Methods and apparatus for providing an interactive musical game

• US 6,268,557 B1
• Filed: 01/13/2000
• Issued: 07/31/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: John R. Devecka
• Inventors: Devecka, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donels, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US09/481,919
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 844/77.R, 846/00, 847/43, 434/307.A, 463/35, 463/48, 273/440
• US Class Current: 84/743
• 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 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 Music games
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/00 Teaching music metronomes G04F5/02
• 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 1/361 Recording/reproducing of accompaniment for use with an external source, e.g. karaoke systems
• 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 2220/041 Remote key fingering indicator, i.e. fingering shown on a display separate from the instrument itself or substantially disjoint from the keys
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/046 Drumpad indicator, e.g. drumbeat strike indicator light on a drumpad or rim
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/061 LED, i.e. using a light-emitting diode as indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/141 Games on or about music, i.e. based on musical knowledge, e.g. musical multimedia quizzes
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/315 for joystick-like proportional control of musical input; Videogame input devices used for musical input or control, e.g. gamepad, joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/265 Spint maracas, i.e. mimicking shells or gourds filled with seeds or dried beans, fitted with a handle, e.g. maracas, rumba shakers, shac-shacs
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/305 Spint drum snare, i.e. mimicking using strands of snares made of curled metal wire, metal cable, plastic cable, or gut cords stretched across the drumhead, e.g. snare drum, side drum, military drum, field drum
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/325 Spint cymbal crash, i.e. mimicking thin-edged cymbals designed to produce a loud, sharp "crash", either mounted on a stand and played with a drum stick, e.g. crash cymbal, or played in pairs by hand, e.g. clash cymbals
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/331 Spint cymbal hihat, e.g. mimicking high-hat cymbal; Details of the pedal interface, of the pedal action emulation or of the generation of the different sounds resulting from this pedal action
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2250/365 Gensound applause, e.g. handclapping; Cheering; Booing

Abstract

An interactive electronic drum system and training techniques suitable for use in a coin-operated environment such as an arcade are described. Electronic drum pads, audio speakers, a visual display, training lights and an overall control system are combined to simulate the excitement of a live drum or interactive musical jam session for a user. Positive feedback and, as necessary, instructive aid are provided to make the experience a positive one for both the novice and the expert player. Learning and playing a musical instrument becomes an intuitive, exciting experience and not a boring chore to be endured. Players can simulate the experience of playing in a rock band before a live and appreciative audience. In short, this interactive electronic drum system makes drums and the jamming experience widely accessible to the public.

Claims

1. An interactive music game apparatus comprising:

a money operated mechanism for insertion of a predetermined amount of money to commence play of a music game;

a plurality of speakers for providing musical output during play of the music game;

a display to provide indicia to guide play of the music game;

a musical input device for sensing user input during play of the music game; and

a cabinet for mounting the money operated mechanism, the plurality of speakers, and the display.

2. The interactive music game apparatus of claim 1 wherein the musical input device further comprises a guitar-like device.

3. The interactive music game apparatus of claim 2 wherein the guitar-like further device comprises a number of buttons whose activation is sensed as user input.

4. The interactive music game apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a stored selection of music of different types and a user operable selection mechanism for selecting a type of music to play along with during play of the music game.

5. The interactive music game apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a processor for monitoring and rating a user'"'"'s play.

6. The interactive music game apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a stored selection of different play levels and a user operable selection mechanism for selecting a particular play level.

7. The interactive music game apparatus of claim 1 wherein the money operated mechanism is a coin changer.

8. The interactive music game apparatus of claim 1 wherein the money operated mechanism is a bill validator.

9. The interactive music game apparatus of claim 1 wherein the indicia to guide play provided by the display includes a menu to guide a user to select a desired mode of operation.

10. The interactive music game apparatus of claim 1 wherein the indicia to guide play provided by the display includes indicia associated with a plurality of user inputs to provide visual guidance on which user input to activate and when to activate it.

11. The interactive music game apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a processor which controls operation of said game apparatus to provide feedback to encourage a user.

12. The interactive music game apparatus of claim 1 wherein the musical input device is a piano keyboard.

13. The interactive music game apparatus of claim 1 wherein the musical input device is a simple switch arrangement.

14. The interactive music game apparatus of claim 13 wherein the simple switch arrangement is mounted to the cabinet.

15. The interactive music game apparatus of claim 1 wherein the indicia to guide play provided by the display comprises indicia to cue a user to make an input at a particular time.

16. The interactive music game apparatus of claim 1 further comprising lights mounted on the cabinet to simulate stage lighting.

17. The interactive music game apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a holder for holding the musical input device when it is not in use so that the musical input device is readily seen and reached by a prospective user.

18. The interactive music game apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cabinet has a footprint suitable for an arcade environment.

19. The interactive music game apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a processor which monitors the musical input device to collect data on a user'"'"'s performance during play.

20. The interactive music game apparatus of claim 18 wherein the processor is further operative to control the music game apparatus to provide the user with feedback.

21. The interactive music game apparatus of claim 18 wherein the processor is further operative to control the display to display user feedback.

22. The interactive music game apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a processor which rates a user'"'"'s rhythm of play.

23. The interactive music game apparatus of claim 1 wherein the insertion of the predetermined amount of money causes the interactive music game apparatus to play for a predetermined time.

24. The interactive music game apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a selection of stored modes of operation including a practice mode which is selectable by a new player unfamiliar with the interactive music game apparatus to practice.

25. The interactive music game apparatus of claim 1 wherein the musical input device is mounted to the cabinet.