SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTERACTIVE GAME PLAY

• US 20100273556A1
• Filed: 07/02/2010
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MQ Gaming LLC
• Original Assignee: Creative Kingdoms LLC (Great Wolf Resorts Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Briggs, Rick A., Weston, Denise
• Granted Patent: US 8,342,929 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• 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 13/655 by importing photos, e.g. of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2401 Detail of input, input devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/245 visual
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2489 by radio transmitters, e.g. using RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2011/0097 Watching television being part of the game, e.g. using the television broadcasting of a sporting event
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/183 electric
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players

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.

Claims

1. An interactive game system for entertaining one or more play participants, the interactive game system comprising:

one or more play modules configured to receive or support one or more play participants playing therein or therewith, each of said one or more play modules comprising multiple play elements comprising one or more interactive challenges configured to be played by said one or more play participants as part of an interactive game; and

a handheld device operable by at least one of said one or more play participants by waving, shaking, stroking and/or tapping said handheld device in a predetermined manner to transmit a first signal to wirelessly actuate at least one of said multiple play elements, the handheld device further comprising a memory configured to (i) store identification information for uniquely identifying said at least one play participant or said handheld device and (ii) store game information received by the handheld device indicative of a progress or history of the at least one play participant in the interactive game, the handheld device being further configured to wirelessly transmit at least one of said identification information and said game information to at least one of said multiple play elements during participation by said at least one play participant in said one or more interactive challenges.

2. The interactive game system of claim 1, wherein the one or more play modules further comprises multiple play modules arranged sequentially and interconnected such that a first group of interactive challenges associated with a first play module of the multiple play modules is necessary to be played before a second group of interactive challenges associated with a second play module of the multiple play modules can be played.

3. The interactive game system of claim 1, wherein said handheld device is configured to communicate with one or more read/write devices associated with each interactive challenge.

4. The interactive game system of claim 1, wherein said game information identifies characteristics of a role play character associated with said at least one play participant.

5. The interactive game system of claim 1, further comprising at least one transceiver associated with said one or more play modules, and wherein said handheld device is configured to receive wireless communications from said at least one transceiver.

6. The interactive game system of claim 5, wherein said handheld device is configured to produce at least one of vibration and sound by said handheld device in response to receiving said wireless communications from said at least one transceiver.

7. The interactive game system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of said multiple play elements is further configured to adjust said one or more interactive challenges using at least said game information received from the handheld device.

8. An interactive play system for entertaining one or more play participants, the interactive play system comprising:

multiple play elements operatively related to a game to be completed by one or more play participants; and

a toy device that wirelessly exchanges data with said multiple play elements to activate at least one of said multiple play elements when the toy device is moved in a predetermined manner, the toy device further comprising a memory for storing identification data for uniquely identifying at least one play participant of said one or more play participants and storing progress information of the at least one play participant in the game, the toy device being configured to wirelessly transmit at least one of said identification data and said progress information to said multiple play elements,

and wherein at least a portion of said multiple play elements communicates with the toy device to selectively regulate access by the at least one play participant to a selected one or more of said multiple play elements based on the progress information stored in the memory of the toy device.

9. The interactive play system of claim 8, wherein said multiple play elements comprise one or more interactive challenges configured to be played or completed by said one or more play participants.

10. The interactive play system of claim 8, wherein said toy device is further configured to track which of said one or more interactive challenges have been completed by said at least one play participant.

11. An interactive play system for entertaining one or more play participants, the interactive play system comprising:

one or more play elements to provide one or more interactive games or challenges configured to be played or completed by play participants, said one or more play elements being actuatable in response to a wireless signal;

a handheld device operable by at least one of said play participants by waving, shaking, stroking and/or tapping said handheld device in a predetermined manner to transmit said wireless signal to actuate said one or more play elements; and

at least one memory device associated with said handheld device, the at least one memory device storing (i) identification information to uniquely identify the at least one play participant during interaction with said one or more play elements and (ii) progress information received by the handheld device indicative of a game status of the at least one play participant in said interactive games or challenges, and

wherein at least one of said one or more play elements is configured to adjust said one or more interactive games or challenges for the at least one play participant using at least said progress information received from the handheld device.

12. The interactive play system of claim 11, wherein said handheld device is configured to communicate with one or more read/write devices associated with said one or more play elements.

13. The interactive play system of claim 11, further comprising at least one transceiver associated with said one or more play elements, and wherein said handheld device is configured to receive wireless communications from said at least one transceiver.

14. The interactive play system of claim 13, wherein said wireless communications comprise radio frequency (RF) communication.

15. The interactive play system of claim 13, wherein said handheld device is configured to produce at least one of vibration and sound by said handheld device in response to receiving said wireless communications from said at least one transceiver.

16. The interactive play system of claim 11, wherein the one or more play elements comprises a video game console.

17. The interactive play system of claim 11, wherein the handheld device comprises an elongated body configured to be grasped at one end by the at least one play participant.

18. The interactive play system of claim 11, further comprising a second handheld device operable by waving, shaking, stroking and/or tapping said second handheld device in a predetermined manner to transmit a second wireless signal to actuate said one or more play elements.

19. The interactive play system of claim 18, wherein the second handheld device is further configured to communicate with other said handheld device.

20. The interactive play system of claim 11, where said progress information comprises data indicative of attributes of a virtual character selected by the at least one play participant to participate in said one or more interactive games or challenges.