Patent ID: 8371940

Claim:
A method of providing for video game play of a music-based video game, including in-game transitioning between one player playing the video game and two or more players playing the video game during a presentation of a music piece, the method comprising: providing game play for at least one game player, including commanding presentation of a timed sequence of audio and video information corresponding to the music piece for the at least one game player based on game program instructions and inputs from at least one controller associated with the at least one game player; determining whether a further player is joining the video game during the music piece based on at least an input signal from a further controller, the further controller not already associated with the at least one game player; if the further player is joining the video game during the music piece, providing game play for the at least one game player and the further player without disruption of the music piece, including commanding presentation of a timed sequence of audio and video information corresponding to the music piece for the at least one game player and the further player based on the game program instructions and inputs from the at least one controller and the further controller; determining whether a particular player is quitting the video game during the music piece, the particular player being one of the at least one game player or the further player; and if the particular player is quitting the video game during the music piece, commanding presentation of the timed sequence of audio and video information for the at least one game player and the further player without audio and video information for the particular player, and without disruption of the music piece.