METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A SIMULATED BAND EXPERIENCE INCLUDING ONLINE INTERACTION
A method for facilitating real-time interaction between a first and second player of a music-based video game via a network having unpredictable delivery latency, the first player located remotely from the second player, includes displaying to a first player target musical data associated with a musical composition, receiving music performance input from the first player via a controller resembling a first musical instrument, displaying to a second player, the second player located remotely from the first player, target musical data associated with the musical composition, and receiving music performance input from the second player.
1 . A method for facilitating real-time interaction between a first and second player of a music-based video game via a network, the first player located remotely from the second player, the method comprising:
a. displaying to a first player target musical data associated with a musical composition;
b. receiving music performance input from the first player, the received music performance input associated with a first instrument present in the musical composition;
c. displaying to a second player target musical data associated with the musical composition, the second player located remotely from the first player; and
d. receiving music performance input from the second player, the received music performance input associated with a second instrument present in the musical composition.
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 (a) comprises displaying to a first player target musical data associated with the turntable track of a musical composition.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises displaying to a first player target musical data associated with the vocal track of a musical composition.
9 . The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises receiving music performance input from the first player via a controller resembling a first musical instrument.
10 . The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises receiving music performance input from the first player via a controller resembling a guitar.
11 . The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises receiving music performance input from the first player via a controller resembling an analog drum kit.
12 . The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises receiving music performance input from the first player via a controller resembling a keyboard.
13 . The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises receiving music performance input from the first player via a controller resembling a turntable.
14 . The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises receiving music performance input from the first player via a microphone.
15 . The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises receiving music performance input from the second player via a game controller.
16 . The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises receiving music performance input from the second player via a dance pad.
17 . The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises receiving music performance input from the second player, the received music performance input associated with a second instrument present in the musical composition, wherein the first player and second player cooperate to provide music performance input.
18 . The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of assigning a single score to the first player and the second player responsive to the music performance input received from the first and second player.
19 . The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises receiving music performance input from the second player, the received music performance input associated with a second instrument present in the musical composition, wherein the first player and second player compete to achieve a higher score.
20 . The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of assigning a first score to the first player responsive to music performance input received from the first player and assigning a second score to the second player responsive to music performance input received from the second player.
21 . The method of claim 20 further comprising applying a scalar factor to the first score.
22 . The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of
a. displaying to a third player target musical data associated with a musical composition, the third player physically proximate to the first player; and
b. receiving music performance input from the third player, the received music performance input associated with a third instrument present in the musical composition.
23 . The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of receiving emulation data representing music performance input from the second player.
24 . The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of generating a local approximation of the second player's music performance input using the emulation data, the local approximation synchronous with a local musical performance.
25 . A system for facilitating real-time interaction between a first and second player of a music-based video game via a network, the first player located remotely from the second player, the system comprising:
a. means for displaying to a first player target musical data associated with a musical composition;
b. means for receiving music performance input from the first, the received music performance input associated with a first instrument present in the musical composition;
c. means for displaying to a second player, the second player located remotely from the first player, target musical data associated with the musical composition; and
d. means for receiving music performance input from the second player.
26 . The system of claim 25 further comprising means for 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.
27 . The system of claim 25 wherein the means for receiving music performance input comprises a controller resembling a first musical instrument.
28 . The system of claim 25 wherein the means for receiving music performance input comprises a controller resembling a guitar.
29 . The system of claim 25 wherein the means for receiving music performance input comprises a controller resembling an analog drum kit.
30 . The system of claim 25 wherein the means for receiving music performance input comprises a controller resembling a keyboard.
31 . The system of claim 25 wherein the means for receiving music performance input comprises a controller resembling a turntable.
32 . The system of claim 25 wherein the means for receiving music performance input comprises a controller resembling a microphone.
33 . The system of claim 25 wherein the means for receiving music performance input comprises a game controller.
34 . The system of claim 25 further comprising means for assigning a single score to the first player and the second player responsive to the music performance input received from the first and second player in cooperation.
35 . The system of claim 25 further comprising means for assigning a first score to the first player responsive to the music performance input received from the first player and means for assigning a second score to the second player responsive to the music performance input received from the competing second player.
36 . The system of claim 35 further comprising means for applying a scalar factor to the first score.
37 . The system of claim 25 further comprising:
a. means for displaying to a third player target musical data associated with a musical composition, the third player physically proximate to the first player; and
b. means for receiving music performance input from the third player, the received music performance input associated with a third instrument present in the musical composition.
38 . The system of claim 25 further comprising means for receiving emulation data representing music performance input from the second player.
39 . The system of claim 38 further comprising means for generating a local approximation of the second player's music performance input using the emulation data, the local approximation synchronous with a local musical performance.