System and methods for multi-platform trading card game

Abstract

A method and system for generating a game component for a trading card game, comprising generating a trading card for playing the trading card game in a physical play platform, generating an electronic version of the trading card for playing on a first electronic platform and a second electronic platform, and implementing a rule of play for the trading card equivalently in the physical play platform and on the first and second electronic platforms.

1 . A system for a trading card game comprising:
 a central database manager configured to store a first unique identifier and a first rule of play;   a first trading card graphic, wherein the central database manager is configured to store the first trading card graphic and a corresponding electronic version of a first trading card;   the central database manager further configured to manage the production of the first trading card comprising:   assigning the first unique identifier and the first rule of play to the first trading card; and   causing the first trading card to be printed with the first trading card graphic and the first unique identifier,   wherein the first trading card is configured for use by an owner for playing the trading card game in a physical play platform;   the central database manager further configured to receive the first unique identifier from the owner submitted through a user interface, wherein the user interface is in communication with the central database manager and is configured to be accessed by the owner through multiple electronic platforms; and   the central database manager further configured to activate the electronic version of the first trading card for use by the owner for playing the trading card game on the multiple electronic platforms, wherein the first rule of play is implemented in an equivalent manner on the physical play platform and the multiple electronic platforms for playing the trading card game.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the central database manager configured to store a plurality of unique identifiers, a plurality of graphics for a plurality of trading cards, corresponding electronic versions of the plurality of trading cards, and a plurality of rules of play;   the central database manager further configured to manage the production of the plurality of trading cards comprising assigning, to each of the plurality of trading cards, a different one of the plurality of unique identifiers, at least one of the plurality of graphics and at least one of the plurality of rules of play; and   the central database manager further configured to activate an electronic version of a second trading card upon receiving one of the plurality of unique identifiers, wherein the second trading card is configured for use by the owner for playing the trading card game on the physical play platform and the multiple electronic platforms.   
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first rule of play of the first trading card affects the second rule of play for the second trading card in an equivalent manner during the playing of the trading card game on the physical play platform and multiple electronic platforms. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a game component related to the first trading card;   the central database manager configured to store a third unique identifier and a third rule of play, wherein the central database manager is further configured to manage the production of the game component comprising assigning the third unique identifier and the third rule of play to the game component, wherein the third rule of play of the game component affects the first rule of play of the first trading card during the playing of the trading card game.   
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the central database manager is further configured to activate a plurality of game components each comprising a different unique identifier by receiving the third unique identifier of the game component entered through the user interface. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the game component comprises a game code retrieved from viewing media content. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the media content comprises at least one of an animation, video, television show, radio show, advertisement, commercial product, game, apparel, toy, book, comic, pen, and a message on a mobile device. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the physical play platform of the trading card game comprises a first player configuring at least three of the plurality of trading cards in a triangular configuration comprising at least two rows wherein a top row, comprising a single card, is nearest the first player and a bottom row is nearest an opponent. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the central database manager displays the plurality of trading cards on the multiple electronic platforms in an equivalent configuration and electronic version to that of the physical play platform. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the multiple electronic platforms comprise at least two of a personal computer, a mobile telephone, a game console and a handheld gaming device. 
   
   
       11 . A method for generating a trading card for a trading card game, comprising:
 storing, on a central database manager, a first unique identifier, a first graphic for a first trading card, an electronic version of the first trading card, and a first rule of play;   managing, at the central database manager, the production of the first trading card comprising:   assigning the first unique identifier and the first rule of play to the first trading card and   causing the first trading card to be printed with the first graphic and the first unique number,   wherein the first trading card is configured for use by an owner for playing the trading card game in a physical play platform;   receiving the first unique identifier, from the owner, submitted through a user interface, wherein the user interface is in communication with the central database manager and is configured to be accessed by the owner through multiple electronic platforms; and   activating, after receiving the first unique identifier, the electronic version of the first trading card for use by the owner for playing the trading card game on the multiple electronic platforms, wherein the first rule of play is implemented in an equivalent manner on the physical play platform and the multiple electronic platforms for playing the game.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 storing, on the central database manager, a plurality of unique identifiers, a plurality of trading card graphics, corresponding electronic versions of a plurality of trading cards, and a plurality of rules of play;   managing, at the central database manager, the production of the plurality of trading cards comprising:   assigning, to each of the plurality of trading cards, a different one of the plurality of unique identifiers, at least one of the plurality of graphics and at least one of the plurality of rules of play; and   causing the plurality of trading cards to be printed with the one of the plurality of trading card graphics and the one of the plurality of unique identifiers; and   activating, at the central database manager, an electronic version of a second trading card upon receiving one of the plurality of unique identifiers, wherein the second trading card is configured for use by the owner for playing the trading card game on the physical playing format and the multiple electronic format.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first rule of play for one of the plurality of first trading cards affects the second rule of play for the second trading card equivalently during the playing of the trading card game on both the physical play platform and multiple electronic platforms. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 storing, at the central database manager, a third unique identifier and a third rule of play; and   managing, at the central database manager, the production of a game component related to the first trading card comprising:   assigning the third unique identifier and the third rule of play to the game component, wherein the third rule of play of the game component affects the first rule of play of the first trading card during the playing of the trading card game.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the game component comprises a physical use distinct from the trading card game. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 displaying, in media content, the game component as a game code retrieved by the card owner by viewing the media content.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 activating, on the central database manager, the game component by registering player information and third unique identifier of the game component entered through the user interface.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the physical format of the trading card game comprises a first player configuring at least three of the plurality of trading cards in a triangular configuration comprising at least two rows wherein a top row, comprising a single card, is nearest the first player and a bottom row is nearest an opponent. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 displaying the plurality of trading cards on the electronic platform in an equivalent configuration and electronic version to that of the physical format for playing the trading card game.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the multiple electronic platforms comprise at least two of a personal computer, a mobile telephone, a game console and a handheld gaming device. 
   
   
       21 . A method for generating a game component for a trading card game, comprising:
 storing, on a central database manager, a unique identifier, a trading card graphic and a rule of play;   managing, at the central database manager, the generating of a trading card comprising:
 assigning the unique identifier and the rule of play to the trading card; 
 generating a trading card for playing the trading card game in a physical play platform comprising the unique identifier; and 
 generating an electronic version of the trading card for playing on a first electronic platform and a second electronic platform, wherein the electronic version is associated with the unique identifier; and 
   implementing the rule of play for the trading card in an equivalent manner in the physical play platform and on the first and second electronic platforms.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 tracking the game component using the unique identifier.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the first and second electronic platforms is a mobile telephone. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the central database manager is configured to manage the production of a series of trading cards comprising the same character, wherein a first trading card in the series has a first unique identifier and a first rule of play; and 
     wherein a second trading card in the series has a second unique identifier and a second rule of play different from the first rule of play. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the first and second rule of play comprise one of the following: an attack type, an attack value, an energy level, a discipline, a discipline value, an ability, a special damage value, and a healing value. 
   
   
       26 . A system for producing a trading card comprising:
 a central database manager configured to store a unique identifier, a corresponding rule of play, a character graphic and an electronic version of the trading card;   the central database manager configured to manage the production of the trading card comprising:
 assigning the character graphic, the unique identifier and the rule of play to the trading card and the corresponding electronic version of the trading card; and 
 causing the trading card to be printed with the character graphic, the unique identifier and the rule of play. 
   
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the central database manager is further configured to activate the electronic version of the trading card by receiving the trading card unique identifier entered through the user interface. 
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the electronic version of the trading card is accessible for game play on multiple electronic platforms and the rule of play stored on the central database manager is implemented in an equivalent manner to a physical play platform. 
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the central database manager stores a game component unique identifier and a corresponding game component rule of play, and manages the production of a game component by assigning the game component unique identifier and the game component rule of play to the game component; and wherein the rule of play of the game component enhances the trading card rule of play when using the game component in the trading card game. 
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the game component comprises at least one of media content, an animation, video, television show, radio show, advertisement, commercial product, game, apparel, toy, book, comic, pen, and a message on a mobile device. 
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the central database manager is configured to manage the production of a series of trading cards comprising the same character, wherein a first trading card in the series has a first unique identifier and a first rule of play; and wherein a second trading card in the series has a second unique identifier and a second rule of play different from the first rule of play. 
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the first and second rule of play comprise one of the following: an attack type, an attack value, an energy level, a discipline, a discipline value, an ability, a special damage value, and a healing value. 
   
   
       33 . A method for producing a trading card comprising:
 storing, at a central database manager, a unique identifier, a rule of play, a character graphic and a corresponding electronic version of the trading card;   managing, at the central database manager, the production of the trading card comprising:
 assigning the character graphic, the unique identifier and the rule of play to the trading card and the corresponding electronic version of the trading card; and 
 causing the trading card to be printed with the character graphic, the unique identifier and the rule of play. 
   
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 activating, at the central database manager, the electronic version of the trading card by receiving the trading card unique identifier entered through the user interface.   
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 providing access, at the central database manager, to the electronic version of the trading card for game play on multiple electronic platforms, wherein the rule of play stored on the central database manager is implemented in an equivalent manner to the physical play platform.   
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 storing, at the central database manager, game component unique identifier and a corresponding game component rule of play, and managing the production of a game component by assigning the game component unique identifier and the game component rule of play to the game component; and wherein the rule of play of the game component enhances the trading card rule of play when using the game component in the trading card game.   
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the game component comprises at least one of media content, an animation, video, television show, radio show, advertisement, commercial product, game, apparel, toy, book, comic, pen, and a message on a mobile device. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 producing a series of trading cards comprising the same character graphic, comprising:
 assigning, at the central database manager, a first unique identifier and a first rule of play for a first trading card in the series; and 
 assigning, at the central database manager, a second unique identifier and a second rule of play to a second trading card in the series, wherein the first rule of play is different from the second rule of play. 
   
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the first and second rule of play comprise one of the following: an attack type, an attack value, an energy level, a discipline, a discipline value, an ability, a special damage value, and a healing value.