Systems and methods for interactive game play

Abstract

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.

1 . A method for providing an interactive game, the method comprising: 
 providing at least one receiver configured to obtaining identification information from at least one send/receive radio frequency (SRRF) indicium, the SRRF indicium associated with at least one user participant;    providing at least one portable game console configured to display challenges to the at least one user participant, the at least one portable game console further configured to communicate with the at least one receiver;    providing a tracking module in communication with the at least one receiver and the at least one portable game console, the tracking module configured to store identification information and progress information regarding the at least one user participant in a database;    providing the database configured to store the identification information and the progress information;    providing challenges for the at least one user participant to complete in a game; and    using the progress information to determine whether to allow the at least one user participant who possesses the SRRF indicium and who completes at least one of the challenges to advance in the game.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one receiver is a radio frequency identification (RFID) receiver and the SRRF indicium is an RFID indicium.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the RFID indicium is worn by the at least one user participant.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the portable game console is in communication with a network engaged with the at least one receiver, the game console being further capable of receiving and sending data to the network.  
     
     
         5 . A method for facilitating an interactive play experience for one or more play participants, the method comprising: 
 providing a plurality of challenges situated in a play environment;    providing a password and username for each of the one or more play participants, the password and username providing a unique identification for each of the one or more play participants;    electronically storing a record for each of the one or more play participants, wherein the record corresponds to the password and username and includes performance data; and    enhancing the record of each of the one or more play participants based on performance, respectively, of each of the one or more play participants in the challenges.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the challenges comprises a quest.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the quest includes physical exploration.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the quest includes virtual exploration.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the record comprises an inventory of items possessed by the particular play participant.  
     
     
         10 . A method for facilitating an interactive play experience for one or more play participants, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of challenges situated in a play environment;    providing a unique identification for each play participant;    electronically storing a record for each the play participant related to the unique identification; and    enhancing the record of each the play participant based on his or her performance in the challenges.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , additionally comprising displaying challenges to the play participant on an electronic display.