The Impact of Music in Online Gaming
aaamusic | On 26, Feb 2019
Music is very powerful. A song playing on the radio can alter your mood just as the music you choose to listen to often reflects your own mood. Music has the uncanny ability to stimulate your memory, help you learn, and focus your attention. Music has played an important role in movies ever since sound and celluloid intersected. It wasn’t the sudden appearance of Freddy Krueger in A Nightmare on Elm Street that startled audiences as much as it was the well-timed orchestral crescendo.
It’s quite common to see professional poker players listening to their favourite tunes as they sit at the poker table. The music wards off distractions and helps players concentrate on the game. Music is even subtly toying with your emotions when you play online bingo for real money. No matter what you are playing, a game without music is like a pizza without cheese.
Sound has always been a key component of video games. From the primitive yet distinct music of early games like Space Invaders and Pac-Man to the extensive musical tracks and ultra-realistic sound effects of modern games, music adds an extra element that makes for a more complete player experience. Great visuals are exciting but the atmosphere and suspense that music creates makes things that much better. Music and catchy jingles are a prominent feature of almost every online game you play.
Music-Themed Slot Games
Slot games are famous for using music and splashy sound effects to attract your interest. A blast of alarm bells signifies winning and creates a positive atmosphere in a casino. These days, the music that emanates from slot machines goes far beyond being just a background feature. Some slot games go so far as to make music a main attraction. Guns and Roses enthusiasts who want to hear the band’s biggest hits and enjoy a bit of nostalgia as they spin the reels are drawn to the Guns and Roses slot game. Microgaming’s The Phantom of the Opera slot game does the same for fans of Broadway’s longest running musical in history. These games allow players to enjoy the music for extended periods of time without having it loop after a few seconds. This is a great way to keep them playing.
There are slots that feature music from the most famous rock-and-roll icons of all time as well as popular musical genres like disco, jazz, and Samba. It is even possible to create a bit of buzz and anticipation around an upcoming release. At 70 years of age, rock legend Ozzy Osbourne’s days of touring might be over but his fans who like to play slots are surely looking forward to the release of NetEnt’s Ozzy Osbourne online slot game.
Music in eSports
League of Legends is the most popular eSport in the world and it is regularly played by millions of people. Those gamers will tell you that LoL is thrilling enough on its own but many of them will also tell you that the extensive library of songs that are featured in the game greatly compounds the intensity. Other popular eSports like Dota 2 and Counter Strike: Global Offensive offer customised music packages which have the same effect on players.
A large number of females play online video games and eSports but the market is still largely dominated by male players. Game developers have been challenged to tap into the female player base and a Stockholm-based company, Star Stable Entertainment, has figured out a way to achieve this. In 2012, the company launched Star Stable which is multiplayer online game aimed at females. The game lacks the frantic pace and violence of other online multiplayer games but it has been downloaded by over 15 million people despite the $8.50 monthly subscription fee.
One of the main attractions of Star Stable is that players can bring their in-game characters to life by actually recording and publishing music. Star Stable Entertainment created its own record label that distributes to around 40 different music sites. This has proven to be an effective way to connect with young women and get them more involved in online gaming.
Conclusion
Gaming providers and online betting sites want users to keep playing and games that feature exciting and engaging soundtracks are helping them achieve that goal. Music has and always will have a significant impact on internet gaming. Cosmo Kramer once described paella as “an orgiastic feast for the senses. A festival of sights, sounds, and colors”. That description could easily be applied to modern online gaming especially if you add virtual reality gaming into the mix. Giddyup!!