Interactive animatronic game/device partner and method for using same

A method for operating an interactive animatronic character gaming partner, comprising:

• providing an animatronic body including a head shaped portion having at least one display unit located at the head shaped portion and configured to resemble an eye of the character, and at least one motor located in the body and configured to move a portion of the head shaped portion to change a structural configuration of the head shaped portion in order to emulate an emotional characteristic for the character, and a processor located adjacent the body and configured to obtain information from a gaming device on which a user is playing a game;
• causing the processor to receive trigger information from at least one of the gaming device and a separate server, related to an event occurring in the game;
• changing at least one of,
• a structural configuration of the head shaped portion,
• a display from the display unit, and
• an audible message from a speaker
• based on the trigger information received by the processor from at least one of the gaming device and the separate server.

An interactive animatronic character device partner, comprising:

• a body including a head shaped portion;
• at least one motor located in the body and configured to move a portion of the head shaped portion to change a structural configuration of the head shaped portion;
• at least one speaker located adjacent the body;
• a processor located adjacent the body and configured to interact with a device being used by a user, the processor also configured to receive trigger information from a server that is separate from and configured to communicate with the device, and to output a signal to at least one of the motor and the speaker in coordination with both the trigger information and information related to a first action by the user on the device, such that the gaming partner provides a critique of the first action to the user.