Abstract: A video game includes a peripheral device that senses the presence and identity of physical toys and/or toy parts near or on the peripheral device. Each of the toy parts and toys includes an identification device such as an RFID tag. Each of the toys parts may be combined to form a toy assembly which may be associated with a corresponding game character or object. The toy parts included in a toy assembly may store information about the status of the corresponding character or object in the game, for example, a name of characters configured using the toy part, a score, a number of times the toy part has been used, and/or a video game level achieved during video game play by a video game character associated with the toy part. The information about the toy part and configured toy assembly may be updated during game play.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates to a video game system comprising a video game console and an object or toy used in connection with the video game console, wherein the object or toy has a rewritable data storage device, and wherein the video game console stores information in the rewritable data storage device in response to game play events occurring in a first gaming session. The stored information is subsequently retrieved by the video game console in a second gaming session, and the retrieved information is used to conduct the game play of the second gaming session.

Abstract: A user may create a customized virtual game character and the customized virtual game character may be physically substantiated. In some embodiments the virtual game character is physically substantiated by printing a representation of the virtual game character on a card, which in some embodiments has computer readable information regarding the virtual game character. In some embodiments the virtual game character is physically substantiated by making a toy in the form of the virtual game character, which in some embodiments has computer readable information regarding the virtual game character. In some embodiments the toy is made by way of 3-D printing, with for example character information uploaded from a user's game machine to a 3-D printing facility, which may also receive additional detailed information about parts of the character from a third party server.

Abstract: A video game includes a peripheral device that senses the presence and identity of toys near or on the peripheral. Each of the toys includes an identification device such as an RFID tag. Each of the toys is also associated with a corresponding game character or object. A toy stores information about the status of the corresponding character or object in the game, for example, a character name, a score, and an owner of the toy may be stored in a character toy. The information about the toy is updated during game play. The toys may be sensed, read, and written concurrently.

Abstract: A video game includes a peripheral device that senses the presence and identity of toy objects near or on the peripheral. Each of the toy objects includes an identification device such as an RFID tag. Each of the toys is also associated with a corresponding game character or object. The peripheral device provides lighting effects based on characteristics of the game character or aspects of the game play sequence thereby enhancing the user's gameplay experience.

Abstract: A toy for use with respect to videogame play may include information of a game character and/or game object, with the toy including a digital signature which a game device may check to determine that the toy is a genuine toy. In various embodiments security keys may be required to read information of the toy, and the security keys may be generated by a peripheral device of a videogame system. In some embodiments some of the information may be stored on the toy in encrypted form.

Abstract: A video game system for providing a single game play instance for multiple clients each utilizing a different game platform. The system includes a first game platform executing a virtual reality game on a virtual reality system and a second game platform executing a game having a similar representation of the virtual reality game modified for the second game platform. The first game platform and second game platform communicate with each other to provide a single instance game space for the first game platform and second game platform.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates to a video game system comprising a video game console and an object or toy used in connection with the video game console, wherein the object or toy has a rewritable data storage device, and wherein the video game console stores information in the rewritable data storage device in response to game play events occurring in a first gaming session. The stored information is subsequently retrieved by the video game console in a second gaming session, and the retrieved information is used to conduct the game play of the second gaming session.

Abstract: A video game includes a component that senses the presence and identity of proximate toys. Each of the toys includes an identification device such as an RFID tag. Each of the toys is also associated with a corresponding game character or object. The toys further comprise audio, visual and other effects, wherein said effects are activated when the toy is proximate the gaming platform or a peripheral to the gaming platform. Effects may also be activated based on characteristics of the game character or aspects of the game play sequence thereby enhancing the user's gameplay experience.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates to a video game system comprising a video game console and an object or toy used in connection with the video game console, wherein the object or toy has a rewritable data storage device, and wherein the video game console stores information in the rewritable data storage device in response to game play events occurring in a first gaming session. The stored information is subsequently retrieved by the video game console in a second gaming session, and the retrieved information is used to conduct the game play of the second gaming session.

Abstract: A video game system comprising a console (such as a game console, computer, mobile device or web site), a peripheral for a gaming platform, and a toy. The gaming platform is capable of identifying the toy and a character corresponding to the toy is depicted in the video game. The video game character corresponding to the toy has certain characteristics and/or attributes. The data for these characteristics and attributes is stored on a server accessible to each compatible gaming platform. As the user uses the character to play the video game, thereby altering the character's characteristics and attributes, the updated attributes are stored by the game system to the server connected to the game system. Updated character data is thereafter available to the user for subsequent game play via any gaming platform connected to the server.

Abstract: A videogame includes a peripheral device that senses the presence and identity of a physical object near or on the peripheral. The physical object includes multiple identification components, for example, RFID tags. The identification components correspond to one or more videogame states and can be used to conduct gameplay.

Abstract: A toy for a video game may include an RFID tag, with an inductive antenna for receiving and transmitting signals. The inductive antenna may have a ferromagnetic core. Inductance of the inductive antenna may be selected such that tuning of the antenna is determined by the inductance of the antenna and input capacitance of an RFID semiconductor circuit of the RFID tag, with in some embodiments no tuning capacitors utilized. In some embodiments the input capacitance of the RFID semiconductor circuit is parasitic capacitance of the RFID semiconductor circuit.

Abstract: A user may create a customized virtual game character and the customized virtual game character may be physically substantiated. In some embodiments the virtual game character is physically substantiated by printing a representation of the virtual game character on a card, which in some embodiments has computer readable information regarding the virtual game character. In some embodiments the virtual game character is physically substantiated by making a toy in the form of the virtual game character, which in some embodiments has computer readable information regarding the virtual game character. In some embodiments the toy is made by way of 3-D printing, with for example character information uploaded from a user's game machine to a 3-D printing facility, which may also receive additional detailed information about parts of the character from a third party server.

Abstract: A toy for a video game may include an RFID tag, with an inductive antenna for receiving and transmitting signals. The inductive antenna may have a ferromagnetic core. Inductance of the inductive antenna may be selected such that tuning of the antenna is determined by the inductance of the antenna and input capacitance of an RFID semiconductor circuit of the RFID tag, with in some embodiments no tuning capacitors utilized. In some embodiments the input capacitance of the RFID semiconductor circuit is parasitic capacitance of the RFID semiconductor circuit.

Abstract: A video game includes a peripheral device that senses the presence and identity of toy objects near or on the peripheral. Each of the toy objects includes an identification device such as an RFID tag. Each of the toys is also associated with a corresponding game character or object. The peripheral device provides lighting effects based on characteristics of the game character or aspects of the game play sequence thereby enhancing the user's gameplay experience.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to a computer-implemented method useful in playing a video game having multiple versions, the method being implemented by a video game platform that includes one or more processors, the method comprising: executing a version of the video game on the video game platform; receiving information from a memory of a toy, the information comprising type information and subtype information; displaying a representation of a game character associated with the toy, the representation of a game character based at least on the type information; using the subtype information to determine whether the toy corresponds to a different version of the video game than the version being executed; and conducting gameplay involving the representation of the game character, wherein aspects of gameplay are based in part on whether the toy corresponds to a different version of the video game than the version being executed.

Abstract: A video game includes a peripheral device that senses the presence and identity of toy objects near or on the peripheral. Each of the toy objects includes an identification device such as an RFID tag. Each of the toys is also associated with a corresponding game character or object. The peripheral device provides lighting effects based on characteristics of the game character or aspects of the game play sequence thereby enhancing the user's gameplay experience.

Abstract: A video game includes a peripheral device that senses the presence and identity of toy objects near or on the peripheral. Each of the toy objects includes an identification device such as an RFID tag. Each of the toys is also associated with a corresponding game character or object. The peripheral device provides lighting effects based on characteristics of the game character or aspects of the game play sequence thereby enhancing the user's gameplay experience.

Abstract: A video game includes a peripheral device that senses the presence and identity of toy objects near or on the peripheral. Each of the toy objects includes an identification device such as an RFID tag. Each of the toys is also associated with a corresponding game character or object. The peripheral device provides lighting effects based on characteristics of the game character or aspects of the game play sequence thereby enhancing the user's gameplay experience.