What specs do Skylander RFID use?

Question

I have seen a lot of info about the Skylanders using the RFID chips. I even know that a person created a driver/project to use the portal to download the data off of them.

My question is whether their are any other means to read the RFID data off a figure? I have heard that android phones have apps to interface with RFID, but I didn't know what the Skylander RFID specs were or if RFID reading tools are generic and can work with any type of RFID?

It just that I am interested in RFID technology and how a person can possibly use it in their own applications.

Asked by user1207381

Answer

The portal RFID device operates at 13.56 MHz and uses standard RFID protocol. Any RFID reader that can operate at this frequency should be able to work with the figurines, though I haven't tested this myself. The FCC filing for the portal device may be found here:

https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/oetcf/eas/reports/ViewExhibitReport.cfm?mode=Exhibits&RequestTimeout=500&calledFromFrame=N&application_id=170335&fcc_id=%27XLU83973790%27

By the way, if you are interested in RFID technology the portal may not be a bad way to get started. Make has a really cool article about how they put together the first prototype for the game using Arduino and hacking together a bunch of off the shelf technology pieces (including a kitchen drain!) to get a proof of concept they could demo. (Developing Skylanders’ Innovative “Portal of Power”)

Answered by Corwin Joy

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Do I need two nunchucks for 2 player mode in Skylanders on the Wii?

Question

I have just bought Skylanders for my son's birthday tomorrow. Just been informed he's got a friend coming around, and they are likely to want to play Skylanders in 2 player mode. I have two Wii plus controllers, but only one nunchuck. Do both players need a nunchuck, or can I get away with just one?

I'm guessing I need two, but a quick answer may save me a midnight trip to the local supermarket.

Asked by Greg Whitfield

Answer

The game requires a Nunchuk for each player, you cannot play it with Wii remote alone, sorry...

Answered by JohnoBoy

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Is there any way to transfer treasure to other characters?

Question

Is there any way to transfer coins/treasure between different Skylander characters in game? I find that I'm playing with one over the others more, but would like to share the wealth with the others so they can purchase upgrades as well.

Answer

No method to transfer coins, but Hats are shared by all Skylanders.

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Which achievements are missable if sharing Skylanders between multiple profiles?

Question

Since purchasing Skylanders with my son and realizing you can't have different profiles on each character, I've also noticed some achievements are not unlocking depending on who first used the Skylander and who it is tied to. In short, all the Skylanders appears to be tied to my profile, but it's preventing some achievements from unlocking on my son's profile.

They aren't just the achievements described with (primary profile), as most have unlocked for both of us while playing separately. So far I've noticed that the following achievements won't unlock once a Skylander is tied to someone:

Fashion Stylist - Have your Skylander equip a hat for the first time. (primary profile)

Hello!! Skylander - The first time you put your Skylander on the Portal of Power. (primary profile)

What other achievements are tied to a Skylander unlocked by a specific person?

Answer

In addition to the ones you mentioned, the following achievements may give you trouble..

I Love Shopping - Buy first Upgrade - if all of the Skylanders already have one+ upgrade

Climb to the Top - Level Up to 10 - If all Skylanders are already at 10

True Portal Master - all other Achievements - obviously, if you can't get any of the others

Note that you can reset a Skylander to level 1, or transfer it to someone else. Look under the Manage option in the Menu.

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What chapters can I complete without spending $300 on this game?

Question

We got Skylanders for the kid for Christmas.
Consequently, I've been playing a fair amount of Skylanders.
It's got good points and bad points, but it is fun to play, so I guess overall we'll have to call it a win.

Via Chapter Select I can go back to previous areas that have already been played and attempt to "complete them" (find all the stuff, visit all the areas, do a speed run, eventually earn 3 stars for the chapter by doing all of the above). I've certainly played me some Spyro before, so going back to old levels to finish them off is nothing new.

This toy-based gambit is really built right into the game though, you can't go through these elemental portals without the right kind of action figure. The base pack comes with 3 which represents 3 of the 8 elements. Which means that I can only complete a chapter if I've got the right toys for it. Which leads me to the question:
Which chapters do I have the right Skylander/elements to complete?

As a bonus, which chapters am I only missing a single Skylander/element in order to complete?

Visiting each chapter and writing stuff down would be a bit time-consuming, so a nice list would be helpful.

Answer

Here's my current compiled knowledge on the matter:

Chapters that can be completed with Magic, Tech, and Water (base set):

• Chapter 1: Shattered Island
• Chapter 6: Dark Water Cove
• Chapter 7: Leviathan Lagoon
• Chapter 10: Treetop Terrace
• Chapter 18: Molekin Mine
• Chapter 22: Lair of Kaos

Chapters that can be completed with an additional Life Skylander:

• Chapter 2: Perilous Pastures
• Chapter 9: Stonetown
• Chapter 20: Quicksilver Vault
• Chapter 24: Pirate Seas (from Adventure pack)

Chapters that can be completed with an additional Fire Skylander:

• Chapter 5: Oilspill Island
• Chapter 19: Lava Lakes Railway
• Chapter 25: Darklight Crypt (from Adventure pack)

Chapters that can be completed with an additional Earth Skylander:

• Chapter 11: Falling Forest
• Chapter 16: Cadaverous Crypt

Chapters that can be completed with an additional Undead Skylander:

• Chapter 14: Battlefield
• Chapter 15: Crawling Catacombs

Chapters that can be completed with an additional Air Skylander:

• Chapter 17: Creepy Citadel
• Chapter 21: Arkeyan Armory

Chapters that require multiple additional Skylanders:

• Chapter 3: Sky Schooner Docks (Undead and Earth)
• Chapter 4: Stormy Stronghold (Life and Air)
• Chapter 8: Crystal Eye Castle (Undead and Earth)
• Chapter 12: Troll Warehouse (Life and Fire)
• Chapter 13: Goo Factory (Air and Fire)

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Skylanders: how does the autosave work?

Question

My son is playing "Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure" on an Xbox360. Now - I know the game is supposed to autosave each chapter and in some other particular occasions. However, he got to chapter 8, turned off the game and no saved game was there. I also tried playing a couple of chapters, turning the game off and had everything reset.

Before crying foul, I am quite sure there's something wrong with what I do. But I don't really know what: I play normally for a couple of levels, then press Play and choose Exit. When I restart the Adventure mode, I only have one option, to start a new adventure.

How do you make the game save in Skylanders?

Answer

I figured it out myself:

You have to sign in with a user, otherwise the game will not save (but will not warn you that it is not saving).

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How do the Skylanders figurines work?

Question

What technologies do the Skylanders figurines use? NFC, Bluetooth, RFID, something homegrown?

What would it take to hack that? I don't want to buy all the figurines, but I want to experience the content.

I'm not trying to cheat other players, just experience the full gameplay available.

Answer

The figurines work through RFID, they've already been hacked by someone but he got and C&D from Activision so the project is pretty much dead.

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Where is Skylanders character data stored?

Question

According to press content:

Action Figures with Brains

Skylanders are special physical action figures that come to life in-game. Just take a Skylander, place it on the included Portal of Power, which is synched to your game console and a representation of your chosen Skylander will come to life in the video game and do your bidding. There are over 30 Skylanders in total - each with unique abilities and powers (three are included in your starter pack). Skylander action figures remember their in-game experiences and upgrades as they explore the mysterious world of Skylands, battle menacing creatures and collect treasures. Conveniently, it doesn't matter what gaming system your friends have at their house, the Skylanders work on and across all major video game systems. That means that you can take your Skylanders over to your friend's house, drop them on their Portal of Power and your Skylanders will come to life in the game.

I'm not as concerned about specific technologies (Bluetooth, RFID, NFC), that would be another question.

What I am asking is about data storage. Do each of the figurines have data storage? I don't see any other way to meet the goals that the press releases state. I guess they could use a unique identifier, and store data on the server?

So here's a specific question (with probably unnecessary detail)

Alice has Skylanders on the PS3. Bob has Skylanders on the Wii. Both of them buy Drobot. Alice levels hers up to level 7, and Bob levels his up to level 9. If bob, then takes his Drobot over to Alice's house. Will Bob be playing with his level 9 Drobot, or will it think it's Alice's level 7 Drobot?

The press release implies that it will by Bob's level 9 Drobot, but I'm a little skeptical.

So I see 4 options:

1. Stored on figurine (Skeptical)
2. Stored on console (easy, but doesn't meet press release)
3. Stored on servers (easy, but requires Internet connectivity)
4. Something else

Answer

The data is stored in the figurine itself. While you play on the PC/Console versions, the data is updated continuously (that's why the figure must stay on the portal while in play), and the Skylanders keep their level when transferred between portals. The only exception is when playing on the 3DS version, where the data is stored in game and only transferred when the Skylander is transferred again into the game.

Also, the Skylanders top out at level 10.

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