Abstract: To provide a game device utilizing light, which can carry out various operations by game players and utilizes lights and can play a game while keeping interest.

Abstract: An interactive toy product including a controller and a casing in the form of a figure having one or more articulated limbs and wherein one or more sensors are provided arranged to detect movement of the one or more limbs and to use such detection as an input to the controller whereby to control at least partially the game playing activity. Preferably, the figure is human or at least anthropoid, and the game program includes means for generating on the screen a display representative of the figure, the program being arranged such that movement of the one or more articulated limbs of the figure generates a corresponding movement of the displayed figure. In another embodiment the interactive toy product is configured as a vehicle having sensors provided to detect movement of one or more elements of the vehicle.

Abstract: A very compact interactive toy is provided that provides highly life-like and intelligent seeming interaction with the user thereof. The toy can take the form of a small animal-like creature having a variety of moving body parts that have very precisely controlled and coordinated movements thereof so as to provide the toy with life-like mannerisms. The toy utilizes sensors for detecting sensory inputs which dictate the movements of the body parts in response to the sensed inputs. The sensors also allow several of the toys to interact with each other. The body parts are driven for movement by a single motor which is relatively small in terms of its power requirements given the large number of different movements that it powers. In addition, the motor is reversible so that the body parts can be moved in a non-cyclic life-like manner.

Abstract: A hand held electronic learning toy apparatus that reinforces learning by a user, such as a child, and provides motivation to the user to continue using the learning toy by enabling the user to interact with a plurality of game functions through one or more pre-programmed educational games and activities. The learning toy apparatus provides a tangible reward in the form of a colorful and/or interesting sticker when a question or query is answered correctly during the course of game play. Each sticker has an image of a single object, such as a star, ball, balloon, or the like, or includes indicia that is one segment of a larger picture wherein many stickers must be collected and pieced together to form the entire picture, much like a puzzle. Templates are provided that include indicia corresponding to the indicia of each sticker to indicate the proper placement of each sticker on the template.

Abstract: A hand-held video game system having a microprocessor controller with address and data buses for providing memory accesses during memory cycles to a plurality of cartridge slots for electrically connecting cartridges containing memory to the address and data buses. An output terminal of the microprocessor controller provides cartridge-select signal which identifies a first memory containing cartridge to be accessed during an initial memory cycle with the microprocessor controller controlling the output terminal to change the cartridge-select signal for transparently accessing a second memory containing cartridge for a subsequent memory cycle. The cartridge slot may also provide a port for transferring and receiving information over a bi-directional communication link in which a communication cartridge allows communication over the internet, and allows for interactive play of a video game.

Abstract: An electronic game having a display screen for viewing of images generated by the internal circuitry of the game is provided. The game includes player controls for interactively playing the game with one of the controls being a multi-directional control key which can be used to control movements of an image on the screen for playing the game. The game has a joystick adapter which allows a joystick to be used in lieu of the control key for controlling image movement. Preferably, the joystick adapter includes a releasable snap-fit attachment between the joystick and control key to allow the joystick to be readily snapped into an operative position on the key for pivoting the key with the joystick. The game can also include mounting clips for receiving the joystick when it is not being used in a stored position attached to the game housing. The joystick can be configured in the form of an action figure to enhance its appeal to youngsters.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for communicating between a hand-held electronic game apparatus and other electronic systems is described. Small hand-held electronic games, preprogrammed with a single game, may be linked together through a communications unit to engage in interactive gaming between two users. Alternatively, the communications unit can be connected via a special cable connected to the serial port of a personal computer to permit connection to a central processing unit on an Internet website. The website central processing unit can modify the preprogrammed game, provide upgrades to the game, unlock hidden features and simulate a second hand-held electronic game apparatus for interactive play with a user. Software is installed on the personal computer permits communication between the hand-held electronic game and the personal computer, between the PC and the Internet website and thus between the hand-held game and the Internet website.

Abstract: A hand-held electronic toy gun and target apparatus facilitating a game of tag using infrared light communications between a plurality of players. An electronic controller is coupled to a transmitter for sending a series of encoded infrared light signals and a receiver for detecting infrared light signals. A gun body enclosing the controller, transmitter and receiver combination includes a handle with at least one hand operable trigger and a housing atop the handle conforming to the player's wrist and forearm. The housing has a top portion for mounting a non-planar surface of a target window for exposing the target window upwardly and outwardly over a wide range of side angles. The housing further includes a front end portion forward of the handle for positioning an infrared light lens for focussing the series of encoded infrared light signals from the transmitter outwardly from the housing.

Abstract: Hand-held electronic game devices employing push buttons and other controls to manipulate game play and action on electronic displays, e.g., Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) or Light Emitting Diode (LED) display devices. The game devices have unique elongated, tubular forms in the shape of a stick. The electronic displays are integral with the unique tubular forms and generally centrally mounted therein. Various types of controls are employed at either or both ends of the game devices including, e.g., push buttons, pull switches, spring-loaded balls, flip switches, mouse controls, pointer balls, lever arms, or the like. Game concepts and operations are utilized based upon the particular control mechanisms employed as well as the unique physical shape and appearance of the devices.

Abstract: A very compact and ergonomical hand-held electronic gaming device is provided having a body including a front housing portion for containing the game's electronic circuitry and to which input keys for the game are mounted, and a rear extension portion extending rearwardly from the front housing portion for securing of a printed game book thereto. The gaming device is designed so that playing the game takes place with the book opened by the player while still secured to the rear extension so that the game body and open book can be held with one hand while using the other free hand to key in input to the game based on printed matter read from the open book. Thus, the game book need not be separated from the game to play the game. Preferably, the game has multiple-choice questions with associated answer choices to be selected by the player. A NEXT key is provided so that the questions can be answered sequentially without having to key in each question number.

Abstract: A game has a housing with a plurality of spaces defined on the exterior of the housing. Each of the spaces has a space input device and space indicator associated with the space, and each space indicator has an off-state and an on-state. Inside of the housing is a controller which communicates with each of the space input devices and space indicators and also with a select input device. The controller is responsive to activation of the select input device followed by activation of a predetermined one of the space input devices for causing the space indicator corresponding to the space selected by the activated space input device to go to the on-state.

Abstract: A deformable toy is provided for generating sounds having variable acoustic characteristics. The toy includes a deformable body which changes shapes depending on external pressure applied to the body and a sound-reproducing device for playing back either prerecorded or newly recorded sounds, music, messages, etc., which have a predetermined playback rate as recorded to the device. The device is responsive to changes in shape of the body to vary the playback rate of the sounds by way of a mechanism of the sound reproducing device which varies the playback rate for the sounds being played back from the sound reproducing device to provide a highly interactive game for children which allows them to creatively alter sounds generated from the toy herein.