MUSIC VIDEO GAME WITH OPEN NOTE

• US 20090258702A1
• Filed: 04/15/2008
• Published: 10/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Robinson, Paul, Flores, Alan, Devecka, John
• Application Number:
  US12/103,663
• Publication Number:
  US 20090258702A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/35
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5375 for graphically or textually suggesting an action, e.g. by displaying an arrow indicating a turn in a driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/57 Simulating properties, behaviour or motion of objects in the game world, e.g. computing tyre load in a car race game A63F13/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/305 for providing a graphical or textual hint to the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6081 generating an output signal, e.g. under timing constraints, for spatialization
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/64 for computing dynamical parameters of game objects, e.g. motion determination or computation of frictional forces for a virtual car
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 Music games

Abstract

A music video game provides an open note executable on a guitar shaped video game controller. In some embodiments, an open note may be performed on an existing guitar shaped video game controller by activating a strum input on the video game controller without activating any of a plurality of fret inputs on the video game controller. The open note may serve as an equivalent to an open chord played on a real guitar. In some embodiments, an instructive cue is provided to inform users when to perform an open note in the context of the music video game.

Claims

1. A method for processing an unfretted input in a music rhythm video game, comprising:

presenting an instructive cue, the instructive cue instructing a user of a video game controller to generate input signals using a video game controller associated with an unfretted input;

receiving a strum input signal generated from the video game controller;

receiving an indication that no fret buttons of a plurality of fret buttons on the video game controller were activated when the strum input signal was generated;

determining compliance with the instructive cue if the strum input signal and indication are received within a predetermined window of time after the instructive cue is presented.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructive cue is presented to the user as a visual instructive cue on a display.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the instructive cue appears as a symbol on the display about a particular location.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the symbol moves across the display to the particular location.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the display includes further symbols moving across predefined portions of the display, the predefined portions of the display forming a note track, some of the symbols providing further instructive cues to the user for generation of input signals using the video game controller of fretted inputs.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the symbol moves along the note track.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the symbol moves along a portion of the display adjacent the note track.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the video game controller is a guitar shaped video game controller.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication is an input signal generated by the video game controller indicating that no fret buttons were activated when the strum input signal was generated.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving an indication that no fret buttons of a plurality of fret buttons on the video game controller were activated when the strum input signal was generated comprises receiving status information of each of the plurality of fret buttons from the video game controller and determining from the status information that none of the fret buttons was activated when the strum input signal was generated.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a first set of audio and video feedback outputs if compliance with the instructive cue is determined, and providing a second set of audio and video feedback outputs if non-compliance with the instructive cue is determined.

12. A system for providing game play instructions to a user for a music rhythm video game, comprising:

a display;

at least one video game controller including a strum input and a plurality of fret buttons; and

a processor configured by program instructions to generate a visual user interface including game play instructions, the visual user interface comprising;

a scrolling music track;

a plurality of symbols on the scrolling music track, the symbols providing instructive cues instructing the user to activate the strum input while depressing a combination of fret buttons of the plurality of fret buttons; and

a further symbol providing further instructive cues instructing the user to activate the strum input without depressing any of the plurality of fret buttons.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the further symbol is a bar extending horizontally across the scrolling music track, the further symbol providing the further instructive cues when the symbol is about a predefined portion of the display.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the further symbol is text displayed on the scrolling music track.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the further symbol is a row of gems arranged horizontally across the scrolling music track.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the visual user interface further comprises a plurality of user feedback displays, the user feedback displays providing positive feedback when the user complies with game play instructions and providing negative feedback when the user does not comply with game play instructions.