GAME CONTROLLER SIMULATING A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT

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.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is pointed out with particularity in the appended claims. The advantages of the invention described above, as well as further advantages of the invention, may be better understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram depiction of one embodiment of a rhythm-action game environment;

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of one embodiment of a guitar controller.

FIG. 2A is a configuration diagram of another embodiment of a guitar controller.

FIG. 2B is a configuration diagram of another embodiment of a guitar controller.

FIG. 2C is a configuration diagram of yet another embodiment of a guitar controller having two sets of fret buttons disposed on the neck of the guitar;

FIG. 2D is a configuration diagram of another embodiment of a guitar controller having a whammy bar in a first position;

FIG. 2E is a side view diagram of an embodiment of a game controller simulating a guitar that includes a whammy bar;

FIG. 3 is a screen shot depicting one embodiment of a screen display of a rhythm action game;

FIG. 3A a screen shot depicting one embodiment of a screen display of a rhythm action game;

FIG. 4 is a screen shot depicting one embodiment of a screen displaying which a player affects gameplay using a guitar controller having a whammy bar;

FIG. 5 is a screen shot depicting another embodiment of a screen displaying which a player affects gameplay using a guitar controller having a whammy bar.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating interaction of a player with a music-based video game using a game controller simulating a musical instrument and having a note-producing mechanism simulating that of an instrument the controller simulates, the method comprising: displaying to a player target musical data associated with a musical composition;receiving first music performance input from the player via a simulated note-producing mechanism of a game controller;c) reproducing a portion of the musical composition in response to the received first music performance;d) receiving second music performance input from the player via a mechanism different from the simulated note-producing mechanism of the game controller, the second music performance input unassociated with target musical data; ande) altering a characteristic of the music-based video game in response to the received second music performance input.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises displaying to a first player target musical data associated with a musical composition, the target musical data disposed along a musical time axis that does not lie in the image plane of a display associated with the first player.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises displaying to a first player target musical data associated with the guitar track of a musical composition.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises displaying to a first player target musical data associated with the percussion track of a musical composition.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises displaying to a first player target musical data associated with the bass track of a musical composition.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises displaying to a first player target musical data associated with the keyboard track of a musical composition.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises receiving second music performance input from the player, the second performance input comprising tilting the game controller.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises receiving second music performance input from the player, the second performance input comprising shaking the game controller.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises receiving second music performance input from the player, the second performance input comprising slapping the game controller.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises receiving second music performance input from the player, the second performance input comprising manipulation of a tremolo bar disposed on the game controller.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises receiving second music performance input from the player, the second performance input comprising pushing a tremolo bar disposed on the game controller.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises receiving second music performance input from the player, the second performance input comprising pulling a tremolo bar disposed on the game controller.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises receiving second music performance input from the player, the second performance input comprising manipulation of a pitch bend wheel disposed on the game controller.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein step (e) comprises altering sound quality of the reproduced portion of the musical composition in response to the second musical performance input.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the altered sound quality is selected from the group consisting of frequency, pitch, distortion, simulated feedback, flange, fuzz, vocoder, echo, reverb, chorus, delay and volume.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein step (e) comprises altering gameplay characteristics in response to the second musical performance input.

17. The method of claim 16 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.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein step (e) comprises altering graphical characteristics of the game in response to the second musical performance input.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the graphical characteristic to be altered is selected form the group consisting of venue lighting, venue brightness, venue animation, crowd animation, crowd excitement, brightness, avatar animation, sustain tail, note brightness, sustain tail brightness, note size, note shape, sustain tail pulsation, sustain tail size and sustain tail brightness

20. A game controller simulating a musical instrument video game, the controller comprising: a first one-producing mechanism simulating a note-producing mechanism of the musical instrument the controller simulates for providing first music performance input associated with target musical data displayed to the player; anda secondary note-producing mechanism for providing second music performance input unassociated with target musical data displayed to the player.