Product category:
Communications ICs (Wireless)
News Release from: Innovision Research and Technology | Subject: Contactless RFID
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 26 October 2006
Mattel's game turns RFID into child's
play
A contactless RFID reader and rewritable video tag technology are at the heart of Mattel's new, first-of-its-kind, HyperScan hybrid games platform.
Innovision Research and Technology is providing the contactless RFID reader and rewritable video tag technology at the heart of Mattel's new, first-of-its-kind, HyperScan hybrid games platform HyperScan is unique in combining modern video gaming with classic collector card play
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 6 Feb 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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Initially, the HyperScan platform appears similar to traditional CD-ROM based television game consoles.
However, it features an important new interactive play element, made possible by Innovision R and T's next generation low-cost RFID reader and tag technology that now makes contactless, rewritable playing cards affordable for games and many other applications.
Players scan their collectible game cards, each containing an Innovision RFID tag, over the Innovision reader integrated within the HyperScan console and their favourite characters magically come to life on the television screen.
During the game, players can pause and scan their game cards to upgrade and enhance their character with modified attributes such as extra strength, armour and special attack.
When the game is over, players rescan their cards and their new winning powers are permanently saved directly onto their Intellicard for use in future game play.
The collectable game cards, supplied with the HyperScan games, will be available based on a rarity scheme, meaning that players won't know what cards they are getting in their game booster packs, spawning a new trend in powered-up collector card trading.
Marc Borrett, Innovision Research and Technology's Business Development Director, said: "The reader and tag combination for Mattel's HyperScan is a development of our well-established proprietary IRT1 RFID protocol, and is the first time that this type of smart card technology has been used with a gaming console".
"It represents an important breakthrough in low-cost RFID technology for games and other applications by demonstrating our capability to deliver a high-quality card reader for a competitive price".
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