Portable gaming device and gaming system combining both physical and virtual play elements

An interactive entertainment system for entertaining one or more game participants playing a computer-animated game displayed on an associated display device, said interactive entertainment system comprising:

• at least one game console comprising:
• a computing device configured to produce one or more computer-animated effects in accordance with a game;
• and
• a first wireless transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless communications with one or more wireless-compatible devices over a wireless communication range of at least 10 feet;
• at least one wireless-compatible device comprising a portable wireless controller configured to control or direct said game, said wireless controller comprising:
• a body comprising an internal cavity configured to hold one or more internal power sources and associated circuitry configured to power and operate said wireless controller, said body configured to be held and moved freely in the air and to be operated by a game participant at least in part by moving the entire said body of said wireless controller;
• at least one sensor arranged within said body so as to sense motions of said body in free space;
• non-volatile memory configured to store at least one unique identifier uniquely identifying said wireless controller;
• a second wireless transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless communications with at least said first wireless transceiver over said wireless communication range of at least 10 feet;
• and
• at least one lighting effect configured to illuminate based on one or more wireless communications communicated from said first wireless transceiver to said second wireless transceiver;
• and
• an image capture system configured to automatically capture one or more digital images of said game participant playing said game.

A portable wireless game controller for controlling or directing a computer-animated game displayed on an associated display device, said portable wireless game controller comprising:

• a body comprising an internal cavity configured to hold one or more internal power sources and associated circuitry configured to power and operate said portable wireless game controller, said body configured to be held and moved freely in the air and to be operated by a game participant at least in part by moving the entire said body of said portable wireless game controller;
• at least one sensor arranged within said body so as to sense one or more motions or positions of said body in free space;
• non-volatile memory configured to store at least one unique identifier uniquely identifying said portable wireless game controller;
• a first radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless communications with a wireless-compatible gaming platform over a wireless communication range of at least 10 feet;
• and
• an effects controller configured to produce at least one lighting effect, at least one sound effect, and at least one vibration effect in accordance with said game and based at least in part on one or more wireless communications received by said first RF transceiver.

A method for entertaining one or more game participants playing an interactive game, said method comprising:

• producing, via at least one wireless-compatible gaming platform, one or more computer-animated, effects in accordance with an interactive game, said at least one wireless-compatible gaming platform comprising a first wireless transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless communications with one or more wireless-compatible devices;
• wirelessly communicating, via at least one portable wireless gaming device, selected game-relevant information configured to enable a game participant to wirelessly interact with said interactive game, said portable wireless gaming device comprising:
• a body configured to be held and moved freely in the air;
• at least one sensor configured to sense motions of said body in free space and to generate sensor state data based thereon;
• non-volatile memory configured to store at least one unique identifier uniquely identifying said portable wireless gaming device;
• and
• a second wireless transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless communications with at least said first wireless transceiver;
• causing said first and second wireless transceivers to exchange one or more wireless communications and wherein said one or more wireless communications include communication of said at least one unique identifier and said sensor state data;
• and
• automatically capturing one or more digital images of said game participant while said game participant is playing said interactive game.