Game controller simulating a musical instrument

• US 7,320,643 B1
• Filed: 04/03/2007
• Issued: 01/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harmonix Music Systems Incorporated (Epic Games, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Harmonix Music Systems Incorporated (Epic Games, Inc.)
• Inventors: Egozy, Eran, Brosius, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): HOTALING, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US11/695,763
• Time in Patent Office: 294 Days
• Field of Search: 463 36- 38, 463 7- 9, 84600-615, 84634-636, 84649-653
• 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 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• 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 musical instrument may be used to alter the audio of a video game, the video aspects of video game, or both. Use of a controlled simulating a musical instrument allows a rhythm-action game can be enjoyed in a manner closer to a realistic state of playing an instrument.

Claims

1. A game controller simulating a guitar comprising:

a body portion including a strum bar;

a neck portion extending outwardly away from the body portion;

a first plurality of fret buttons disposed on the neck portion; and

a second plurality of fret buttons disposed on the neck portion between the body portion of the game controller and the first plurality of fret buttons, and wherein each of the second plurality of fret buttons is connected in common with a corresponding one of the first plurality of fret buttons.

2. The game controller of claim 1 further comprising a vibrato bar disposed on the body portion.

3. The game controller of claim 1 wherein the first plurality of fret buttons comprises five fret buttons.

4. The game controller of claim 3 wherein the second plurality of fret buttons comprises five fret buttons.

5. The game controller of claim 4 wherein each of the second plurality of fret buttons has a color indicator matching a color indicator of a corresponding one of the first plurality of fret buttons.

6. The game controller of claim 1 wherein activation of one of the second plurality of fret buttons triggers a guitar effect in a game.

7. The game controller of claim 6 wherein the guitar effect is selected from the group consisting of a pick slide, a screech and feedback.

8. The game controller of claim 1 wherein each of the second plurality of fret buttons has a color indicator matching a color indicator of a corresponding one of the first plurality of fret buttons.

9. The game controller of claim 8, wherein each of the color indicators comprises a colored stripe on a fret button.

10. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of fret buttons is separated from the second plurality of fret buttons by at least one fret not having a button.