Interactive entertainment system
Embodiments of the present invention provide a unique play experience carried out utilizing an interactive “wand” and/or other seemingly magical actuation/tracking device. The wand or other actuation device allows play participants to electronically and “magically” interact with their surrounding play environment(s), thereby giving play participants the realistic illusion of practicing, performing and mastering “real” magic. Optionally, multiple play participants, each provided with a suitable “wand” and/or other actuation/tracking device, may play and interact together, either within or outside one or more compatible play environments, to achieve desired goals, master certain magical spells and/or produce desired seemingly magical effects within the play environment.
1. An interactive entertainment system combining both physical and virtual play elements for entertaining one or more participants as part of a magic-themed entertainment experience wherein participants use an interactive toy wand to selectively actuate one or more visual effects, said interactive entertainment system comprising:
a first interactive play element configured to produce a first wand-actuated visual effect displayed in a physical play environment, said first wand-actuated visual effect comprising one or more physical objects;
a second interactive play element configured to produce a second wand-actuated visual effect displayed in a virtual play environment, said second wand-actuated visual effect comprising one or more computer-animated objects;
a control system configured to enable said one or more participants to selectively actuate said first or second wand-actuated visual effects so as to provide said magic-themed entertainment experience; and
at least one digital camera communicatively coupled to said control system and configured to automatically capture one or more digital images of said one or more participants.
2. The interactive entertainment system of claim 1 , wherein said first wand-actuated visual effect comprises causing said one or more physical objects to move from a first location to a second location.
3. The interactive entertainment system of claim 1 , wherein said first wand-actuated visual effect comprises a fountain.
4. The interactive entertainment system of claim 1 , wherein said control system is configured to selectively actuate said first or second wand-actuated visual effects so as to teach or train a game participant how to use said interactive toy wand in accordance with said magic-themed entertainment experience.
5. The interactive entertainment system of claim 1 , in combination with an interactive toy wand comprising an elongated body configured to be held and moved by said one or more participants to selectively actuate said first or second wand-actuated visual effects.
6. The interactive entertainment system of claim 5 , wherein said interactive toy wand comprises a first wireless radiofrequency (RF) transceiver and wherein said control system comprises a second wireless RF transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless RF communications with said first wireless RF transceiver.
7. An interactive entertainment system for entertaining one or more participants as part of a magic-themed entertainment experience, said interactive entertainment system comprising:
an interactive toy wand configured to be held and operated by a participant to selectively actuate one or more effects provided within a themed entertainment facility;
a plurality of interactive play areas provided within said themed entertainment facility, at least one of said plurality of interactive play areas comprising an interactive entertainment effect configured to be selectively actuated by said participant using said interactive toy wand;
at least one digital camera focused on said at least one interactive play area, said at least one digital camera configured to capture one or more digital images of said participant when said participant is using said interactive toy wand in said at least one interactive play area; and
a control system communicatively coupled to said interactive entertainment effect and said at least one digital camera, said control system configured to: i) receive an actuation signal from said interactive toy wand, and ii) selectively actuate said interactive entertainment effect based at least in part on said actuation signal.
8. The interactive entertainment system of claim 7 , wherein said interactive toy wand is configured to produce one or more of a sound effect, a lighting effect, or a vibration effect.
9. The interactive entertainment system of claim 7 , wherein said interactive toy wand comprises non-volatile memory having stored therein at least one identifier uniquely identifying said interactive toy wand, and a radiofrequency (RF) transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless communications with said control system.
10. The interactive entertainment system of claim 9 , wherein said control system is further configured to: i) track the progress or performance of said participant based on said at least one identifier, and ii) adjust the entertainment experience for said participant based on said tracked progress or performance.
11. The interactive entertainment system of claim 10 , wherein said plurality of interactive play areas are configured to carry out a game and wherein said tracked progress or performance comprises performance or progress in said game.
12. The interactive entertainment system of claim 7 , wherein said interactive entertainment effect comprises: i) a first interactive entertainment effect comprising one or more physical objects displayed in a physical play environment, and ii) a second interactive entertainment effect comprising one or more computer-animated objects displayed in a virtual play environment.
13. An interactive entertainment system combining both physical and virtual play elements for entertaining one or more participants as part of an entertainment experience provided within an entertainment facility, said interactive entertainment system comprising:
a first interactive play element configured to produce a first perceptible effect displayed in a physical play environment, said first perceptible effect comprising imparting motion to one or more physical objects;
a second interactive play element configured to produce a second perceptible effect displayed in a virtual play environment, said second perceptible effect comprising one or more computer animations;
a first wireless radiofrequency (RF) transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless communication with one or more wireless-compatible devices;
a wireless-compatible gaming device comprising: i) a portable body configured to be held or carried by a game participant; ii) a unique identification number uniquely identifying said wireless-compatible gaming device, and iii) a second wireless RF transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless communication with at least said first wireless RF transceiver; and
a control system configured to enable a participant to use said wireless-compatible gaming device to selectively actuate said first or second perceptible effects based at least in part on one or more wireless communications exchanged between said first wireless RF transceiver and said second wireless RF transceiver.
14. The interactive entertainment system of claim 13 , wherein said wireless-compatible gaming device comprises an interactive toy.
15. The interactive entertainment system of claim 14 , wherein said interactive toy comprises a toy wand comprising an elongated body sized and configured to be held by said game participant and moved freely in the air.
16. The interactive entertainment system of claim 15 , wherein said toy wand is configured to sense one or more motions of said elongated body as it is moved through the air.
17. The interactive entertainment system of claim 13 , wherein said wireless-compatible gaming device comprises a global positioning system (GPS) device configured to determine a geographical position of said wireless-compatible gaming device.
18. The interactive entertainment system of claim 13 , wherein said wireless-compatible gaming device comprises an effects generator configured to display one or more light, sound or vibration effects based at least in part on one or more wireless communications exchanged between said first wireless RF transceiver and said second wireless RF transceiver.
19. The interactive entertainment system of claim 13 , wherein said wireless-compatible gaming device comprises a display screen.
20. The interactive entertainment system of claim 13 , further comprising a digital camera configured to capture one or more digital images of said participant while said participant is using said wireless-compatible gaming device.