According to another aspect, a method of determining a current state of a cubic puzzle independent of information concerning a prior state of the cubic puzzle using at least one RGB sensor. With the cubic puzzle maintained in a first state, (a) illuminating a first colored surface selected from the plurality of colored surfaces with a single source of light selected from the plurality of sources of light because of an association with the first colored surface and sensing a color of the first colored surface with the RGB sensor when the first colored surface is illuminated. Repeating act (a) by separately illuminating each of the plurality of colored surfaces with a respective single source of light selected from the plurality of sources of light because of an association between the respective single source of light and the respective colored surface that is being illuminated, and act of processing the colors sensed by the RGB sensor at each of the preceding acts to determine a location and orientation of each of the plurality of tiles with the cubic puzzle in the first state.

A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a determining that a first distance between a reference location and an accessory is less than a first threshold, responsive to determining that the first distance is less than the first threshold, processing a tracking output of the accessory, subsequent to determining that the first distance between the reference location and the accessory is less than the first threshold, determining that a second distance between the reference location and the accessory is greater than a second threshold, wherein the second threshold is greater than the first threshold, and responsive to determining that the second distance is greater than the second threshold, ignoring the tracking output of the accessory. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a determining that a first distance between a reference location and an accessory is less than a first threshold, responsive to determining that the first distance is less than the first threshold, processing a tracking output of the accessory, subsequent to determining that the first distance between the reference location and the accessory is less than the first threshold, determining that a second distance between the reference location and the accessory is greater than a second threshold, wherein the second threshold is greater than the first threshold, and responsive to determining that the second distance is greater than the second threshold, ignoring the tracking output of the accessory. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

A multi-media interactive play system has a number of play elements situated in a variety of play environments or play media. The play elements are linked to a common record of participant performance, progress, character attributes, etc. The participant's performance in the play elements determines the play elements to which the participant may proceed as well as the play parameters of the play element in which the participant is currently involved. The play elements are thus interlinked to define a sequence or path network along which the participant advances. By advancing through the play elements the participant carries out a plot, story, theme, etc. that attaches a significance to the successful completion of a given play element or elements. Also disclosed in a variety of play elements suitable for use in the system, an example of a plot or theme that may be carried out by the system, and a send/receive radio frequency network that may be used to track play participants in a play center.

A trading card includes a main portion having any character of a plurality of characters represented on at least one surface and an electronic component for contactless communication, which is contained in the main portion. The electronic component includes a storage portion which stores data related to the character represented on the main portion and a circuit which writes data received from an external apparatus through contactless communication into the storage portion.

A portable, configurable obstacle course game is provided for creating an interactive, entertaining game in a small space. The game is arranged along or above a path for a rolling ball, and obstacles move into and out of the ball's path, creating challenges for the players to roll or hit the ball through the path. Players can interact with each other and set difficulty levels in various play modes. The game is portable and configurable, so that it can be arranged on different playing surfaces, with different obstacles and even environmental interactions. The game can also communicate with wireless devices such as an application on a user's mobile phone, for additional game features.

A method of playing a card game with players and dealer in a computing system is provided. In the method, a first player card can be dealt face up and applied to first, second, and third player hands. A first dealer card can be dealt face down to a dealer and applied to first, second, and third dealer hands. The player can indicate whether to draw additional cards for the first, second, and third player hands. The dealer can determine, based on predetermined rules, whether to draw additional cards for the dealer hands. Winners can be determined, where the winners can be the player or dealer with closest to 11, 21, and 31 points for the first, second, and third hands, respectively. A fourth winner can be determined, where the winner can be the player or dealer with the highest three-card poker hand.

A multi-media interactive play system has a number of play elements situated in a variety of play environments or play media. The play elements are linked to a common record of participant performance, progress, character attributes, etc. The participant's performance in the play elements determines the play elements to which the participant may proceed as well as the play parameters of the play element in which the participant is currently involved. The play elements are thus interlinked to define a sequence or path network along which the participant advances. By advancing through the play elements the participant carries out a plot, story, theme, etc. that attaches a significance to the successful completion of a given play element or elements. Also disclosed in a variety of play elements suitable for use in the system, an example of a plot or theme that may be carried out by the system, and a send/receive radio frequency network that may be used to track play participants in a play center.

A portable, configurable obstacle course game is provided for creating an interactive, entertaining game in a small space. The game is arranged along or above a path for a rolling ball, and obstacles move into and out of the ball's path, creating challenges for the players to roll or hit the ball through the path. Players can interact with each other and set difficulty levels in various play modes. The game is portable and configurable, so that it can be arranged on different playing surfaces, with different obstacles and even environmental interactions. The game can also communicate with wireless devices such as an application on a user's mobile phone, for additional game features.

A trading card includes a main portion having any character of a plurality of characters represented on at least one surface and an electronic component for contactless communication, which is contained in the main portion. The electronic component includes a storage portion which stores data related to the character represented on the main portion and a circuit which writes data received from an external apparatus through contactless communication into the storage portion.