TOPIC: Permenant, electronic, Kiddy version of TD?

Well, I guess not is left except for fantasy based game with some props but here is something I stumbled across called MagiQuest located in Myrtle Beach. <br /> http://www.magiquest.com/magiquestmyrtlebeach/ <br />Sounds like something I would have enjoyed when I was a kid. It is kinda of neat you get to keep your own wand that you make.<br />David (S.)

Beware for under yonder bridge be patent trolls:<br /><br /> www.magiquest.com/magiquestmyrtlebeach/patents.html <br /><br />Issued Patents:<br /><br />    * 6,608,563 System for automated photo capture and retrieval<br />    * 6,682,074 Interactive treasure hunt game<br />    * 6,746,334 Play structure with active targeting system<br />    * 6,761,637 Method of game play using RFID tracking device<br />    * 6,796,908 Interactive dark ride <br /><br />Pending Patents:<br /><br />    * 20020193047 Children's toy with wireless tag/transponder<br />    * 20040033833 Interactive redemption game<br />    * 20040077423 Interactive quest game<br />    * 20040092311 Live-action interactive adventure game<br />    * 20040204240 Magical wand and interactive play experience <br /><br />Business process patents:  the death nell of the free enterprise system.<br /><br />Btw, if you've never seen it, this is the best process patent there is:<br /><br /> patft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-adv.htm&r=2&p=1&f=G&l=50&d=PTXT&S1=6368227&OS=6368227&RS=6368227 <br /><br />Method of swinging on a swing<br /><br />Abstract<br /><br />A method of swing on a swing is disclosed, in which a user positioned on a standard swing suspended by two chains from a substantially horizontal tree branch induces side to side motion by pulling alternately on one chain and then the other. <br />

<br />    * 20040077423 Interactive quest game<br />    * 20040092311 Live-action interactive adventure game<br />

<br /><br />It is kind of scary that a couple of these could be construed to be TD methodology.

It is not surprising that one of the founders is a patent attorney.  In fact he was formally of the same firm where a certain father, and patent lawyer, placed a patent for his Son's methodology for swinging on a swing.<br /><br />That particular gem of a patent spent two years in the patent office wasting our tax money to research and approve.<br /><br />I wonder if there would be a similarity lawsuit potential for their tag line of "Real. Magic. Adventures."  <br /><br />Compared to "Real Dungeon. Real Props. Real Cool."  I seem to see a pattern there.

I would imagine though that since TD has been operator under its current theme before those patents it would be okay. Grandfather clause type stuff, I.E. Pre-existing non conforming.

Method of swinging on a swing... brilliant.<br /><br />Sounds like the whole "birthday song" line of thinking.<br /><br />The reason most restaurants that have their staff sing for peoples' birthdays don't use The Birthday Song (Happy birthday to you, happy...) is because some enterprising person copyrighted the darn things, and holds copyright through like 2030. Restaurants count as public performances, and would require paying royalties for use. As is, that 4 line ditty brings in a couple million dollars a year for the guy who now owns the rights.<br /><br />I love capitalism, but sometimes I just want to thwack people.

At storybookland when I worked at Dland still, when the girls noticed it was a kids birthday, they'd get everyone clapping, and sing,<br />"This is your birthday song,<br />It isn't very long!"<br />And you'd see people clapping for a minute waiting for the rest expecting them to do the happy bday song, which they couldn't. *little laugh*

This, along with a new set of Disney attractions, made it on to Slashdot yesterday.<br />

<br />This, along with a new set of Disney attractions, made it on to Slashdot yesterday.<br /><br />

<br />I read the article. Interesting. Have you seen TD on Slashdot at anytime?<br />David (S.)