Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to analysis of movement that is electronically captured and recognition of which movement was performed for purposes of evaluation. This type of motion capture, analysis and evaluation can have applicability across a number of fields, such as healthcare, entertainment, communication, and manufacturing. The recognition can occur once movement information collected from sensors is inputted into the system. The system can then analyze the movement information to determine what the movement is. In some games, such as sports games, movement recognition can provide feedback to a user about what they are doing. In other games, such as dance games, movement recognition can allow for users to dance a move from a set of moves providing for a more entertaining game.

Abstract: A player may interact with the game and cooperate or compete with other players by executing specific dance moves in synchrony with music content. The player's avatar may be animated to perform dance moves. Upper body movements may be controlled by how well the player executes the indicated dance moves or they may be predetermined for certain points in the music content. In embodiments in which the gaming platform is provided with a camera, the camera may be used to capture movements of the player. Methods also provide real-time musical interaction among a plurality of players connected via a network includes the steps of receiving input from a local player representing a musical performance, receiving second music performance data from a remote player, creating emulation data representing the remote musical performance, and using the emulation data to generate a local approximation of the remote musical performance.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for preventing extraction of original audio tracks from a song. The techniques are executed on a game platform and involve providing a first and second audio track representing parts of a musical composition, mixing the first audio track and the second audio track to provide a mixed audio track, generating an audio modification data comprising a series of substantially random audio modifiers, and then modifying, before playback, the mixed audio track based on the audio modification data to provide a modified mixed audio track, such that subtracting the second audio track from the modified mixed audio track produces a third audio track with an audibly detectable deviation from the first audio track.

Abstract: The invention includes methods, systems with an apparatus configured to perform particular functions, computer program products, and apparatuses that provide means for displaying a game cue for a guitar part and/or displaying a player's input. The expected and/or input performances are indicated on a display by creating a game cue or shape on the display, each having portions of varying magnitudes based on the relative differences between the notes or fingering of expected performance and/or inputted performance.

Abstract: The invention provides displaying, in a lane, a section of repeatable inputs in a sub-lane of the lane. Cue data is loaded from a data file, which includes duration data and a plurality of cues to be displayed in the sub-lane. Then, the plurality of cues and a section indicator are displayed in the sub-lane, with the section indicator based on the duration data and indicating that the plurality of cues are repeatable inputs. Then, a timer is started that is independent of a timing window of any cue of the plurality of cues. Then, it is determined if an input is received for the sub-lane before the timer reaches a timing threshold. If it is, the timer is restarted and the plurality of cues is maintained as repeatable inputs. If it is not, the section indicator is modified to indicate that the plurality of cues are not repeatable inputs.

Abstract: Described are methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer program products, for preventing an unintentional deploy of a bonus in a video game. In one aspect this is accomplished by displaying, on a display in communication with a game platform, a target music data of a musical composition. The game platform receives a music performance input data via the microphone, and also determines if the music performance input data has a predetermined degree of matching with a vocal cue. If so, the performance input data is prevented from executing an improvisation deploy.

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 providing real-time musical interaction among a plurality of players connected via a network includes the steps of receiving input from a local player representing a musical performance, generating audio output responsive to the received input, receiving second music performance data from a remote player representing a musical performance by the remote player, creating emulation data representing the remote musical performance, and using the emulation data to generate a local approximation of the remote musical performance.

Abstract: Presented herein are methods, apparatuses, programs, and systems for prompting a player to perform a series of dance moves. A player is prompted to perform a series of dance moves by providing a timeline comprising at least a first time interval associated with a first dance move, and a second time interval associated with a second dance move; displaying an icon representing the first dance move at a first location on the display for the duration of the first time interval; and displaying an icon representing the second dance move at the first location on the display for the duration of the second time interval, wherein the icon representing the first dance move includes one or more representations of a body and indicates on the one or more representations of the body at least one body part whose position is important during the performance of the first dance move.

Abstract: Presented herein are methods, apparatuses, programs, and systems for scoring a player performance comprising one or more poses in a dance-based video game. a performance 3D skeleton is received that indicates a pose of the player. A score is calculated by comparing a position, a timing, or both, associated with one or more joints of the performance 3D skeleton to a position, a timing, or both, associated with one or more joints of a target pose and altering one or more characteristics of the dance-based video game based on the score.

Abstract: Presented herein are methods, apparatuses, programs, and systems for providing a smooth animation transition in a game. An event timeline is provided with event markers denoting points in time on the event timeline. Each event marker is associated with an animation segment from the number of animation segments. A first marker on the event timeline is provided, which indicates a first animation segment to be displayed on the display (at a point in time with respect to event timeline). A second marker on the event timeline is also provided, which indicates a second animation segment to be displayed on the display (at a second point in time with respect to event timeline). Then as the game progresses, and the second point time on the timeline is approaching, a set of animation segments that need to be blended together is determined, to provide a smooth transition from the first animation segment to the second animation segment.

Abstract: Described are methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer program products, for scoring a musical performance after a period of ambiguity in a rhythm-action game. This is accomplished by displaying a first target music data and a second target music data where the first target music data's tolerance threshold overlaps with a second target music data's tolerance threshold. When a music performance input data is received, the game platform determines if the music performance input data is within both tolerance thresholds. Then scores are determined, based on a degree of matching between the music performance input data and the first target music data and between the music performance input data and the second target music data. The game platform then assigns the music performance input data to whichever target music data has the higher score when the difference between the first and second scores is greater than a predetermined value.

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.

Abstract: The invention provides a realistic drum experience in a video game. It operates in the context of a video game platform in communication with a display and a drum controller having at least one cymbal and at least one drum pad. It involves determining if a cue to be displayed on the display in a particular sub-lane should be a cue indicating a cymbal input or a cue indicating a pad input. Then, the cue is displayed in the particular sub-lane, indicating the cymbal input or pad input (dependent on the previous determination). Then, input is received from the player via the drum controller; and the input is given a first score if the input was a cymbal input associated with the particular sub-lane and the input is given a second score if the input was an input other than a cymbal input associated with the particular sub-lane.

Abstract: Described are methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer program products, for selectively displaying song lyrics in a rhythm-action game. In one aspect this is accomplished by determining a number of vocal cues to be displayed on a display in communication with a game platform, where the vocal cues are each associated with a lyric. Provided a number of areas available to display a set of lyrics, either before run-time or determined at run-time, the game platform determines, based on a lyric priority associated with each lyric, which of the lyrics associated with each vocal cue to display when the number of vocal cues exceeds the number of areas available.

Abstract: Described are methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer program products, for dynamically determining a musical part performed by a player of a rhythm-action game. In one aspect of a rhythm-action game, microphones are not tied to a particular part and therefore any player can play any of a number of parts, e.g., melody or harmony, lead or rhythm, guitar or bass, without switching instruments. This is accomplished by displaying, on a display, a plurality of target music data associated with a musical composition, receiving a music performance input data via the input device, determining which of the plurality of target music data has a degree of matching with the music performance input data, and assigning the music performance input data to the determined target music data.

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: The invention includes methods, systems, computer program products and means for providing an intuitive user interface for interacting with a game console that obviates the need for, or use of, a typical game controller. In one embodiment, the user interface comprises an analog-like mechanism for manipulating a menu and icon system. The menu system allows the user to highlight a menu option or icon using movement along one axis and to activate the menu option or icon via movement on a different axis. In one embodiment, highlighting is associated with a vertical motion and activation is associated with a horizontal motion. The vertical motion can be tied to the vertical movement of a particular appendage, e.g., the up and down movement of the user's right arm, and the horizontal motion can be tied to the horizontal movement of that or another appendage, e.g., movement of the right arm or hand across the body from right to left.

Abstract: Described are methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer program products, for displaying an input at multiple octaves in a rhythm-action game. In one aspect this is accomplished by receiving by a game platform via a microphone, a music performance input data and displaying, on a display in communication with the game platform, a first pitch marker reflective of the music performance input data. Then substantially simultaneously with the display of the first pitch marker, displaying a second pitch marker at an offset, typically vertical, from the first pitch marker, the offset indicative of an octave difference between the first pitch marker and the second pitch marker.