Patent Publication Number: US-2010131865-A1

Title: Method and system for providing a multi-mode interactive experience

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to computer-enhanced entertainment. More particularly, the present invention relates to personalizing a computer mediated entertainment experience. 
     2. Background Art 
     The enduring popularity of theme parks, such as Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., or Disney World, in Orlando, Fla., with visitors from around the world is testimony to the effectiveness with which those venues have captured a collective imagination and rendered it as simulated reality. Their very success in identifying themes that are attractive across a broad swath of the population highlights one of the challenges faced by an entertainment destination seeking to attract on-site visitors. Simply stated, leisure and entertainment destinations such as theme parks and destination resort properties are faced with the challenge of offering on-site experiences exploring themes and having features that are desirable to a wide general population, while at the same time being personally appealing to individual prospective visitors to the locale. 
     One approach with which theme parks, for example, have responded to this challenge in the past, is by diversifying the selection of attractions available to visitors and enhancing the realism of those attractions by implementing them as real-life simulations. By offering a variety of attractions of different types, and even among attractions of a similar type, presenting those experiences through a variety of themes, a broad spectrum of entertainment preferences may be catered to. For example, a single theme park may offer roller coaster ride type real-life simulations and water ride type real-life simulations, as well as other distinctive types of attractions, in an effort to accommodate a variety of aesthetic sensibilities. Furthermore, within a particular type of attraction, for example a roller coaster type ride, the experience may be offered through a real-life simulation environment corresponding to a child&#39;s fantasy adventure, such as Mr. Toad&#39;s Wild Ride; presented with a traditional fairy tale real-life simulation environment, as in the Matterhorn bobsled ride; or be provided using a real-life simulation environment having a futuristic theme, like Space Mountain; all of which are offered as alternative roller coaster type attractions at the Disneyland theme park. 
     That the previously described approach to meeting a spectrum of entertainment preferences has historically been successful is evidenced by the continuing popularity of Disneyland and other theme parks as vacation destinations. However, the advent of programmable portable entertainment products and devices, and the almost limitless variety of entertainment options they offer, have raised public expectations regarding the level of personal selection and customizability available to an entertainment consumer. As visitors to theme parks and other entertainment destinations begin to apply some of these heightened expectations fed by the increasing ubiquity of personal entertainment devices, those locales may be forced to offer an ever greater variety of experiences in order to continue to provide the high level of entertainment satisfaction with which they have traditionally been identified. 
     A conventional strategy for meeting this new challenge is to increase the number and to continue to diversify the types of attractions available on-site. Due to cost and resource constraints, however, there is a practical limit to how many distinct real-life simulation environments a single entertainment destination can support. As a result, and in the face of greater consumer demand for individual choice, it may no longer suffice for an entertainment destination to offer a universal on-site experience to be commonly shared by all visitors, no matter how artfully selected or designed that common experience may be. Consequently, in order to continue to provide the public with a high level of entertainment satisfaction, entertainment destinations such as theme parks may be compelled to find a way to provide a variety of distinct and customizable experiences from a single on-site attraction. 
     Accordingly, there is a need to overcome the drawbacks and deficiencies in the art by providing a solution enabling a user, such as a visitor to an entertainment destination, to enjoy a personalized experience when interacting with a real-life simulation environment provided on-site. Moreover, it is desirable that the solution enable the user to extend the personalized interactive experience to activities outside the venue supporting the real-life simulation environment by additionally empowering the user to access and interact with the personalized experience in a virtual environment. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     There are provided methods and systems for providing a multi-mode interactive experience, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a diagram of a system for providing a multi-mode interactive experience, according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a more detailed embodiment of a system for providing a multi-mode interactive experience, focusing on system elements supporting interaction in a real-life simulation mode, according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows a more detailed embodiment of a system for providing a multi-mode interactive experience, focusing on interactivity in a virtual mode, according to one embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart presenting a method for providing a multi-mode interactive experience, according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present application is directed to a method and system for providing a multi-mode interactive experience. The following description contains specific information pertaining to the implementation of the present invention. One skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention may be implemented in a manner different from that specifically discussed in the present application. Moreover, some of the specific details of the invention are not discussed in order not to obscure the invention. The specific details not described in the present application are within the knowledge of a person of ordinary skill in the art. The drawings in the present application and their accompanying detailed description are directed to merely exemplary embodiments of the invention. To maintain brevity, other embodiments of the invention, which use the principles of the present invention, are not specifically described in the present application and are not specifically illustrated by the present drawings. It should be borne in mind that, unless noted otherwise, like or corresponding elements among the figures may be indicated by like or corresponding reference numerals. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram of a system for providing a multi-mode interactive experience, according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , multi-mode interaction environment  100  shows multi-mode interactive experience server  130  located in entertainment destination  102 , which may be a theme park, or destination resort, for example. Multi-mode interactive experience server  130  is shown to be interactively communicating with client computer  140 , via wide area network (WAN)  106   a  and bridge server  104 . As may be seen from  FIG. 1 , entertainment destination  102  encompasses venue  110 , venue management system  120 , and local area network (LAN)  106   b,  in addition to multi-mode interactive experience server  130  and bridge server  104 . 
     Also shown in  FIG. 1  is a user, who is shown in triplicate as alternative incarnations of a single user as users  108   a,    108   b,  or  108   c,  to indicate some of the various ways in which a user may interact with the system of  FIG. 1 . For example, as one possible interaction scenario, user  108   a  may utilize client computer  140  to interact with a multi-mode interactive experience provided by system  100  in a virtual mode over WAN  106   a.  Interaction in a virtual mode may represent interaction with a virtual environment hosted by multi-mode interactive experience server  130 , produced so as to correspond to a real-life simulation environment provided by venue  110 . As an alternative means of accessing the virtual environment corresponding to the real-life simulation environment provided by venue  110 , user  108   b  may utilize LAN  106   b  to interact with the multi-mode interactive experience in the virtual mode. 
     As another alternative, user  108   c  may enter venue  110  and interact with the multi-mode interactive experience in a real-life simulation mode by participating in the real-life simulation environment provided there. As used in the present application, “virtual mode” refers to interaction between a user not present within venue  110 , i.e., user  108   a  or  108   b,  and includes only virtual events occurring in the virtual environment corresponding to the real-life simulation environment of venue  110 . By contrast, “real-life simulation mode” refers to interaction between a user participating in the real-life simulation of venue  110 , i.e., user  108   c,  and may include both real events occurring in venue  110  and virtual events produced on multi-mode experience server  130 . 
     For ease of visualization, let us continue the present description of  FIG. 1  under the premise that entertainment destination  102  is a theme park, that venue  1   10  is a theme park attraction comprising the real-life simulation environment, and that multi-mode interactive experience server  130  is configured to produce and host the virtual environment corresponding to the real-life simulation environment provided by venue  110 . More specifically, let us assume that the real life simulation environment provided by venue  110  includes a roller coaster type adventure ride/shooting game configured to simulate a space combat sequence, controlled by venue management system  120 , and that the virtual environment hosted by multi-mode interactive experience server  130  is a computer virtual replication of the space combat sequence. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , multi-mode interactive experience server is configured to associate a personalized version of the multi-mode interactive experience with the user, for example through provision of an identification code assigned to the user during a login/registration process by users  108   a  or  108   b,  or through entry or scanning of such a code into a peripheral device provided by entertainment destination  102 , for example. Multi-mode interactive experience server  130  is further configured to update the personalized version of the multi-mode interactive experience according to events occurring during interactions in the real-life simulation mode, which may include both real events and virtual events, and to events occurring in the virtual mode, which typically include only virtual events. 
     As a result, the personalized multi-mode interactive experience is updatable according to the actions of the user, and may be both cumulative and progressive, enabling the user to carryover accumulated scores and/or enhanced powers from one user session to the next, whether user sessions occur in the virtual mode or in the real-life simulation mode. In some embodiments, special incentives may be provided to encourage the user to interact with their personalized multi-mode interaction experience in-park in the real-life simulation mode, so as to encourage theme park attendance, for example. Incentives may take the form of bonus points, special weapons or equipment, or access to higher levels of user authority over customizable features of the multi-mode interactive experience, not available through interaction in the virtual mode alone. 
     Communications from WAN  106   a,  LAN  106   b,  venue  110 , and venue management system  120 , may be networked through multi-mode interactive experience server  130  to allow the user, as user  108   a  or  108   b,  to interact with the virtual environment in the virtual mode, or to interact with the virtual environment and/or the real-life simulation environment in the real-life simulation mode as user  108   c.  Thus, as shown in  FIG. 1 , user  108   c  may participate in the real-life simulation environment provided by venue  110 , in which case, multi-mode interactive experience server  130  may provide user  108   c  with their personalized multi-mode interactive experience in the real-life simulation mode. 
     Alternatively, and as also shown in  FIG. 1 , user  108   a,  who is outside of the confines of entertainment destination  102 , is nevertheless able to access multi-mode interactive experience server  130 , and to be provided with their personalized version of the multi-mode interactive experience in the virtual mode, through client computer  140  and WAN  106   a,  which in the present embodiment may correspond to the Internet, for example. It is noted that although in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , client computer  140  is shown as a personal computer (PC), in other embodiments client computer  140  may comprise a mobile communication device or system, such as a tablet computer, mobile telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA), gaming console, or digital media player, for example. 
     As yet another alternative shown in  FIG. 1 , user  108   b  may be present in entertainment destination  102 , but for any of a variety of reasons elect to access multi-mode interactive experience server  130  and be provided with their personalized version of the multi-mode interactive experience in the virtual mode, perhaps because of a long wait time associated with use of the real-life simulation environment provided by venue  110 . User  108   b,  located within the theme park, may communicate with multi-mode interactive experience server  130  through LAN  106   b,  by means of a communication interface device (not shown in  FIG. 1 ), such as a mobile communication device, as described with reference to client computer  140 , or a network terminal provided by entertainment destination  102 , for example. 
     Moving now to  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 2  shows a more detailed embodiment of a system for providing a multi-mode interactive experience, focusing on system elements supporting interaction in a real-life simulation mode, according to one embodiment of the present invention. According to the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , system  200  comprises venue  210 , venue management system  220 , multi-mode interactive experience server  230 , and user  208 , corresponding respectively to venue  110 , venue management system  120 , multi-mode interactive experience server  130 , and user  108   c,  in  FIG. 1 . In addition,  FIG. 2  shows sensory effects controller  224  and haptic feedback system  226 , which are not represented in the system of  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , venue  210  includes vehicle  214 , by means of which user  208  may participate in real-life simulation environment  212 , for example as a passenger in vehicle  214 . Real-life simulation environment  212  is interactively linked to multi-mode interactive experience server  230 , which, additionally, hosts virtual environment generator  232  and personalized multi-mode interactive experience database  234 . The arrows shown in  FIG. 2  are provided to indicate the direction of data flow for the embodiment of system  200 , and are merely illustrative. Other embodiments may include fewer or more constituent elements, may consolidate or further distribute the elements shown in  FIG. 2 , and/or may be implemented using other configurations for data flow. 
     Venue  210 , which may comprise a theme park attraction such as a roller coaster ride or other type of adventure ride, for example, includes real-life simulation environment  212 , through which vehicle  214  can move. Vehicle  214 , which in the present embodiment may comprise a theme park ride vehicle, such as, for example, a roller coaster car or carriage, may be designed to transport user  208  through real-life simulation environment  212 , along a predetermined path. Vehicle  214  may be configured to move through real-life simulation environment  212  of venue  210 , under the control of venue management system  220 . As shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , venue management system  220  is interactively linked to multi-mode interactive experience server  230 . 
     Multi-mode interactive experience server  230  is shown to include personalized multi-mode interactive experience database  234 , which is provided to store the personalized multi-mode interactive experience associated with user  208 . In addition, in  FIG. 2 , multi-mode interactive server  230  includes virtual environment generator  232 , configured to produce virtual events, which in some embodiments may be synchronized to real events occurring in venue  210 . Virtual events may correspond to real events such as the movement of vehicle  214  through real-life simulation environment  212 , and/or interactions between user  208  and venue  210 , as recorded by multi-mode interactive experience server  230 , for example. In some embodiments, in addition to virtual events in the virtual environment being synchronized with real events in real-life simulation environment  212 , real events in real-life simulation environment  212  may be synchronized to virtual events in the virtual environment produced by virtual environment generator  232 . 
     According to the frame of reference of system  200 , multi-mode interactive experience server  230  enables user  208  to interact with a personalized version of a multi-mode interactive experience in a real-life simulation mode. Multi-mode interactive experience server  230  is configured to associate a personalized version of the multi-mode interactive experience with an identification code assigned to user  208 , update the personalized version of the multi-mode interactive experience according to events occurring in the real-life simulation mode, as well as events occurring earlier or later in the virtual mode of the multi-mode interactive experience, and provide the updated personalized version of the multi-mode interactive experience to user  208  in the real-life simulation mode. 
     In one embodiment, multi-mode interactive experience server  230  may be configured to provide user  208  with an augmented sensory perspective comprising a selective blending of real events occurring in real-life simulation environment  212  and virtual events produced by virtual environment generator  232 . In that embodiment, system  200  is capable of providing user  208  with an augmented reality experience linked to their transport through real-life simulation environment  212 . 
     According to the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , system  200  includes sensory effects controller  224  and haptic feedback system  226 . As shown in system  200 , sensory effects controller  224  and haptic feedback system  226  receive input from multi-mode interactive experience server  230 , and are in communication with venue management system  220 . Sensory effects controller  224 , under the direction of multi-mode interactive experience server  230 , may be configured to produce audio and/or visual effects, generate odors or aromas, and provide special effects such as wind, rain, fog, and so forth, in real-life simulation environment  212 . Sensory effects controller  224  may provide those effects to produce real events in real-life simulation environment  212  corresponding to virtual events produced by virtual environment generator  232 , as well as to produce real events corresponding to interaction of user  208  with venue  210 , for example. 
     Haptic feedback system  226  may be configured to produce tactile effects in order to generate real events in real-life simulation environment  212  simulating the consequences of virtual events occurring in the virtual environment produced by virtual environment generator  232 . The tactile effects produced by haptic feedback system  226  may result, for example, from displacement, rotation, tipping, and/or jostling of vehicle  214 , to simulate the consequences of virtual events produced by virtual environment generator  232 . Although in the embodiment of  FIG. 2  sensory effects controller  224  and haptic feedback system  226  are shown as distinct elements of system  200 , in other embodiments the functionality provided by sensory effects controller  224  and haptic feedback system  226  may be provided by a single control system. In still other embodiments, sensory effects controller  224  and haptic feedback system  226  may be subsumed within venue management system  220 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 3  shows a more detailed embodiment of a system for providing a multi-mode interactive experience, focusing on interactivity in a virtual mode, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Subsystem  300 , in  FIG. 3 , comprises multi-mode interactive experience server  330  in communication with client computer  340  via communication link  306 , corresponding respectively to multi-mode interactive experience server  130  in communication with client computer  140  via WAN  106   a,  in  FIG. 1 . It is noted that communication link  306 , in  FIG. 3 , may also correspond to LAN  106   b  linking remote user  108   b  and multi-mode interactive experience server  130 , in  FIG. 1 . 
     Multi-mode interactive experience server  330 , in  FIG. 3 , is shown to comprise virtual environment generator  332  and personalized multi-mode interactive experience database  334 , corresponding respectively to virtual environment generator  232  and personalized multi-mode interactive experience database  234 , in  FIG. 2 . Also present on multi-mode interactive experience server  330  are personalized multi-mode interactive experience  336  and virtual mode interaction application  338   a,  which have not been represented in previous figures. Furthermore, client computer  340  is shown to comprise controller  342 , browser  344 , and client memory  346 . Also shown in  FIG. 3  is virtual mode interaction application  338   b.    
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , virtual mode interaction application  338   a  may be accessed through communication link  306 , corresponding to WAN  106   a,  in  FIG. 1 . In that instance, virtual mode interaction application  338   a  may comprise a web application, accessible over a packet network such as the Internet. In that embodiment, virtual mode interaction application  338   a  may be configured to execute as a server based application on multi-mode interactive experience server  330 , for example, to enable a user, such as user  108   a,  in  FIG. 1 , to engage the multi-mode interactive experience hosted on multi-mode interactive experience server  130  in the virtual mode. Alternatively, virtual mode interaction application  338   a  may reside on a server supporting a LAN, such as LAN  106   b,  or be included in another type of limited distribution network. 
     According to the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , however, client computer  340  receives virtual mode interaction application  338   b  as a download via communication link  306  from multi-mode interactive experience server  330 . Once transferred, virtual mode interaction application  338   b  may be stored in client memory  346  and executed locally on client computer  340 , as a desktop application, for example. Client computer  340  includes controller  342 , which may be the central processing unit for client computer  340 , for example, in which role controller  342  runs the client computer operating system, launches browser  344 , and facilitates use of virtual mode interaction application  338   b.  Browser  344 , under the control of controller  342 , may execute virtual mode interaction application  338   b  to enable a user to access and interact with personalized virtual mode interactive experience  336  in the virtual mode. 
     According to the frame of reference of subsystem  300 , multi-mode interactive experience server  330  enables a user of client computer  340  to interact with a personalized version of a multi-mode interactive experience in a virtual mode. Multi-mode interactive experience server  330  is configured to associate a personalized version of the multi-mode interactive experience with an identification code assigned to the user of client computer  340 , update the personalized version of the multi-mode interactive experience according to events occurring in the virtual mode, as well as events occurring earlier or later in the real-life simulation mode of the multi-mode interactive experience, and provide the updated personalized version of the multi-mode interactive experience to the user of client computer  340  in the virtual mode. 
     The systems of  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 3  will be further described with reference to  FIG. 4 , which presents a method for providing a multi-mode interactive experience, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Certain details and features have been left out of flowchart  400  that are apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art. For example, a step may consist of one or more substeps or may involve specialized equipment or materials, as known in the art. While steps  410  through  450  indicated in flowchart  400  are sufficient to describe one embodiment of the present method, other embodiments may utilize steps different from those shown in flowchart  400 , or may include more, or fewer steps. 
     Beginning with step  410  in  FIG. 4  and referring to  FIG. 2 , step  410  of flowchart  400  comprises hosting a virtual environment corresponding to real-life simulation environment  212 . Hosting the virtual environment, in step  410 , may be performed by multi-mode interactive experience server  230 . In the example of the roller coaster ride/shooting game presently under consideration, multi-mode interactive experience server  230  could be configured to host a computer virtual simulation of passage of vehicle  214  through real-life simulation environment  212 . As a result of step  410 , two complementary realities corresponding to passage of vehicle  214  through real-life simulation environment  212  are created. One reality, the physical reality of the roller coaster ride in venue  210 , is created by the real events occurring during transport of the local user through venue  210 . The second reality is a computer simulated version of the roller coaster ride/shooting game that is generated so as to substantially reproduce the ride experience in virtual form. 
     Continuing with step  420  of flowchart  400  and turning to  FIG. 1 , step  420  comprises networking multi-mode interactive experience server  130  and venue management system  120 . Networking of communications may be performed by LAN  106   b,  for example, either alone, or in conjunction with WAN  106   a.  As a result, the user, as user  118   c,  can interact with the multi-mode experience in the real-life simulation environment provided by venue  110 , in the real-life simulation mode. Alternatively, the user, as one of users  108   a  or  108   b  not present in venue  110 , may nevertheless interact with the multi-mode interactive experience in the virtual environment corresponding to the real-life simulation environment, in the virtual mode. 
     Step  430  of flowchart  400  comprises associating a personalized version of the multi-mode interactive experience with the user. Association of the user with a personalized experience may be performed by multi-mode interactive experience server  130  in response to inputs provided remotely, i.e., by means of client computer  140  through a remote login or registration process, for example, in which user  108   a  inputs an identification code assigned to that user. As a result, user  108   a  may gain access to a personalized multi-mode interactive experience, such as personalized multi-mode interactive experience  336  in  FIG. 3 , in the virtual mode. 
     Alternatively, an in-venue user, such as user  108   c,  in  FIG. 1 , may be associated with their personalized multi-mode interactive experience stored on multi-mode experience server  130 , by providing an identification code as an input to multi-mode interactive experience server  130 . In-venue input of an identification code assigned to the user may be by means of a keypad, provided as a peripheral device to multi-mode experience server  130 , in venue  110 , or by means of a wireless identification system, for example, such as a radio-frequency identification (RFID) bracelet or tag, readable by a scanner provided at venue  110 . In other embodiments, in-venue input of the identification code assigned to the user may be accomplished using any of several different ways, including barcode scanning, bio-metric recognition, or by means of a magnetic card reader, for example. 
     Flowchart  400  continues with step  440 , comprising updating the personalized version of the multi-mode interactive experience according to events occurring in the real-life simulation mode and events occurring in the virtual mode of the multi-mode interactive experience. Referring once again to  FIG. 2 , updating of the personalized version of the multi-mode interactive experience may be performed by multi-mode interactive experience server  230  in response to virtual events and/or real events resulting from interaction of the user with real-life simulation environment  212 . In addition, updating of the personalized version of the multi-mode experience may occur in response to remote interaction of the user with the virtual environment corresponding to real-life simulation environment  212 , in which case only virtual events typically occur. 
     As a result of step  440 , a personalized multi-mode interactive experience may be made both cumulative and progressive, as discussed previously in reference to  FIG. 1 . Consequently, the user may carryover accumulated scores and/or enhanced powers from one user session to the next, whether user sessions occur remotely in the virtual mode or locally to the venue, in the real-life simulation mode. As previously mentioned, in some embodiments, special incentives may be provided to encourage the user to interact with their personalized multi-mode interaction experience in-venue in the real-life simulation mode, so as to encourage theme park attendance, for example. Incentives may take the form of bonus points, special weapons or equipment, or access to higher levels of user authority over customizable features of the multi-mode interactive experience, not available through interaction in the virtual mode alone. 
     Moving on to step  450  of flowchart  400 , step  450  comprises providing the updated personalized version of the multi-mode interactive experience in one of the real-life simulation mode or the virtual mode. Step  450  may be performed by multi-mode interactive experience server  230 , in  FIG. 2 , in response to data received from the user indicating their mode of access, either local, within venue  210 , or remote, via a communication device outside of venue  210 . 
     Although not included in the method of flowchart  400 , in some embodiments, a method for providing a multi-mode interactive experience may comprise producing the virtual environment corresponding to the real life simulation environment, for example, as shown in  FIG. 2  by virtual environment generator  232  residing on multi-mode interactive experience server  230 . In some embodiments, moreover, the present method may include providing venue  210  including real-life simulation environment  212 . In view of the specific example embodiment discussed previously, providing a venue including a real-life simulation environment may be seen to correspond to providing the physical setup for the roller coaster ride itself, i.e., track, roller coaster carriages, special effects generating equipment, and so forth. 
     In one embodiment, the method of flowchart  400  may further comprise synchronizing the real events and the virtual events so that the real events can be represented in the virtual environment and the virtual events can be represented in the real-life simulation environment. Synchronizing the real-life simulation environment and virtual environment enables a substantially seamless overlay of the virtual and real environments provided according to the present method. As a result, the user may interact with the virtual environment corresponding to the real-life simulation environment, in the real-life simulation mode, and produce events in both environments in real time. For instance, video screens and speakers bordering the space ride could produce images and sounds corresponding to destruction of an enemy spacecraft as a result of a hit achieved by the user, either through interaction with the virtual environment, or through interaction with real features present in the real-life simulation environment. 
     In some embodiments, the real events and the virtual events may be selectively blended to provide the user with an augmented sensory perspective, thereby providing an augmented reality experience. An augmented sensory perspective may be produced by overlay of the virtual reality of the virtual environment and the real events occurring in real-life simulation environment of the venue. Moreover, in one embodiment, the method of flowchart  400  may further comprise utilizing a haptic feedback system, such as haptic feedback system  226  in  FIG. 2 , to generate real effects in real-life simulation environment  212  corresponding to virtual effects in the virtual environment. For example, destruction of an enemy spacecraft, in addition to being accompanied by audio and visual effects produced in real-life simulation environment  212 , may be rendered even more realistic by recoil or jostling of vehicle  214  to simulate impact of the shock wave produced by the exploding spacecraft. Analogously, virtual hits by enemy spacecraft on vehicle  214  may be accompanied by displacements, rotations, tipping, and the like, produced by haptic feedback system  226 . 
     Thus, the present application discloses a method and system for enabling a user, such as a visitor to a theme park or destination resort, to enjoy a personalized experience when interacting with a real-life simulation environment provided on-site. In addition, the disclosed method and system enable the user to extend the personalized interactive experience to activities outside the venue supporting the real-life simulation environment, by additionally empowering the user to access and interact with the personalized experience in a corresponding virtual environment. From the above description of the invention it is manifest that various techniques can be used for implementing the concepts of the present invention without departing from its scope. Moreover, while the invention has been described with specific reference to certain embodiments, a person of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. It should also be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but is capable of many rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions without departing from the scope of the invention.