A system having a radio-frequency-identification (RFID) tag reader and a camera to map playing cards to RFID tag values. Each card is inserted into a sleeve that has an RFID tag. During or after insertion of a card into a sleeve, the camera captures an image of the card and the RFID reader captures an RFID tag value for the sleeve. The identity of the card is then determined from the captured image and mapped to the RFID tag value. This mapping information is generated for each card-sleeve pair in a card deck and utilized to track the movement of the cards during game play. The RFID tag value of each card-sleeve pair in the card deck is captured before and after a player draws a card from the deck. The missing RFID tag values are compared to the mapping information to identify which cards where drawn by the player.

An example of a game controller includes within a housing a first substrate on a front surface and a second substrate on a back surface. On a front surface of the first substrate, switches for various operation buttons are provided, and on a back surface of the first substrate, an NFC antenna is provided. Further, on a second substrate, a control circuit for controlling contactless communication performed using the NFC antenna, a control circuit for controlling operation data indicating whether or not the operation buttons are pressed, and the like are placed.

A new type of RFID tag is provided. A gaming chip that incorporates a sticker-type RFID tag comprises: an enclosing member having a predetermined shape for enclosing the RFID tag; a body member that is injection-molded to encapsulate the enclosing member with the RFID tag; and a gaming chip for amusement. The enclosing member consists of a first part and a second part, and at least the first part or the second part has a flat surface to which a sticker-type RFID tag can adhere, and the first part and the second part are combined to form an enclosing member, in which the sticker-type RFID tag is covered by the first part and the second part.

A video game cartridge adapter is configured to enable a network connection so that a game executing on video game cartridge can be used online either locally or through the Internet or other wide area network. The adapter includes an integrated circuit with a communications device and a connector, the connector configured to be inserted into a port on a video game cartridge. The connector includes an RX ring in communication with a resistor, which is detected by a pull-down detection circuit at the video game cartridge. The adapter can include an external power supply port, an indicator light, and a reset button. The adapter can also include a current limiter circuit and a reverse voltage protection circuit.

A card has a plurality of contact points attached on the same face thereof, the plurality of contact points being detectable by a detecting method for a touchscreen. In the case where the card is placed on the touchscreen, a recognition unit recognizes a kind of the card and a relative position and orientation of the card relative to the touchscreen on the basis of at least some of the plurality of contact points detected by the touchscreen. On the basis of the results of recognition by the recognition unit, a determining unit determines a relevant image to be displayed on the touchscreen and determines a size, position, and orientation for displaying the relevant image on the touchscreen.

Provided is a game apparatus which stores, in an outbox for individual-transmission data, individual-transmission data the destinations of which are individually specified, and stores, in an outbox for universal-transmission data, universal-transmission data the destinations of which are all terminals. A plurality of pieces of data is stored in the outbox for individual-transmission data, and information regarding the destination thereof and the information regarding the source thereof are added to each piece of data. When the outbox for individual-transmission data is full, all data stored in the outbox is retrieved, and one frame which includes the plurality of pieces of data is generated and transmitted.

Provided is a game apparatus which stores, in an outbox for individual-transmission data, individual-transmission data the destinations of which are individually specified, and stores, in an outbox for universal-transmission data, universal-transmission data the destinations of which are all terminals. A plurality of pieces of data is stored in the outbox for individual-transmission data, and information regarding the destination thereof and the information regarding the source thereof are added to each piece of data. When the outbox for individual-transmission data is full, all data stored in the outbox is retrieved, and one frame which includes the plurality of pieces of data is generated and transmitted.

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.

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.

A game control method realizes an electronic game that proceeds as a result of objects being arranged in a game field. The method comprises: arranging an object; determining whether or not a group of unit elements arranged adjacent to each other in the game field forms a predetermined shape; managing a region including the group of unit elements that forms the predetermined shape as an erasure-determined region; erasing, from the game field, the group of unit elements included in the erasure-determined region, of groups of unit elements arranged in the game field, if the erasure-determined region satisfies a predetermined condition, and leaving unit elements not included in the erasure-determined region; and performing control such that a new arrangement object can be arranged in squares from which the group of unit elements have been erased.