A method for providing a computer activity to a user, said method comprising the steps of:
- registering a first product in response to a primary access code being entered on a computer, the primary access code being associated with the first product;
responsive to registering the first product, creating an identity for a character for use in the computer activity;
further responsive to registering the first product, providing content for displaying a visual representation of the character in the computer activity, the visual representation of the character corresponding to the first product;
registering a second product on the computer in response to a secondary access code being entered on a computer, the secondary access code being associated with the second product; and
responsive to registering the second product, providing an enhancement that is stored in association with the identity of the character for future use in the computer activity without requiring the secondary access code to be entered again.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An action figure is provided with a serial number that provides an access code which allows owners to engage in enjoyable games or other activities via the Internet or other gaming systems. The interactive action figure system comprises a toy, statue, or other three-dimensional figurine with a serial number, and preferably a computer network accessible over the interne and a particular gaming framework managed by a network device. Owners of action figure toys may “log onto” the network using the action figure serial number as an access code to activate a particular computer character identity and participate in games such as hand-to-hand combat games, action-adventure series, or learning games. The action figure may be, for example, a warrior, sports figure, doll or teddy bear to appeal to a wide range of users. Once a particular character is activated, game play proceeds according to preset rules. The game character'"'"'s traits, powers, and other features may be enhanced or otherwise modified by purchasing preferably-three-dimensional accessories and inputting serial numbers into the gaming system that are also supplied with the accessories.
239 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A method for providing a computer activity to a user, said method comprising the steps of:
-
registering a first product in response to a primary access code being entered on a computer, the primary access code being associated with the first product; responsive to registering the first product, creating an identity for a character for use in the computer activity; further responsive to registering the first product, providing content for displaying a visual representation of the character in the computer activity, the visual representation of the character corresponding to the first product; registering a second product on the computer in response to a secondary access code being entered on a computer, the secondary access code being associated with the second product; and responsive to registering the second product, providing an enhancement that is stored in association with the identity of the character for future use in the computer activity without requiring the secondary access code to be entered again.
-
-
2. A method for providing a computer activity to a user, said method comprising the steps of:
-
registering a first-product on a computer, said registering including accepting information input into the computer by the user; responsive to registering the first product, providing an item for display in said computer activity, said item visually corresponding to said first product; registering a tangible second product on said computer; and responsive to registering the second product, enhancing said item in said computer activity, wherein said item possesses a trait in said computer activity that involves an ability of said item in a network-hosted game environment over a communication network, and said enhancing includes modifying the trait to alter the ability of said item in said network-hosted game environment; and updating the identity of the item in a computer-readable medium so the trait, as modified, is accessed when the item is subsequently used in the network-hosted game environment subsequent to registering the second product without requiring repeated registration of the second product. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A method for providing a computer activity, said method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a tangible product with a unique first access code; providing an accessory with a unique second access code comprising human-readable text characters that are to be manually entered into a user computer to register the accessory and are packaged with the accessory at a time of purchase, but concealed from view, wherein said accessory is an accessory to said tangible product; registering said tangible product on a server connected to a network using said first access code; responsive to registering said tangible product, providing an image in said computer activity, said image substantially resembling said tangible product, wherein said image is provided such that it can be animated in said computer activity based on a command received by said server; registering the accessory on said server by receiving said second access code manually entered on the user computer over a communication network; and responsive to registering the accessory, modifying a characteristic of said image in said computer activity.
-
-
10. A method for providing a computer activity on a computer, said method comprising the steps of:
-
registering a first product on a computer, wherein the first product belongs to a first class of products; responsive to registering the first product, providing a first item in said computer activity; registering a second product on said computer, wherein the second product belongs to a second class of products different than the first class of products; responsive to registering the second product, enhancing said first item in said computer activity; and storing an enhancement of said first item resulting from said enhancing in a computer-accessible database for future use without requiring repeated registration of said second product. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification