Abstract: The present disclosure is directed at methods, apparatus and systems for implementing an improvised guitar playing feature on a rhythm-action game. The improvised guitar playing feature allows players to manipulate a guitar controller to produce a pleasing, musical-sounding improvised play even if the players have little experience or skill at improvising music. This feature uses quantized 8th and 16th note musical phrases, or “licks”, strung together to form authentic, melodic, and rhythmically musical and impressive guitar lines, regardless of the player's ability. The improvised guitar playing feature can also display cues directing the player to improvise in a certain manner, while still providing players a degree of musical freedom in selecting how to play. In some embodiments, the present disclosure is also directed at scoring mechanisms for evaluating improvised guitar play.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed at systems, methods, and apparatus for implementing a rhythm-action game having an improvisational fill feature. The rhythm-action game can provide a musical track having at least one section that can be varied. The rhythm-action game can also provide a database having a plurality of fills, wherein each fill includes a soundtrack and a set of cues. During run-time, the rhythm-action game can select, for each section in the musical track that can be varied, a fill from the plurality of fills. In some embodiments, this selection can be based on various characterizing parameters to ensure that the fill is a good fit for the musical track. The rhythm-action game can also display a set of visual cues associated with the selected fill, and to evaluate whether received user input substantially corresponds to the displayed cues.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed at methods and systems for implementing and scoring a vocal improvisation feature in a music video game. This feature can allow players of music video games to sing improvised harmonies for a song using a microphone controller. The improvised harmonies can be musically consonant with a pre-authored melody track programmed into the music video game. The improvised harmonies can comprise pre-authored notes programmed into the pre-authored melody track, or can be generated by the music video game during run-time based on the pre-authored melody track. The music video game can also display guidelines visually showing permissible harmony tracks in relation to the pre-authored melody track.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed at methods and systems for implementing and scoring a vocal improvisation feature in a music video game. This feature can allow players of music video games to sing improvised harmonies for a song using a microphone controller. The improvised harmonies can be musically consonant with a pre-authored melody track programmed into the music video game. The improvised harmonies can comprise pre-authored notes programmed into the pre-authored melody track, or can be generated by the music video game during run-time based on the pre-authored melody track. The music video game can also display guidelines visually showing permissible harmony tracks in relation to the pre-authored melody track.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed at systems, methods, and apparatus for implementing a rhythm-action game having an improvisational fill feature. The rhythm-action game can provide a musical track having at least one section that can be varied. The rhythm-action game can also provide a database having a plurality of fills, wherein each fill includes a soundtrack and a set of cues. During run-time, the rhythm-action game can select, for each section in the musical track that can be varied, a fill from the plurality of fills. In some embodiments, this selection can be based on various characterizing parameters to ensure that the fill is a good fit for the musical track. The rhythm-action game can also display a set of visual cues associated with the selected fill, and to evaluate whether received user input substantially corresponds to the displayed cues.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed at methods, apparatus and systems for implementing an improvised guitar playing feature on a rhythm-action game. The improvised guitar playing feature allows players to manipulate a guitar controller to produce a pleasing, musical-sounding improvised play even if the players have little experience or skill at improvising music. This feature uses quantized 8th and 16th note musical phrases, or “licks”, strung together to form authentic, melodic, and rhythmically musical and impressive guitar lines, regardless of the player's ability. The improvised guitar playing feature can also display cues directing the player to improvise in a certain manner, while still providing players a degree of musical freedom in selecting how to play. In some embodiments, the present disclosure is also directed at scoring mechanisms for evaluating improvised guitar play.

Abstract: Systems and methods for indicating the performance of a plurality of players playing a video game simulating a rock band experience may include: calculating a player score for each player playing a rhythm action game within a band, each player score representing the performance level of a particular player; calculating a composite score for the band playing a rhythm action game, the composite score based in part on a performance level associated with each player within the band; displaying the composite score on a performance meter as a performance level; and displaying each player score on the performance meter as a graphical indication positioned on the meter at a position corresponding to the calculated player score.

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.

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.

Abstract: Systems and methods for indicating the performance of a plurality of players playing a video game simulating a rock band experience may include: calculating a player score for each player playing a rhythm action game within a band, each player score representing the performance level of a particular player; calculating a composite score for the band playing a rhythm action game, the composite score based in part on a performance level associated with each player within the band; displaying the composite score on a performance meter as a performance level; and displaying each player score on the performance meter as a graphical indication positioned on the meter at a position corresponding to the calculated player score.

Abstract: A rhythm-action game for a home gaming platform provides a plurality of different gaming experiences depending on what type of controller is plugged into the game. The different experience may comprise a different set or ordering of songs, a different gameplay mechanism, and/or a different sets level data. For example, a game may vary the song list depending on whether the player has plugged in a simulated drum set or a simulated guitar to the game platform. Or, for example, a player may plug in a microphone to experience the game as a vocalist and be measured based on pitch matching, and then plug in a simulated drum set to experience the game as a drummer and be measured based on timing of drum pad strikes. In this way, a single game can be sold that allows users to select among a plurality of unique instrumental experiences.

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.

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.

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.

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.