Methods and apparatus for providing an interactive musical game

• US 6,835,887 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2002
• Issued: 12/28/2004
• 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:
  US10/090,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20020088337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 844/77.R, 846/00, 847/43, 434/307.A, 463/35, 463/48, 278/440, D21/325, D21/326, D21/353
• US Class Current: 84/743
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 Score computation
• 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 teaching of music per se G09B15/00
• 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 joysticks per se G06F3/033, G05G9/047, A63F13/20
• 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 2230/281 Spint drum assembly, i.e. mimicking two or more drums or drumpads assembled on a common structure, e.g. drum kit multi-toned percussion instruments G10H2230/255
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/285 Spint drum tomtom, i.e. mimicking side-mounted drums without snares, e.g. in a drumkit
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/291 Spint drum bass, i.e. mimicking bass drums; Pedals or interfaces therefor
• 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 crowd sounds G10H2250/401
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 3/146 : using a membrane, e.g. a drum; Pick-up means for vibrating surfaces, e.g. housing of an instrument

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 inactive 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. A musical home video game for use in conjunction with a video display for displaying video images related to the musical home video game, the musical home video game comprising:

a control with selection buttons to enter data and select mode of play of the musical home video game from a menu of play mode options displayed on the video display;

a user-controllable musical input source which a user to play the musical home video game;

means for providing a first output corresponding to the user'"'"'s musical input; and

and

a control system for monitoring and scoring the user'"'"'s play of the musical home video game and for controlling a second non-musical output according to the user'"'"'s musical play of the musical home video game.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second output comprises an audio output providing feedback on the user'"'"'s play of the musical home video game.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second output comprises a video display providing feedback on the user'"'"'s play of the musical home video game.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second output comprises feedback relating to a quality of the user'"'"'s play of the musical home video game.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising additional means for providing user feedback.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control system provides control to the video display to cause the video display to provide user feedback in the form of a video display of the user'"'"'s score determined by the control system.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the user-controllable musical input source comprises a drum, a guitar or a keyboard.

8. A method of operating an interactive musical home video game, the method comprising:

displaying a menu of play mode options on a video display screen;

receiving data and mode of play selection of the interactive musical home video game, said data and mode of play selection entered with selection buttons on a control;

receiving a musical input generated by a user playing the interactive musical home video game;

providing a first, musical, output corresponding to the user'"'"'s musical input;

providing a second, non-musical, output;

monitoring and scoring a user'"'"'s play of the interactive home video game;

displaying video images including user instructional information and the user'"'"'s score on the video display screen; and

controlling the second output according to the user'"'"'s musical input.

9. A storage medium storing processor-implementable instructions for controlling a processor to carry out a musical home video game comprising:

receiving data and mode of play selection for the musical home video game entered with selection buttons on a control;

receiving a musical input generated by a user playing the musical home video game;

providing a first, musical, output corresponding to the user'"'"'s musical input;

providing a second, non-musical, output;

monitoring and scoring a user'"'"'s play of the musical home video game;

displaying video images including user instructional information and the user'"'"'s score on a display screen; and

controlling the second output according to the user'"'"'s musical input.