Toy devices and methods for providing an interactive play experience

A toy device for use in interactive game play, said toy device comprising:

• first means for sensing a first motion of a first end of an elongated body of the toy device;
• second means for sensing a second motion of a second end of the elongated body of the toy device, wherein said first and second sensing means are operably coupled to, respectively, said first and second ends of the elongated body;
• means for determining a duration of time between a sensing of the first motion by said first sensing means and a sensing of the second motion by said second sensing means;
• and
• means for transmitting at least one wireless signal to a remote receiver so as to trigger or control one or more play effects remote to the toy device, wherein said at least one wireless signal is derived from information from said first signal, said second signal and said duration of time.

A wireless motion-sensitive input device for a live-action game, computer game, video game, home game console or hand-held game unit comprising:

• a base component comprising an elongated housing sized and adapted to be grasped and manipulated by a user and having a distal end and a proximal end, said base component having an internal cavity formed therein sized and adapted to receive and contain one or more batteries or other power sources and associated circuitry for activating and operating said input device, said associated circuitry comprising:
• a microprocessor;
• a data storage module operatively associated with said microprocessor and having stored therein at least one address identifier;
• a data bus operatively associated with said microprocessor adapted to carry at least two bits of input data comprising a first input signal;
• motion-sensitive circuitry comprising one or more sensors configured and arranged within said housing so as to generate a second input signal responsive to one or more sensed motions of said base component;
• a transmitter capable of wireless communication with at least one external receiver associated with said live-action game, computer game, video game, home game console or hand-held game unit, said transmitter being configured to send to said at least one external receiver a command signal based on said address identifier and said first and second input signals;
• and
• a receiver capable of wireless communication with at least one external transmitter associated with said live-action game, computer game, video game, home game console or hand-held game unit, said receiver being configured to receive from said at least one external transmitter a data signal containing information relevant to a game selected to be played by said user;
• wherein said base component is further sized, configured and adapted so as to enable the user thereof to hold and manipulate said base component by moving, shaking, twisting, waiving or pointing in a particular manner to thereby control or activate one or more desired effects within said selected game;
• and
• at least two input switches operatively associated with said base component, said at least two input switches being sized, configured and adapted to be selectively actuated by one or more fingers of said user to selectively control said at least two bits of input data comprising said first input signal while said user is simultaneously moving, shaking, twisting, waiving or pointing said base component in a particular manner;
• whereby a user is able to use said motion-sensitive input device to control or activate at least two different desired effects within said selected game by moving, shaking, twisting, waving or pointing said base component in a particular manner while selectively activating one, two or none of said at least two input switches.

A motion-control video game system for generating desired play effects comprising one or more computer-generated images, said video game system comprising:

• at least one game console configured and adapted to play a game selected or activated by a user, said game console further comprising a console receiver configured and adapted to wirelessly receive input command signals from at least two or more wireless input devices operated substantially simultaneously by one or more users, and further comprising a console transmitter configured and adapted to wirelessly transmit at least one data signal containing information relevant to a game selected to be played on said game console by said user;
• at least one wireless motion-sensitive input device for enabling a user, playing either alone or simultaneously with other users, to control or activate one or more of said desired play effects within said selected game by moving, shaking, twisting, waiving or pointing said input device in accordance with one or more particular motions, said at least one motion-sensitive input device comprising:
• a base component comprising an elongated housing sized and adapted to be grasped and manipulated by a user and having a distal end and a proximal end, said base component having an internal cavity formed therein sized and adapted to receive and contain one or more batteries or other power sources and associated circuitry;
• control circuitry comprising a microprocessor, a data storage module operatively associated with said microprocessor and having stored therein at least one address identifier, and a data bus operatively associated with said microprocessor adapted to carry at least two bits of input data comprising a first input signal;
• motion-sensitive circuitry comprising one or more sensors configured and arranged within said housing so as to generate a second input signal responsive to one or more sensed motions of said base component;
• a base transmitter capable of wireless communication with said console receiver, said base transmitter being configured to send to said console receiver a command signal based on said address identifier and said first and second input signals;
• and
• a base receiver capable of wireless communication with said console transmitter, said base receiver being configured to receive from said console said at least one data signal containing information relevant to said selected game;
• and
• at least two input switches operatively associated with said base component, said at least two input switches being sized, configured and adapted to be selectively actuated by one or more fingers of said user to selectively control said at least two bits of input data comprising said first input signal while said user is moving, shaking, twisting, waiving or pointing said base component in said particular manner;
• whereby a user of said motion-control video game system is able to use said at least one motion-sensitive input device to control or activate at least two different desired effects within said selected game by moving, shaking, twisting, waiving or pointing said base component in a particular manner while substantially simultaneously activating one, two or none of said at least two input switches.

A combination motion-sensitive input device and toy for a live-action game, computer game, video game, home game console or hand-held game unit comprising:

• a base component comprising an elongated housing sized and adapted to be grasped and manipulated by a user and having a distal end and a proximal end, said base component having an internal cavity formed therein sized and adapted to receive and contain one or more batteries or other power sources and associated circuitry for activating and operating said input device, said associated circuitry comprising:
• control circuitry comprising a microprocessor, a data storage module operatively associated with said microprocessor and having stored therein at least one address identifier for uniquely identifying said base component, and a data bus operatively associated with said microprocessor adapted to carry at least one bit of input data comprising a first input signal;
• motion-sensitive circuitry comprising one or more sensors configured and arranged within said housing so as to generate a second input signal responsive to one or more sensed motions of said base component;
• a transmitter capable of wireless communication with at least one external receiver associated with said live-action game, computer game, video game, home game console or hand-held game unit, said transmitter being configured to send to said at least one external receiver a command signal based on said address identifier and said first and second input signals;
• and
• a receiver capable of wireless communication with at least one external transmitter associated with said live-action game, computer game, video game, home game console or hand-held game unit, said receiver being configured to receive from said at least one external transmitter a data signal containing information relevant to a game selected to be played by said user;
• wherein said base component is sized, configured and adapted so as to enable the user thereof to hold and manipulate said base component by moving, shaking, twisting, waiving or pointing in a particular manner to thereby control or activate one or more desired effects within said selected game and wherein said base component is further configured and adapted to be modularly assembled with one or more auxiliary components for thereby allowing a user to selectively create a modified input device having enhanced powers, abilities or aesthetics;
• and
• at least one or more auxiliary components configured and adapted for modular assembly with said base component, said at least one or more auxiliary components being interchangeable such that said at least one or more auxiliary components can be interchangeably assembled with said base component and/or selected others of said at least one or more auxiliary components to create a themed toy having enhanced powers, abilities or aesthetics and which can be used as an input device for said live-action game, computer game, video game, home game console or hand-held game unit.