Games developers have several tricks that they use to crank up the atmosphere to make their games more enjoyable. One of these moves is to add the right kind of music. How do they do this in a way that adds to the overall experience?
Continue with the Theme
Music offers a great way of continuing with a theme. For example, if we look at the best USA online casinos, we can see a variety of slots games based on numerous themes with unobtrusive but catchy background music. You will find slots based on the likes of Ireland, Ancient Greece, rock stars, outer space, and a lot more.
The graphics are generally used to convey the theme, with symbols showing the main characters or images you would expect to find. However, the ability to add relevant music gives the designer an extra tool to work with, as they can firmly place the action in the right location or time period in this way.
Pay attention to the music that plays in the background the next time that you play a game. The more clever and effective it is with tying in with the theme, the less noticeable it is likely to be. If the soundtrack doesn’t match the theme, it is likely to be jarring and stand out more.
A great example of how music can enhance a game comes with the Grand Theft Auto franchise. The fact that you can listen to radio stations playing specially selected songs makes if more authentic and also allows you to feel more in control of the game.
Add Suspense
Anyone who loves horror movies knows how directors use music to create more suspense. The right sounds at the right time can be used to put viewers on edge. Just think of classic soundtracks like Psycho, Halloween, and The Shining.
Games can also benefit from suspense being added in this way. One of the first video games to exploit the full potential of the soundtrack was Doom. Released in 1993, this game had a driving, heavy-metal type of sound, with more mellow moments to create atmosphere and tension.
The Elder Scrolls is another game where it is clear that a tremendous amount of effort has been put into creating music that inspires the player while also creating a tense feeling in the most critical moments.
Big fights are often the moments where swelling or frantic music is needed, while the exploration of new, dangerous places deserves some creepy or suspense-filled sounds. If this balance is right, it leads to a varied experience that appeals to us in different ways.
Advise You of Danger
If you play a game a lot, then you probably react to the frequent sound effects without even realizing you are doing so. That is because it becomes second nature to change your approach depending upon the subtle little sounds you pick up on.
This is just like real life. We often react to subtle sounds that our brain picks up, especially when they are warning us of danger. In the gaming world, you might hear a horn blowing or a radio crackling into life as a sign that you need to move or arm yourself.
The first few times that you hear this sound effect, you will recognize it, but after that, it becomes more of an instinctive thing. You will find yourself reacting as soon as the sound starts, which could give you the edge needed to avoid danger.
Summary –Putting It All Together
The way that the types of music mentioned above are all put together will go a long way towards defining how pleasant it is to listen to the game. Getting just one element wrong can lead to a jarring, awkward listen. But when they get it all right, the result is a wonderful game whose sound adds to the enjoyment it offers.
The Final Fantasy series is one of the best examples of putting all of these elements together to make a sweeping soundtrack that genuinely enhances the gaming experience. Having said that, it is now becoming more common to hear such top-quality soundtracks on games.
With developers spending more time and putting more effort into their music, we can expect even better soundtracks and effects in the future. If you don’t usually pay much attention to the music as you play, now is an excellent time to start doing so. You might be surprised at what you hear.
