Abstract: A participant in a motion capture environment, such as a motion capture simulation, can utilize or interact with physical objects disposed in the environment, for example weapons, sporting goods, and wands. Markers attached to the physical objects can track movement of the objects in the motion capture environment as well as changes in operational state associated with participant interaction or usage. Markers on an object can be passive, active, or a combination of active and passive. A change in separation between two passive or active markers on a mechanized physical object can indicate that a participant has engaged a mechanism of the object, for example firing a semiautomatic weapon. One or more active markers can emit a pattern of light that is modulated spatially or temporally to report operational state of an object, such as when a participant has fired the weapon or turned a weapon safety off or on.