Wireless gaming system combining both physical and virtual play elements

A gaming device for amusing or entertaining a game participant playing a game wherein at least a first portion of said game is virtually represented through one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects and wherein at least a second portion of said game is physically represented through one or more radio frequency identification (RFID)-tagged items, said gaming device comprising:

• a first radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured and adapted to provide medium-range two-way wireless communication with a first wireless-compatible device comprising a wireless-compatible video game console, home game console, handheld game unit, personal computer, or live-action gaming element, said first RF transceiver having a communication range of at least 10 feet;
• a second RF transceiver configured and adapted to provide short-range two-way wireless communication with a second wireless-compatible device comprising at least one or more RFID-tagged items depicting or representing a person, character or object relevant to a game, said second RF transceiver having a wireless communication range of at least 1 cm;
• and
• a wireless power source configured and adapted to generate an electromagnetic field to wirelessly power said second wireless-compatible device by inductive coupling when said second wireless-compatible device is provided within said wireless communication range of said second RF transceiver;
• whereby a game participant plays a game at least in part by selectively providing said one or more RFID-tagged items within wireless communication range of said second RF transceiver to wirelessly power the associated RFID tag and thereby cause selected information stored on said associated RFID tag to be wirelessly communicated to said second RF transceiver, and wherein said selected information can be further communicated by said first RF transceiver to said first wireless-compatible device and used therein to activate, control or modify one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects in accordance with said game.

A gaming system for amusing or entertaining one or more game participants playing a game wherein at least a portion of said game is virtually represented through one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects and wherein at least a portion of said game is physically represented through one or more wireless-compatible gaming items, said gaming system comprising:

• a wireless-compatible gaming platform comprising a video game console, home game console, handheld game unit, personal computer, or live-action play facility, said gaming platform configured and adapted to produce a computer-generated play environment comprising one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects in accordance with a game;
• a wireless-compatible game controller configured and adapted to be held and moved freely in the air and to provide a wireless control signal to said gaming platform based at least in part on one or more sensed motions of said game controller, said game controller further comprising:
• a body having an internal cavity sized and configured to receive one or more batteries and associated circuitry configured to power and operate said game controller;
• non-volatile programmable memory storing at least one unique identifier for uniquely identifying said game controller within said game;
• a first radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured and adapted to provide two-way wireless communication with said gaming platform, said first RF transceiver having a wireless communication range of at least 10 feet;
• and
• motion- or position-sensitive circuitry configured and adapted to enable said game controller to be operated at least in part by moving the entire body of said game controller in said one or more motions to thereby activate or control one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects;
• a second RF transceiver configured and adapted to provide two-way wireless communication with one or more wireless-compatible gaming items, said second RF transceiver having a wireless communication range of at least 1 cm and wherein said two-way communication is facilitated at least in part through inductive coupling between said second RF transceiver and said one or more gaming items and having electronically stored therein selected information relevant to a game;
• and
• a wireless power source configured and adapted to generate an electromagnetic field to wirelessly power said one or more gaming items by inductive coupling when said one or more gaming items are provided within said wireless communication range of said second RF transceiver;
• whereby one or more game participants plays said game at least in part by moving said game controller in said one or more motions and at least in part by selectively placing said one or more gaming items within said wireless communication range of said second RF transceiver to wirelessly power said one or more gaming items and thereby cause said selected information stored on said gaming item to be wirelessly communicated to said gaming system.

A gaming system for amusing or entertaining one or more game participants playing a game wherein at least a portion of said game is virtually represented in a virtual play environment through one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects and wherein at least a portion of said game is physically represented in a physical play environment through one or more radio frequency identification (RFID)-tagged gaming items, said gaming system comprising:

• a wireless gaming platform comprising a video game console, home game console, handheld game unit, personal computer, or live-action play facility, said gaming platform being configured and adapted to produce a computer-generated virtual play environment comprising one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects in accordance with a game;
• a wireless game controller configured and adapted to be held in a single hand of said game participant and moved freely through the air and to be single-handedly operated to provide a wireless control signal to said gaming platform based at least in part on one or more sensed motions of said game controller, said game controller further comprising:
• an elongated body having an internal cavity sized and configured to receive one or more batteries and associated circuitry configured to power and operate said game controller;
• non-volatile programmable memory storing at least one unique identifier for uniquely identifying said game controller within said game;
• a wireless transmitter configured and adapted to transmit said wireless control signal to said gaming platform, said transmitter having a wireless communication range of at least 10 feet;
• and
• motion- or position-sensitive circuitry configured and adapted to enable said game controller to be operated at least in part by moving the entire body of said game controller in said one or more motions to thereby activate or control said one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects;
• an RFID reader device configured and adapted to provide two-way wireless communication with each RFID tag associated with said one or more RFID-tagged gaming items, said RFID reader device having a wireless communication range of at least 1 cm and wherein said two-way communication is facilitated at least in part through inductive coupling between said RFID reader and each said associated RFID tag, and wherein said RFID reader device is further configured and adapted to generate an electromagnetic field to wirelessly power each said associated RFID tag by inductive coupling when said one or more RFID-tagged gaming items are within said wireless communication range of said RFID reader device;
• whereby one or more game participants plays said game at least in part by moving said game controller in said one or more motions and at least in part by selectively placing said one or more RFID-tagged gaming items within said wireless communication range of said RFID reader device to wirelessly power said one or more RFID-tagged gaming items and thereby cause selected information stored on said associated RFID tag to be wirelessly communicated to said gaming system.