IP Library Granted Patent US 9,278,286
Granted Patent B2
US 9,278,286 · App. 14/524,804 · Granted Mar 8, 2016

Simulating musical instruments

Inventors: Bryn Bennett (Cambridge, MA); Jason D. Booth (Upton, MA); Sylvain Dubrofsky (Cambridge, MA)
Assignee: Harmonix Music Systems, Inc.
A63F13/245A63F13/10A63F13/21A63F13/46A63F13/537A63F2300/1062A63F2300/1068A63F2300/305A63F2300/6063A63F2300/61A63F2300/638A63F2300/8047
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,278,286
App. No.
14/524,804
Granted
Mar 8, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention provides scoring a performance of a guitar part in a rhythm-action game. It operates in the context of a video game platform in communication with a display and a controller and involves receiving an input performance from the controller including at least one input chord note, each input chord note including an input string value corresponding to a struck string and an input fret value associated with the input string value. Then, a reference performance is provided, which includes at least two reference chord notes to be input at a target time, each reference chord note including a reference string value and a reference fret value associated with the reference string value. Then, a degree of matching is determined between the input performance and the reference performance, and a score is assigned to the input performance based on the degree of matching.

Claims (18)

1. A method of providing a realistic drum experience in a video game, the method executed on a video game platform comprising a processor and a memory in communication with the processor in communication with a display and a drum controller comprising at least one cymbal and at least one drum pad both associated with a first sub-lane, the memory storing instructions that cause the processor to execute the method comprising:

determining, using the video game platform, if a cue to be displayed on the display in the first sub-lane is a cue corresponding to one of a cymbal input and a pad input;

causing, by the video game platform, the display of the cue on the display;

receiving, by the video game platform, an input from a player via the drum controller; and

scoring, by the video game platform, the input with a first score when the input is a cymbal input associated with the first sub-lane, scoring the input with a second score when the input is a pad input associated with the first sub-lane, and scoring the input with a third score when the input is neither a cymbal input associated with the first sub-lane nor a pad input associated with the first sub-lane.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the drum controller further comprises at least one cymbal and at least one drum pad associated with a second sub-lane.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second score is less than the first score when the cue displayed on the display corresponds to a cymbal input.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first score is less than the second score if the cue displayed on the display indicates a pad input.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the third score is less than the first score and the second score.

6. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions for execution on a video game platform in communication with a display and a drum controller comprising at least one cymbal and at least one drum pad associated with a first sub-lane, the instructions configured to cause the video game platform to:

determine if a cue to be displayed on the display in the first sub-lane corresponds to one of the cymbal input and the pad input;

cause the display of the cue on the display;

receive an input from a player via the drum controller; and

score the input with a first score when the input is a cymbal input associated with the first sub-lane, score the input with a second score when the input is a pad input associated with the first sub-lane, and score the input with a third score when the input is neither a cymbal input associated with the first sub-lane nor a pad input associated with the first sub-lane.

7. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 6 , wherein the drum controller further comprises at least one cymbal and at least one drum pad associated with a second sub-lane.

8. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 6 , wherein the second score is less than the first score when the cue displayed on the display indicates a cymbal input.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 6 , wherein the first score is less than the second score when the cue displayed on the display indicates a pad input.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 6 , wherein the third score is less than the first score and the second score.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 22, 2016
From: BENNETT, BRYN; BOOTH, JASON D; DUBROFSKY, SYLVIAN
To: HARMONIX MUSIC SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 037557/0653 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 13049742 · Mar 16, 2011
Provisional Application 61353519 · Jun 10, 2010
Provisional Application 61314571 · Mar 16, 2010
Related Publication 20150111645A1 · Apr 23, 2015