Simulated Guitar Controller with Split Strum Bar

Abstract

A simulated guitar controller is disclosed that facilitates a player using multiple fingers to strum notes which includes a body portion, a plurality of strum bars disposed on a front face of the body portion, a neck portion extending outwardly away from the body portion, and a plurality of fret buttons disposed on the neck portion.

1 . A game controller simulating a guitar which facilitates a player using multiple fingers to strum notes, the controller comprising:
 a body portion;   a plurality of strum bars disposed on a front face of the body portion;   a neck portion extending outwardly away from the body portion; and   a plurality of fret buttons disposed on the neck portion.   
     
     
         2 . The game controller of  claim 1  further comprising a thumb rest positioned on the front face of the body portion. 
     
     
         3 . The game controller of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of strum bars pivot with respect to a single axis. 
     
     
         4 . The game controller of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of strum bars pivot with respect to a plurality of axis. 
     
     
         5 . The game controller of  claim 4  wherein the plurality of strum bars correspond to a plurality of pivot bars. 
     
     
         6 . The game controller of  claim 5  wherein the plurality of pivot bars are arranged in parallel on the body portion. 
     
     
         7 . The game controller of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of strum bars is connected electrically in common. 
     
     
         8 . The game controller of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of strum bars shares a common pivot bar. 
     
     
         9 . The game controller of  claim 1  wherein activation of each of the plurality of strum bars causes the controller to produce a unique output. 
     
     
         10 . The game controller of  claim 1  wherein activation of each of the plurality of strum bars causes the controller to produce an identical output. 
     
     
         11 . The game controller of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of strum bars comprises three strum bars. 
     
     
         12 . The game controller of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of strum bars comprises four strum bars. 
     
     
         13 . The game controller of  claim 1  further comprising a whammy knob. 
     
     
         14 . A method for facilitating interaction of a video game player with a game controller that simulates a guitar, the method comprising:
 providing a game controller comprising a body portion, a neck portion extending outwardly from the body portion, and a plurality of strum bars positioned on a front face of the body portion;   displaying to the player a first target musical data associate with a musical composition; and   detecting an input generated by the player strumming at least one of the plurality of strum bars that corresponds to the first target musical data.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the detecting step further comprises detecting an input generated by the player strumming more than one of the plurality of strum bars during a particular time period as a single strum. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising evaluating the input generated by the player and the first target musical data to provide a player score.