Harmonix Music Systems, Inc.

Bryn Bennett

Sylvain Dubrofsky

Jason Deling Booth

Daniel Charles Teasdale

Michael Monsalvatge

Matthew J Sharpe

Daniel A Schmidt

Joshua Forrest Stoddard

Douglas Robert Applewhite

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.

Simulating musical instruments

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.

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.

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Somerville, MA, United States of America

Bryn Bennett