MTV Drumscape
Encyclopedia
MTV Drumscape is an arcade
drum
simulation
made by Devecka Enterprises. First introduced in 1997, it was designed with the intention of introducing players to music in a fun and interesting way. Drumscape resembles Karaoke
for drums and has been set up as a top earning "attraction" in the US and other countries by hundreds of amusement locations such as the Santa Cruz Boardwalk and several Las Vegas Casino game rooms. Production of Drumscape stopped in 2001.
A number of celebrity drummers and musicians are pictured on the drumscape website either playing the game or posing with its creators.
components including a DTX drumset, amplifier, a standard computer (running the Drumscape menu software on its OS
), a standard audio music player (such as CD system), and a standard VCR (not utilized in the final product). As claimed in its patent, it does not provide any cues for drumming.
. For this reason, compared to drumming games like DrumMania
it has seen comparatively lackluster success. While Drumscape aims to be the only drum simulation game in North America (due to the U.S. patent, which extends into Canada), many arcades have imported DrumMania to much success. This has put strong pressure on those arcades insisting on treading the more legally safe path.
's first Beat Mania game. Devecka Enterprises has claimed that its patents cover not only drumming games but all music games (including but not limited to Guitar Freaks, Guitar Hero, Rock Band, and Dance Dance Revolution
), however because its concept is very basic and that prior non-patented MIDI drumsets have been used as training tools and as input, the patent's validity has been called into question. Outside of the United States, Devecka's patents have been successfully challenged due to these claims. Neither Devecka nor MTV, for example, have challenged Konami or other music game companies (such as Harmonix for its Rock Band
series or Namco
for its Taiko no Tatsujin
drumming game).
Within the United States, Devecka Enterprises has attempted to bar the legal licensing of DrumMania
, a competitive and similar product that is more in line with traditional arcade games due to its ability to assign a score for player performance. Devecka's claim relies on its holding of the drum simulation game patent
in the United States.
Devecka Enterprises president, John Devecka, is a consultant for Red Octane and Activision
which now owns all of Devecka Enterprises' US and international patents and produces the Guitar Hero
series. All patents issued by the USPTO
are presumed valid.
Later Devecka patents include: (April 14, 1998) - Method and apparatus for simulating a jam session and instructing a user in how to play the drums (January 25, 2000) - Method and apparatus for simulating a jam session and instructing a user in how to play the drums
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
simulation
Simulation
Simulation is the imitation of some real thing available, state of affairs, or process. The act of simulating something generally entails representing certain key characteristics or behaviours of a selected physical or abstract system....
made by Devecka Enterprises. First introduced in 1997, it was designed with the intention of introducing players to music in a fun and interesting way. Drumscape resembles Karaoke
Karaoke
is a form of interactive entertainment or video game in which amateur singers sing along with recorded music using a microphone and public address system. The music is typically a well-known pop song minus the lead vocal. Lyrics are usually displayed on a video screen, along with a moving symbol,...
for drums and has been set up as a top earning "attraction" in the US and other countries by hundreds of amusement locations such as the Santa Cruz Boardwalk and several Las Vegas Casino game rooms. Production of Drumscape stopped in 2001.
A number of celebrity drummers and musicians are pictured on the drumscape website either playing the game or posing with its creators.
Gameplay
The player sits in a booth before an array of electronic drum simulation pads. After selecting a song, the player hits the pads with a pair of drumsticks while a time meter counts down. The manufacturers recommend that arcade machines be set to a 2 minute and 15 second play-period costing $1. Unlike other music games, the player's actions are not dictated by a set rhythm displayed onscreen, but rather the player plays as he sees fit. Additionally, Drumscape lacks a scoring system to indicate success or failure of a player. As the player drums, stage lights and crowd cheers are triggered to create a more realistic experience.Design
Drumscape uses off the shelfCommercial off-the-shelf
In the United States, Commercially available Off-The-Shelf is a Federal Acquisition Regulation term defining a nondevelopmental item of supply that is both commercial and sold in substantial quantities in the commercial marketplace, and that can be procured or utilized under government contract...
components including a DTX drumset, amplifier, a standard computer (running the Drumscape menu software on its OS
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
), a standard audio music player (such as CD system), and a standard VCR (not utilized in the final product). As claimed in its patent, it does not provide any cues for drumming.
Reception
While Drumscape is deemed more realistic by some drummers, it lacks a scoring system to indicate success or failure making it comparable to DDR DVD GameDance Dance Revolution (DVD versions)
Dance Dance Revolution DVD Game is a 2006 DVD-based game in the Dance Dance Revolution series hosted by Roxee, a member of the Australian children's entertainment property, The Funkees. It is unique from other DDR games for a number of reasons. It was the first DDR game not to be developed by the...
. For this reason, compared to drumming games like DrumMania
DrumMania
is a music video game series produced by Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., where colored notes travel down the screen which correspond with color coded parts of an electronic drum set...
it has seen comparatively lackluster success. While Drumscape aims to be the only drum simulation game in North America (due to the U.S. patent, which extends into Canada), many arcades have imported DrumMania to much success. This has put strong pressure on those arcades insisting on treading the more legally safe path.
Patents
Drumscape was the first music game based on Devecka Enterprises' 1996 patents and it was released in 1997 prior to KonamiKonami
is a Japanese leading developer and publisher of numerous popular and strong-selling toys, trading cards, anime, tokusatsu, slot machines, arcade cabinets and video games...
's first Beat Mania game. Devecka Enterprises has claimed that its patents cover not only drumming games but all music games (including but not limited to Guitar Freaks, Guitar Hero, Rock Band, and Dance Dance Revolution
Dance Dance Revolution
Dance Dance Revolution, abbreviated DDR, and previously known as Dancing Stage in Europe and Australasia, is a music video game series produced by Konami. Introduced in Japan in 1998 as part of the Bemani series, and released in North America and Europe in 1999, Dance Dance Revolution is the...
), however because its concept is very basic and that prior non-patented MIDI drumsets have been used as training tools and as input, the patent's validity has been called into question. Outside of the United States, Devecka's patents have been successfully challenged due to these claims. Neither Devecka nor MTV, for example, have challenged Konami or other music game companies (such as Harmonix for its Rock Band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
series or Namco
Namco
is a Japanese corporation best known as a former video game developer and publisher. Following a merger with Bandai in September 2005, the two companies' game production assets were spun off into Namco Bandai Games on March 31, 2006. Namco Ltd. was re-established to continue domestic operation of...
for its Taiko no Tatsujin
Taiko no Tatsujin
is a series of rhythm games created by Namco. The series has seen releases for the arcade, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii, iOS, Advanced Pico Beena, and mobile phones....
drumming game).
Within the United States, Devecka Enterprises has attempted to bar the legal licensing of DrumMania
DrumMania
is a music video game series produced by Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., where colored notes travel down the screen which correspond with color coded parts of an electronic drum set...
, a competitive and similar product that is more in line with traditional arcade games due to its ability to assign a score for player performance. Devecka's claim relies on its holding of the drum simulation game patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
in the United States.
Devecka Enterprises president, John Devecka, is a consultant for Red Octane and Activision
Activision
Activision is an American publisher, majority owned by French conglomerate Vivendi SA. Its current CEO is Robert Kotick. It was founded on October 1, 1979 and was the world's first independent developer and distributor of video games for gaming consoles...
which now owns all of Devecka Enterprises' US and international patents and produces the Guitar Hero
Guitar Hero
Guitar Hero is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems and published by RedOctane for the PlayStation 2 video game console. It is the first entry in the Guitar Hero series. Guitar Hero was released on November 8, 2005 in North America, April 7, 2006 in Europe and June 15, 2006 in...
series. All patents issued by the USPTO
United States Patent and Trademark Office
The United States Patent and Trademark Office is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that issues patents to inventors and businesses for their inventions, and trademark registration for product and intellectual property identification.The USPTO is based in Alexandria, Virginia,...
are presumed valid.
Later Devecka patents include: (April 14, 1998) - Method and apparatus for simulating a jam session and instructing a user in how to play the drums (January 25, 2000) - Method and apparatus for simulating a jam session and instructing a user in how to play the drums