Interactive video game system comprising toys with rewritable memories

• US 9,446,316 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2016
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Reiche, Paul, West, Ray
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed, Masud
• Application Number:
  US15/059,188
• Publication Number:
  US 20160243447A1
• Time in Patent Office: 202 Days
• Field of Search: 463 31- 42, 446/175
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/49 Saving the game status; Pausing or ending the game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/302 specially adapted for receiving control signals not targeted to a display device or game input means, e.g. vibrating driver's seat, scent dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface

Abstract

The invention disclosed herein relates to a video game system comprising a video game console and an object or toy used in connection with the video game console, wherein the object or toy has a rewritable data storage device, and wherein the video game console stores information in the rewritable data storage device in response to game play events occurring in a first gaming session. The stored information is subsequently retrieved by the video game console in a second gaming session, and the retrieved information is used to conduct the game play of the second gaming session.

Claims

1. A method useful in providing video game play using a video game device, comprising:

providing, by the video game device, video game play in which a virtual game character, controlled by a user using user inputs, is representative of a first toy, the first toy in communication with the video game device;

presenting, by the video game device, a game play challenge, the game play challenge relating to a virtual game object;

determining, by the video game device, that the user successfully completed the game play challenge;

after determining that the user successfully completed the game play challenge, storing, by the video game device, information relating to the game play challenge in a second toy in communication with the video game device, the virtual game object representative of the second toy.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information comprises an identifier.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the identifier comprises a numeric identifier.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the identifier specifies the video game object.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual game object is manipulable by the virtual game character.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual game character controlled by a user using user inputs may possess the virtual game object.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the video game device communicates with the first toy and second toy through a peripheral device coupled to the video game device.

8. A computer-readable medium having computer program instructions stored thereon for providing video game play, the computer program instructions, when executed by one or more physical processors of a gaming platform, causing the gaming platform to:

provide video game play in which a virtual game character, controlled by a user using user inputs, is representative of a first toy, the first toy in communication with the gaming platform;

present a game play challenge, the game play challenge relating to a virtual game object;

determine that the user successfully completed the game play challenge;

after determining that the user successfully completed the game play challenge, store information relating to the game play challenge in a second toy in communication with the gaming platform, the virtual game object representative of the second toy.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the information comprises an identifier.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the identifier comprises a numeric identifier.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the identifier specifies the video game object.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the virtual game object is manipulable by the virtual game character.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the virtual game character controlled by a user using user inputs may possess the virtual game object.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the gaming platform communicates with the first toy and second toy through a peripheral device coupled to the gaming platform.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, where in the gaming platform is a gaming console.

16. A video game system for providing video game play, the video game system comprising:

a gaming platform comprising one or more physical processors programmed by program instructions that, when executed, cause the gaming platform to;

provide video game play in which a virtual game character, controlled by a user using user inputs, is representative of a first toy, the first toy in communication with the gaming platform;

present a game play challenge, the game play challenge relating to a virtual game object;

determine that the user successfully completed the game play challenge;

after determining that the user successfully completed the game play challenge, store information relating to the game play challenge in a second toy in communication with the gaming platform, the virtual game object representative of the second toy.