Patent ID: 8858339

Claim:
A method useful in providing video game play using a game device, comprising: providing for video game play, by the game device, in which a first virtual game character is controlled by a user, the first virtual game character representative of a first toy in communication with the game device; determining occurrence of a predefined first game event involving the first virtual game character and a second virtual game character, the second virtual game character controlled by video game instructions of the video game, the first game event comprising defeat of the second virtual game character by the first virtual game character; and in response to the occurrence of the first game event, storing an identification of the second virtual game character in memory of a second toy in communication with the game device, the second toy being different from the first toy; determining occurrence of a predefined second game event involving the first virtual game character and a third virtual game character, the third virtual game character being controlled by video game instructions of the video game, the second game event comprising defeat of the third virtual game character by the first virtual game character; in response to the occurrence of the second game event, storing an identification of the third virtual game character in the memory of the second toy; providing for video game play by the game device, after the occurrence of the first event, in which the user controls the first virtual game character and the second virtual game character; and providing for video game play by the game device, after the occurrence of the second event, in which the user controls the first virtual game character and the third virtual game character.