Abstract: According to one aspect, a toy system is adapted for use in a multiplayer game, the toy system comprising a primary user device, a secondary user device, and one or more toys; wherein the primary and secondary user devices are operable in a common multiplayer game session; wherein the primary user device is configured to capture video images of a real-world scene including the one or more toys from a primary view point and to display the captured video images as a primary view of the real-world scene; wherein the secondary user device is configured to display a secondary view of a scene corresponding to the real-world scene as seen from a secondary view point; wherein the one or more toys comprise at least one user-manipulable object adapted to selectively be brought into a user-selected one of a plurality of predetermined states, at least a first one of the predetermined states having a first visual appearance; wherein the primary user device is configured to detect said first predetermined state in a primar

Abstract: An interactive toy including a reader for detecting a marker in a proximity of the interactive toy. The interactive toy also has a sensor for detecting movement of the interactive toy and a memory having programmed instructions and configuration data thereon. The programmed instructions are configured to control a response of the interactive toy to a detection of the marker, the response being defined at least in part by the configuration data. The interactive toy also has a processing unit configured to execute the programmed instructions according to the configuration data when the processing unit is in a play state. The processing unit is further configured to modify the configuration data in response to a combination of a detection of the marker in a proximity of the interactive toy, and a detection of a movement of the interactive toy when the processing unit is in a configuration state.

Abstract: A toy system, the toy system comprising a data processing system and one or more toys, the plurality of toys including at least one reference toy having a visual appearance recognisable by the data processing system in a captured image of a real-world scene including said at least one reference toy, the data processing system comprising an image capturing device, a processing unit, and a display, wherein the data processing system has stored thereon information associated with the at least one reference toy, the information including at least one predetermined reference position defined relative to the at least one reference toy; and wherein the data processing is configured to: capture a sequence of images of a real-world scene, the real-world scene including said at least one reference toy; process the captured images to detect and recognize said at least one reference toy within the real-world scene; retrieve the at least one predetermined reference position from the stored information associated with the

Abstract: An interactive toy including a reader for detecting a marker in a proximity of the interactive toy. The interactive toy also has a sensor for detecting movement of the interactive toy and a memory having programmed instructions and configuration data thereon. The programmed instructions are configured to control a response of the interactive toy to a detection of the marker, the response being defined at least in part by the configuration data. The interactive toy also has a processing unit configured to execute the programmed instructions according to the configuration data when the processing unit is in a play state. The processing unit is further configured to modify the configuration data in response to a combination of a detection of the marker in a proximity of the interactive toy, and a detection of a movement of the interactive toy when the processing unit is in a configuration state.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a toy system is adapted for use in a multiplayer game, the toy system comprising a primary user device, a secondary user device, and one or more toys; wherein the primary and secondary user devices are operable in a common multiplayer game session; wherein the primary user device is configured to capture video images of a real-world scene including the one or more toys from a primary view point and to display the captured video images as a primary view of the real-world scene; wherein the secondary user device is configured to display a secondary view of a scene corresponding to the real-world scene as seen from a secondary view point; wherein the one or more toys comprise at least one user-manipulable object adapted to selectively be brought into a user-selected one of a plurality of predetermined states, at least a first one of the predetermined states having a first visual appearance; wherein the primary user device is configured to detect said first predetermined state in a primar

Abstract: According to one aspect, a toy system is adapted for use in a multiplayer game, the toy system comprising a primary user device, a secondary user device, and one or more toys; wherein the primary and secondary user devices are operable in a common multiplayer game session; wherein the primary user device is configured to capture video images of a real-world scene including the one or more toys from a primary view point and to display the captured video images as a primary view of the real-world scene; wherein the secondary user device is configured to display a secondary view of a scene corresponding to the real-world scene as seen from a secondary view point; wherein the one or more toys comprise at least one user-manipulable object adapted to selectively be brought into a user-selected one of a plurality of predetermined states, at least a first one of the predetermined states having a first visual appearance; wherein the primary user device is configured to detect said first predetermined state in a primar

Abstract: A toy system, the toy system comprising a data processing system and one or more toys, the plurality of toys including at least one reference toy having a visual appearance recognisable by the data processing system in a captured image of a real-world scene including said at least one reference toy, the data processing system comprising an image capturing device, a processing unit, and a display, wherein the data processing system has stored thereon information associated with the at least one reference toy, the information including at least one predetermined reference position defined relative to the at least one reference toy; and wherein the data processing is configured to: capture a sequence of images of a real-world scene, the real-world scene including said at least one reference toy; process the captured images to detect and recognize said at least one reference toy within the real-world scene; retrieve the at least one predetermined reference position from the stored information associated with the

Abstract: According to one aspect, a toy system is adapted for use in a multiplayer game, the toy system comprising a primary user device, a secondary user device, and one or more toys; wherein the primary and secondary user devices are operable in a common multiplayer game session; wherein the primary user device is configured to capture video images of a real-world scene including the one or more toys from a primary view point and to display the captured video images as a primary view of the real-world scene; wherein the secondary user device is configured to display a secondary view of a scene corresponding to the real-world scene as seen from a secondary view point; wherein the one or more toys comprise at least one user-manipulable object adapted to selectively be brought into a user-selected one of a plurality of predetermined states, at least a first one of the predetermined states having a first visual appearance; wherein the primary user device is configured to detect said first predetermined state in a primar