CONNECTED AVATAR TECHNOLOGY

The connected avatar is a virtual participant or assistant in an interactive game or entertainment attraction that recognizes players or items carried by players, and visually and/or audibly engages with the player throughout the interactive game or entertainment attraction to provide assistance, aid, guidance, or direction to them through the environment, provide items, information or clues, and/or pose challenges or games. The player may summon or enlist the connected avatar to perform tasks or retrieve information or items. In one embodiment, the connected avatar lives in a virtual parallel world that is connected to the real world through portals (such as mirrors, windows, or holographic displays) that can be accessed throughout the interactive game or entertainment attraction. The connected avatar combines the two worlds in an interactive manner and contributes to the connectivity of the player to the interactive game or entertainment attraction.