WO2005118094A1

WO2005118094A1 - Electronic tune game

Info

Publication number: WO2005118094A1
Application number: PCT/GB2004/002448
Authority: WO
Inventors: Byron Michael Byrd
Original assignee: Byron Michael Byrd
Priority date: 2004-06-04
Filing date: 2004-06-04
Publication date: 2005-12-15

Abstract

The electronic tune game has the ability to playback pre-recorded contemporary or standard songs as 'song snips' for contestants in competition to recognise first. The tune naming game includes a centre position microphone (1) and speaker (2). The base unit (3) contains electronic circuitry, button switches (5, 6) LED displays (7), and sequential LED light configuration under button switches (8). The electronics are programmable to create various modes of game play and the unit is DC operated.

Description

ELECTRONIC TUNE GAME

The invention relates to an electronic tune game, including the ability to playback pre-recorded contemporary or standard songs as 'song snips' for contestants in competition to recognise first. The invention also has the ability to disguise the songs with different intensities of sound effects and playback modes to increase the difficulty of game play. Another mode of play enables the tune game to play pre-recorded songs or melodies in an incomplete form requiring contestants to complete the song or melody vocally first and then the contestants are scored by the tune game's ability to detect time and pitch. The 'song snips' are prerecorded on digital sound/data cards, and after a predetermined game length has been selected, the electronic tune game electronically processes and computes a winner with a digital voice.

The invention has an optional 'true performance' function on the base unit which can be selected to audition, compute, and determine winners by the participants singing ability from their preciseness to pitch and time.

Such other games are non-existent that features the ability to play pre-recorded 'song snips' in a random or categorical fashion stored on digital sound/data cards and to recognise one's voice performance over a variety of different songs or melodies in a competitive manner and determine a winner. Unlike in normal karaoke or sing-along devices, this invention enable players to compete in a tune quiz with contemporary or standard music and make competitive decisions within various game play modes. The players can use contemporary music as well as standard music compositions by just changing the digital sound/data card and the corresponding translucent plastic 'picture overlay.' Also unlike existing games, this invention has the ability to disguise the songs with different intensities of sound effects and playback modes (e.g. tempo changes, pitch changes, reverse play, etc.) to increase the difficulty of game play.

Accordingly, this invention provides removable and interchangeable 'sound snips' digital sound/data cards containing songs. Symmetrically placed for each contestant on the circular base of game unit, there are multiple choice buttons, one 'quick answer' button, 'right' and 'wrong' answer buttons, and electronic display windows. The tune game has a digital timer, microphone, speaker, sequential light display, central score display, additional control buttons, control knobs, external audio output feature, socket for a digital sound/data card (e.g. Smartmedia, Flash Memory), and a translucent plastic 'overlay' corresponding to the digital sound/media card. Preferably the base unit is made of plastic material. It can also be made in an assortment of plastic colours. An additional headphone/microphone socket is on the unit for personal or private use. The components of the base unit consist of momentary switch's, LED lights, micro-processors, digital memory microchips, various electronic components for sound amplification, and components for pitch and time detection. The base unit also contains a socket for a digital sound/data card. The unit is powered by dry cell batteries for portable use or a transformer that connects to a main power supply. MP3 or other digital recording technology can replace the microchip technology for more clarity in audio performance, also with other external audio output features. The unit will have optional MIDI file capability with sequencing software, on-board GM (General MIDI) sound module and external MIDI output to keyboard and sound modules. A Compact Disc (CD) or Digital VideoDisc (DVD) option will have image capability to interface with television or video display units and a software version for compatible use with existing video game manufacturers.

Additional 'picture overlays' and digital sound/data cards can be replaced or interchanged to diversify the contents of the tune game unit to the latest artists record releases, archive and catalogue music, holiday songs, or change music and chart position announcements to different languages plus include sponsor recorded advertising tags.

Claims

1. A tune naming game is circular in design with a centre position loud speaker/microphone and an array of switches used to select music categories plus pre-recorded, programmed, or midi generated music and can electronically disguise this music in various time lengths controlled manually or automatically by competitors to win against their opponents in the game play.

2. A tune naming game as in Claim 1 electronically processes and computes and digitally announces a winner.

3. A tune naming game as in Claim 1 and Claim 2 determines by quick response and correct answers from the competitors an overall winner after a predetermined game length has been selected or a by a finite category of play.

4. A tune naming game as in Claim 1, Claim 2 and Claim 3 has an optional 'true performance' function on the base unit, which can be selected to compute, and determine winners by the participants singing ability from their preciseness to pitch and time.

5. A tune naming game as in any proceeding claim can play pre-recorded songs or melodies in an incomplete form requiring contestants to complete the song or melody vocally first and then the contestants are scored by the tune naming game's ability to detect time and pitch.

6. A tune naming game as in any proceeding claim can accommodate additional digital sound cartridges or digital sound cards corresponding paper/plastic instructional picture Overlays' that can be interchanged or replaced by game participants.

7. A tune naming game as in any proceeding claim can enable sound recordings, sound storage, and playback by digital technology including digital sound cards, or any other professional digital sound recording and sound playback format in commercial or home use applications (e.g. MP3 format).

8. A tune naming game as in Claim 1, Claim 2 and Claim 3 can provide MIDI playback technology with a General MIDI sound module build onboard and/or trigger other MIDI equipment externally such as keyboards and sound modules connected via a MIDI cable.

9. A tune naming game as in any proceeding claim can be replicated for use in software version consumer applications such a commercial and home-style video games.

10. A tune naming game as in any proceeding ciaim can provide remote- recording performances by the game participants by a detachable FM microphone with a base unit receiver implemented into the design.

ii. A tune naming game as in any proceeding claim can be replicated in a video version.

12. A tune naming game substantially as herein described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.