METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A SIMULATED BAND EXPERIENCE INCLUDING ONLINE INTERACTION

• US 20100087240A1
• Filed: 09/30/2009
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Harmonix Music Systems Incorporated (Epic Games, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Harmonix Music Systems Incorporated (Epic Games, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rigopulos, Alex, Egozy, Eran
• Application Number:
  US12/570,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20100087240A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/7
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0016 Means for indicating which keys, frets or strings are to be actuated, e.g. using lights or leds
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0058 Transmission between separate instruments or between individual components of a musical system G10H1/0083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/368 displaying animated or moving pictures synchronized with the music or audio part
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/091 for performance evaluation, i.e. judging, grading or scoring the musical qualities or faithfulness of a performance, e.g. with respect to pitch, tempo or other timings of a reference performance
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/145 Multiplayer musical games, e.g. karaoke-like multiplayer videogames
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/175 for jam sessions or musical collaboration through a network, e.g. for composition, ensemble playing or repeating; Compensation of network or internet delays therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/305 Internet or TCP/IP protocol use for any electrophonic musical instrument data or musical parameter transmission purposes

Abstract

A method for facilitating real-time interaction between a first and second player of a music-based video game via a network having unpredictable delivery latency, the first player located remotely from the second player, includes displaying to a first player target musical data associated with a musical composition, receiving music performance input from the first player via a controller resembling a first musical instrument, displaying to a second player, the second player located remotely from the first player, target musical data associated with the musical composition, and receiving music performance input from the second player.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating real-time interaction between a first and second player of a music-based video game via a network, the first player located remotely from the second player, the method comprising:

a. displaying to a first player target musical data associated with a musical composition;

b. receiving music performance input from the first player, the received music performance input associated with a first instrument present in the musical composition;

c. displaying to a second player target musical data associated with the musical composition, the second player located remotely from the first player; and

d. receiving music performance input from the second player, the received music performance input associated with a second instrument present in the musical composition.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises displaying to a first player target musical data associated with a musical composition, the target musical data disposed along a musical time axis that does not lie in the image plane of a display associated with the first player.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises displaying to a first player target musical data associated with the guitar track of a musical composition.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises displaying to a first player target musical data associated with the percussion track of a musical composition.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises displaying to a first player target musical data associated with the bass track of a musical composition.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises displaying to a first player target musical data associated with the keyboard track of a musical composition.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises displaying to a first player target musical data associated with the turntable track of a musical composition.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises displaying to a first player target musical data associated with the vocal track of a musical composition.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises receiving music performance input from the first player via a controller resembling a first musical instrument.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises receiving music performance input from the first player via a controller resembling a guitar.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises receiving music performance input from the first player via a controller resembling an analog drum kit.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises receiving music performance input from the first player via a controller resembling a keyboard.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises receiving music performance input from the first player via a controller resembling a turntable.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises receiving music performance input from the first player via a microphone.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises receiving music performance input from the second player via a game controller.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises receiving music performance input from the second player via a dance pad.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises receiving music performance input from the second player, the received music performance input associated with a second instrument present in the musical composition, wherein the first player and second player cooperate to provide music performance input.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of assigning a single score to the first player and the second player responsive to the music performance input received from the first and second player.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises receiving music performance input from the second player, the received music performance input associated with a second instrument present in the musical composition, wherein the first player and second player compete to achieve a higher score.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of assigning a first score to the first player responsive to music performance input received from the first player and assigning a second score to the second player responsive to music performance input received from the second player.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising applying a scalar factor to the first score.

22. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of

a. displaying to a third player target musical data associated with a musical composition, the third player physically proximate to the first player;

and

b. receiving music performance input from the third player, the received music performance input associated with a third instrument present in the musical composition.

23. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of receiving emulation data representing music performance input from the second player.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of generating a local approximation of the second player'"'"'s music performance input using the emulation data, the local approximation synchronous with a local musical performance.

25. A system for facilitating real-time interaction between a first and second player of a music-based video game via a network, the first player located remotely from the second player, the system comprising:

a. means for displaying to a first player target musical data associated with a musical composition;

b. means for receiving music performance input from the first, the received music performance input associated with a first instrument present in the musical composition;

c. means for displaying to a second player, the second player located remotely from the first player, target musical data associated with the musical composition; and

d. means for receiving music performance input from the second player.

26. The system of claim 25 further comprising means for displaying to a first player target musical data associated with a musical composition, the target musical data disposed along a musical time axis that does not lie in the image plane of a display associated with the first player.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein the means for receiving music performance input comprises a controller resembling a first musical instrument.

28. The system of claim 25 wherein the means for receiving music performance input comprises a controller resembling a guitar.

29. The system of claim 25 wherein the means for receiving music performance input comprises a controller resembling an analog drum kit.

30. The system of claim 25 wherein the means for receiving music performance input comprises a controller resembling a keyboard.

31. The system of claim 25 wherein the means for receiving music performance input comprises a controller resembling a turntable.

32. The system of claim 25 wherein the means for receiving music performance input comprises a controller resembling a microphone.

33. The system of claim 25 wherein the means for receiving music performance input comprises a game controller.

34. The system of claim 25 further comprising means for assigning a single score to the first player and the second player responsive to the music performance input received from the first and second player in cooperation.

35. The system of claim 25 further comprising means for assigning a first score to the first player responsive to the music performance input received from the first player and means for assigning a second score to the second player responsive to the music performance input received from the competing second player.

36. The system of claim 35 further comprising means for applying a scalar factor to the first score.

37. The system of claim 25 further comprising:

a. means for displaying to a third player target musical data associated with a musical composition, the third player physically proximate to the first player; and

b. means for receiving music performance input from the third player, the received music performance input associated with a third instrument present in the musical composition.

38. The system of claim 25 further comprising means for receiving emulation data representing music performance input from the second player.

39. The system of claim 38 further comprising means for generating a local approximation of the second player'"'"'s music performance input using the emulation data, the local approximation synchronous with a local musical performance.