WO2001083055A2 - Real time audio in video game - Google Patents
Real time audio in video game Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2001083055A2 WO2001083055A2 PCT/US2001/014106 US0114106W WO0183055A2 WO 2001083055 A2 WO2001083055 A2 WO 2001083055A2 US 0114106 W US0114106 W US 0114106W WO 0183055 A2 WO0183055 A2 WO 0183055A2
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- sound
- file
- playback
- video game
- files
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- A63F13/10—
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
- A63F13/50—Controlling the output signals based on the game progress
- A63F13/54—Controlling the output signals based on the game progress involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
- A63F13/45—Controlling the progress of the video game
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
- A63F13/60—Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor
- A63F13/63—Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
- A63F13/30—Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
- A63F13/33—Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers using wide area network [WAN] connections
- A63F13/335—Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers using wide area network [WAN] connections using Internet
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
- A63F2300/60—Methods for processing data by generating or executing the game program
- A63F2300/6063—Methods for processing data by generating or executing the game program for sound processing
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
- A63F2300/60—Methods for processing data by generating or executing the game program
- A63F2300/69—Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a computer method and system for incorporating user-personalized music and/or sound into a video game.
- the soundtrack architecture of most video games involves the use of discreet audio samples.
- Each video game has a pre-determined set of soundfiles (samples or songs) that defines all of the soundtrack possibilities within a game.
- the technical specifications and gameplay parameters of these sound files e.g., file duratjon and deployment relative to stages of gameplay) are pre-set by the game developer.
- the current systems therefore, require the user (i.e., video game player) to listen to the soundtrack chosen by the game developer, which either may not agree with the user, or eventually bore the user, or both.
- This invention solves the current problem with video games by providing a system and method that permits a user to incorporate user-personalized songs and sounds into a video game.
- a method for incorporating user-personalized sound into a video game comprising: a) providing a music engine and an interface between the music engine and the video game, wherein the music engine is capable of providing a plurality of sound files to the video game, and further wherein the interface is capable of obtaining sound files from the music engine and presenting the sound files to the video game for playback; and b) sending a first signal from the video game to the interface to playback a first sound file from the music engine, thereby causing the music engine to send the first sound file to the video game for playback.
- a video game apparatus capable of incorporating user-personalized sound
- the apparatus comprising: a) music engine means capable of accessing a plurality of sound files; b) interface means capable of obtaining sound files from the music engine and presenting the sound files for playback; c) trigger means for sending signals to the interface to playback sound files from the music engine; and d) playback means for playing sound files.
- a sound file comprising a) data encoding a song or a sample, and b) a first encoded tag associated with the data containing information about how to use the data.
- an encoded tag text file for identifying a sound file to be played back
- the text file comprising: a) first data encoding the location of the sound file; b) second data encoding the duration of the sound file; c) third data encoding the instruction that triggers the playback of the sound file; and d) fourth data encoding information about the sound file.
- a computer program that incorporates playback of a sound file by means of an encoded tag text file associated with the sound file, the program comprising: a) an instruction corresponding to an instruction in the encoded tag text file that triggers playback of the sound file; b) sound file retrieval means comprising means for obtaining location data for the sound file from the encoded tag text file; and c) sound file playback means comprising means for obtaining data from the encoded tag text file about where the beginning and endpoints of playback are.
- a method of user-personalizing sound playback associated with a computer program comprising: a) generating a list of one or more events contained in the program to be associated with user-selected sound files; b) for each sound file selected by the user, prompting the user to generate an encoded tag text file associated with that sound file, the encoded tag text file comprising first data encoding the location of the sound file, second data encoding the duration of the sound file, third data encoding the instruction that triggers the playback of the sound file, and fourth data encoding information about the sound file; and c) using the generated encoded tag text files to playback the sound files.
- Figure 1 is a flow chart describing the path of execution of a music engine.
- Figure 2 is a flow chart describing the process of playing a sound file for a soundtrack or event.
- Figure 3 is a class diagram describing how a music engine is implemented.
- Music engine refers to a device that functions as an intermediary audio controller between a media program, such as a video or computer game, and the operating platform for the media program, such as a personal computer or a video game console. Most often, the music engine is a software program.
- Interface refers to the portion of the music engine that interacts with the outside.
- the music engine will have interfaces that interact with the media program, such as the video or computer game, with a set of sound files, and with a game player.
- User-personalized refers to a capability of a media program, such as a video or computer game, to permit a user (such as a player of a video game or computer game) to change aspects of that program for personal preference.
- a user such as a player of a video game or computer game
- Particular aspects of the program that are user-personalized are the music and sounds associated with the program.
- Signal refers to an electronic message sent by one part of a device that is recognized and responded to by another part of the device.
- Sound file refers to an electronically stored data file which is capable of being read and played back as some type of sound. Typical sound files will encode samples or songs. “Song”, as used herein, refers to a piece of music. “Sample”, as used herein, refers to a portion of a song.
- Encoded tag refers to an electronically stored piece of data that may be part of a sound file, or may be associated with a sound file, but is not played back as sound. Instead, the tag identifies one or more characteristics of the sound file, such as its title, function, duration, components, and the like, which helps the music engine determine when and how the sound file associated with the tag should be played back.
- the encoded tag may also contain information about its relationship to other encoded tags, or its relationship to programs that use the encoded tag to retrieve a sound file or files.
- Streaming refers to a mode of playback of a sound file in which the sound file is loaded into a memory area in two or more sections, each succeeding section being loaded into a buffer before the previous section has finished playing back.
- Streaming playback may be used with sound files that are local (e.g., on the same device) or distant (e.g., on a network or on the internet).
- a sound file may be "streamed" directly from a hard drive, or from a server on the internet.
- the streaming playback is used to access "streaming audio", which is basically a "radio station” on the internet or network. That is, a series of two or more songs are “streamed” sequentially from a single site, or "channel". Often, like airwave-based radio stations, the songs on a single channel are related in some way, such as jazz, lite rock, or classical music.
- the music engine of the invention is a device that permits a media program, such as a video game, for example, to access virtually any type of sound file and insert it into a program at a defined or pre-arranged spot. In this fashion, the music engine allows user-personalized sounds or music to be incorporated into the media program.
- the music engine is software, or a computer program.
- the music engine software may be written in any type of programming language.
- the music engine software is written in a programming language that is capable of interacting with a multitude of other languages.
- the music engine must also interface with sound files.
- the music engine software is programmed to be capable of interacting with a number of sound file formats, such as MP3, Liquid Audio, Red Book Audio, Realaudio, Windows Media, WAV, and the like
- the preferable use of the music engine of the invention is in conjunction with a video or computer game.
- the music engine is designed to interface with gaming platforms such as PC, Macintosh, Sony Playstation 1 , Sony Playstation 2, Sega Dreamcast, Nintendo 64, Nintendo Game Cube,. and Microsoft's X-Box. Browser- or internet-compatible music engines, or music engines interfaced with online single- or multi-player gaming are also encompassed.
- the music engine is also contemplated to be used with a variety of media programs, both known and yet to be employed. Without limitation, some other media programs that can interact with the music engine are: film, video, DVD and CD-ROMs.
- the music engine When a media program, such as a video game, uses the music engine, the music engine first runs an initialization 1 procedure as shown in Figure 1.
- the initialization procedure sets up a sound playback system, such as DirectSound, for example, and a plurality of buffers so that sound files can be taken from the user source (e.g., a computer hard drive) and played back.
- the initialization procedure also obtains all necessary user-defined scheme information from a central location. This scheme information includes events that will be signaled, sound files associated with those events, and sound files associated if in soundtrack mode.
- the initialization also initiates a worker thread which services the buffers when sound files are being played.
- the music engine determines from the scheme information obtained whether it is playing in Event or Soundtrack mode 2.
- Event mode the engine will obtain an event number from the media program 3 and retrieve the appropriate event sound file and cause it to be played back. It will continue to receive subsequent event signals 4 and play them back until there are no more signaled events and a Destroy signal is received 6.
- the destroy command shuts down the sound playback system, and clears the buffers that are used to play the files. Any memory allocated for music playback or sound file storage is destroyed. The worker thread is also stopped since it is no longer needed.
- Soundtrack mode 5 a sound file containing a "song" comprising the soundtrack for the media program is retrieved by the engine, and played back until Destroy command 6 is received.
- the music Engine also employs the following methods:
- DisplayPreferencesQ This method creates a windows dialog that is used to change the sound files associated with certain events and soundtracks. When called, the method obtains all of the information that has been stored in the central location. Once a user confirms preferences by selecting "OK" in the dialog, then DiplayPreferences() will take the changed information and store it back in the central location.
- GetEventCount() During initialization, the total number of Events that are registered for the game is stored. GetEventCount() simply returns the number of events that are used.
- PlayEventQ This method takes in the number of the event to be played, and uses this number to locate the sound file associated with this event, as described in step 3 above. Once the file and filename is located, the music engine causes the sound file to be played back.
- PlayFile() This method takes in a filename, locates it, and causes the sound file to be played back. This imethod is the same as PlayEvent() except it takes a filename rather than an event number.
- PlaySoundtrack() This method opens the first file that is in the soundtrack and causes the sound file to be played back. Once the first file is done playing, then the next file in the soundtrack list is opened and played. The engine will follow a protocol such as that shown in Figure 2. Stop() - This method closes an opened sound file and tells DirectSound to stop playing the file.
- the music engine of the invention causes sound files to be played back.
- Sound files may be played back in a variety of fashions.
- Samples typically shorter fragments of sound or music, or pieces of songs
- Songs longer pieces of music
- Songs or samples may also be played back, starting at a point other than the beginning, and may be looped to repeat a portion less than the entirety of the sound file.
- Such techniques may be accomplished with the use of encoded tags.
- Encoded tags are used in a sound file to help the music engine recognize the identity of the sound file and match it with the corresponding sound file play command issued from the media program.
- Tags can identify the beginning and end of playback, and where, if any, "looped" playback should begin and end.
- Tags can also specify the following information associated with a sound file: 1 ) game title; 2) platform; and 3) where in the media program to play back the file.
- the encoded tag is a text file comprising data.
- the data in the text file may include one or more of the following: location data, duration data, playback trigger data, and sound file data.
- the encoded tag comprises at least location data and playback trigger data.
- Location data includes data about where the associated sound file is located. For example it may contain the memory address on a local or network computer where the file is located, or the location on an internet website where the file is located. Additionally, the location data may optionally include a URL or hyperlink directing the user to an e-commerce site where the user could automatically purchase or access the content described in the sound file. Hyperlinks to other related material could also be included. The location data could also include time-sensitive URLs or hyperlinks that could serve as an "admission ticket", that is, directing the user to a limited-time event, such as a live concert or webcast.
- Duration data includes data about where in the sound file playback begins and ends and how long playback lasts. Accordingly, duration data may include the start time (point in the sound file where playback begins), end time (point in the sound file where playback ends), duration (distance from start time to end time) and loop information (whether the portion of the sound file is to be played once or repeatedly in a looped fashion).
- Playback trigger data includes data that determines what type of program event triggers playback of the associated sound file.
- playback trigger data may include the name of certain program events (e.g., "Introduction"), or in the case of a video game program, the name of certain video game events (e.g., "monster attack” or "health low”).
- Playback trigger data may also be gameworld- location based.
- the data may refer to certain "virtual" locations in the game world, such as a marketplace, or a club, or the player's home base. In this embodiment, the playback trigger data will trigger certain sound files when the virtual player arrives at certain virtual locations.
- Sound file data includes data about the sound file.
- sound file data may include file type (e.g., song, loop, sound), file program type (e.g., mp3, wav, etc.), file name (e.g., name of song and author/performer data).
- file type e.g., song, loop, sound
- file program type e.g., mp3, wav, etc.
- file name e.g., name of song and author/performer data.
- the encoded tag can also include effects processing data.
- Effects processing data comprise one or more instructions for processing the sound encoded by the sound file.
- Sound processing instructions include, for example, instructions for modifying the sound envelope (equalization, or EQ), and adding effects such as reverberation (reverb) and tremolo well known in the art.
- effects processing data may instruct the music engine to play a sound file with additional "hall reverb" and a "jazz-like EQ". Such processing can be accomplished by calling "effects plug-ins" that are custom made or commercially available.
- a music engine only needs to find a given point in the file and instead of playing the file until it ends, play it for the duration that the tag specifies.
- a single sound file may be "tagged” in different sections as various "start” and “end” points for playback.
- a group of two or more encoded tags may be assembled into encoded tag lists, optionally including the sound files associated with the encoded tags.
- An encoded tag list thus functions as a set of instructions for a game program, wherein the music engine will direct the playback of user-personalized sound files with specific game events or locations.
- a user may also utilize a computer program to aid in the generation of encoded tags.
- This computer program an "encoded tag generator” will take an initial computer program, and generate a list of one or more events. contained in the program to be associated with user-selected sound files. Then, for each such generated event, the encoded tag generator will prompt the user to identify a sound file to be associated with the event. The generator will then create one or more encoded tag for each event, comprising location data, duration data, playback trigger data and sound file data. The generator then provides the created encoded tags, so that the initial computer program will now run using the user-selected sound files during playback.
- the encoded tag generator may be used with a wide range of initial computer programs.
- Such programs comprise: video games, film, broadcasted content such as TV or radio, DVD, video, VCD, CD-ROM, or any programs that align or assemble a final media product where multiple content elements (sound, image, text, etc.) are arranged according to editorial instructions to play as a complete and cohesive whole.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2001579921A JP2003531703A (en) | 2000-05-02 | 2001-05-02 | Embed your own audio into video games in real time |
EP01932856A EP1287442A4 (en) | 2000-05-02 | 2001-05-02 | Real time incorporation of personalized audio into video game |
US10/275,150 US20030227473A1 (en) | 2001-05-02 | 2001-05-02 | Real time incorporation of personalized audio into video game |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US20116300P | 2000-05-02 | 2000-05-02 | |
US60/201,163 | 2000-05-02 | ||
US25276000P | 2000-11-22 | 2000-11-22 | |
US60/252,760 | 2000-11-22 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2001083055A2 true WO2001083055A2 (en) | 2001-11-08 |
WO2001083055A3 WO2001083055A3 (en) | 2002-02-21 |
Family
ID=26896460
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2001/014106 WO2001083055A2 (en) | 2000-05-02 | 2001-05-02 | Real time audio in video game |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1287442A4 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2003531703A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2001083055A2 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7794325B2 (en) | 2005-11-17 | 2010-09-14 | Microsoft Corporation | Dynamic in-game soundtrack for a console game machine |
US9636585B2 (en) | 2001-03-09 | 2017-05-02 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc | Method and apparatus for creating and playing soundtracks in a gaming system |
CN111198682A (en) * | 2018-11-19 | 2020-05-26 | 上海宜奇信息科技有限公司 | Television game application software development engine and implementation method |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7218739B2 (en) | 2001-03-09 | 2007-05-15 | Microsoft Corporation | Multiple user authentication for online console-based gaming |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US6021491A (en) * | 1996-11-27 | 2000-02-01 | Sun Microsystems, Inc. | Digital signatures for data streams and data archives |
US6096962A (en) * | 1995-02-13 | 2000-08-01 | Crowley; Ronald P. | Method and apparatus for generating a musical score |
US6248946B1 (en) * | 2000-03-01 | 2001-06-19 | Ijockey, Inc. | Multimedia content delivery system and method |
-
2001
- 2001-05-02 EP EP01932856A patent/EP1287442A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2001-05-02 JP JP2001579921A patent/JP2003531703A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2001-05-02 WO PCT/US2001/014106 patent/WO2001083055A2/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6096962A (en) * | 1995-02-13 | 2000-08-01 | Crowley; Ronald P. | Method and apparatus for generating a musical score |
US6021491A (en) * | 1996-11-27 | 2000-02-01 | Sun Microsystems, Inc. | Digital signatures for data streams and data archives |
US6248946B1 (en) * | 2000-03-01 | 2001-06-19 | Ijockey, Inc. | Multimedia content delivery system and method |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
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See also references of EP1287442A2 * |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9636585B2 (en) | 2001-03-09 | 2017-05-02 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc | Method and apparatus for creating and playing soundtracks in a gaming system |
US7794325B2 (en) | 2005-11-17 | 2010-09-14 | Microsoft Corporation | Dynamic in-game soundtrack for a console game machine |
CN111198682A (en) * | 2018-11-19 | 2020-05-26 | 上海宜奇信息科技有限公司 | Television game application software development engine and implementation method |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP1287442A2 (en) | 2003-03-05 |
EP1287442A4 (en) | 2005-01-26 |
WO2001083055A3 (en) | 2002-02-21 |
JP2003531703A (en) | 2003-10-28 |
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