Music game machine with interactive second game device

• US 6,554,711 B1
• Filed: 06/27/2000
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Katori, Sadaharu, Kawasaki, Yasushi
• Primary Examiner(s): HOTALING, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US09/604,229
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 413/7, 413/23, 413/43, 434/307.A
• US Class Current: 463/43
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/323 between game devices with different hardware characteristics, e.g. hand-held game devices connectable to game consoles or arcade machines
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/53 involving additional visual information provided to the game scene, e.g. by overlay to simulate a head-up display [HUD] or displaying a laser sight in a shooting game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/60 Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/90 Constructional details or arrangements of video game devices not provided for in groups A63F13/20 or A63F13/25, e.g. housing, wiring, connections or cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/403 Connection between platform and handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6009 for importing or creating game content, e.g. authoring tools during game development, adapting content to different platforms, use of a scripting language to create content
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 Music games
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0008 Associated control or indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/141 Games on or about music, i.e. based on musical knowledge, e.g. musical multimedia quizzes

Abstract

In a musical game system, there is a corresponding relationship between a game executed in a main body game device and a game executed in a portable game device functioning as an auxiliary memory apparatus of the main body game device. Data for music reproduction for reproducing a plurality of tunes and timing data specifying a series of manipulations of input apparatus provided in correspondence with the plurality of tunes are stored in memory apparatus of first and second game devices. In the games of each game device, a tune is selected from the plurality of tunes, a series of manipulations of the input apparatus based on the timing data corresponding to the selected tune is displayed to the player, and the selected tune is reproduced based on the data for music reproduction corresponding to the selected tune. Information corresponding to the progression of the game executed in the first game device is stored in the memory apparatus of the second game device, and the range of the selectable tunes in the second game device is set based on the information stored in the memory apparatus.

Claims

1. A game system comprising:

first and second game devices, said second game device comprising memory device for save which allows said second game device to function as an auxiliary memory apparatus of said first game device, each of said first and second game devices comprising

an input apparatus having a plurality of manipulation members which outputs a signal in accordance with manipulation of said manipulation members;

memory device for game in which there are stored for each of a plurality of tunes (a) data for music reproduction for reproducing said tunes and (b) timing data stipulating a series of manipulations of said input apparatus in correspondence with said plurality of tunes being stored in said memory device;

tune selecting device which selects one tune from said plurality of tunes;

manipulation guide device which specifies a series of manipulations of said input apparatus corresponding to said selected tune to a player based on timing data corresponding to the selected tune;

music reproducing device which reproduces said selected tune based on data for music reproduction corresponding to said selected tune;

said first game device comprising record executing device which stores information corresponding to the progression of the game executed in said first game device in said memory device for save of said second game device by using data stored in said memory device for game; and

said second game device comprising selection range setting device which sets a range of selectable tunes in the tune selecting device of said second game device based on said information corresponding to the progression of the game stored in said memory device for save.

2. The game system according to claim 1, wherein said first game device comprises selection range setting device which sets a range of selectable tunes in said tune selecting device of said first game device based on the progression of the game in said first game device.

3. The game system according to claim 2, wherein the selection range setting device of said first game device enlarges the range of selectable tunes in said first game device in compliance with progression of said game, and the selection range setting device of said second game device enlarges the range of selectable tunes in said tune selecting device of said second game device in compliance with an increasing progression which is identified from the information provided in correspondence with the progression of said game stored in said memory device for save.

4. The game system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said record executing device of said first game device stores information for determining whether each of said plurality of tunes has been selected in the game executed in said first game device as information provided in correspondence with said progression in said memory device for save;

and

said selection range setting device of said second game device sets the range of selectable tunes based on the information provided in correspondence with said progression stored in said memory device for save so that tunes corresponding to the tunes which were selected in the game executed in said first game device are made selectable in said second game device.

5. The game system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of tunes prepared for said second game device matchs at least some of the plurality of tunes prepared for said first game device;

said record executing device of said first game device stores information for determining whether each of said plurality of tunes has been selected in the game executed in said first game device as information provided in correspondence with said progression in said memory device for save; and

said selection range setting device of said second game device sets the range of selectable tunes based on the information provided in correspondence with said progression stored in said memory device for save, so that tunes matching tunes which have been selected in the game executed in said first game device are made selectable in said second game device, and tunes matching unselected tunes become nonselectable.

6. The game system according to claim 5, wherein said second game device comprises information display device which displays information representing the number of tunes which have been selected in the game executed in said first game device on a screen of a display device provided in said second game device based on the information provided in correspondence with said progression stored in said memory device for save.

7. The game system according to claim 1, wherein the data for each music reproduction in the memory device for game of said first and second game devices includes data for generating sound effects which generates predetermined sound effect in compliance with a series of manipulations stipulated in said timing data;

and

when said player has manipulated said input apparatus in compliance with said series of manipulations specified by said manipulation guide device, the music reproducing devices of said first and second game devices generate sound effects based on said data for generating sound effects in correspondence with each manipulation.

8. The game system according to claim 7, wherein

said data for generating sound effects stored in said memory device for game of said second game device is configured so that, when said player has correctly manipulated said input apparatus in correspondence with said series of manipulations specified by said manipulation guide device of said second game device, a main melody of said selected tune is reproduced from said music reproducing device.

9. The game system according to one of claims 1 to 3, 7 or 8, wherein said second game device comprises a built-in power battery, and is constituted as a portable game device which can be operated by power supplied from the power battery.

10. A computer-readable memory medium capable of use in a game system comprising first and second game devices, said second game device comprising memory device for save which allows said second game device to function as an auxiliary memory apparatus of said first game device, the memory medium storing a program for game for executing predetermined games provided in correspondence with music in said first and second game devices by using computers of said first and second game devices, and a data group for game which is needed to execute the program for game;

said data group for game comprising (a) data for music reproduction for reproducing a plurality of tunes and (b) timing data for each tune stipulating a series of manipulations of said input apparatus in correspondence with each of said plurality of tunes;

said program for game allowing the computers of said first and second game devices to function as

tune selecting device which selects one tune from said plurality of tunes;

manipulation guide device which specifies a series of manipulation of said input apparatus corresponding to said selected tune to a player based on timing data corresponding to the selected tune;

music reproducing device which reproduces said selected tune based on data for music reproduction corresponding to said selected tune; and

allowing the computer of said first game device to function as record executing device which stores information corresponding to the progression of the game executed in said first game device in said memory device for save of said second game device, and allowing the computer of said second game device to function as selection range setting device which sets a range of selectable tunes when the computer of the second game device functions as a tune selecting device based on said information corresponding to the progression of the game stored in said memory device for save.