Abstract: One particular implementation of the present invention may take the form of a method and apparatus for providing various movements as input to a video game. The method and apparatus may detect the body movements of a video game player and interpret those movements as inputs to the video game. The video game may then compare the movements of the user to expected movements to determine if the correct movement was performed by the user. The video game may also display a video game environment that instructs and interacts with the user to perform several movements of the video game. In this manner, the method and apparatus may provide a move realistic and dynamic video game experience than previous video games that only allowed the player to press buttons as inputs to the game.

Abstract: Systems and methods employing rule based techniques for handling virtual entity manifestation into gameplay modes in accordance with gameplay restrictions of the individual gameplay modes. The system may comprise a host server including one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules. The computer program modules may comprise a game module configured to execute an instance of the online game and to facilitate participation in one or more gameplay modes, a rule module configured to maintain rules corresponding to the restrictions for manifesting virtual entities into the individual gameplay modes, a creation module configured to create manifests including information corresponding to the rules for each gameplay mode, a determination module configured to determine which rules to apply to the virtual entities, and an application module configured to apply the rules according to the determinations.

Abstract: One particular implementation of the present invention may take the form of a method and apparatus for providing various movements as input to a video game. The method and apparatus may detect the body movements of a video game player and interpret those movements as inputs to the video game. The video game may then compare the movements of the user to expected movements to determine if the correct movement was performed by the user. The video game may also display a video game environment that instructs and interacts with the user to perform several movements of the video game. In this manner, the method and apparatus may provide a move realistic and dynamic video game experience than previous video games that only allowed the player to press buttons as inputs to the game.

Abstract: One particular implementation of the present invention may take the form of a method and apparatus for providing various dance movements as input to a dancing video game. The method and apparatus may detect the hand and arm movements of a video game player and interpret those movements as inputs to the video game. The video game may then compare the dancing movements of the user to expected dance movements to determine if the correct dance movement was performed by the user. The video game may also display a video game environment that instructs and interacts with the user to perform several dance movements of the video game. In this manner, the method and apparatus may provide a more realistic and dynamic dancing video game experience than previous dancing video games that only allowed the player to press buttons as inputs to the game.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a system configured to unlock digital content related to toys associated with users. The digital content may be unlocked based on the associations between the toys and the users, and presence of objects associated with user accounts at predetermined geographic locations. The predetermined geographic locations may be locations within theme parks, restaurants, stores, and/or hotels. The toys associated with the users may include, for example, toys owned by the users. The toys may include physical toys and/or virtual toys in a virtual space. The objects associated with user accounts may include, for example, a mobile phone belonging to the user. The user accounts may be electronic accounts associated with individual users that include information related to the toys associated with users and information related to the objects.

Abstract: Systems and methods employing rule based techniques for handling virtual entity manifestation into gameplay modes in accordance with gameplay restrictions of the individual gameplay modes. The system may comprise a host server including one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules. The computer program modules may comprise a game module configured to execute an instance of the online game and to facilitate participation in one or more gameplay modes, a rule module configured to maintain rules corresponding to the restrictions for manifesting virtual entities into the individual gameplay modes, a creation module configured to create manifests including information corresponding to the rules for each gameplay mode, a determination module configured to determine which rules to apply to the virtual entities, and an application module configured to apply the rules according to the determinations.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a system configured to unlock digital content related to toys associated with users. The digital content may be unlocked based on the associations between the toys and the users, and presence of objects associated with user accounts at predetermined geographic locations. The predetermined geographic locations may be locations within theme parks, restaurants, stores, and/or hotels. The toys associated with the users may include, for example, toys owned by the users. The toys may include physical toys and/or virtual toys in a virtual space. The objects associated with user accounts may include, for example, a mobile phone belonging to the user. The user accounts may be electronic accounts associated with individual users that include information related to the toys associated with users and information related to the objects.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for using atomic agents to implement modifications to actors. The atomic agents are self-functioning and may be applied to and removed from an actor in order to modify the behavior and/or appearance of the actor. The default appearance and behavior of the actor is embedded in the program code that defines the actor. One or more atomic agents may be applied to the actor to modify the actor's appearance or behavior without requiring any communication or interaction with the program code that defines the actor. Separate program code defines each atomic agent and the compatibility between the respective atomic agent and other atomic agents.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for using atomic agents to implement modifications to actors. The atomic agents are self-functioning and may be applied to and removed from an actor in order to modify the behavior and/or appearance of the actor. The default appearance and behavior of the actor is embedded in the program code that defines the actor. One or more atomic agents may be applied to the actor to modify the actor's appearance or behavior without requiring any communication or interaction with the program code that defines the actor. Separate program code defines each atomic agent and the compatibility between the respective atomic agent and other atomic agents.