Patent ID: 8758136

Claim:
A method of game play combining physical toys and virtual play for entertaining a game participant, said method comprising: providing at least one physical toy comprising machine-readable information comprising a first unique identifier configured to enable a game participant to accumulate a first trackable amount of points or progress levels in accordance with a first game played on a first gaming platform comprising a play center, game console, personal computer, or handheld claming device; providing a second unique identifier comprising a password configured to enable said game participant to accumulate a second trackable amount of points or progress levels in accordance with a second game played on a second gaming platform, and wherein said first gaming platform is different than said second gaming platform and wherein said first game is different than said second game; configuring an intermediary device to wirelessly read said machine-readable information from said at least one physical toy and to electronically communicate said machine-readable information to at least said first gaming platform; configuring said second gaming platform to access a website through the internet and wherein said second game comprises one or more computer-simulated play elements configured to be accessed by said game participant at least in part by logging in to said website using said password; and creating or updating a common data record configured to track a total amount of points or progress levels accumulated by said game participant in accordance with said first and second trackable amount of points or progress levels and storing said common data record in association with information uniquely identifying said at least one physical toy.