Music is a powerful tool that can move its hearer and evoke many different feelings and emotions. When it comes to games, whether you play in person or online, music has several uses, for example, as relaxing background music or to build tension in certain moments. Let’s dive in and have a closer look at the history and role of music in gaming.
The history of music in gaming
There are many examples of music in gaming environments over the years. Gambling establishments became more popular in the 1800s as high-class parties often employed bands to provide background music as they socialised and played cards.
When video games were launched, developers created short, repetitive tunes to play in the background to make their games more memorable.
As they have grown in popularity, in-person and online casinos have employed background music to create a buoyant atmosphere for their players.
The role of music within the current gaming industry
With a new demographic of gamers coming of age, the relationship between music and the gaming industry has changed to reflect their passion for music. Some gamers listen to playlists whilst gaming, or when they like the music they hear in the game, even stream or buy the track.
Game developers work with well-known musicians and composers to make the game’s soundtrack as iconic as the game itself. Games such as The Last of Us and Grand Theft Auto are perfect examples of how the music is interconnected with the game. If a game has catchy music, it is likely the tune gets stuck in their head!
Intensive immersion for the gamer
Due to the emotion-evoking ability of music, it can be used to create a full-immersion experience for players. If a player is invested or connected to a game, their desire to return and continue playing is heightened. Let’s take the example of the Sci-fi horror-themed video game Dead Space. The graphics and storyline give off eerie, spooky vibes, but when you add a soundtrack of tension-filled, suspenseful music, the player is left particularly frightened! Similarly, cheery and uplifting games have carefully curated soundtracks that evoke such positive feelings in their players that they also continue playing their favourite games.
Player engagement and navigation
So apart from immersion in the gaming experience, how else does music impact a game? Music and jingles can be crucial in helping a player engage and navigate through gaming menus. Certain sounds can help trigger memories of where a player is in the game.
For instance, online casinos have many different themed slots whose music is carefully chosen to match the theme. One example for this would be the ancient Egypt-themed slot, which is accompanied by folkloric Egyptian music. Some Slot games at Platincasino Ireland are even inspired by bands, i.e., the Black Mamba slot. They feature music by the title band to give players the option to choose their games by what music features in the background.
Branding and Recognition
Music in gaming contributes to the branding and recognition of a specific game. Iconic themes or melodies can become synonymous with a game or a franchise, making them instantly recognisable by players even outside of the game context. This motif establishes identity and creates a long-term impression on a player. This is a marketing effort and ties with any other advertisement for the game such as game trailers, or social media posts which may feature the exact same or a similar style of soundtracks to help generate interest in potential players.
Conclusion
Research has made it clear that listening to music impacts us significantly. Pair that with eye-catching graphics, and you have an immersive experience at your fingertips. We will surely see more games with rhythmic, catchy soundtracks as game developers discover and research more about how adding music to games impacts the players’ experience.