Interactive game with action figure identification

Abstract

A game board provided with multiple positions for placing different action figures. The base of each action figure has an arrangement of magnets that individually identify the particular figure, and each position on the game board includes a sensor for “reading” these action figure identities. When an action figure is placed in one of the positions, the corresponding position sensor identifies the figure and prompts an action appropriate to that action figure in that particular position on the board. Actions to be applied to each action figure vary depending upon game board position. Game players can also modify the magnet arrangement of each action figure to change its mood which, in turn, prompts the board to initiate a different action for that figure that suits its present mood.

1 . An interactive board game comprising: 
 a board with a plurality of positions, each position having a sensing element;    an action figure for placement on said board in at least one of said plurality of positions, said action figure including an identification element readable by said sensing element to indicate an identity of said action figure;    said sensing element, upon reading said identification element, initiating an action based on the identity of said action figure.    
   
   
       2 . The game as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said sensing element initiates an action based on both the identity of the action figure and a particular one of said plurality of positions in which said action figure has been placed.  
   
   
       3 . The game as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of action figures, each of said action figures having a different identity as indicated by a difference in a respective identification element.  
   
   
       4 . The game as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said identification element includes a plurality of magnets.  
   
   
       5 . The game as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said identity is set by a north-south orientation of each of said plurality of magnets.  
   
   
       6 . The game as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said plurality of magnets are arranged in a corresponding plurality of positions in a base of said action figure, an absence of magnetic field in one of said positions indicating a particular mood of said action figure.  
   
   
       7 . The game as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein said sensing element initiates an action based on the identity and the mood of the action figure.  
   
   
       8 . The game as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein said sensing element initiates an action based on the identity and the mood of the action figure and on a particular one of said plurality of positions in which said action figure has been placed.  
   
   
       9 . The game as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein changing said identity, said mood or said board position changes the action to be initiated.  
   
   
       10 . The game as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said sensing element includes a Hall sensor.  
   
   
       11 . The game as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said Hall sensor is mounted under the board and generally aligned with one of said plurality of positions so as to read an action figure identity based on said north-south magnet orientation thereof when said figure is placed in said position.  
   
   
       12 . An interactive board game comprising: 
 a board with a plurality of positions, each position having a magnetic sensor;    a plurality of action figures for placement on said board in said plurality of positions, each of said action figures having a base with a plurality of magnetic elements readable by said magnetic sensors to indicate a respective identity of said action figures; and    each of said magnetic sensors, upon determining the identity of an action figure placed in a particular position, initiating an action based on the identity and position of said action figure.    
   
   
       13 . The game as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein said identity is set by a north-south orientation of each of said plurality of magnetic elements.  
   
   
       14 . The game as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein said plurality of magnets are arranged in a corresponding plurality of positions, an absence of magnetic field in one of said positions indicating a particular mood of said action figure.  
   
   
       15 . The game as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein said action initiated by said magnetic sensors is adjusted according to the mood of the action figure.  
   
   
       16 . The game as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein changing said identity, said mood or said board position changes the action to be initiated.  
   
   
       17 . The game as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein said magnetic sensors include Hall sensors.  
   
   
       18 . The game as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein said action figure identities are set by a north-south orientation of each of said plurality of magnetic elements, said Hall sensors being mounted under the board and generally aligned with respective positions so as to read the identities of action figures in said positions based on said north-south magnet orientations.  
   
   
       19 . The game as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein said plurality of magnets are arranged in a corresponding plurality of positions, an absence of magnetic field in one of said positions indicating a particular mood of said action figure, said actions initiated by said magnetic sensors being adjusted according to said mood.  
   
   
       20 . The game as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein said actions include playing a recorded line of speech.