IP Library Patent Application 12140016
Patent Application
App. No. 12/140,016

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING A VOCAL EXPERIENCE FOR A PLAYER OF A RHYTHM ACTION GAME

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
12/140,016
Abstract

A method for combining vocal cues and percussion cues for a player of a rhythm action game during a song comprises: displaying, in a rhythm action game, a lane comprising cues corresponding to a vocal track of a song; displaying, on the lane during the song, at least one cue corresponding to a percussion element of the song; evaluating, with a first gameplay mechanic, a player's performance with respect to the cues corresponding to a vocal elements; and evaluating, with a second gameplay mechanic, the player's performance with respect to the cues corresponding to the percussion element. Such a method may be used to keep a vocalist engaged during portions of a song with no vocals.

Claims (33)

1 . A method for combining vocal cues and percussion cues for a player of a rhythm action game during a song, the method comprising:

a. displaying, in a rhythm action game, a lane comprising cues corresponding to a vocal track of a song; and

b. displaying, on the lane during the song, at least one cue corresponding to a percussion element of the song.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the percussion elements are selected from the group of tambourine, cowbell, and hand clapping.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

c. evaluating, with a first gameplay mechanic, a player's performance with respect to the cues corresponding to a vocal track; and

d. evaluating, with a second gameplay mechanic, the player's performance with respect to the cues corresponding to the percussion element.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the first gameplay mechanic comprises scoring a player's approximation of a target musical pitch, and the second gameplay mechanic comprises scoring a player's timing of a burst input into the microphone.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein step (d) further comprises detecting that a microphone has been struck.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vocal track comprises the lead vocal track of the song.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein step (b) comprises displaying, on the lane during a portion of the song with no lead vocals, at least one cue corresponding to a percussion element of the song.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cues corresponding to vocal track comprise cues indicating words and pitch of the vocal track.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising not penalizing a player for failing to respond to the at least one cue corresponding to a percussion element of the song.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cue corresponding to a percussion element of the song is visually distinguishable from the cues corresponding to a vocal track of a song.

11 . Computer readable media having executable code for combining vocal cues and percussion cues for a player of a rhythm action game during a song, the computer readable media comprising:

executable code for displaying, in a rhythm action game, a lane comprising cues corresponding to a vocal track of a song; and

executable code for displaying, on the lane during the song, at least one cue corresponding to a percussion element of the song.

12 . The computer readable media of claim 11 , wherein the percussion elements are selected from the group of tambourine, cowbell, and hand clapping.

13 . The computer readable media of claim 11 , further comprising:

executable code for evaluating, with a first gameplay mechanic, a player's performance with respect to the cues corresponding to a vocal elements; and

executable code for evaluating, with a second gameplay mechanic, a player's performance with respect to the cues corresponding to the percussion element.

14 . The computer readable media of claim 13 , wherein the first gameplay mechanic comprises scoring a player's approximation of a target musical pitch, and the second gameplay mechanic comprises scoring a player's timing of a burst input into the microphone.

15 . The computer readable media of claim 13 , further comprising executable code for detecting that the microphone has been struck.

16 . The computer readable media of claim 11 , wherein the vocal track comprises the lead vocal track of the song.

17 . The computer readable media of claim 11 , further comprising executable code for displaying, on the lane during a portion of the song with no lead vocals, at least one cue corresponding to a percussion element of the song.

18 . The computer readable media of claim 11 , wherein the cues corresponding to vocal track comprise cues indicating words and pitch of the vocal track.

19 . The computer readable media of claim 11 , further comprising executable code for not penalizing the player for failing to respond to the at least one cue corresponding to a percussion element of the song.

20 . The computer readable media of claim 11 , wherein the at least one cue corresponding to a percussion element of the song is visually distinguishable from the cues corresponding to a vocal track of a song.

21 . A method for providing improvisational vocal sections of a song during a rhythm action game, the method comprising:

a. identifying that a value associated with a vocalist's performance of a song in a rhythm action game exceeds a first predetermined threshold;

b. providing, in response to the identifying, a vocal improvisational section during the song;

c. determining, that sound data from a microphone assigned to the vocalist exceeds a second predetermined threshold during the improvisational section; and

d. deploying, in response to the determining, a bonus.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 13, 2021
From: COLBECK PARTNERS II, LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: HARMONIX MUSIC SYSTEMS, INC.; HARMONIX PROMOTIONS & EVENTS INC.; HARMONIX MARKETING INC.
Reel/Frame 057984/0087 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 11, 2011
From: HARMONIX MUSIC SYSTEMS, INC.; HARMONIX PROMOTIONS & EVENTS INC.; HARMONIX MARKETING INC.
To: COLBECK PARTNERS II, LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 025764/0656 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 1, 2008
From: BROSIUS, ERIC; LOPICCOLO, GREGORY B.; EGOZY, ERAN; SCHMIDT, DANIEL; KAY, ROBERT; LESSER, RYAN
To: HARMONIX MUSIC SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 021905/0944 →