Multi-layered interactive play experience

A multi-level interactive game for amusing and entertaining one or more game participants, the multi-level interactive game comprising:

• a portable interactive toy device adapted to wirelessly transmit information pertaining to a game participant associated with the portable interactive toy device;
• a physical game environment comprising a transceiver network responsive to the portable interactive toy device and adapted to output data indicative of the information transmitted by the portable interactive toy device during the game participant's involvement in an interactive game comprising one or more physical challenges to be performed within the physical game environment and involving use of the portable interactive toy device to allow game participant to interact with physical objects within the physical game environment, wherein use of the portable interactive toy device comprises pointing, waving, shaking, and/or twisting the interactive toy device in a predetermined manner;
• a retail environment that is different from the physical game environment;
• and
• a control system having a database and responsive to the data output by the transceiver network, the database of the control system being configured to store a progress of the game participant in the interactive game based at least on said data, the control system being further configured to control advancement of the game participant from a first level of play to a second level of play in the interactive game based on the progress of the game participant and based on at least one in-game attribute obtained with a retail purchase made by or on behalf of the game participant, wherein the retail purchase is associated with the retail environment and does not comprise a purchase of the portable interactive toy device, and wherein the physical game environment comprises a themed interactive play facility.

A method for providing an interactive game, the method comprising:

• providing in a physical play environment an interactive game comprising a first plurality of interactive challenges to be performed within the physical play environment, at least a portion of the first plurality of interactive challenges involving use of a portable wireless toy device by a play participant to perform the first plurality of interactive challenges, the portable wireless toy device being configured to be upgraded or modified based, at least in part, on one or more retail purchases;
• recording, with a central computing system, progress of the play participant in the interactive game, wherein said recording comprises receiving through a plurality of readers within the physical play environment information from the portable wireless toy device during performance by the play participant of one or more of the first plurality of interactive challenges within the physical play environment;
• tracking the one or more retail purchases by the play participant, wherein said tracking comprises receiving identification data identifying one or more gaming attributes associated with the one or more retail purchases and associating the one or more gaming attributes with the play participant, the one or more gaming attributes assisting the play participant to complete the first plurality of interactive challenges, wherein the one or more retail purchases are initiated at a retail location remote to the physical play environment;
• and
• controlling with the central computing system access by the play participant to a second plurality of interactive challenges based on the progress of the play participant in the interactive game,
• wherein the physical play environment comprises a themed interactive play facility.