Computer-based trading card system and method

Abstract

A collection system using a computer or smart device system wherein the collection items (or more specifically their unlocking keys) are contained in various floppy disks and/or an optical storage drive and/or are obtainable through a network connection. With the collection items in the computer or smart device system, the icons of the collection items appear on the computer monitor or other display. By (double) clicking on or otherwise selecting the icon, the unlocking key unlocks the corresponding collection item in the program into the hard drive and at the same time the unlocking key is rendered inoperative. A generally reverse process can be used to lock the collection item relative to the hard drive and render the unlocking key operative. The user collects the collection items by unlocking, for example using a number of floppy disks, the locks in his/her program, which contains the corresponding locks for all of the collection items in the set. When the entire set or a predetermined subset thereof has been collected, the program allows the user to play an interactive game related to the collection items. The user can also enjoy a video and/or audio presentation contained in the disk and/or the program and/or off the Internet associated with each of the keys (and thereby the corresponding collection items), the collection items themselves or the game by appropriate selection. That is, instead of the prior art system of trading paper cards or the like, the user herein trades the digital files, the floppy disks or the portable optical storage discs to collect the collection items and games, and advantageously can enjoy audio/visual presentations and interactive computer games also associated with the collected items.