Motion-sensitive game controller with optional display screen

An interactive entertainment system for amusing or entertaining one or more game participants playing a game in which at least a portion of the game is visually/aurally represented through computer animations displayed on an associated display device and wherein game progress or performance for each individual game participant is substantially simultaneously tracked as said game is played, said entertainment system comprising:

• at least one gaming system comprising a computing device configured and adapted to produce one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects in accordance with a user-selectable game, said at least one gaming system comprising a first wireless transceiver adapted to provide medium-range two-way wireless communications with one or more wireless input devices;
• and
• at least one wireless motion-sensitive input device sized and configured to be held and moved freely in the air and to be operated by a game participant using a single hand to play said game at least in part by moving substantially the entire input device through the air in a waving or shaking motion, said at least one input device comprising:
• an elongated body having an axis of elongation extending from a first end adapted to be held or gripped by a single hand of a game participant to a second end protruding from said first end and being oriented in substantial collinear alignment therewith;
• at least one motion sensor configured and arranged relative to said elongated so as to sense one or more waving or shaking motions of said elongated body;
• an effects generator for selectively producing one or more light, vibration or sound effects based on one or more wireless communications received from said at least one gaming system;
• a unique identification number for uniquely identifying said at least one input device within said game and for distinguishing said at least one input device from other wireless input devices that may be operated by other game participants;
• and
• a second wireless transceiver adapted to provide medium-range two-way wireless communications with said first transceiver or one or more other associated wireless input devices, wherein said two-way wireless communications include communication of at least said unique identification number;
• wherein said at least one gaming system is further configured and adapted to execute game software to carry out said user-selectable game, said game software including program instructions for instructing said gaming system to:
• i) conduct an interactive game in which a virtual play environment is visually/aurally represented through computer animation;
• ii) establish a wireless communication link with said at least one input device when said at least one input device is operated within a communication range of said first transceiver, said wireless communication link being established at least in part by said first wireless transceiver sending a first wireless signal including a first identification number identifying said first wireless transceiver and said second wireless transceiver receiving and responding to said first wireless transceiver by sending a second wireless signal including said first identification number and a second identification number comprising said unique identification number of said at least one input device;
• iii) track the game progress or performance of each game participant playing said game based at least in part on identifying and distinguishing one or more wireless input signals from each said game participant;
• and iv) adjust the play experience for each said game participant based on said tracked game progress or performance.

An interactive entertainment system for amusing or entertaining one or more game participants playing a game in which at least a portion of the game is visually/aurally represented through one or more computer animations displayed on a display device, said entertainment system comprising:

• at least one gaming system having a computing device configured and adapted to produce one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects in accordance with a game, said at least one computer gaming system comprising a first wireless transceiver adapted to be provided at a first location within a play environment and providing two-way wireless communications with one or more associated portable wireless input devices provided within a wireless communication range of said first wireless transceiver, said wireless communication range extending at least 10 feet from said first location;
• at least one portable wireless motion-sensitive input device sized and configured to be held and moved freely in the air and to be operated by a game participant to play said game at least in part by moving said at least one input device through the air in a desired manner, said at least one input device comprising:
• a unique identification number for uniquely identifying said at least one input device within said game and for distinguishing said at least one input device from one or more other wireless input devices that may be operated by other game participants;
• a second wireless transceiver adapted to provide two-way wireless communications with said first wireless transceiver, and wherein said two-way wireless communications include at least communication of selected information uniquely identifying said at least one input device to said at least one gaming system;
• at least one motion sensor configured and arranged so as to sense one or more motions of said at least one input device;
• at least one display screen for displaying selected messages or other game-relevant information based on one or more wireless communications received from said at least one gaming system;
• and
• an effects generator for selectively producing one or more light, vibration or sound effects based on one or more wireless communications received from said at least one gaming system;
• and
• game software adapted to be executed by said gaming system to carry out said game, said game software including program instructions for instructing said gaming system to conduct an interactive game in which a virtual play environment is visually/aurally represented through one or more computer animations, track the game progress or performance of one or more game participants playing said game, wirelessly transmit selected messages or other game-relevant information to be displayed on said at least one display screen, and adjust the play experience for said one or more game participants based at least in part on said tracked game progress or performance.

A live-action interactive entertainment system for amusing or entertaining multiple game participants playing a game wherein at least a portion of said game is physically represented in a physical play environment and wherein at least a portion of said game is visually/aurally represented in a virtual play environment through computer animation, said entertainment system comprising:

• a physical play environment comprising a play structure, dedicated play space or entertainment facility configured and adapted to produce one or more physical play effects, said physical play environment having a size and operating capacity capable of supporting game participants and being themed in accordance with a game desired to be played;
• a virtual play environment comprising at least one gaming system having a computing device configured and adapted to produce one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects in accordance with said game;
• at least one wireless receiver adapted to receive wireless input signals from one or more associated wireless input devices and to communicate said wireless input signals to said physical play environment and/or said virtual play environment;
• at least one wireless motion-sensitive input device sized and configured to be held and moved freely in the air and to be operated by a game participant using a single hand to play said game at least in part by moving said at least one input device in a waving or shaking motion, said at least one input device comprising:
• an elongated body having an axis of elongation extending from a first end adapted to be held or gripped by a single hand of a game participant to a second end protruding from said first end and being oriented in substantial collinear alignment therewith;
• at least one motion sensor configured and arranged relative to said elongated body so as to sense one or more waving or shaking motions of said elongated body;
• a unique identification number for uniquely identifying said at least one input device within said game and for distinguishing said at least one input device from one or more other associated wireless input devices that may be operated by other game participants;
• and
• a wireless transmitter adapted to transmit one or more wireless input signals to said receiver, and wherein said one or more wireless input signals include communication of at least said unique identification number;
• and
• a master control system for actuating or controlling one or more physical play effects in said physical play environment and one or more computer-animated effects in said virtual play environment so as to provide an overall interactive game in which the game progress or performance of multiple game participants playing said game in both said physical play environment and said virtual play environment can be individually tracked according to the received wireless input signals, and wherein said master control system is further able to adjust the game experience for each said game participant in both said physical play environment and said virtual play environment based on said tracked game progress or performance.