Systems and methods for indicating input actions in a rhythm-action game

A game platform comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• a processor in communication with the memory, the processor configured to:
• render to send to a display a lane divided into at least three sub-lanes and each sub-lane containing sub-lane cues indicating corresponding and distinct input actions that are expected from a controller coupled to the game platform;
• and
• render to send to a display a spanning cue spanning across at least a portion of the three sub-lanes that indicates a different input action is expected than the corresponding and distinct input actions associated with the sub-lane cues, wherein the spanning cue is larger than the sub-lane cues.

A method executed by a game platform for a rhythm-action video game comprising:

• preparing to display on a display a lane divided into a plurality of sub-lanes where the plurality of sub-lanes includes a first sub-lane, a second sub-lane, and a third sub-lane, each sub-lane being configured to display cues relating to corresponding and distinct expected input actions;
• sending to the display a first cue in the first sub-lane, wherein the first cue indicates a first corresponding and distinct expected input action is to be performed by a controller coupled to the game platform;
• receiving at the game platform the first input action in response to the first sub-lane cue;
• sending to the display a second cue in the second sub-lane, wherein the second cue indicates a second corresponding and distinct expected input action is to be performed by the controller that is different from the first corresponding and distinct expected input action;
• and
• sending to the display a third cue spanning across at least a portion of the first, second, and third sub-lane, the third cue indicating a third input action is to be performed by the controller that is different from the first and second corresponding and distinct expected input actions, wherein the third cue is larger than at least one of the first and second cue.