Patent ID: 8678895

Claim:
A method for providing a networked session of a rhythm action game on a game console, the method comprising: identifying at least one local input device configured to participate in the networked session of the rhythm action game corresponding to a band template, wherein the band template includes a plurality of slots, each slot is associated with a particular type of simulated musical instrument, and wherein each of the at least one local input device is i) a game controller coupled to the game console, ii) associated with a particular simulated musical instrument controller type, and iii) configured to be associated with one of the plurality of slots; for each of the at least one local input device, determining an associated one of the plurality of slots based on the simulated musical instrument controller type of the at least one local input device; determining that a first slot of the plurality of slots is not associated with any of the at least one local input device configured to participate in the networked session of the rhythm action game; determining a first simulated musical instrument controller type associated with the first slot; providing information to search for and identify a remote input device associated with the first simulated musical instrument controller type, wherein the remote input device is coupled to a remote game console in communication with the game console over a network; and providing the networked session of the rhythm action game with the at least one local input device and the remote input device.