WO2015188643A1

WO2015188643A1 - System and method for interactive game

Info

Publication number: WO2015188643A1
Application number: PCT/CN2015/074570
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zheng Shi; Richard-Martin DICKINSON
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-06-13
Filing date: 2015-03-19
Publication date: 2015-12-17
Anticipated expiration: 2016-12-13

Abstract

A system and accompanying method for an interactive game comprising of two or more physical game pieces (102) and a base unit (101). Each game piece (102) is embedded with a unique identification code that is associated with a plurality of attributes. The base unit (101) is configured to read the unique identification code of each game piece (102) and retrieve the respective attribute values of the game piece (102) from a memory (205) whenever the game piece (102) is placed on or near it. Whenever the base unit (101) recognizes the unique identification codes of two or more game pieces (102) and a game program is launched either automatically or manually, the base unit (101) is configured to derive changes to the attribute values of the game pieces (102) according to the instructions of a game program, save the changes to the memory (205), and produce sensory feedback to the user.

Description

A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AN INTERACTIVE GAME

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of interactive physical toys.

BACKGROUND

Games that combine both computer animated games with physical toys as a hybrid system are known. The popular video game series Skylanders published by Activision uses physical character figurines placed on a “Portal of Power” , a device that reads the figures’ identification code (ID code) tag through NFC, and uploads the character represented by the figurine into the video game as a playable character.

Another popular physical toy-video game hybrid is Disney Infinity published by Disney Interactive Studios. Similar to the Skylanders franchise, the game uses collectible figurines that are synchronized with the game once placed upon an “Infinity base” (also using NFC recognition technology) allowing for the characters from Disney and Pixar to be played in a video game setting.

Other notable physical toy-video game hybrids such as Golem Arcana, a combination of video and tabletop gaming, published by Harebrained Holdings and Power Rangers Megaforce published by Swappz Interactive uses relatively similar game designs.

US 8475275 B2 entitles “Interactive toys and games connecting physical and virtual play environments” describes an interactive game that includes one or more collectible figures for playing a computer-animated game on a gaming platform.

US 8864589 B2 entitled “Video game with representative physical object related content” describes a video game that includes a reader that senses the identity of various game objects. Each game object includes an identification device such as an RFID tag. The game objects are associated with an animate game character or an inanimate item in the video game and the game play proceeds depending on what game object is placed on the reader.

US 8702515 B2 entitles “Multi-platform gaming system using RFID-tagged toys” describes a plurality of collectible toys representing game characters or objects relevant to a game adapted to be played on a animated video gaming platform.

Players develop skills, abilities or other attributes of a particular game character or object whilst playing the video animated game and these values are stored onto the RFID tag of the collectable toys. Despite increasing the functionality of the physical game piece with a memory storage device, the interactive game described in US 8702515 B2 is played through an animated video game and the physical game piece, as with other prior art, does not play a role in the actual game experience.

Although the abovementioned games are innovative in that they allow physical figurines to interact with the virtual world of video games, the function of the physical figurines are limited to identification of characters to be played in a video game. Thus, they typically have a very limited role in the actual gaming experience. Although the figurines in Golem Arcana play a more substantive role as actual game pieces, the figurines themselves serve only the role of character identification with the accompanying app and stylus being the devices by which players interact during the game progression. Allowing for the physical figurines to take a more prominent role in the actual gaming experience would be desirable.

Another deficit inherent with the abovementioned prior art is that all make use of screen-based game platforms such as PCs, video game consoles, tablet computers and the like. This design thus requires cumbersome supporting hardware such as displays that renders these hybrid games systems inconvenient to carry around. Games such as Skylanders and Disney Infinity need the additional base recognition device to function, which means that they typically can only be played in a fixed location such as the living room. Allowing for a system that removes the need to use supporting hardware devices such as displays would increase the ease of use and portability of the gaming system and thus would be desirable.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention resolves the limitations highlighted in the background of the invention by removing the computer-animated game element and designing the physical game pieces and the base unit to become the focus of the gaming experience.

According to one embodiment of the present invention the system comprises of two or more physical game pieces and a base unit. A physical game piece has a unique ID code that is associated with a plurality of attributes. The base unit has a flat surface and further comprises of a reader, a memory and a processor. Once a first game piece controlled by a first user and a second game piece controlled by a second user are placed onto the base unit and a game program either automatically or manually launched, the processor is configured to derive changes to the values of the attributes of the first and the second game pieces according to a game program. And once the game is completed, the processor is configured to save on the memory the changes to the values of the attributes of the first and second game pieces.

Optionally, the memory is located in a remote server, and the base unit further comprises a wireless communication module that communicates with the remote server.

Optionally, the wireless communication module can be a 3G wireless communication module, a 2.4 G wireless communication module, a Wi-Fi module, or a Bluetooth module.

Optionally, the system further comprises of one or more output devices embedded in the base unit and game pieces.

Optionally, the output devices can be an audio, a visual, or a vibration device.

Optionally, the game piece identification code can be an RFID tag, UHF (Ultra High Frequency) module, a 2.4 G wireless communication module, a barcode, or a QR barcode.

Optionally, the system further comprises one or more input devices.

Optionally, the input device comprises of cards, each associated with a unique identification code that can be read by the reader.

Optionally, input device comprises a voice communication module, wherein the processor is configured to change the value of a game attribute per voice instruction.

Optionally, the input device comprises one or more button affixed on the base unit or game piece.

The present invention has a number of advantages compared to the prior art. Firstly, since only physical game pieces and a base unit are used, the game components can be carried easily and conveniently. Secondly, the present invention proposes an innovative gaming experience that effectively enhances the functionality of the traditional collectible game figurine. Finally, by eliminating the need to develop a video game platform, the cost and speed of development of such a game systems is greatly reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To better illustrate the technical features of the embodiments of the present invention, various embodiments of the present invention will be briefly described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be obvious that the drawings are but for exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and that a person of ordinary skill in the art may derive additional drawings without deviating from the principles of the present invention.

Fig. 1 is an exemplary schematic diagram illustrating the system of the interactive game in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention

Fig. 2 is an exemplary block diagram of the components of system of the interactive game in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the process of the interactive game in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the invention. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the embodiments, it will be understood that this is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these specific embodiments. The invention is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents within the spirit and scope of invention, which is defined by the apprehended claims.

Furthermore, in the detailed description of the present invention, specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and circuits are not described in details to avoid unnecessarily obscuring a clear understanding of the present invention.

The present invention may be better understood and its numerous objectives and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is an exemplary schematic diagram illustrating the system of the interactive game in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The system of the present invention comprises a base unit 101 and game pieces 102 wherein players place their game pieces 102 onto the surface of the base unit 101 in order to play.

The base unit optionally embedded with feedback devices such as LED lights 103 and speakers 104.

The system optionally having input devices such as cards 105 by which a player can affect the game progression.

Each game piece 102 has a unique ID code contained in an RFID tag 203. The base unit 101 comprises of processor 204 that is connected to a power source 206 and a reader 207. The processor 204 is also connected to a memory 205. Feedback devices 208 such as speakers and LED lights may be connected to the processor 204. Input devices 210 such as buttons may also be connected to the processor 204.

Fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the method of the interactive game in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

The method of the present invention is the following. Player (s) place a first and second game piece 102 upon the base unit 101 (Step 301) . The reader 207 in the base unit 101 recognizes the unique ID codes contained in the RFID tag 203 of the first and second game pieces 102 (Step 302) . The processor 204 then reads the attribute profiles corresponding to the first and second game pieces 102 from a memory 205 located either in the base unit 101 or remotely from a server (Step 303) . The processor 204 then launches a game program either automatically or after player instruction (Step 304) . The processor 204 subsequently derives changes to the values of the profile attributes of the first and second game pieces 102 according to the game program (Step 305) .

Feedback devices 208 such as audio, video and vibration devices may be used before, during and after game play. In one embodiment of the invention, the base unit 101 may be designed to have both LED lights 103 embedded in its surface and a speaker system 104. As a game piece 102 is placed upon the base unit 101 and its unique ID code recognized by the reader 207, the processor 204 instructs the LED lights 103 to switch on or off and the speaker system 104 to broadcast an audio file in order to provide visual and audio effects to the players. Thus, customized feedback can be fed back to the players depending on the type of game piece 102 used and their corresponding attribute profile.

Optionally, in-game input devices 210 such as cards 105 having unique ID codes that are also readable by the base unit’s 101 reader 207 can also be considered. Such a design would allow players to affect the course of the game in their favor by using various tactics.

Other forms of input devices 210 can be designed in order to increase the level of in-game player involvement. In one embodiment of the invention, an input design would be to configure the base unit 101 to allow for voice recognition hardware and software so as to allow players to make vocal commands during the course of the battle.

In another embodiment of the invention, the processor 204 is configured to be able to connect to a remote server in order to download and upload the attribute profiles specific to each game piece 102. Thus, the same updated game pieces’ 102 attribute profiles can be used no matter which base unit is used during a game.

Claims

A system for an interactive game, comprising:

a plurality of game pieces, each having a unique identification code and associated with a plurality of game attributes；

a memory that stores the type and values of the plurality of game attributes, and a game program；

a base unit, further comprising a processor configured to execute the game program, and a reader configured to read the unique identification codes；

wherein, upon a first and a second game piece being placed on or near the base unit, the processor is configured to change the values of the game attributes of the first and the second game pieces according to game rules.
The system of claim 1, further comprising a feedback device, wherein the processor is configured to direct the feedback device to provide feedback to a user regarding the changes of values of game attributes.
The system of claim 2, wherein the feedback device is selected from a group consisting of an audio, a visual, and a vibration device.
The system in claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to retrieve the attributes and their values of a game piece from the memory, and save the changes back to the memory.
The system of claim 1, wherein the identification code is selected from a group consisting of an RFID tag, a UHF (Ultra High Frequency) module, a 2.4 G wireless communication module, a barcode and a QR barcode.
The system of claim 1, further comprising of an input device that is selected from a group consisting of a tag, a card, a token, a button, wherein the processor is configured to change the value of a game attribute when the input device is activated.
The system of claim 6, wherein the input device is encoded with a unique identification code, and is activated upon being read by the reader.
The system of claim 1, further comprising a voice communication module, wherein the processor is configured to change the value of a game attribute per voice instruction.
The system of claim 1, further comprising switches embedded in the base unit, wherein a user can operate the switch to control the progression of the game.
A method for an interactive game, comprising:

-placing a first and second game piece on or near a base unit；

-recognizing the unique identification codes of the first and second game pieces by a reader embedded in the base unit；

-reading from a memory the attribute profile values of the first and second game pieces by a processor；

-deriving changes to the values of the attribute profiles of the first and second game pieces by processor in accordance to a game program.
The method of claim 10, further comprising a feedback device, wherein the processor is configured to direct the feedback device to provide feedback to a user regarding the changes of values of game attributes.
The method of claim 11, wherein the feedback device is selected from a group consisting of an audio, a visual, and a vibration device.
The method in claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to retrieve the attributes and their values of a game piece from the memory, and save the changes back to the memory.
The method of claim 10, wherein the identification code is selected from a group consisting of an RFID tag, a UHF (Ultra High Frequency) module, a 2.4 G wireless communication module, a barcode and a QR barcode.
The method of claim 10, further comprising of an input device that is selected from a group consisting of a tag, a card, a token, a button, wherein the processor is configured to change the value of a game attribute when the input device is activated.
The method of claim 15, wherein the input device is encoded with a unique identification code, and is activated upon being read by the reader.
The method of claim 10, further comprising a voice communication module, wherein the processor is configured to change the value of a game attribute per voice instruction.
The method of claim 10, further comprising switches embedded in the base unit, wherein a user can operate the switch to control the progression of the game.