Practice mode for multiple musical parts

• US 7,923,620 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2009
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harmonix Music Systems Incorporated (Epic Games, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Harmonix Music Systems Incorporated (Epic Games, Inc.)
• Inventors: Foster, Christopher Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Enad; Elvin G
• Assistant Examiner(s): HORN, ROBERT WAYNE
• Application Number:
  US12/474,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20100300264A1
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 844/77.R, 846/16, 463/31
• US Class Current: 84/477.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0058 Transmission between separate instruments or between individual components of a musical system G10H1/0083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/368 displaying animated or moving pictures synchronized with the music or audio part
• 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 2220/005 Non-interactive screen display of musical or status data graphical user interfaces specifically adapted for electrophonic musical instruments G10H2220/091; fingering displays G10H2220/041
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/145 Multiplayer musical games, e.g. karaoke-like multiplayer videogames
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/151 Musical difficulty level setting or selection

Abstract

Described are methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer program products, that provide a practice mode for multiple musical parts in a rhythm-action game. In one aspect this is accomplished by displaying, on a display in communication with a game platform, a first and second target musical data associated with a musical composition. The game platform receives a selection by the user of the first target musical data to be performed and produces an audio output associated with the first and second target musical data. The game platform also produces a synthesized tone associated with the first target musical data. In some versions, the target music data that is not selected is dimmed and made less visible.

Claims

1. A method executed on a game platform in signal communication with a display, the method comprising:

displaying, on the display, a first and second target musical data associated with a musical composition;

receiving, by the game platform, a selection by the user of the first target musical data to be performed;

producing, by the game platform, an audio output associated with the first and second target musical data; and

producing, by the game platform, an additional synthesized tone associated with the first target musical data that the user has selected to perform.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving, by the game platform, music performance input data; and

scoring, by the game platform, the music performance input data with respect to only the first target musical data.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the synthesized tone is produced at a volume louder than the audio associated with the first and second target musical data.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising altering, by the game platform, the displayed visual appearance of the second target musical data to appear less visible.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first target musical data is a melody.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the second target musical data is a harmony.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first target musical data is a harmony.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the second target musical data is a melody.

9. A computer program product, tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium, the computer program product including instructions operable to cause a data processing apparatus to:

display, on a display in signal communication with the data processing apparatus, a first and second target musical data associated with a musical composition;

receive a selection by the user of the first target musical data to be performed;

produce an audio output associated with the first and second target musical data; and

produce an additional synthesized tone associated with the first target musical data that the user has selected to perform.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 further comprising instructions operable to cause the data processing apparatus to:

receive music performance input data; and

score the music performance input data with respect to only the first target musical data.

11. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein the synthesized tone is produced at a volume louder than the audio associated with the first and second target musical data.

12. The computer program product of claim 9 further comprising instructions operable to cause the data processing apparatus to alter the displayed visual appearance of the second target musical data to appear less visible.

13. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein the first target musical data is a melody.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein the second target musical data is a harmony.

15. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein the first target musical data is a harmony.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the second target musical data is a melody.

17. A system comprising:

a data processing apparatus configured to;

display, on a display in signal communication with the data processing apparatus, a first and second target musical data associated with a musical composition;

receive a selection by the user of the first target musical data to be performed;

produce an audio output associated with the first and second target musical data; and

produce an additional synthesized tone associated with the first target musical data that the user has selected to perform.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the data processing apparatus is further configured to:

receive music performance input data; and

score the music performance input data with respect to only the first target musical data.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the synthesized tone is produced at a volume louder than the audio associated with the first and second target musical data.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the data processing apparatus is further configured to alter the displayed visual appearance of the second target musical data to appear less visible.

21. The system of claim 17 wherein the first target musical data is a melody.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the second target musical data is a harmony.

23. The system of claim 17 wherein the first target musical data is a harmony.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the second target musical data is a melody.

25. An apparatus comprising:

means for displaying, on a display in signal communication with the apparatus, a first and second target musical data associated with a musical composition;

means for receiving a selection by the user of the first target musical data to be performed;

means for producing an audio output associated with the first and second target musical data; and

means for producing an additional synthesized tone associated with the first target musical data that the user has selected to perform.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 further comprising:

means for receiving music performance input data; and

means for scoring the music performance input data with respect to only the first target musical data.

27. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the synthesized tone is produced at a volume louder than the audio associated with the first and second target musical data.

28. The apparatus of claim 25 further comprising means for altering the displayed visual appearance of the second target musical data to appear less visible.

29. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the first target musical data is a melody.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the second target musical data is a harmony.

31. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the first target musical data is a harmony.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the second target musical data is a melody.