ADJUSTABLE ELECTRONIC GAME PIECE
An electronic game piece is illustrated and described. The electronic game piece can include a light, a proximity sensor, and a proximity-sensor target. Activation of the proximity sensor can cause the light to illuminate. The electronic game piece can be configured to light up when arranged with other electronic game pieces. The proximity sensor, for example, can be configured to be activated by a proximity-sensor target substantially identical to the proximity-sensor target of the electronic game piece, but separate from the electronic game piece. In some versions of the electronic game piece illustrated and described, the proximity-sensor target is magnetic and the proximity sensor can be activated by a magnetic field. Separate electronic game pieces can be capable of interlocking, such as interlocking when a top major surface of one electronic game piece is adjacent to a bottom major surface of another electronic game piece.
1 . An electronic game piece, comprising:
a light;
a proximity sensor; and
a proximity-sensor target, wherein activation of the proximity sensor causes the light to illuminate.
2 . The electronic game piece according to claim 1 wherein the proximity-sensor target is magnetic and the proximity sensor can be activated by a magnetic field.
3 . The electronic game piece according to claim 1 wherein the proximity sensor can be activated by a proximity-sensor target substantially identical to the proximity-sensor target of the electronic game piece, but separate from the electronic game piece.
4 . The electronic game piece according to claim 1 wherein the light, the proximity sensor, and the proximity-sensor target are positioned within an internal portion of the electronic game piece and the internal portion of the electronic game piece cannot be accessed without breaking the electronic game piece.
5 . The electronic game piece according to claim 1 wherein the electronic game piece has a top major surface and a bottom major surface, and the top and bottom major surfaces each include a substantially circular pattern of alternating recesses and protrusions.
6 . The electronic game piece according to claim 1 wherein the electronic game piece has a top major surface and a bottom major surface, the proximity sensor or the proximity-sensor target is positioned substantially adjacent to an internal surface of a top wall of the electronic game piece, the opposite side of the top wall being the top major surface, and the other of the proximity-sensor or the proximity-sensor target is positioned substantially adjacent to an internal surface of a bottom wall of the electronic game piece, the opposite side of the bottom wall being the bottom major surface.
7 . The electronic game piece according to claim 1 , further comprising a battery.
8 . The electronic game piece according to claim 7 wherein the proximity sensor is a switch positioned in a circuit between the light and the battery.
9 . The electronic game piece according to claim 1 wherein the electronic game piece has a top major surface and a bottom major surface, the top and bottom major surfaces have perimeters of substantially the same shape, and the perimeters of the top and bottom major surfaces are substantially circular or substantially shaped as polygons having three or more sides of substantially the same length.
10 . The electronic game piece according to claim 9 wherein the electronic game piece has a side surface between the top and bottom major surfaces, the light, when illuminated, is visible on a portion of the side surface, the light is positioned within the electronic game piece at a first radial position closer to the side surface than to a center axis substantially centered on and perpendicular to the top and bottom major surfaces, the proximity sensor is positioned within the electronic game piece at a second radial position closer to the side surface than to the center axis, the proximity-sensor target is positioned within the electronic game piece at a third radial position closer to the side surface than to the center axis, and the first, second, and third radial positions are different.
11 . A set of electronic game pieces, comprising:
a first game piece including a proximity-sensor target; and
a second game piece including a light, a proximity sensor, and a proximity-sensor target, wherein the first and second game pieces can be positioned such that the proximity-sensor target of the first game piece activates the proximity sensor of the second game piece, and activation of the proximity sensor of the second game piece causes the light of the second game piece to illuminate.
12 . The set of game pieces according to claim 11 wherein the proximity-sensor target of the first game piece only activates the proximity sensor of the second game piece when the proximity-sensor target of the first game piece is substantially aligned with the proximity sensor of the second game piece.
13 . The set of game pieces according to claim 11 wherein the first and second game pieces have substantially the same overall shape.
14 . The set of game pieces according to claim 11 wherein the first and second game pieces can be positioned such that simultaneously the proximity-sensor target of the first game piece activates the proximity sensor of the second game piece and the proximity-sensor target of the second game piece activates the proximity sensor of the first game piece, and activation of the proximity sensor of the first game piece causes the light of the first game piece to illuminate.
15 . The set of game pieces according to claim 11 wherein the first and second game pieces are in a first configuration when positioned such that the proximity-sensor target of the first game piece activates the proximity sensor of the second game piece, the first game piece has a top major surface and a bottom major surface, the second game piece has a top major surface and a bottom major surface, the top major surface of the first game piece is adjacent to and interlocking with the bottom major surface of the second game piece when the first and second game pieces are in the first configuration, and the first and second game pieces can be positioned in a second configuration in which the top major surface of the first game piece is adjacent to and not interlocking with the bottom major surface of the second game piece.
16 . The set of game pieces according to claim 11 wherein the first game piece has a top major surface, a bottom major surface, and a side surface between the top major surface and the bottom major surface, the second game piece has a top major surface, a bottom major surface, and a side surface between the top major surface and the bottom major surface, the first and second game pieces can be stacked such that the top major surface of the first game piece is adjacent to the bottom major surface of the second game piece and the side surfaces of the first and second game pieces are exposed, the light of the first game piece, when illuminated, is visible on a portion of the side surface of the first game piece, and the light of the second game piece, when illuminated, is visible on a portion of the side surface of the second game piece.
17 . The set of game pieces according to claim 16 wherein the side surface of the first game piece is substantially aligned with the side surface of the second electronic game piece when the first and second electronic game pieces are positioned such that the proximity-sensor target of the first electronic game piece activates the proximity sensor of the second electronic game piece.
18 . A method, comprising:
arranging a first electronic game piece, a second electronic game, and a third electronic game piece in a first stacked arrangement; and
observing whether lights on the first, second, and third electronic game pieces are simultaneously illuminated when the first, second, and third electronic game pieces are positioned in the first stacked arrangement, wherein simultaneous illumination of the lights on the first, second, and third electronic game pieces represents a winning arrangement.
19 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein the lights on the first, second, and third electronic game pieces are not simultaneously illuminated when the first, second, and third electronic game pieces are positioned in the first stacked arrangement, and the method further comprises:
arranging the first, second, and third electronic game pieces in a second stacked arrangement different than the first stacked arrangement; and
observing whether lights on the first, second, and third electronic game pieces are simultaneously illuminated when the first, second, and third electronic game pieces are positioned in the second stacked arrangement.
20 . The method according to claim 18 wherein the first electronic game piece has a top major surface, a bottom major surface, and a side surface between the top and bottom major surfaces, the second electronic game piece has a top major surface, a bottom major surface, and a side surface between the top and bottom major surfaces, the third electronic game piece has a top major surface, a bottom major surface, and a side surface between the top and bottom major surfaces, and arranging the first, second, and third electronic game pieces in the first stacked arrangement includes positioning the first, second, and third electronic game pieces such that the top major surface of the first electronic game piece is adjacent to the bottom major surface of the second electronic game piece, the top major surface of the second electronic game piece is adjacent to the bottom major surface of the third electronic game piece, the side surfaces of the first, second, and third electronic game pieces are exposed, and the lights on the first, second, and third electronic game pieces are substantially aligned on portions of the side surfaces of the first, second, and third electronic game pieces.
21 . The method according to claim 20 wherein arranging the first, second, and third electronic game pieces in the first stacked arrangement includes physically interlocking the top major surface of the first electronic game piece with the bottom major surface of the second electronic game piece and the top major surface of the second electronic game piece with the bottom major surface of the third electronic game piece.
22 . A method performed by a computing device having a processor and memory, comprising:
receiving a request to generate virtual game tokens, the request specifying criteria for distributing the virtual game tokens;
creating the requested virtual game tokens; and
distributing the created virtual game tokens based on the received criteria for distributing the virtual game tokens.
23 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising receiving redemption criteria for the virtual game tokens.
24 . The method of claim 23 , further comprising:
receiving a redemption request;
determining whether virtual game tokens identified by the received redemption request satisfy the received redemption criteria; and
if the virtual game tokens identified by the received redemption request satisfy the received redemption criteria, approving the requested redemption.
25 . The method of claim 24 , further comprising receiving an identification of an item to satisfy the redemption request and providing the identified item if the virtual game tokens identified by the received redemption request satisfy the received redemption criteria.
26 . A system, comprising:
a component configured to receive creation criteria for creating game tokens;
a component configured to receive redemption criteria for redemption of the created game tokens; and
a component configured to receive distribution criteria for distributing the created game tokens.
27 . The system of claim 26 wherein at least one game token is physical.
28 . The system of claim 26 wherein at least one game token is virtual.
29 . The system of claim 26 , further comprising accounting information configured to store ownership information relating to the created game tokens.
30 . The system of claim 26 , further comprising optimization logic.
31 . The system of claim 30 wherein the optimization logic is configured to optimize distribution of game tokens.
32 . The system of claim 30 wherein the optimization logic is configured to optimize redemption of game tokens.
33 . A computer-readable storage device storing computer-executable instructions, the instructions comprising:
receiving a request to generate virtual game tokens, the request specifying criteria for distributing the virtual game tokens;
creating the requested virtual game tokens;
distributing the created virtual game tokens based on the received criteria for distributing the virtual game tokens; and
storing identities of people to whom the virtual game tokens are distributed.
34 . The computer-readable medium of claim 33 , further comprising receiving a redemption request for a virtual game token.
35 . The computer-readable medium of claim 33 , further comprising determining whether an advertising campaign is successful by computing a ratio of a number of distributed virtual game tokens versus a number of redeemed virtual game tokens.