A method for reproducing media items using a first entertainment device, the first entertainment device being operable to communicate with a portable entertainment device via a wireless communication link, and the first entertainment device comprising media reproduction means operable to reproduce one or more media items stored on a removable storage medium comprises: reproducing a first media item using the media reproduction means, the first media item being stored on a first removable storage medium; generating, using a user interface associated with the portable entertainment device, a media list of one or more media items for reproduction by the first entertainment device; collating the media list at the first entertainment device, whilst the first media item is being reproduced by the media reproduction means; designating, at the first entertainment device, a second media item as the next media item to be reproduced by the media reproduction means after completion of the reproduction of the first media item, the second media item being selected from the media list collated at the first entertainment device; and detecting, whilst the first media item is being reproduced by the media reproduction means, whether the second media item is stored on the first removable storage medium, and, if the second media item is detected as not being stored on the first removable storage medium, storing media data relating to the first media item to a local storage medium, so that the first media item may be reproduced in dependence upon the media data stored in the local storage medium to allow the first removable storage medium to be exchanged with a second removable storage medium associated with the second media item whilst the first media item is being reproduced by the media reproduction means.

A motion detector (1T1) provided for movement with a performer and a control system (1M) for receiving detection data transmitted from the motion detector and controlling a performance of a tone in response to the received detection data are provided. State of a performer's motion is detected via a sensor (MS1) of the motion detector, and detection data representative of the detected motion state is transmitted to the control system. The control system receives the detection data, analyzes the performer's motion on the basis of the detection data, and then controls a tone performance in accordance with the analyzed data. For example, as the performer moves his hand, leg or trunk while listening to a music performance being carried out by a performance apparatus (1S) of the control system, the detector detects the performer's motion and transmits corresponding detection data to the control system, which in turn variably controls the music performance.

A motion detector (1T1) provided for movement with a performer and a control system (1M) for receiving detection data transmitted from the motion detector and controlling a performance of a tone in response to the received detection data are provided. State of a performer's motion is detected via a sensor (MS1) of the motion detector, and detection data representative of the detected motion state is transmitted to the control system. The control system receives the detection data, analyzes the performer's motion on the basis of the detection data, and then controls a tone performance in accordance with the analyzed data. For example, as the performer moves his hand, leg or trunk while listening to a music performance being carried out by a performance apparatus (1S) of the control system, the detector detects the performer's motion and transmits corresponding detection data to the control system, which in turn variably controls the music performance.

A motion detector (1T1) provided for movement with a performer and a control system (1M) for receiving detection data transmitted from the motion detector and controlling a performance of a tone in response to the received detection data are provided. State of a performer's motion is detected via a sensor (MS1) of the motion detector, and detection data representative of the detected motion state is transmitted to the control system. The control system receives the detection data, analyzes the performer's motion on the basis of the detection data, and then controls a tone performance in accordance with the analyzed data. For example, as the performer moves his hand, leg or trunk while listening to a music performance being carried out by a performance apparatus (1S) of the control system, the detector detects the performer's motion and transmits corresponding detection data to the control system, which in turn variably controls the music performance.

A portable telephone is designed to realize portable telephone functions and game device functions, particularly music games, which are embodied by a vibration device such as a vibration sensor and a vibration motor. When the user swings and vibrates the portable telephone like a maraca in synchronization with the rhythm of a prescribed musical tune, the vibration device produces vibration pulses, which are compared with rhythm pulses. Then, a score is marked on user's operation to swing the portable telephone on the basis of time differences detected between the vibration pulses and rhythm pulses and is displayed on the screen of a display.

Score of a music piece is visually shown on a display. When a particular style of rendition is to be imparted to a desired note on the musical score, a user selects a desired one of style-of-rendition icons and designates a desired note location on the score to paste the icon. Thus, the selected style-of-rendition icon is shown on the display in corresponding relation to the designated pasting location. The style-of-rendition icons are appropriately associated with sets of style-of-rendition parameters, so that performance data, i.e., tonal characteristics of the note, corresponding to the pasted location of the style-of-rendition icon is controlled, in accordance with the style-of-rendition parameters corresponding to the pasted style-of-rendition icon on the musical score, to thereby achieve a performance in the style of rendition corresponding to the pasted icon. On the display, the icon pasted to the desired note location is designated for editing.

The present disclosure is directed at methods, apparatus and systems for implementing an improvised guitar playing feature on a rhythm-action game. The improvised guitar playing feature allows players to manipulate a guitar controller to produce a pleasing, musical-sounding improvised play even if the players have little experience or skill at improvising music. This feature uses quantized 8^th and 16^th note musical phrases, or "licks", strung together to form authentic, melodic, and rhythmically musical and impressive guitar lines, regardless of the player's ability. The improvised guitar playing feature can also display cues directing the player to improvise in a certain manner, while still providing players a degree of musical freedom in selecting how to play. In some embodiments, the present disclosure is also directed at scoring mechanisms for evaluating improvised guitar play.

At a time T0, prior read reproduction is started with a volume of 0. Upon starting the prior read reproduction, MIDI events containing note events are sequentially generated. Each time each of the note events is generated, note data is generated based on these note events and sequentially stored in a note pool (123). At a time T1, actual reproduction is started. After the time T1, the actual reproduction and the prior read reproduction are concurrently performed at a same speed. Accordingly, the prior read reproduction precedes invariably two bars ahead of the actual reproduction. Information pertinent to notes contained in a part from a currently played position to a position two bars ahead of the currently played position can be easily obtained from the note pool (123).

An information processing apparatus is provided which includes a metadata extraction unit for analyzing an audio signal in which a plurality of instrument sounds are present in a mixed manner and for extracting, as a feature quantity of the audio signal, metadata changing along with passing of a playing time, and a player parameter determination unit for determining, based on the metadata extracted by the metadata extraction unit, a player parameter for controlling a movement of a player object corresponding to each instrument sound.

A guitar controller for a tablet computer is disclosed. The guitar controller includes a body having a cavity formed therein sized and dimensioned to receive a tablet computer. The body has an edge on a front of the body defining an opening into the cavity. The edge has a thickness forming a lip into the opening wherein the lip is configured and arranged to be received partially over the tablet computer. A neck extends from the body and has a plurality of simulated fret positions thereon. An electronic circuit is included and configured and arranged to transmit a message encoded with presses of the simulated fret positions to the tablet computer.

A guitar controller for a tablet computer is disclosed. The guitar controller includes a body having a cavity formed therein sized and dimensioned to receive a tablet computer. The body has an edge on a front of the body defining an opening into the cavity. The edge has a thickness forming a lip into the opening wherein the lip is configured and arranged to be received partially over the tablet computer. A neck extends from the body and has a plurality of simulated fret positions thereon. An electronic circuit is included and configured and arranged to transmit a message encoded with presses of the simulated fret positions to the tablet computer.

Es wird ein Spielgerät mit mehreren im Kreis angeordneten und zu einem so genannten Tastenrad zusammengefassten Tasten, und mit einer Einrichtung zur Klangerzeugung, die bei Betätigung einer Taste einen bestimmten Ton oder bestimmten Text erzeugt, wobei unterschiedlichen Tasten unterschiedliche Töne oder Texte zugeordnet sind, und mit einer Anzeigeeinrichtung, welche wenigstens eine bestimmte Taste anzeigt oder auf eine Taste weist, vorgeschlagen.