A system communicates with a device in both a wired mode and a wireless mode, and is able to switch between these two modes without permanent disruption to an ongoing use. The system is configured to receive an indication of a condition that suggests switching from the wireless mode of operation to a wired mode of operation, to display a notification for the device to switch, and to transition from the wireless mode of operation to the wired mode of operation.

An interactive treasure hunt game is provided. Game participants receive a card, map and/or identification badge configured with an RFID tag, bar-code or a magnetic swipe strip or the like. The RFID tag or other identifying device is used to store certain information identifying each play participant and/or describing certain powers or abilities possessed by an imaginary character that the card may represent. Players advance in the game by finding clues and solving various puzzles presented by the game. Players may also gain (or lose) certain attributes, such as magic skills, magic strength, fighting ability, various spell-casting abilities, etc. All of this information is preferably stored on the RFID tag or card so that the character attributes may be easily and conveniently transported to other similarly-equipped play facilities, computer games, video games, home game consoles, hand-held game units, and the like. In this manner, the game can seamlessly transcend from one play environment and/or entertainment medium to the next.

Methods and apparatus provide for: communicating with one or more controller devices operated by one or more users, respectively, via wired communication or wireless communication selected by the one or more users; controlling a display for displaying a menu of one or more controller identifiers which are related to the one or more controller devices, respectively, and which are selectable from the menu by the one or more users; storing relation information between one or more user identifiers, which are related to the one or more users, respectively, and the one or more controller identifiers that are selected; carrying out operation inputs transmitted from the selected one or more controller devices as instruction operations for the related one or more user identifiers that correspond to the selected one or more controller identifiers; executing at least one application program and producing an output for display that is manipulated in accordance with the operation inputs; and identifying, from among the stored relation information, one of the user identifiers that corresponds with one of the controller devices when a connection of the one of the controller devices is changed from the wired connection to the wireless connection.

A multi-platform gaming system for amusing or entertaining one or more game participants playing a game on a gaming platform is described. The multi-platform gaming system can include collectible toys depicting or representing one or more game characters or objects relevant to a game adapted to be played on the gaming platform. The collectible toys can have associated therewith an RFID tag including a corresponding unique tag identification number. The RFID tag can include an antenna, integrated circuitry for wirelessly transmitting and receiving information to and from an associated RFID tag reader, and non-volatile programmable memory for storing game-relevant information describing skills, abilities or attributes associated with one of said game characters or objects.

A method is disclosed to play a multiplayer online game. The method provides a handset and a multiplayer game stored on a server, where that server comprises (N) user profiles including the (i)th user profile comprising the (i)th game status and the (i)th digital signature assigned to the (i)th user, wherein the (i)th user is one of the (N) users. The method establishes a communication link between the handset and the server, such that the (i)th user can play the multiplayer game, using the handset and the (i)th game status, with one or more other users in communication with the server. The method downloads to the handset the game software and the (i)th user profile comprising the (i)th game status and the (i)th digital signature, before discontinuing the communication link between the handset and the server.

A system communicates with a device in both a wired mode and a wireless mode, and is able to switch between these two modes without permanent disruption to an ongoing use. The system is configured to receive an indication of a condition that suggests switching from the wireless mode of operation to a wired mode of operation, to display a notification for the device to switch, and to transition from the wireless mode of operation to the wired mode of operation.

A game system executes lottery processing where at least one lottery candidate is selected from plural lottery candidates; gives value according to the lottery result to a user; displays on a monitor a game screen for performing a lottery; controls a shooting game to be played by the user while the game screen is displayed on the monitor; changes an expectant value as the lottery result according to a game-play state of the shooting game; and settles the change at a predetermined timing of the shooting time. Then, the game system executes the lottery processing based on the expectant value settled.

A center device communicates with one or more controller devices operated by one or more users. The center device is operable to: execute at least one application program; detect a respective connection with each of the one or more controller devices and to select one of the one or more controller devices for authentication; query the user of the selected one of the controller devices for requested authentication information; receive, from the selected one of the controller devices, authentication information provided by the user of the selected one of the controller devices; and permit the execution and manipulation of the output of the application program only when the authentication information provided by the user, and received from, the selected one of the controller devices matches the requested authentication information.

In various embodiments, the motion of a wristband is used to control games.

In various embodiments, the motion of a wristband is used to control games.