Multi-platform gaming systems and methods

摘要

A multi-media interactive play system has a number of play elements situated in a variety of play environments or play media. The play elements are linked to a common record of participant performance, progress, character attributes, etc. The participant's performance in the play elements determines the play elements to which the participant may proceed as well as the play parameters of the play element in which the participant is currently involved. The play elements are thus interlinked to define a sequence or path network along which the participant advances. By advancing through the play elements the participant carries out a plot, story, theme, etc. that attaches a significance to the successful completion of a given play element or elements. Also disclosed in a variety of play elements suitable for use in the system, an example of a plot or theme that may be carried out by the system, and a send/receive radio frequency network that may be used to track play participants in a play center.

主权项

1. A multi-media play system for entertaining one or more participants as part of an interactive entertainment experience carried out across multiple different play environments, said multi-media play system comprising:
a first plurality of play elements provided within a physical play environment, said first plurality of play elements arranged and configured to enable said one or more participants to access and play a first game by moving within said physical play environment or by manipulating one or more physical objects within said physical play environment; a computer tracking system configured to track the progress or performance of each of said one or more participants in said first game using: i) one or more radiofrequency (RF) identification devices carried or worn by each of said one or more participants, and ii) one or more compatible RF transceivers distributed throughout said physical play environment and communicatively coupled to said computer tracking system; a second plurality of play elements provided within a computer-simulated play environment displayed on a gaming platform selected from the group consisting of a game console, a handheld game unit, and a personal computer, said second plurality of play elements arranged and configured to enable said one or more participants to access and play a second game on said gaming platform; and a data storage system communicatively coupled to said computer tracking system and said gaming platform, said data storage system configured to receive a first selection of information relevant to said first game, a second selection of information relevant to said second game, and to create or update an overall progress record for each of said one or more participants based at least in part on said first and second selections of information and a third selection of information uniquely identifying each of said one or more participants.