Providing realistic interaction to a player of a music-based video game

• US 8,686,269 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2008
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harmonix Music Systems Incorporated (Epic Games, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Harmonix Music Systems Incorporated (Epic Games, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schmidt, Daniel A., LoPiccolo, Gregory B., Egozy, Eran
• Primary Examiner(s): FLETCHER, MARLON T
• Application Number:
  US12/263,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20090082078A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,978 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 84/477.R
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/342 for guitar-like instruments with or without strings and with a neck on which switches or string-fret contacts are used to detect the notes being played electric guitars in which the tones are generated by the vibration of strings G10H3/18
• 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 2220/135 Musical aspects of games or videogames; Musical instrument-shaped game input interfaces game background music G10H2210/026; musical game scoring or performance evaluation G10H2210/091
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/135 Spint guitar, i.e. guitar-like instruments in which the sound is not generated by vibrating strings, e.g. guitar-shaped game interfaces

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 controller 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 system for providing realistic interaction to a player of a music-based video game comprising:

a display;

a game controller simulating a guitar, the game controller having a strum bar and a plurality of fret buttons; and

the music-based video game executing on a gaming platform in communication the display and game controller, wherein;

(a) the music-based video game is configured to present via the display, a first target musical data associated with a musical composition;

(b) the music-based video game is further configured to receive, via the game controller, a first music performance input comprising activation of a first one of a plurality of fret buttons and a strum bar on the game controller;

(c) the music-based video game is further configured to present, via the display, a second target musical data associated with the musical composition, the second target musical data visually indicating that the musical event represented by the second target musical data is amenable to a hammer-on technique; and

(d) the music-based video game is further configured to receive, via the game controller, a second music performance input consisting essentially of activation of a second one of a plurality of fret buttons.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first target musical data, when presented via the display, is disposed along a musical time axis that does not lie in the image plane of the display associated with the player.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the second target musical data, when presented via the display, is disposed along a musical time axis that does not lie in the image plane of the display associated with the player.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the second target musical data has a visual appearance different from that of the first target musical data.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the second target musical data comprises a shape different from that of the first target musical data.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the second target musical data has a different color from that of the first target musical data.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the music-based video game is further configured to reproduce a portion of the musical composition in response to the received second music performance input.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the music-based video game is further configured to alter a characteristic of the music-based video game in response to the received second music performance input.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein altering the characteristic comprises altering a gameplay characteristic of the music-based video game in response to the second musical performance input.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the altered gameplay characteristic is selected from the group consisting of score bonus, star power, player score, character health, character money, in-game power-ups, and crowd excitement.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the music-based video game is further configured to present, via the display, third target musical data associated with the musical composition.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the music-based video game is further configured to receive third music performance input consisting essentially of activation of one of the plurality of fret buttons.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the music-based video game is further configured to receive third music performance input consisting essentially of activation of the first one of the plurality of fret buttons.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the music-based video game is further configured to receive third music performance input consisting essentially of deactivation of one of the plurality of fret buttons.

15. A system for providing realistic interaction to a player of a music-based video game comprising:

a display;

a game controller simulating a guitar, the game controller having a strum bar and a plurality of fret buttons; and

the music-based video game executing on a gaming platform in communication the display and game controller, wherein;

(a) the music-based video game is configured to present, via the display, a first target musical data associated with a musical composition;

(b) the music-based video game is further configured to receive, via the game controller, a first music performance input comprising activation of a first one of a plurality of fret buttons and a strum bar on the game controller;

(c) the music-based video game is further configured to present, via the display, a second target musical data associated with the musical composition, the second target musical data visually indicating that the musical event represented by the second target musical data is amenable to a pull-off technique; and

(d) the music-based video game is further configured to receive, via the game controller, a second music performance input consisting essentially of deactivation of a second one of a plurality of fret buttons.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the first target musical data is disposed along a musical time axis that does not lie in the image plane of a display associated with the player.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the second target musical data is disposed along a musical time axis that does not lie in the image plane of a display associated with the player.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the second target musical data has a visual appearance different from that of the first target musical data.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the second target musical data comprises a shape different from that of the first target musical data.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the second target musical data has color different from that of the first target musical data.

21. The system of claim 15 including further instructions being operable to cause the gaming platform to reproduce a portion of the musical composition in response to the received second music performance input.

22. The system of claim 15 including further instructions being operable to cause the gaming platform to alter a characteristic of the music-based video game in response to the received second music performance input.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein altering comprises altering a gameplay characteristic of the music-based video game in response to the second musical performance input.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the altered gameplay characteristic is selected from the group consisting of score bonus, star power, player score, character health, character money, in-game power-ups, and crowd excitement.

25. The system of claim 15 including further instructions being operable to cause the gaming platform to present, via the display, third target musical data associated with the musical composition.

26. The system of claim 25 including further instructions being operable to cause the gaming platform to receive third music performance input consisting essentially of deactivation of another of the plurality of fret buttons.

27. The system of claim 25 including further instructions being operable to cause the gaming platform to receive third music performance input consisting essentially of activation of a fret button.

28. A music-based video game computer program product, tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium, for providing realistic interaction to a player of the music-based video game using a game controller simulating a guitar and having a strum bar and a plurality of fret buttons, the computer program product including instructions operable to cause a gaming platform to:

(a) present, via a display, a first target musical data associated with a musical composition;

(b) receive a first music performance input comprising activation of a plurality of fret buttons and activation of a strum bar;

(c) present, via the display, a second target musical data associated with the musical composition, the second target musical data visually indicating that the musical event represented by the second target musical data is amenable to a hammer-on technique;

(d) receive a second music performance input consisting essentially of activation of a second one of a plurality of fret buttons.

29. The computer program product of claim 28 wherein the first target musical data is disposed along a musical time axis that does not lie in the image plane of a display associated with the player.

30. The computer program product of claim 28 wherein the second target musical data is disposed along a musical time axis that does not lie in the image plane of a display associated with the player.

31. The computer program product of claim 28 wherein the second target musical data has a visual appearance different from that of the first target musical data.

32. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein the second target musical data comprises a shape different from that of the first target musical data.

33. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein the second target musical data has color different from that of the first target musical data.

34. The computer program product of claim 28 including further instructions being operable to cause the gaming platform to reproduce a portion of the musical composition in response to the received second music performance input.

35. The computer program product of claim 28 including further instructions being operable to cause the gaming platform to alter a characteristic of the music-based video game in response to the received second music performance input.

36. The computer program product of claim 35 wherein altering comprises altering a gameplay characteristic of the music-based video game in response to the second musical performance input.

37. The computer program product of claim 36 wherein the altered gameplay characteristic is selected from the group consisting of score bonus, star power, player score, character health, character money, in-game power-ups, and crowd excitement.

38. The computer program product of claim 28 including further instructions being operable to cause the gaming platform to present, via the display, third target musical data associated with the musical composition.

39. The computer program product of claim 38 including further instructions being operable to cause the gaming platform to receive third music performance input consisting essentially of activation of one of the plurality of fret buttons.

40. The computer program product of claim 38 including further instructions being operable to cause the gaming platform to receive third music performance input consisting essentially of activation of the first one of plurality of fret buttons.

41. The computer program product of claim 38 including further instructions being operable to cause the gaming platform to receive third music performance input consisting essentially of deactivation of one of the plurality of fret buttons.

42. A music-based video game computer program product, tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium, for providing realistic interaction to a player of the music-based video game using a game controller simulating a guitar and having a strum bar and a plurality of fret buttons, the computer program product including instructions operable to cause a gaming platform to:

(a) present, via a display, a first target musical data associated with a musical composition;

(b) receive a first music performance input comprising activation of a plurality of fret buttons and activation of a strum bar;

(c) present, via the display, a second target musical data associated with the musical composition, the second target musical data visually indicating that the musical event represented by the second target musical data is amenable to a pull-off technique;

(d) receive a second music performance input consisting essentially of deactivation of one of the plurality of fret buttons.

43. The computer program product of claim 42 wherein the first target musical data is disposed along a musical time axis that does not lie in the image plane of a display associated with the player.

44. The computer program product of claim 42 wherein the second target musical data is disposed along a musical time axis that does not lie in the image plane of a display associated with the player.

45. The computer program product of claim 42 wherein the second target musical data has a visual appearance different from that of the first target musical data.

46. The computer program product of claim 45 wherein the second target musical data comprises a shape different from that of the first target musical data.

47. The computer program product of claim 45 wherein the second target musical data has color different from that of the first target musical data.

48. The computer program product of claim 42 including further instructions being operable to cause the gaming platform to reproduce a portion of the musical composition in response to the received second music performance input.

49. The computer program product of claim 42 including further instructions being operable to cause the gaming platform to alter a characteristic of the music-based video game in response to the received second music performance input.

50. The computer program product of claim 49 wherein altering comprises altering a gameplay characteristic of the music-based video game in response to the second musical performance input.

51. The computer program product of claim 50 wherein the altered gameplay characteristic is selected from the group consisting of score bonus, star power, player score, character health, character money, in-game power-ups, and crowd excitement.

52. The computer program product of claim 42 including further instructions being operable to cause the gaming platform to present, via the display, third target musical data associated with the musical composition.

53. The computer program product of claim 52 including further instructions being operable to cause the gaming platform to receive third music performance input consisting essentially of deactivation of another of the plurality of fret buttons.

54. The computer program product of claim 52 including further instructions being operable to cause the gaming platform to receive third music performance input consisting essentially of activation of a fret button.

55. A system for providing realistic interaction to a player of a music-based video game comprising:

a display;

a game controller simulating a guitar, the game controller having a strum bar and a plurality of fret buttons; and

the music-based video game executing on a gaming platform in communication the display and game controller, wherein;

(a) the music-based video game is configured to present, via the display, a first target gem associated with a musical composition;

(b) the music-based video game is further configured to present, via the display, a second target gem associated with the musical composition, the second target gem visually indicating that the musical event represented by the second target gem is amenable to a hammer-on technique;

(c) the music-based video game is further configured to receive, via the game controller, a first music performance input comprising activation of a first one of a plurality of fret buttons and a strum bar on the game controller; and

(d) the music-based video game is further configured to receive, via the game controller, a second music performance input consisting essentially of activation of a second one of a plurality of fret buttons.

56. A system for providing realistic interaction to a player of a music-based video game comprising:

a display;

a game controller simulating a guitar, the game controller having a strum bar and a plurality of fret buttons; and

the music-based video game executing on a gaming platform in communication the display and game controller, wherein;

(a) the music-based video game is configured to present, via the display, a first target gem associated with a musical composition;

(b) the music-based video game is further configured to present, via the display, a second target gem associated with the musical composition, the second target gem visually indicating that the musical event represented by the second target gem is amenable to a pull-off technique;

(c) the music-based video game is further configured to receive, via the game controller, a first music performance input comprising activation of a first one of a plurality of fret buttons and a strum bar on the game controller; and

(d) the music-based video game is further configured to receive, via the game controller, a second music performance input consisting essentially of deactivation of a second one of a plurality of fret buttons.

57. A music-based video game computer program product, tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium, for providing realistic interaction to a player of the music-based video game using a game controller simulating a guitar and having a strum bar and a plurality of fret buttons, the computer program product including instructions operable to cause a gaming platform to:

(a) present, via a display, a first target gem associated with a musical composition;

(b) present, via the display, a second target gem associated with the musical composition, the second target gem visually indicating that the musical event represented by the second target gem is amenable to a hammer-on technique;

(c) receive a first music performance input comprising activation of a plurality of fret buttons and activation of a strum bar; and

(d) receive a second music performance input consisting essentially of activation of a second one of a plurality of fret buttons.

58. A music-based video game computer program product, tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium, for providing realistic interaction to a player of the music-based video game using a game controller simulating a guitar and having a strum bar and a plurality of fret buttons, the computer program product including instructions operable to cause a gaming platform to:

(a) present, via a display, a first target gem associated with a musical composition;

(b) present, via the display, a second target gem associated with the musical composition, the second target gem visually indicating that the musical event represented by the second target gem is amenable to a pull-off technique;

(c) receive a first music performance input comprising activation of a plurality of fret buttons and activation of a strum bar; and

(d) receive a second music performance input consisting essentially of deactivation of one of the plurality of fret buttons.