Multi-platform gaming systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9861887-B1
Application number	US-201715647652-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jul 12, 2017
Priority date	Feb 26, 1999
Publication date	Jan 9, 2018
Grant date	Jan 9, 2018

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

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 clai

Assignees

• Mq Gaming Llc

Inventors

• Briggs Rick A
• Weston Denise Chapman

Classifications

• A63F2011/0097

  Watching television being part of the game, e.g. using the television broadcasting of a sporting event · CPC title

• A63F2009/245

  visual · CPC title

• A63F13/23

  for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console · CPC title

• A63F13/00

  Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions · CPC title

• A63F9/183

  electric · CPC title