Multi-platform gaming systems and methods

• US 9,861,887 B1
• Filed: 07/12/2017
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MQ Gaming LLC
• Original Assignee: MQ Gaming LLC
• Inventors: Briggs, Rick A., Weston, Denise Chapman
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoel, Matthew D.
• Application Number:
  US15/647,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20170361218A1
• Time in Patent Office: 181 Days
• 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. A multi-media interactive play system for playing a game carried out in both a physical play environment and a computer-simulated play environment, said multi-media interactive play system comprising:

a plurality of radiofrequency (RF) transceivers disposed at different locations within a physical play environment, each said RF transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless communications with a user-wearable tracking device over a limited communication range of at least 10 feet;

a first game module comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, instruct a first computer to carry out a first interactive gaming experience conducted within said physical play environment wherein said plurality of RF transceivers are used to track the physical locations or movements of a play participant wearing said user-wearable tracking device, and wherein said first game module causes said first computer to generate a first selection of game progress information for said play participant in accordance with said first interactive gaming experience;

a second game module comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, instruct a second computer to carry out a second interactive gaming experience conducted within a computer-simulated play environment displayed on an associated display device, and wherein said second game module causes said second computer to generate a second selection of game progress information for said play participant in accordance with said second interactive gaming experience; and

a network-accessible data storage system that receives, via a computer network connection, said first selection of game progress information from said first computer and said second selection of game progress information from said second computer, and wherein said data storage system creates or updates an overall progress record for said play participant based at least in part on said first and second selections of game progress information and a unique identifier that uniquely identifies said play participant or said user-wearable tracking device.

2. The multi-media interactive play system of claim 1, wherein said physical play environment comprises at least one of an entertainment facility, restaurant, and retail store, and wherein said first interactive gaming experience comprises at least one of a quest, treasure hunt and scavenger hunt, carried out at least in part within said at least one of entertainment facility, restaurant, and retail store.

3. The multi-media interactive play system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of RF transceivers are communicatively coupled to at least said first computer and are each configured to provide two-way wireless communications with said user-wearable tracking device over a limited communication range of less than 100 feet.

4. The multi-media interactive play system of claim 1, further comprising a camera disposed within said physical play environment and communicatively coupled to said first computer, and wherein said first game module comprises additional computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause said camera to capture a digital image of said play participant.

5. The multi-media interactive play system of claim 4, wherein said first game module further comprises additional computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause said digital image to be stored in said data storage system in association with said unique identifier.

6. The multi-media interactive play system of claim 1, wherein said second game module further comprises additional computer-executable instructions that, when executed, instructs the second computer to carry out the second interactive gaming experience conducted within a computer-simulated play environment displayed on an associated display device comprising:

(i) selecting a game character to represent said play participant in said game, (ii) selecting one or more attributes of said game character, and (iii) displaying on said associated display device an image of said game character having said selected attributes.

7. The multi-media interactive play system of claim 1, wherein said second game module further comprises additional computer-executable instructions that, when executed, instructs the second computer to carry out the second interactive gaming experience conducted within a computer-simulated play environment displayed on an associated display device comprising:

(i) allowing said play participant to select a virtual game character to represent said play participant in said computer-simulated play environment, (ii) allowing said play participant to select one or more attributes of said virtual game character, and (iii) displaying on said associated display device an image of said virtual game character having said selected attributes.

8. An entertainment system for playing an interactive game that combines elements of physical play and virtual play, said entertainment system comprising:

a plurality of radiofrequency (RF) transceivers disposed at different locations within a physical play environment, each said RF transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless communications with a user-wearable tracking device over a limited communication range of at least 10 feet;

a first computer communicatively coupled to said plurality of RF transceivers and comprising a first set of computer-executable instructions that, when executed, instruct said first computer to carry out a first interactive gaming experience comprising wirelessly tracking the physical locations or movements of a game participant wearing said user-wearable tracking device, and generating a corresponding first selection of game progress information;

a second computer communicatively coupled to said first computer and comprising a second set of computer-executable instructions that, when executed, instruct said second computer to carry out a second interactive gaming experience comprising tracking the progress of a virtual game character in a computer-simulated play environment displayed on an associated display device, and generating a corresponding second selection of game progress information; and

a network-accessible data storage system that receives, via a computer network connection, said first selection of game progress information from said first computer and said second selection of game progress information from said second computer, and wherein said data storage system creates or updates an overall progress record for said game participant based at least in part on said first and second selections of game progress information and a unique identifier that uniquely identifies said user-wearable tracking device.

9. The entertainment system of claim 8, wherein said physical play environment comprises at least one of an entertainment facility, restaurant, and retail store, and wherein said first interactive gaming experience comprises at least one of a quest, treasure hunt, and scavenger hunt carried out at least in part within said at least one of entertainment facility, restaurant, and retail store.

10. The entertainment system of claim 8, wherein each said RF transceiver is configured to provide two-way wireless communications with said user-wearable tracking device over a limited communication range of less than 100 feet.

11. The entertainment system of claim 8, further comprising a camera disposed within said physical play environment and communicatively coupled to said first computer, and wherein said first set of computer-executable instructions, when executed, cause said camera to capture a digital image of said game participant.

12. The entertainment system of claim 11, wherein said first set of computer-executable instructions, when executed, cause said digital image to be stored in said data storage system in association with said unique identifier.

13. The entertainment system of claim 8, wherein said second computer further comprises an additional set of computer-executable instructions that, when executed, instruct said second computer to carry out said second interactive gaming experience comprising:

(i) allowing said game participant to select said virtual game character, (ii) allowing said game participant to select one or more attributes of said virtual game character, and (iii) displaying on said associated display device an image of said virtual game character having said selected attributes.

14. The entertainment system of claim 8, further comprising a scoreboard disposed within said physical play environment that displays said overall progress record for said game participant and/or other game participants.

15. An entertainment facility for playing an interactive game that combines elements of both physical play and virtual play, said entertainment facility comprising:

a plurality of radiofrequency (RF) transceivers disposed at different locations within said entertainment facility, each said RF transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless communications with a user-wearable tracking device over a limited communication range of at least 10 feet;

a first computer communicatively coupled to said plurality of RF transceivers and comprising a first set of computer-executable instructions that, when executed, instruct said first computer to carry out a first portion of said interactive game comprising tracking the physical locations or movements of a game participant wearing said user-wearable tracking device, and generating a corresponding first selection of game progress information;

a second computer communicatively coupled to said first computer and comprising a second set of computer-executable instructions that, when executed, instruct said second computer to carry out a second portion of said interactive game comprising tracking the virtual locations or movements of a virtual game character in a computer-simulated play environment, and generating a corresponding second selection of game progress information; and

a data storage system that receives, via a computer network connection, said first selection of game progress information from said first computer and said second selection of game progress information from said second computer, and wherein said data storage system creates or updates an overall progress record for said game participant based at least in part on said first and second selections of game progress information and a unique identifier that uniquely identifies said game participant.

16. The entertainment system of claim 15, wherein said first portion of said interactive game comprises a quest, treasure hunt or scavenger hunt carried out at least in part within said entertainment facility.

17. The entertainment system of claim 15, wherein each said RF transceiver is configured to provide two-way wireless communications with said user-wearable tracking device over a limited communication range of less than 100 feet.

18. The entertainment system of claim 15, further comprising a camera communicatively coupled to said first computer, and wherein said first set of computer-executable instructions, when executed, cause said camera to capture a digital image of said game participant.

19. The entertainment system of claim 18, wherein said first set of computer-executable instructions further comprises additional computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause said digital image to be stored in said data storage system in association with said unique identifier.

20. The entertainment system of claim 15, wherein said second computer further comprises an additional set of computer-executable instructions that, when executed, instruct said second computer to carry out said second portion of said interactive game comprising:

(i) allowing said game participant to select said virtual game character, (ii) allowing said game participant to select one or more attributes of said virtual game character, and (iii) displaying on an associated display device an image of said virtual game character having said selected attributes.