Interactive entertainment system

Abstract

A computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions for conducting a game on a gaming system having a wireless input device for playing an interactive motion-sensitive game using a wireless-compatible game console in which a virtual play environment is represented through one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects is provided wherein game play is conducted by moving, shaking, twisting, waving or pointing the input device in a particular manner. The input device can include motion-sensitive circuitry and/or command circuitry for generating control signals and/or an effects generator and associated control circuitry to enable the input device to selectively generate at least one visual, aural or tactile effect comprising sound, lighting or vibration. The input device can include a wireless transceiver for providing two-way wireless communication with the wireless-compatible game console. An optional display screen displays short text messages received through wireless communications with the wireless-compatible game console.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An interactive entertainment system comprising:
 a portable token configured to be manipulated by a hand of a participant to actuate one or more entertainment effects within an entertainment facility, said portable token comprising a radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit to one or more wireless-compatible devices identifying data including identifying information associated with the portable token;   a wireless-compatible interactive play element configured to produce a participant-actuated entertainment effect associated with a game objective of an interactive game carried out within the entertainment facility;   a game control system communicatively coupled to said wireless-compatible interactive play element and configured to track a completion status of said game objective based at least in part on the identifying data communicated by said wireless-compatible interactive play element; and   at least one communication interface communicatively coupled to said game control system and configured to communicate to said participant the completion status of said game objective.   
     
     
         3 . The interactive entertainment system of  claim 2 , wherein said portable token comprises a toy wand. 
     
     
         4 . The interactive entertainment system of  claim 2 , wherein said participant-actuated entertainment effect comprises movement of one or more physical objects. 
     
     
         5 . The interactive entertainment system of  claim 2 , wherein said participant-actuated entertainment effect comprises a display of one or more computer-animations. 
     
     
         6 . The interactive entertainment system of  claim 2 , wherein said game control system is configured to adjust said game based on the completion status. 
     
     
         7 . The interactive entertainment system of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one communication interface is further configured to communicate said completion status to a second wireless-compatible interactive play element to determine that said participant is allowed to actuate a second participant-actuated entertainment effect 
     
     
         8 . The interactive entertainment system of  claim 2 , further comprising a digital camera communicatively coupled to said game control system and configured to capture one or more digital images of said participant. 
     
     
         9 . An entertainment system comprising:
 a portable wand configured to be manipulated by a hand of a participant to actuate one or more entertainment effects within a physical play environment, said portable wand comprising a radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit to one or more wireless-compatible devices a first selection of information including identifying information associated with the portable wand;   a first wireless-compatible interactive play element configured to produce a wand-actuated entertainment effect associated with a game objective of an interactive game carried out within the physical play environment; and   a host computer system communicatively coupled to said wireless-compatible interactive play element and configured to: i) receive from said wireless-compatible interactive play element a second selection of information indicating a completion status of said game objective, ii) update a game progress log for said participant based on said second selection of information, and iii) communicate a third selection of information based at least in part on the game progress log to a second wireless-compatible interactive play element that is configured to determine that said participant is allowed to complete a second game objective.   
     
     
         10 . The entertainment system of  claim 9 , wherein said second selection of information comprises said identifying information. 
     
     
         11 . The entertainment system of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one communication interface communicatively coupled to said host computer system and configured to communicate to said participant game progress information based at least in part on the game progress log of said first game objective. 
     
     
         12 . The entertainment system of  claim 9 , wherein said wand-actuated entertainment effect comprises movement of one or more physical objects. 
     
     
         13 . The entertainment system of  claim 9 , wherein said wand-actuated entertainment effect comprises a display of one or more computer-animations. 
     
     
         14 . The entertainment system of  claim 9 , further comprising a digital camera communicatively coupled to said host computer system and configured to capture one or more digital images of said participant. 
     
     
         15 . An entertainment system comprising:
 a portable token configured to be moved or positioned by a hand of a participant to actuate one or more entertainment effects within an entertainment venue, said portable token comprising a radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit to one or more wireless-compatible devices a first selection of information including identifying information associated with the portable token;   a first wireless-compatible interactive play element configured to produce a participant-actuated entertainment effect associated with a game objective of an interactive game carried out within the entertainment venue;   a host computer system communicatively coupled to said wireless-compatible interactive play element and configured to: i) receive from said wireless-compatible interactive play element a second selection of information indicating a completion status of said game objective, ii) update a game progress log for said participant based on said second selection of information, and iii) communicate a third selection of information based at least in part on said game progress log to a second wireless-compatible interactive play element; and   at least one communication interface communicatively coupled to said host computer system and configured to communicate to said participant a fourth selection of information comprising information associated with the game progress log.   
     
     
         16 . The interactive entertainment system of  claim 15 , wherein said portable token comprises a wand configured to be manipulated by said participant using a single hand. 
     
     
         17 . The entertainment system of  claim 15 , wherein said second selection of information comprises said identifying information. 
     
     
         18 . The entertainment system of  claim 15 , wherein said second wireless-compatible interactive play element is configured to determine, based at least in part on the third selection of information, that said participant is allowed to actuate a second participant-actuated entertainment effect. 
     
     
         19 . The entertainment system of  claim 15 , wherein said participant-actuated entertainment effect comprises movement of one or more physical objects. 
     
     
         20 . The entertainment system of  claim 15 , wherein said participant-actuated entertainment effect comprises a display of one or more computer-animations. 
     
     
         21 . The entertainment system of  claim 15 , further comprising a digital camera communicatively coupled to said host computer system and configured to capture one or more digital images of said participant.