Performance appraisal and practice game system and computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing the game system

• US 6,609,979 B1
• Filed: 06/24/1999
• Issued: 08/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Wada, Toshifumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Sager, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): ASHBURN, STEVEN L
• Application Number:
  US09/339,753
• Time in Patent Office: 1,524 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/35, 463/45, 463/7, 463/36, 463/37, 463/43, 273/148.B, 434/118, 434/156, 434/219, 434/227, 434/307.R, 434/308, 984/200, 984/302, 984/303, 844/70.R, 844/77.R, 846/09
• US Class Current: 463/43
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• 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 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/497 Partially or entirely replaying previous game actions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• 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 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• 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 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6081 generating an output signal, e.g. under timing constraints, for spatialization
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 Score computation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/634 for replaying partially or entirely the game actions since the beginning of the game
• 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 1/361 Recording/reproducing of accompaniment for use with an external source, e.g. karaoke systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/026 : for games, e.g. videogames

Abstract

A game system comprises a storage device which stores data for reproducing music and data which define a performing procedure corresponding to the music, an operation input device for receiving an operation of a player, a reproduction device for reproducing the music based on the data for reproducing the music, and a performing operation instructing device for instructing the player to do performing operations associated with reproduction of the music onto the operation input device based on the data which define the performing procedure. The system further comprises a practice range setting device for setting a practice range on at least one portion of the music according to an instruction from the player, and a practice instructing device for instructing the player to practice the performing operations included in the practice range based on data corresponding to the practice range set through the practice range setting device in the data which define the performing procedure. Therefore, the player can set the practice range in a desired portion of the music to intensively practice the performing operations corresponding thereto.

Claims

1. A game system, comprising:

a storage device which stores data for reproducing music and data which define a performing procedure corresponding to the music;

a display;

an operation input device for receiving an operation of a player;

a reproduction device for reproducing the music based on the data for reproducing the music;

a performing operation instructing device for instructing the player through the display to do performing operations associated with reproduction of the music onto the operation input device based on the data which define the performing procedure;

a practice range setting device for setting a practice range on at least one portion of the music according to an instruction from the player;

practice instructing device for instructing the player through the display to practice the performing operations included in the practice range based on data corresponding to the practice range set through the practice range setting device in the data which define the performing procedure;

an appraisal device for appraising the performing operations into plural levels every time the player performs a performing operation based on a correspondence relationship between the performing operations, which are inputted through the operation input device by the player in response to the performing operation instructing device and the practice instructing device, and the data which define the performing procedure;

an appraisal display device for displaying, through the display, appraised results of the appraisal device to the player;

an operation recording device for recording the performing operations inputted through the operation input device by the player in response to the practice instructing device, and appraised results of the appraisal device; and

a replay device for replaying the recorded performing operations together with the appraised results thereto,

wherein said performing operation instructing device and said practice instructing device control the display to display an indicator having at least one track extending in a predetermined direction, and display instruction marks, for showing operation timing of the operation input device, in the indicator based on the data which define the performing procedure such that the instruction marks move along the at least one track and reach an operating position, set at a stationary position on the track, when the operation timing for executing each of the instruction marks has come,

wherein said appraisal device appraises each of the performing operations based on a time lag between an actual operation time, at which the player executes to the instruction mark produced by the performing operation instructing device or the practice instructing device, and the operation timing defined by the data of the performing procedure, and

wherein said game system is provided with a detection device for allowing the player to search data of the performing operations recorded by the operation recording device so as to detect a portion to which an appraisal of a certain level is given.

2. The game system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a repetition setting device for setting as to whether or not a sequence of the performing operations included in the practice range is to be repeatedly practiced,

wherein when a repetition of the sequence of the performing operations is set, the practice instructing device repeatedly instructs the sequence of the performing operations corresponding to the practice range.

3. The game system according to claim 2, further comprising:

a blank setting device for setting blank time in case that the sequence of the performing operations included in the practice range is repeatedly instructed,

wherein the practice instructing device changes an interval from an end of each sequence of the performing operations to a start of a next sequence of the performing operations based on the blank time set by the blank set device.

4. The game system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a tempo setting device for setting a tempo with which the practice instructing device instructs the performance operations in accordance with an instruction from a player,

wherein the practice instructing device changes the tempo with which the performing operations are instructed based on a set result by the tempo setting device.

5. The game system according to claim 4, wherein the tempo produced by the practice instructing device is slower than a tempo with which the performing operation instructing device instructs the performing operations.

6. The game system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a reproduction setting device for setting as to whether or not the music is to be reproduced by the reproduction device according to an instruction from the player; and

a reproduction halt device for halting reproduction of the music while the practice instructing device instructs the performing operations, when the reproduction of the music is negated by the reproduction setting device.

7. A game system, comprising:

a storage device for storing data for reproducing music and data which define a performing procedure of the music;

an operation input device for receiving an operation of a player;

a reproduction range setting device for setting a reproduction range on at least one portion of the music according to an instruction from the player;

an instructing device for instructing the player to do performing operations included in the reproduction range based on data corresponding to the reproduction range set by the reproduction range setting device in the data which define the performing procedure;

an appraisal device for appraising the performing operations into plural levels every time the player performs a performing operation based on a correspondence relationship between the performing operations, which are inputted through the operation input device by the player in response to the instructing device and the data which define the performing procedure;

an operation recording device for recording the performing operations inputted through the operation input device by the player in response to the instructing device and appraised results of the performing operations by the appraisal device;

a replay device for replaying the recorded performing operations together with the appraised results thereto; and

a detection device for allowing the player to search data of the performing operations recorded by the operation recording device so as to detect a portion to which an appraisal of a certain level is given.

8. A storage medium which stores data for reproducing music, data which define a performing procedure corresponding to the music and a program for executing a predetermined music performance game based on the performing procedure and the music, the program being executable by a computer to allow the computer to serve as:

a reproduction device for reproducing the music based on the data for reproducing the music;

a performing operation instructing device for instructing the player through a display to do performing operations, associated with reproduction of the music, on an operation input device based on the data which define the performing procedure;

a practice range setting device for setting a practice range on at least one portion of the music according to an instruction from the player;

a practice instructing device for instructing the player through the display to practice the performing operations included in the practice range based on data corresponding to the practice range set through the practice range setting device in the data which define the performing procedure;

an appraisal device for appraising the performing operations into plural levels every time the player performs a performing operation based on a correspondence relationship between the performing operations, which are inputted through the operation input device by the player in response to the performing operation instructing device and the practice instructing device, and the data which define the performing procedure;

an appraisal display device for displaying, through the display, appraised results of the appraisal device to the player;

an operation recording device for recording the performing operations inputted through the operation input device by the player in response to the practice instructing device, and appraised results of the appraisal device; and

a replay device for replaying the recorded performing operations together with the appraised results thereto,

wherein said performing operation instructing device and said practice instructing device control the display to display an indicator having at least one track extending in a predetermined direction, and display instruction marks, showing operation timing of the operation input device, in the indicator based on the data which define the performing procedure such that the instruction marks move along the at least one track and reach an operating position, fixed at a stationary position on the track, when the operation timing for executing each of the instruction marks has come,

wherein said appraisal device appraises each of the performing operations based on a time lag between an actual operation time, at which the player executes to the instruction mark produced by the performing operation instructing device or the practice instructing device, and the operation timing defined by the data of the performing procedure, and

wherein said program allows the computer to further serve as a detection device for allowing the player to search data of the performing operations recorded by the operation recording device so as to detect a portion to which an appraisal of a certain level is given.

9. A storage medium which stores data for reproducing music, data which define a performing procedure corresponding to the music and a program for executing a predetermined music performance game based on the performing procedure and the music, the program being executable by a computer to allow the computer to execute the steps of:

setting a reproduction range in at least one portion of the music according to an instruction from a player;

instructing the player to do performing operations included in the reproduction range based on data corresponding to the set reproduction range in the data which define the performing procedure;

appraising the performing operations into plural levels every time the player performs a performing operation based on a correspondence relationship between the performing operations inputted through an operation input device of a game system by the player in response to an instruction issued in said step of instructing and the data which define the performing procedure;

recording the performing generations inputted by the player in response to the instruction issued in said step of instructing and appraised results given to each of the performing operations;

replaying the recorded performing operations together with the appraised results given to each of the performing operations; and

allowing the player to search data of the performing operations recorded in said step of recoding so as to detect a portion to which an appraisal of a certain level is given.