Toy Assembly with RFID Tags for Game Interaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Video games lack a physical component that allows players to interact with a representative object, creating a distinct separation between the game play world and the real world, limiting the immersive experience.
Innovation Solution
A toy assembly composed of interchangeable parts that communicate with a gaming platform to display a virtual representation, allowing players to modify the appearance and interaction of a virtual character by changing physical toy parts, with each part having a unique identification tag for data storage and communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If video games are provided by way of an electronic device and associated display, then the game play experience becomes two dimensional with a sharply distinct separation between the game play world and the real world, but the immersive experience and player connection to the game is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the physical toy with the virtual video game environment by enabling bidirectional communication between them. The toy includes identification tags and communication interfaces that allow it to interact with the gaming platform, while the virtual environment displays a graphical representation of the physical toy. This merging eliminates the sharp separation between physical and virtual worlds, allowing players to manipulate physical objects to affect virtual game states and vice versa, thereby enhancing immersion and connection.
2Adaptability or versatility
If toy parts are made with interchangeable components for customization, then the adaptability and replayability of the game increases, but the device complexity and number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the toy into multiple separable parts, each containing an identification tag with unique identifying information. These segmented parts can be individually recognized by the gaming platform through communication interfaces. The segmentation allows for easy customization and reconfiguration of the toy while maintaining manageable complexity, as each part can be independently identified and integrated into the virtual environment without requiring the entire assembly to be complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal system where interchangeable toy parts share common communication protocols and identification tag formats. This universality allows different parts to be mixed and matched while the gaming platform can consistently identify and integrate them. The multi-functionality is achieved through standardized interfaces that enable various parts to serve different roles in both physical assembly and virtual representation, reducing overall system complexity despite the variety of customization options.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If each toy part includes memory for storing information about ownership, accomplishments, and attributes, then the persistence of virtual attributes across gaming sessions is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the data storage function from the main toy structure by incorporating separate memory components or identification tags within each toy part. These extracted memory elements store specific information such as ownership, accomplishments, and attributes independently. This extraction allows the core toy manufacturing to remain relatively simple while adding the persistence capability through separate, modular memory components that can be manufactured and integrated more easily than redesigning the entire toy structure.
Data Source
AI summary
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.