Whether you’re a massive fan of music or and have your own music library or you’re somebody who is reasonably impartial to soundtracks, you simply can’t deny that music has a massive influence on experiences of all types. Whether it’s your experience of sitting in a restaurant or background music of a film or series, music creates atmosphere (or contributes to atmosphere), and it has the ability to completely change how you feel about something.
In fact, music contributes significantly our experiences, and sometimes, we only realise just how much of an effect it has when it’s gone. For instance, if you’re sitting in a bar in complete silence, it feels awkward. Similarly, if you’re watching a movie without a soundtrack (which you probably never have), it would feel far more like reality television and it’s less likely to influence how you feel about whatever is going on.
Music has the exact same effect on games and the overall experience that you have while you’re playing a game. In fact, music contributes to gaming in many different ways that are incredibly important.
We’re going to tell you all about the ways in which music influences the gaming industry.
- Immersive Gaming Experience
Part of the improvements that continue to be made in the world of gaming and gaming technology contribute to the overall goal of creating an immersive experience for players. By enhancing all features of the games and catering to as many of your senses as possible, players will have a more well-rounded experience. Clearly, experts have learnt that although gaming graphics are super important, it’s not all about the visual. In fact, there’s so much that music and sound can do for your gaming experience.
Music and sound have the ability to really immerse players in the virtual world in which they’re playing, adding to the storyline. High-quality sound design and dynamic soundtracks have a massive influence on the atmosphere of the game as well as the emotional impact a game can have on a player.
For instance, it may not sound like much, but having dramatic music playing during a tense moment in a game has a huge influence on the player, as opposed to having no music or something that simply isn’t appropriate.
- Technological Advancements in Music Technology
As with everything that involves technology, the music industry – specifically, music in gaming – has experienced significant technological advancements over the years. This includes surround sound and realistic spatial audio, making the scenes in games feel significantly more real than ever before.
This has been driven by a desire to create immersive gaming environments, and, in turn, it’s pushed the gaming tech industry to innovate audio hardware and software to be able to keep up.
- Rise of Music-Centred Games
In addition to the way in which music is used within games and the ways in which that kind of technology has advanced and evolved over the years, there’s also been an increase in the number of music-centred games.
The rising popularity of these types of games has also led to the development of specialized technology and peripherals. This includes things like instrument for games such as Guitar Hero or virtual reality setups for rhythm games. Indeed, these are just a few examples of how music has influenced the innovation, design, and creation of gaming hardware that has completely changed the world of gaming altogether.
But what are some examples of music-centred games that are available to players now?
Some of the most popular games based on music include Guitar Hero Series, Rock Band Series, Beat Saber, Dance Dance Revolution (DDR), Crypt of the NecroDancer, and so many more.
The first two use instruments that mimic the real-life versions (and this is often when Guitar Hero is most commonly known), and the use of this tech took the world by storm, making music more accessible. The others use other types of technological hardware (such as sticks, pressure pads, and more) to allow players to have an interactive experience while enjoying the music.
- Adaptive Soundtracks
As music technology in gaming has progressed, one thing that has come about is games that have soundtracks that change and adapt based on player actions and the narrative of the games. This is not only impressive from a technological standpoint- because it requires advanced technology to achieve seamless integration – but the result is that it makes the entire gaming experience far more engaging and personal too.
- Cross-Platform Integration
Players are now able to customise their in-game music experiences because of the fact that music streaming services have been integrated within gaming platforms. The result of this is that gaming and music services have been able to achieve a significantly more interconnected entertainment ecosystem than ever before.
- Collaborations and Licensing
Something that is becoming increasingly common and popular is gaming companies collaborating with musicians or bands to license popular tracks for their games. You’ll find racing games with famous soundtracks available on platforms like Steam and slots at Black Lotus casino that feature familiar tunes.
The result of this is that it attracts a broader audience for the game – that is, the music and artist can be used as a drawcard and a marketing tool for the game, as the game can be known for the song in question.
But also, it creates an additional stream of revenue for both the gaming and music industries, expanding both worlds significantly.
- Innovations in Music Creation Tools
A new aspect of gaming technology is the fact that in some games, especially games with user-generated content, players are provided with the tools they need to be able to create and then share their music within the game environment. This is a great way for players to be able to express their creativity within the world of gaming and music too, and for some, this is one of the only ways they’re able to experiment with music.