A handheld electronic game includes a housing assembly; resilient domes protruding from the housing assembly; and a programmable, interactive system and at least one light emitting diode mounted within the housing, electrically connected to the programmable, interactive system. The housing assembly has a front housing portion and a rear housing portion. Each of the domes has a first surface and a second surface. The domes can transition from a first position where the first surface is convex to a second position where the second surface is convex. The programmable, interactive system includes a microprocessor and a sensor. The sensor is electrically connected to the microprocessor and senses when one or more of the domes transitions from the first position to the second position or from the second position to the first position. The domes can be returned to their first position with a reset mechanism or manually.

An improved controller for a game console that is intended to be held by a user in both hands in the same manner as a conventional controller, which has controls on the front operable by the thumbs, and has two additional controls located on the back in positions to be operated by the middle finger of a user.

An interactive electronic toy and a method for providing a challenge to a user using the toy. The toy includes a housing and a plurality of buttons, each button associated with at least one illuminator and with at least one pressure sensor. The method includes receiving a selection of a specific challenge, said specific challenge being selected from a challenge repository associated with the interactive electronic toy, and providing to the user instructions for completing said specific challenge. The method further includes receiving a challenge response from the user, in which the user responds to said specific challenge by at least one of moving the housing of the interactive electronic toy and depressing at least one of the plurality of buttons, providing feedback to the user, based on said received challenge response.

A computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions for conducting a game on a gaming system having a wireless input device for playing an interactive motion-sensitive game using a wireless-compatible game console in which a virtual play environment is represented through one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects is provided wherein game play is conducted by moving, shaking, twisting, waving or pointing the input device in a particular manner. The input device can include motion-sensitive circuitry and/or command circuitry for generating control signals and/or an effects generator and associated control circuitry to enable the input device to selectively generate at least one visual, aural or tactile effect comprising sound, lighting or vibration. The input device can include a wireless transceiver for providing two-way wireless communication with the wireless-compatible game console. An optional display screen displays short text messages received through wireless communications with the wireless-compatible game console.

Disclosed is a punching game apparatus and, more particularly, a punching game apparatus which converts a moving time of a hitting part into a score and outputs the score to a scoreboard. The present disclosure may increase the interest in a game by converting the moving time of a shift at the time of hitting by means of a sensor to accurately score the hitting power of a user. The present disclosure can increase the interest by accumulating the score converted from the hitting power and allowing users to compete for the highest score through score recording. In addition, as the present disclosure allows a game to be played with the hitting power of a finger, unlike conventional punching game apparatuses, the punching game apparatus is small in size and thus easy to carry. A restart button is provided, thereby allowing users to easily restart a game.

A wireless input device for playing an interactive motion-sensitive game using a wireless-compatible game console in which a virtual play environment is represented through one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects is provided wherein game play is conducted by moving, shaking, twisting, waving or pointing the input device in a particular manner. The input device can include motion-sensitive circuitry and/or command circuitry for generating control signals and/or an effects generator and associated control circuitry to enable the input device to selectively generate at least one visual, aural or tactile effect comprising sound, lighting or vibration. The input device can include a wireless transceiver for providing two-way wireless communication with the wireless-compatible game console. An optional display screen displays short text messages received through wireless communications with the wireless-compatible game console.

An improved controller for a game console that is intended to be held by a user in both hands in the same manner as a conventional controller, which has controls on the front operable by the thumbs, and has two additional controls located on the back in positions to be operated by the middle fingers of a user.

In an embodiment, a method is provided. The method includes setting an IR (infrared) level to a first predetermined level. The method also includes reading an image and determining if a face is detected. If a face is not detected, the method sets the IR level to zero and waits a first predetermined amount of time. The method further includes repeating the setting the IR level to the first predetermined level and the reading an image. The method also includes determining a face is detected. The method further includes setting the IR level to a second predetermined level. The method also includes reading an image and determining if a face is recognized. The method may further include setting the IR level to zero and waiting a second predetermined amount of time. The method may also include setting the IR level to the first predetermined level, reading an image and determining if a face is detected.

Disclosed is a media file play game, the media files being advantageously audio and/or video files, the game including: at least two game theme baseplates, each including a radio-communicating chip that contains data including a first identifier intended to correspond to at least one game media file; and a game base including: at least one chip reader associated with at least one reading surface, a memory device in which are recorded game media files, audio and/or video player, adapted to play game media files, a human/machine interface; and a controller designed to play at least one of the game media files, via the audio and/or video player, which is associated with the first identifier collected by the at least one chip reader.

An improved controller for a game console that is intended to be held by a user in both hands in the same manner as a conventional controller, which has controls on the front operable by the thumbs, and has two additional controls located on the back in positions to be operated by the middle fingers of a user.