Wireless interactive game having both physical and virtual elements

A kit for assembling an RFID-enabled gaming toy for playing a game on a gaming platform, said kit comprising:

• a plurality of modular components configured to be selectively and detachably assembled to form the RFID-enabled gaming toy, wherein the RFID-enabled gaming toy is an assembled multi-component toy comprising said plurality of modular components secured together in one of a variety of possible assembled configurations;
• at least one of said modular components comprising a body having an internal cavity formed therein;
• a radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag disposed within said internal cavity, said RFID tag comprising:
• (i) a unique identifier;
• (ii) non-volatile memory storing a first selection of information identifying a virtual character or object in a computer-animated game, wherein at least a portion of said first selection of information is encrypted;
• (iii) a radiofrequency (RF) transceiver configured to provide wireless communication between the RFID-enabled gaming toy and the gaming platform;
• and (iv) an antenna configured to power said RF transceiver when said antenna is energized by an externally-generated electromagnetic field;
• and
• wherein said at least one modular component is configured to be selectively interchanged with one or more like modular components comprising non-volatile memory storing a second selection of information that is different than said first selection of information.

A gaming system combining physical toys and virtual gameplay, said gaming system comprising:

• a first gaming toy configured to access a virtual game character in a computer-animated game played on a gaming platform, said first gaming toy comprising a plurality of modular components configured to be selectively and detachably secured to one another to form a modularly constructed toy having one of a variety of possible assembled configurations and wherein at least one of said modular components comprises a first radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag comprising non-volatile memory configured to store a first selection of information comprising machine-readable data identifying or describing said virtual game character, wherein the modularly constructed toy is functional when the plurality of modular components are secured to one another;
• a second gaming toy configured to be used in conjunction with said first gaming toy to selectively access one or more optional features of said computer-animated game, said second gaming toy comprising a second RFID tag comprising non-volatile memory configured to store a second selection of information comprising machine-readable data identifying or describing said one or more optional features;
• and
• wherein said first and second RFID tags are configured to communicate with an RFID reader that:
• i) powers and communicates with said first and second RFID tags, ii) ascertains said first and second selections of information, and iii) communicates said first and second selections of information to said gaming platform.