Multi-platform gaming system using RFID-tagged toys

A packaged product comprising an RFID-tagged toy having both a physical manifestation in a physical play environment and a virtual manifestation in a virtual play environment, said packaged product comprising:

• a toy physically depicting or representing a particular game character or object from a character-based game played out on a gaming platform comprising one or more video game consoles, home game consoles, hand-held game units, computer gaming devices, internet gaming devices or live-action gaming facilities, wherein one or more game characters or objects are virtually represented in said game by computer animation, said toy comprising:
• a physical body comprising a play object or collectible item;
• an RFID tag embedded within or affixed to said physical body, said RFID tag comprising:
• a unique tag identification number;
• at least one antenna;
• integrated circuitry comprising instructions to wirelessly transmit and receive information to and from an associated RFID tag reader;
• and
• memory storing game-relevant information pertaining to said particular game character or object, including one or more relevant attributes, objectives accomplished, points earned or levels achieved;
• wherein at least a portion of said game-relevant information stored in said memory is encrypted using a key-based encryption algorithm;
• and
• a printed code, wherein said printed code identifies or authenticates said particular game character or object within said game and unlocks at least some portion or features of said game.

An immersive interactive gaming system for amusing or entertaining one or more game participants playing a game wherein one or more game characters or objects in said game have both a physical manifestation in a physical play environment and a virtual manifestation in a virtual play environment, said gaming system comprising:

• a gaming platform comprising a video game console, home game console, hand-held game unit, computer gaming device, internet gaming device or live-action gaming facility;
• one or more wireless interactive toys comprising physical play objects or collectible items depicting or representing said game characters or objects relevant to said game, wherein said one or more game characters are visually and/or aurally represented through computer animation in said game, each of said one or more interactive toys comprising:
• an associated unique identification number;
• non-volatile memory storing game-relevant information including at least said unique identification number;
• and
• internal circuitry comprising instructions to wirelessly communicate said game-relevant information to said gaming platform;
• at least one wireless communication device comprising:
• instructions to automatically initiate and provide two-way wireless communication with said one or more wireless interactive toys when each said toy is presented within a communication range of said wireless communication device;
• instructions to provide two-way communication with said gaming platform such that said game-relevant information can be communicated to and from each said presented toy and said gaming platform;
• and
• game software stored on a non-transitory medium comprising game instructions to be executed by said gaming platform to carry out said game, said game instructions comprising:
• program instructions to cause the gaming platform to conduct said game and wherein said one or more game participants advance in the game at least in part by finding clues, solving puzzles or completing challenges presented by the game and wherein said one or more game participants, through playing the game, develop certain skills, abilities or attributes associated with said one or more game characters or objects;
• and
• program instructions to store certain information pertaining to said developed skills, abilities or attributes in the memory of each said corresponding wireless interactive toy, whereby said game participants playing a first game or game session develop skills, abilities or attributes of a particular game character or object corresponding to a particular wireless interactive toy and wherein said particular toy remembers some or all of said developed skills, abilities or attributes in a subsequent game or game session using said particular toy.

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

• a physical play environment comprising a themed play area, play structure, family entertainment center, theme park, or game center that, when activated, produces one or more physical play effects, wherein said physical play environment supports multiple game participants and is themed in accordance with a particular game;
• a virtual play environment comprising at least one gaming system comprising instructions to produce one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects in accordance with said particular game;
• a plurality of wireless interactive toys comprising:
• physical play objects or collectible items depicting or representing particular game characters or objects relevant to said particular game, each of said one or more interactive toys comprising:
• an associated unique identification number;
• non-volatile memory storing game-relevant information which includes at least said unique identification number;
• and
• a wireless transmitter, wherein said wireless transmitter, when activated, wirelessly communicates game-relevant information to said gaming platform;
• at least one wireless receiver comprising control signals to receive wireless input signals from one or more of said plurality of wireless interactive toys and to communicate said wireless input signals to said physical play environment and/or said virtual play environment;
• and
• a master control system comprising:
• instructions to actuate or control one or more physical play effects in said physical play environment and one or more computer-animated effects in said virtual play environment to provide an overall interactive game environment in which the game progress or performance of multiple game participants playing said particular game in both said physical play environment and said virtual play environment can be individually tracked according to the received wireless input signals, and;
• instructions to adjust the interactive game environment for each said game participant in both said physical play environment and said virtual play environment based on said tracked game progress or performance.