Patent ID: 8164567
Filing Date: 2012-04-24
Classification: A63F,A63H,A63J,G06F,G09G

Abstract:
1. A method for playing an interactive game in which a virtual play environment is visually/aurally represented through one or more computer animations displayed on an associated display device and wherein the game progress or performance for one or more game participants is substantially simultaneously tracked, said method comprising: operating at least one gaming system to produce one or more computer-animated visual or aural effects on said associated display device in accordance with said interactive game, said at least one gaming system comprising a first wireless RF transceiver provided at a first location within a physical play environment and adapted to provide medium-range two-way wireless RF communications with one or more portable wireless input devices located within a communication range of said first transceiver; holding at least one portable wireless motion-sensitive input device freely in the air using a single hand, said at least one input device comprising: causing a wireless communication link to be established between said first transceiver and said second transceiver when said at least one input device is operated within a communication range of said first transceiver, said wireless communication link being automatically established at least in part by said first transceiver sending a first wireless RF signal including a first identification number identifying said first transceiver and said second transceiver receiving and responding to said first transceiver by sending a second wireless RF signal including said first identification number and a second identification number corresponding to said unique identification number for said at least one input device, and wherein said wireless communication link allows said first and second transceivers to uniquely identify and wirelessly communicate with one another; and operating said at least one input device to send one or more wireless input signals to said at least one gaming system at least in part by holding said at least one input device in the air using a single hand and moving it in a waving or shaking motion to thereby wirelessly actuate or control one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects within said interactive game, and wherein said at least one gaming system tracks the game progress or performance of said one or more game participants playing said game substantially simultaneously based at least in part on identifying and distinguishing one or more wireless input signals from each said game participant and adjusts the play experience for each said game participant based on said tracked game progress or performance.