U.S. patent application number 12/104421 was filed with the patent office on 2009-10-22 for using a musical instrument as a video game controller.
This patent application is currently assigned to Macedon Productions, Inc.. Invention is credited to Alexander Christian Meske.
Application Number | 20090264199 12/104421 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41201563 |
Filed Date | 2009-10-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090264199 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Meske; Alexander Christian |
October 22, 2009 |
Using a Musical Instrument as a Video Game Controller
Abstract
The use of musical instruments as methods for controlling video
games is disclosed. By translating the notes, beats, chords, note
changes and other musical elements into input that can be
recognized by a video game or video game system, the person playing
the instrument will have the ability to play a game through the use
of an instrument. This includes the ability to configure the music
translation system to provide different input to the video game or
video game system depending on the key in which the person is
playing the instrument.
Inventors: |
Meske; Alexander Christian;
(South Euclid, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Alexander C. Meske
1232 S. Belvoir Blvd
South Euclid
OH
44121
US
|
Assignee: |
Macedon Productions, Inc.
South Euclid
OH
|
Family ID: |
41201563 |
Appl. No.: |
12/104421 |
Filed: |
April 16, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/37 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 2300/8047 20130101;
A63F 13/814 20140902; A63F 2300/6045 20130101; A63F 13/06 20130101;
A63F 2300/69 20130101; G10H 1/0008 20130101; G10H 2220/141
20130101; A63F 13/235 20140902; A63F 13/424 20140902; A63F 13/245
20140902; A63F 2300/6072 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/37 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. The use of a musical instrument as an input device for a video
game or video game system.
2. The use of a component or components of a musical instrument as
an input device for a video game or video game system.
3. The translation of music or musical information into a form of
input that can be recognized by a video game or video game
system.
4. The use of claim 3 wherein a musical instrument communicates
with a music-to-input translator through a cable connection,
through a plug connection, through a wireless connection, through a
device attached to the instrument, through a device inside the
instrument, through a microphone picking up the sound of the
instrument, or through a computer program.
5. The use of claim 3 wherein a music-to-input translator
communicates with a video game or video game system through a cable
connection, through a plug connection, through a wireless
connection, through a device attached to the video game system,
through a device inside the video game system, or through a
computer program.
6. The method of claim 3 wherein the frequency, period, or
amplitude of a particular tone, note, or beat is translated into an
input or a set of inputs sent to a video game or video game
system.
7. The method of claim 3 wherein the event of the creation of a
tone, note, or beat is translated into an input or a set of inputs
sent to a video game or video game system.
8. The method of claim 3 wherein a set of notes, tones, or beats
played concurrently is translated into an input or a set of inputs
sent to a video game or video game system.
9. The method of claim 3 wherein a set of notes, tones, or beats
played sequentially is translated into an input or a set of inputs
sent to a video game or video game system.
10. The method of claim 3 wherein a change in the frequency,
period, or amplitude of a note, tone, or beat is translated into an
input or set of inputs sent to a video game or video game
system.
11. The method of claim 3 wherein the originating source of the
note, tone, or beat, or a set of notes, tones, or beats is
translated into an input or a set of inputs sent to a video game or
video game system.
12. The use of claim 3 wherein a note, tone, beat or a set of
notes, tones, or beats can be translated into a different input or
set of inputs sent to the video game or video game system,
depending upon the setting or configuration of the translator.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein differing notes, tones, or beats
can be translated into one input or one set of inputs sent to the
video game or video game system.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein one note, tone or beat or one
set of notes, tones, or beats is translated into different input
depending upon the relationship in time to other notes, tones, or
beats.
15. The method of claim 12 wherein one note or tone or one set of
notes or tones is translated into different input depending upon
the relationship in pitch to other notes or tones.
16. The method of claim 12 wherein one note, tone, or beat or one
set of notes, tones, or beats is translated into different inputs
depending upon the originating instrument.
17. The method of claim 12 wherein the change to one note, tone, or
beat or one set of notes, tones, or beats is translated into
different input depending upon the way in which the note, tone, or
beat is changed.
Description
[0001] The use of a musical instrument to control action in a video
game by translating musical information to an input format that can
be understood by a video game system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] There are currently video games in existence that provide
users with the simulated experience of playing musical instruments.
The Guitar Hero.RTM. series and the game Rock Band.RTM. are
particular examples of this genre. However, these games only
provide the simulated experience of playing an instrument.
[0003] For people who can play instruments or people who wish to
learn instruments, these games only provide the most rudimentary
idea of chord progressions and notes. Thus, if a guitar player
wishes to play one of these music games, the guitar player must
learn an entirely foreign control system. This is also the case for
other musicians who play music simulations, such as bass players
and drummers/percussionists.
[0004] A person who can play the instrument being simulated may
wish to actually play the instrument itself, rather than attempt to
learn how to operate a controller that does not provide an
experience like the actual instrument. Likewise, if a person
playing the game wishes to learn the actual instrument without
losing the entertainment value of playing a video game simulation
that the person enjoys, there is not currently a way for the person
to translate the simulation to a real-world experience with real
instruments.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] This invention is the use of using a musical instrument as
an input device for controlling a video game. By translating the
notes or beats being created by the musical instrument into input
information recognizable to a video game or video game system, a
musical instrument can be used to control the action or events in a
video game.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a guitar connected by cable to a
device that translates musical notes to video game input that is
then sent through a cable connection to a video game system.
[0007] FIG. 2A is a diagram of a guitar connected via wireless to a
device that translates musical notes to video game input that is
then sent through a cable connection to a video game system.
[0008] FIG. 2B is a diagram of a guitar connected via wireless to a
device that translates musical notes to video game input that is
then sent via a wireless connection to a video game system.
[0009] FIG. 2C is a diagram of a guitar connected by cable to a
device that translates musical notes to video game input that is
then sent via a wireless connection to a video game system.
[0010] FIG. 3A is a diagram of a guitar pickup connected to a
device that translates musical notes to video game input that is
then sent to a video game system.
[0011] FIG. 3B is a diagram of a guitar playing into a microphone
that is connected to a device that translates musical notes to
video game input that is then sent to a video game system.
[0012] FIG. 4A is a diagram of a snare drum with a sensor attached
and an electronic drum connected to a device that translates
drumbeats into video game input that is then sent to a video game
system.
[0013] FIG. 4B is a diagram of an entire drum set with sensors
attached to every component. Every beat picked up by the sensors is
sent to a device that translates the drumbeats into video game
input that is then sent to a video game system.
[0014] FIG. 5A is a diagram of a possible control configuration
that may be used to set the musical key used for a music-to-video
game translation. The output sent to a video game system for a
given set of musical information differs for each key. The slider
switches are used to set the alphabetic key, whether the key is
flat or sharp, and whether the key is major or minor.
[0015] FIG. 5B is a diagram of a possible control configuration
that may be used to set the musical key used for a music-to-video
game translation. The output sent to a video game system for a
given set of musical information differs for each key. The arrow
buttons are used to cycle through a set of preset or custom
configurations.
[0016] FIG. 5C is a diagram of a possible control configuration
that may be used to set the musical key used for a music-to-video
game translation. The output sent to a video game system for a
given set of musical information differs for each key. The knobs
are used to set the alphabetic key, whether the key is flat or
sharp, and whether the key is major or minor.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The invention is the use of a musical instrument as an input
device for a video game. Rather than using a controller or a
virtual guitar or a controller simulating a musical instrument, a
real musical instrument is used to control the action and play the
video game.
[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, an electric guitar 100 is being played.
The music 110 being created is sent from the cable 120 connecting
the guitar to the device 130 that performs the translation for a
video game system. The translated video game control information
140 is sent through a cable connection from the device 130 to the
video game system 150. The musical 110 is also sent to an amplifier
160 which plays the actual, untranslated music aloud.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, and FIG. 2C, there are other
possible permutations for sending information from the guitar to
the device that translates the music to video game input, then
passing the information on to the video game system. In FIG. 2A,
this is a wireless connection 200 from the guitar 201 to the
translating device 202, then a cable connection 203 from the
translating device 202 to the video game system 204. In FIG. 2B,
this is a wireless connection 210 from the guitar 211 to the
translating device 212, then another wireless connection 213 from
the translating device 212 to the video game system 214. In FIG.
2C, this is a cable connection 220 from the guitar 221 to the
translating device 222, then a wireless connection 223 from the
translating device 222 to the video game system 224.
[0020] Though the instrument described in conjunction with this
game is frequently the guitar, the instrument used to control the
game can be any of a wide variety of musical instruments such as
percussion instruments (including cymbals, bell lyre, celeste,
chimes, crotales, glockenspiel, marimba, orchestra bells, steel
drums, timpani, vibraphone, xylophone, bass drum, crash cymbal,
gong, suspended cymbal, tam-tam, tenor drum, tom-tom, acme siren,
bird whistle, boat whistle, dinner bell, doorbell, finger cymbals,
flex-a-tone, mouth organ, marching machine, police whistle,
ratchet, rattle, sandpaper blocks, slapstick, sleigh bells,
tambourine, temple blocks, thunder machine, train whistle,
triangle, vibra-slap, wind machine, wood block, agogo bells, bongo
drum, cabaca, castanets, claves, conga, cowbell, maracas, scraper,
timbales, kick drum, hi-hat, ride cymbal, sizzle cymbal, snare
drum, and splash cymbal), wind instruments (including piccolo, alto
flute, bass flute, contra-alto flute, contrabass flute,
subcontrabass flute, double contrabass flute, piccolo clarinet,
sopranino clarinet, soprano clarinet, basset horn, alto clarinet,
bass clarinet, contra-alto clarinet, contrabass clarinet,
octocontra-alto clarinet, octocontrabass clarinet, kazoo,
saxonette, soprillo, sopranino saxophone, soprano saxophone,
conn-o-sax, clar-o-sax, saxie, messo-soprano saxophone, bass
saxophone, contrabass saxophone, subcontrabass saxophone, tubax,
aulochrome, tarogato, folgerphone, contrabassoon, tenoroon, piccolo
oboe, oboe d'amore, English horn, French horn, oboe de caccia, bass
oboe, baritone oboe, contrabass oboe, bagpipes, bugle, cornet,
didgeridoo, euphonium, flugelhorn, shofar, sousaphone, trombone,
trumpet, tuba, accordion, concertina, harmonica, harmonium, pipe
organ, voice, bullroarer, lasso d'amore, whip, and siren), stringed
instruments (including harps, electric bass, dulcimer, archlute,
arpeggione, banjo, cello, Chapman stick, cittern, clavichord,
double bass, fiddle, slide guitar, steel guitar, harpsichord, hurdy
gurdy, Jew's harp, kora, koto, lute, lyre, mandola, mandolin,
sitar, ukulele, viola, violin, and zither), keyboard instruments
(including accordion, bandoneon, calliope, carillon, celesta,
clavichord, glasschord, harpsichord, electronic organ, Hammond
organ, pipe organ, MIDI keyboard, baby grand piano, electric piano,
grand piano, janko piano, toy piano, upright piano, viola
organista, and spinets), and other instruments (turntable,
computer-generated tones, frequency generator, klaxon).
[0021] The information used to register the musical information can
be determined from the sound made by the instrument, or from the
output of the musical instrument (such as the cord jack from a
guitar), or from a component or components of the musical
instrument (such as guitar pickups).
[0022] Referring to FIG. 3A, the pickups 300 on an electric guitar
are individually connected to a device 310 that translates the
musical information 320 from each, individual guitar pickup to
video game input 330 that is sent to a video game system 335.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 3B, an acoustic guitar 340 is being played
in front of a microphone 350 that is picking up the musical
information 360 and sending it to a device 370 that translates the
musical information 360 to video game input 380 that is sent to a
video game system 385.
[0024] After the musical information has been registered, the
information from the instrument or instruments is converted to
input information that can be understood by the video game or video
game system.
[0025] The musical information associated with a given input to the
video game can be changed by configuration (such as to match the
notes or chords associated with a certain musical key). The
information can be a single note, a single beat, a set of notes
played together (such as in a chord), set of beats played together,
a set of notes played in sequence, a set of beats played in
sequence, or any combination thereof. The configuration associating
certain notes or sets of notes with input information sent to the
video game or video game system can be configured by key, by
intended song, by the game for which it is intended, by the system
for which it is intended, by the band for which it is intended, a
custom configuration, or any combination of the aforementioned
methods of configuration.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, and FIG. 5C, the device for
translating musical information to video game input is based upon
the desired key. In FIG. 5A, the key used for translating
information is set by moving the slider switches 501, 502, and 503;
in this example, it is set to A-major. In FIG. 5B, the key used for
translating information is set by cycling through a list of options
using the up and down arrow buttons 511 and 512 and viewing the
selected configuration in the display 513; in this example, it is
set to A-major. In FIG. 5C, the key used for translating
information is set by turning the knob switches 521, 522, and 523;
in this example, it is set to A-major.
[0027] The translation configurations may also be set up through
software. This can include providing users with the ability to
build their own custom configurations.
[0028] To provide an example, if a person is playing the guitar on
an Xbox 360 and the musical instrument translator is set to the key
of E, the E note may indicate to the Xbox 360 that the green A
button was pressed, the A note may be the blue X button, and the B
note may be the yellow Y button. Furthermore, the E chord may be
the red B button, the A button may be the blue X button and the red
B button, and the B chord may be the green A button and the yellow
Y button.
[0029] However, the same translator may then have its configuration
changed to the key of D. In that situation, the D note may indicate
to the Xbox 360 that the green A button and the yellow Y button
were pressed, the G note may be the blue X button, and the A note
may be the yellow Y button alone. Furthermore, the D chord may be
the green A button, the A chord may be the blue X button and the
red B button, and the B chord may be the green A button and the
yellow Y button.
[0030] Furthermore, the changes to the musical information that
occur due to such techniques as bending strings, using the whammy
bar (also known as the vibrato bar), hammer-ons, pull-offs, holding
notes, wah-wah pedals, reverbs, tremolos, pick slides, screeches,
and turning the tuning key can also be translated for use by the
video game or video game system. The musical techniques can also
include other special techniques for instruments such as using
mutes or muffles, using pitch bends wheels, plucking strings, and
any other special technique that is performed by a musician or any
other device that is used while playing an instrument.
[0031] The information translated can be a specific note in a
specific octave, a specific note in any octave, a specific chord
shape, any named chord of any shape, a specific note played in a
certain way (such as a note played on a certain string), a note
played in any manner, and any combination of the aforementioned
information.
[0032] The information translated can be the creation of a sound,
such as the start of a note or the beat of a drum. The information
translated can be changed for the initiating event or percussion
instrument used.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 4A, a snare drum 400 sensor 405, and an
electronic drum 410 are connected to a device 420 that translates
information about beats to video game input 430. When the
drumsticks 440 and 450 strike the drums 400 and 410, the beats are
sent from the sensor 405 and the electronic drum 410 to the device
430, which translates the information about the beats to the video
game input 430 that is sent to the video game system 460.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 4B, sensors 470 are attached to several
different drums so that a theoretically unlimited number of inputs
can be used by the one device 480 used to translate musical
information to video game input that can be sent along to a video
game system 490.
[0035] The musical information from the instrument may also be sent
to an amplifier so that the person playing will have the ability to
hear the music created by the instrument outside of its
representation in a video game or on a video game system.
[0036] Refer to FIG. 1, FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, and FIG. 2C for graphical
examples of information being sent both to video game systems and
amplifiers for musical instruments.
[0037] Though the expectation is that the musical instrument is
generally played with music simulators, the input may also be used
for other types of video games including but not limited to
first-person shooter, survival horror, action adventure, fighting
games, role playing games, real-time strategy games, platformers,
puzzle games, sports games, rhythm action games, racing games,
stealth-action games and third-person shooters.
[0038] Having described certain embodiments of the invention, other
embodiments incorporating the concepts of the invention may also be
used. Although the described concepts fall generally into the field
of music simulators within the genre of the rhythm action game, the
principles of the invention can extend to other areas of video game
creation, development, concepts, ideas, usages, utilizations,
competition, collaboration, and function. Therefore, the invention
should not be limited to certain embodiments, but rather should be
limited only by the spirit and scope of the following claims.
* * * * *