FR2932099A1 - Virtual reality system for playing guitar, has video game console executing playing of guitar, programmed for detecting actuating sequence of control button and for controlling sound similar to glissando from transmission console - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has an immersive game controller (11) connected to a portable video game console (10) that executes playing of guitar. The controller has general shape of guitar defining a part in the form of body (12), and a part in the form of handle (13) is divided into distal and proximal zones (13b, 13a) on which control buttons (14b, 14a) are placed respectively. Playing of guitar is programmed to detect an actuating sequence of the button on one of the zones and for controlling sound emitted from a transmission console corresponding to glissando by bottleneck in glass, metal or plastic. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a storage medium for storing a video game program for playing a guitar using a game controller (2) a method for playing a guitar using a virtual reality system.

Description

The present invention generally relates to a virtual reality system for playing the guitar, the system comprising a video game console or computer for performing a guitar video game and an immersive guitar-shaped accessory serving as the guitar game controller. The invention also relates to the immersive accessory, the storage support for the guitar game and a method for playing the guitar using this virtual reality system. More particularly the invention relates to the realization of special effects related to playing guitar. The field of video games is constantly evolving and it is necessary to make the games ever more immersive to seduce the users and provide them with sensations of games simulating ever more real conditions they might encounter. For this purpose, it has been developed a number of immersive accessories that the player uses in particular as a game controller. It is known in the prior art, in particular US 7 ° 320 ° 643, a game controller in General guitar form, shown in Figure 1, used with a guitar simulation game to give the impression to the player to actually play the guitar. The guitar 1 comprises a first portion 2 in the form of a box and a second portion 3 in the form of a handle, linked to the box. The handle is divided into two distal zones 3a and 3b proximal to the body. A first set of buttons 4a is arranged on the distal area 3a and a second set of buttons 4b is arranged on the proximal area 3b. The two sets of buttons are connected together so that each button in a series corresponds to a button in the other series. This guitar-shaped immersive game controller is used in a virtual reality system to play the guitar requiring an additional installation including the monitor 5 or television screen necessary to display the game information, a

console 7 or the computer on which the guitar game 8 is loaded, a connection 6 between the console and the monitor as well as a connection to a power supply network (not shown), and possibly a console support (also not shown).

Although such a virtual reality system for playing the guitar has some commercial success, it nevertheless has certain limitations vis-à-vis the visual effects and sound that can be obtained with, and therefore does not allow optimize the immersive character initially sought. Incidentally, insofar as another significant aspect of the evolution in the field of video games is the miniaturization and portability of the game elements constituting the virtual reality system, that presented in document US Pat. No. 7,320,643 is bulky and therefore less attractive in terms of portability. The object of the present invention is to respond to the various disadvantages mentioned above, and first of all to provide a virtual reality system allowing the player to benefit from increased immersiveness by obtaining a new visual and sound effect. similar to a visual and sound effect obtained in reality. For this, a first aspect of the invention relates to a virtual reality system for playing the guitar comprising a video game console or computer running a guitar game and an immersive game controller connected to the console and having a general shape of guitar defining a first body-shaped portion and a second sleeve-shaped portion, which is divided into a distal zone on which is arranged at least a first control member and a proximal zone, connected to the body, on which is arranged at least one second control member, characterized in that the guitar play is programmed to detect an actuation sequence of a control member located on one of the distal or proximal zones followed by the actuation of an organ from -3

control located on the other distal or proximal zone and to control the console the emission of a sound similar to a glissando. Such a virtual reality system for playing the guitar makes it possible to obtain a visual and sound effect of glissando, also called slide effect according to English terminology. Such a glissando effect is translated visually by the sliding of the player's hand along the shaft from the distal zone to the proximal zone or vice versa, and sounding by the emission of a sound similar to that of a continuous sliding of one note to another, either by passing from one note to the other by a group of intermediate notes. Thus thanks to this new effect, integrated in the system, the visual and sound rendering makes the game much more immersive not only for the player but also for the people watching and listening to play. According to an advantageous variant, the glissando sound effect emitted corresponds to the sound emitted by sliding of a bottleneck, that is to say, literally of a bottleneck. Depending on the desired glissando sound effect, the sound emitted may reproduce that obtained by means of a bottleneck made of glass, metal or plastic. According to another advantageous variant, the sound emitted corresponds to a glissando between the two actuated actuators. Thus, the more remote the two control members, the more the sliding effect of the hand of the player is marked and makes the game even more immersive. According to another advantageous variant, the sequence also comprises the actuation of a control member located on the initially actuated zone. Such a sequence requires the player to go back and forth on the neck of the guitar. According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to an immersive gaming controller in the form of a general guitar for a virtual reality system according to the first aspect, comprising a first body-shaped part and a second part in the form of a handle, which is 4

divided into a distal zone on which is arranged at least a first control member and a proximal zone, connected to the body, on which is arranged at least a second control member, characterized in that the controller is arranged to transmit to the consoles a sequence of consecutive actuation of a control member located on one and then the other distal and proximal areas of the handle. According to an advantageous variant, there is provided a series of at least three control members on the distal portion of the handle and a single control member on the proximal portion. Advantageously, the distance separating the control member from the proximal portion of the control member from the nearest distal portion is greater than or equal to the length occupied by the series of control members on the distal portion. . According to another advantageous variant, there is provided a first tactile mark on the control member of the proximal portion and a second tactile mark on the control member closest to the distal portion for effecting a glissando effect. According to another advantageous variant, the second body-shaped part comprises a housing adapted to receive a video game console to perform the guitar game. Such a variant makes it possible to obtain greater portability of the system insofar as the use of a screen and a connection with an electrical network is no longer necessary. According to another advantageous variant, a connector is provided in the housing, connected on the one hand to the control members to connect to the console and on the other hand to a loudspeaker integrated to the body to emit the sounds of the game generated by the console. According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a storage medium on which is stored a video game program for playing the guitar by means of a guitar-shaped game controller having a first body-shaped part and a second part shaped

handle, which is divided into a distal zone on which is arranged at least a first control member and a proximal zone, connected to the body, on which is arranged at least a second control member, characterized in that the guitar game is programmed to detect a sequence of consecutive actuation of a control member located on one and then the other of the distal and proximal regions of the handle and to control the emission of a sound similar to a glissando. According to a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a method for playing the guitar using a virtual reality system according to the first aspect, comprising the steps of actuating a control member of a distal or proximal zone of the shaft of the guitar, actuate a control member of the other distal or proximal zone of the neck of the guitar, and transmit a control signal to the game console to emit a sound similar to a glissando.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention given as non-limiting examples and illustrated by the appended drawings, in which: Figure 1, already described, shows an immersive guitar-shaped accessory for use with a fixed console and an independent monitor; FIG. 2 represents a virtual reality system for playing the guitar according to one embodiment of the invention; FIG. 3 represents an immersive game controller for the virtual reality system 25 according to the embodiment of FIG. 3. The invention will be described hereinafter solely by way of nonlimiting example in relation with FIGS. 3, Figure 1 having already been described in connection with the prior art. -6-

Figure 2 shows a virtual reality system for playing the guitar. The system includes a computer or video game console, preferably a portable console 10 and an immersive game controller 11 having a general guitar form. The guitar-shaped game controller 11 comprises a first part, in the form of a box 12, in which is advantageously provided a housing adapted to receive the console 10 and a second part, in the form of a handle 13 s extending from the box. The handle comprises a proximal zone 13a, ie close to the body, on which is arranged at least a first control member, for example a button 14a, and a distal zone 13b, ie remote from the body, on which is arranged at least one and preferably several control members, for example in the form of buttons 14b. The game controller 11 is connected to the console 10 so as to be able to transmit information relating to the actuation of the control members 14a and 14b located on the handle 13. The guitar game, intended to be loaded on the console, is programmed to detect an actuation sequence of one of the buttons 14b located on the distal zone 13b followed by the actuation of the button 14a located on the proximal zone 13a and to control the console 10 the emission of a similar sound to a glissando. Alternatively, the guitar game can detect an actuation sequence of the button 14a located on the proximal zone 13a followed by the actuation of one of the buttons 14b located on the distal zone 13b. Thus, the player performing this button actuation sequence obtains a double sound and visual effect. Indeed, the game controls the emission of the sound of glissando being able of that of a continuous sliding of a note to another, or that obtained by the passage of a note to the other by a group of intermediate notes, while visually the player's hand came sliding down the neck 13 of the guitar. In this way, an increased immersive effect is obtained.

Many alternative embodiments are possible. It can be expected that the sound effect glissando issued corresponds to the sound emitted by -7-

sliding of a bottleneck, that is to say, literally a bottleneck. Depending on the desired glissando sound effect, the sound emitted may reproduce that obtained by means of a bottleneck made of glass, metal or plastic. It may also be provided that the sound emitted corresponds to a glissando between the two actuated actuators. Thus, the more remote the two control members, the more the sliding effect of the player's hand is marked and the more the sound obtained makes this sliding effect. It can also be provided that the sequence also includes the actuation of a control member located on the initially actuated area, which visually amounts to the player making a round trip on the neck of the guitar. In order to make the game even more immersive, it is preferably provided two man-machine interfaces to play. The first interface is integrated into the portable video game console and the second interface is integrated into the guitar, which is connected to the console. The player transmits first control signals through the first interface linked to the console and second control signals through the second interface related to the guitar. Through the connection between the guitar and the console, the second control signals are transmitted to the console, which includes a processing unit for generating sound signals as a function of the first and second control signals received. For this purpose, the first man-machine interface comprises a touch screen 15 on which the player scratches directly or by means of a stylus mediator to simulate the action of scraping the strings on a classical guitar. The second man-machine interface comprises the control buttons 14a and 14b arranged on the handle on which the player is pressing to simulate the action of pinching the strings on a classical guitar. The game instructions for scraping or pinching respectively the first, the second man-machine interface, may be provided to the player via a second control screen 16 of the console.

In this configuration, the two man-machine interfaces 15 and 14a, 14b are offset with respect to each other, so that the posture of the player's members, in contact with the two man-machine interfaces, is similar to the posture members during the actual activity of playing the guitar. This provides an increased immersive effect while having the portability and flexibility advantages of using a portable gaming console. FIG. 4 represents only the immersive game controller in the form of a guitar for a virtual reality system according to the embodiment explained in connection with FIG. 3. Thus, the guitar 11, including a first part, in the form of a box 12 in which is provided a housing 17 adapted to receive the console and serve as a support and a second part, in the form of a handle 13, which is arranged on the control buttons 14a and 14b. It is preferably provided a series of at least three buttons 14b on the distal portion 13b of the handle and a single button 14a on the proximal portion 13a. Advantageously to accentuate the visual glissando effect when performing the sequence provided for this purpose, there is a minimum distance "d" between the button 14a and the button 14b nearest. This minimum distance "d" is advantageously chosen greater than or equal to the length "I" occupied by the series of buttons 14b on the distal portion. According to a variant, there is provided a first tactile mark on the control member of the proximal portion and a second tactile mark on the control member closest to the distal portion for effecting a glissando effect. Thus, the player can easily perform a glissando effect by tactually identifying the two controls to activate without having to look away from the control screen of the console on which it follows the instructions of the game. Considering now the box 12 and 17, the connection between the immersive accessory and the console is provided at -9

the interior of the housing by means of a connector 18 integrated into the guitar and connected on the one hand to the buttons 14a, 14b and on the other hand connect to the console. This connection is advantageously also used to send the sounds generated by the console to the guitar 11 so as to benefit from a speaker 19 integrated into the body of the guitar and having a greater power than that of the portable console. The present invention also relates to a method for playing the guitar using a virtual reality system as presented above. The method comprises the steps of actuating a control member of one of the distal or proximal regions of the neck of the guitar, then actuating a control member of the other distal or proximal zone of the neck of the guitar, and transmitting a signal command to the game console to emit a sound similar to a glissando. It will be understood that various modifications and / or improvements obvious to those skilled in the art can be made to the various embodiments of the invention described in the present description without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

Claims (12)

REVENDICATIONS1. Virtual reality system for playing the guitar including a video game console (10) performing a guitar game and an immersive game controller (11) connected to the console and having a general guitar shape defining a first portion (12) in the form of a box and a second handle-shaped portion (13) which is divided into a distal zone (13b) on which at least a first control member (14b) and a proximal zone (13a) connected to the body, on which at least one second control member (14a) is arranged, characterized in that the guitar play is programmed to detect an actuation sequence of a control member located on one of the distal or proximal followed by the actuation of a control member located on the other distal or proximal zone and to control the console the emission of a sound similar to a glissando. 2. virtual reality system according to claim 1, characterized in that the sound emitted by the console is a glissando obtained by means of a bottleneck glass, metal or plastic. 3. Virtual reality system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sound emitted corresponds to a glissando between the two operating actuators. 4. Virtual reality system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sequence also comprises the actuation of a control member located on the initially actuated area. 5. The guitar-like virtual reality system immersive game controller (11) according to one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a first body-shaped portion (12) and a second portion (13) in the form of a body. sleeve shape, which is divided into a distal zone (13b) on which is arranged at least a first control member (14b) and a proximal zone (13a), connected to the body, on which is arranged at least a second control member (14a), characterized in that the controller is arranged to transmit to a video game console an actuation sequence of a control member located on one of the distal or proximal regions followed by actuation of a control member located on the other distal or proximal zone. 6. immersive controller according to claim 5, characterized in that there is provided a series of at least three control members on the distal portion of the handle and a single control member on the proximal portion. 7. immersive controller according to claim 6, characterized in that the distance (d) between the control member of the proximal portion and the closest to the control members the distal portion is greater than or equal to the length (I) occupied by the series of control organs on the distal part. 8. immersive controller according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that there is provided a first tactile mark on the control member of the proximal portion and a second tactile mark on the nearest control member distal part. 9. immersive controller according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the second body-shaped portion comprises a housing (17) adapted to receive a video game console to perform the game of guitar. 10. immersive controller according to claim 9, characterized in that there is provided a connector (18) in the housing, connected on the one hand to the control members to connect to the console and on the other hand to a built-in built-in speaker (19) to output the game sounds generated by the console. - 1: 2 - 11. A storage medium on which a video game program is stored for playing the guitar by means of a guitar-shaped game controller having a first body-shaped portion and a second sleeve-shaped portion, which is divided into a distal zone on which is arranged at least a first control member and a proximal zone, connected to the body, on which is arranged at least a second control member, characterized in that the guitar game is programmed to detect a sequence of consecutive actuation of a control member located on one and then the other of the distal and proximal regions of the handle and for controlling the emission of a sound similar to a glissando. 12. Method for playing the guitar by means of a virtual reality system according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: actuating a control member of a distal or proximal zone of the handle guitar; actuating a control member of the other distal or proximal zone of the neck of the guitar; transmitting a control signal to the game console to emit a sound similar to a glissando.