Simulated Guitar Controller with Split Strum Bar

• US 20100304865A1
• Filed: 05/28/2009
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Harmonix Music Systems Incorporated (Epic Games, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Harmonix Music Systems Incorporated (Epic Games, Inc.)
• Inventors: Richardson, Darren, Calandra, Anthony, Picunko, Robert
• Application Number:
  US12/474,260
• Publication Number:
  US 20100304865A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/37
• 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 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 Music games

Abstract

A simulated guitar controller is disclosed that facilitates a player using multiple fingers to strum notes which includes a body portion, a plurality of strum bars disposed on a front face of the body portion, a neck portion extending outwardly away from the body portion, and a plurality of fret buttons disposed on the neck portion.

Claims

1. A game controller simulating a guitar which facilitates a player using multiple fingers to strum notes, the controller comprising:

a body portion;

a plurality of strum bars disposed on a front face of the body portion;

a neck portion extending outwardly away from the body portion; and

a plurality of fret buttons disposed on the neck portion.

2. The game controller of claim 1 further comprising a thumb rest positioned on the front face of the body portion.

3. The game controller of claim 1 wherein the plurality of strum bars pivot with respect to a single axis.

4. The game controller of claim 1 wherein the plurality of strum bars pivot with respect to a plurality of axis.

5. The game controller of claim 4 wherein the plurality of strum bars correspond to a plurality of pivot bars.

6. The game controller of claim 5 wherein the plurality of pivot bars are arranged in parallel on the body portion.

7. The game controller of claim 1 wherein the plurality of strum bars is connected electrically in common.

8. The game controller of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of strum bars shares a common pivot bar.

9. The game controller of claim 1 wherein activation of each of the plurality of strum bars causes the controller to produce a unique output.

10. The game controller of claim 1 wherein activation of each of the plurality of strum bars causes the controller to produce an identical output.

11. The game controller of claim 1 wherein the plurality of strum bars comprises three strum bars.

12. The game controller of claim 1 wherein the plurality of strum bars comprises four strum bars.

13. The game controller of claim 1 further comprising a whammy knob.

14. A method for facilitating interaction of a video game player with a game controller that simulates a guitar, the method comprising:

providing a game controller comprising a body portion, a neck portion extending outwardly from the body portion, and a plurality of strum bars positioned on a front face of the body portion;

displaying to the player a first target musical data associate with a musical composition; and

detecting an input generated by the player strumming at least one of the plurality of strum bars that corresponds to the first target musical data.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the detecting step further comprises detecting an input generated by the player strumming more than one of the plurality of strum bars during a particular time period as a single strum.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising evaluating the input generated by the player and the first target musical data to provide a player score.