How Important Is Music To Gaming?

Music GamingHow Important Is Music To Gaming?

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What does ‘Nate’s Theme’ from Uncharted, ‘Type A’ from Tetris, and the Super Mario Bros theme have in common? They’re all iconic songs from video games.

 

Much like films and television programmes, there are certain songs that we associate with video games (like the ones mentioned above). So, this begs the question: How important is music to gaming?

 

We listen to music for loads of reasons. Whether we’re listening for the lyrics or unleashing our feelings, there are plenty of musical varieties that can explore much more than a surface level. Perhaps the same can be said about video game music, too.

What Makes Video and Casino Game Music Different from Film Music?

When a song is used in a film or television programme, it’s used to help bring a story to life or to describe certain characters. The same can be said for video game music, too. So, what makes video game music different from film music?

 

Composer Uèle Lamore claims there’s a vast difference between the two because video games don’t have the ‘passive’ aspect films have. In video games, the music somewhat depends on the player. Composers should consider the levels’ difficulties and whether they should give players a clue about an upcoming attack while playing the game.

 

BMGPM creative licensing manager Allen Mattox of the United States claims there’s not much difference between video game music and film music. However, he said that video game music has less of a creative box to work within and that the music is much more open than film music.

 

Tom Quillfeldt, a Laced Audio A&R/community manager, says that the gameplay loop is crucial when looking for a track. Gameplay can have loads of variety, from being reaction-based to being slow and strategic. Quillfeldt adds that there could be times when some sections may not have any music.

Can the Same Be Said About Casino Games?

There are loads of games we can play, and they all come with unique soundtracks. Whether we’re playing a video game on our computers or reading casino slot game reviews from real players, we often wonder if the same thing can be said about casino games. Can casino game music invoke the same emotions as other video game music?

 

When playing casino games, we don’t play them for the plot. We play them because they’re fun, and some like to play for the sake of winning. Because of this, most casino games don’t have plots. If they do, the plots aren’t that deep.

 

Despite the lack of plot in most casino games, however, music can still play a huge role. In fact, casino music is its own genre. So, how can music impact a casino game?

 

For starters, music is vital for themed slots. Whether it’s Vikings or Chicago gangsters, it’s essential to have fitting music. We wouldn’t want an upbeat pop song playing in the background of a slot game about Vikings, would we?

 

The same thing can be said for online slots about music. Both the King of Pop (Michael Jackson) and the King of Rock (Elvis Presley) have their own themed slots, so having music based on theirs sets the correct mood for players.

The most important thing about online casino music is that it helps us focus while playing. We wouldn’t want to hear loud, heavy metal while playing poker at a live casino, would we? The wrong music can distract us from our gaming and can make us lose focus.

How Video Game Music Has Affected Players

We can name plenty of iconic video game music as we’ve done above, but how has video game music affected us players?

 

Besides being iconic video game songs, ‘Nate’s Theme’ from Uncharted, ‘Type A’ from Tetris, and the Super Mario Bros theme has millions of fans worldwide who appreciate them.

 

While many fans listen to the original version of these songs, others have made unique remixes that reflect their creativity and passion. These remixes are part of the video game music community, or the VGM community.

 

Video game composer Winifred Phillips claims that the VGM community has musicians creating new realisations of music from both old and new video games. These new realisations are keeping video games’ musical language fresh.

 

One such video game composer who has had his music remixed is Grant Kirkhope. There have been countless fans who have either put their own spins or have made new musical interpretations based on his tracks. He, along with fellow composer Gareth Coker, has even had their compositions performed by live orchestras!

 

So, how will video game music evolve? Uèle Lamore claims that it’ll evolve more drastically as games become more immersive, particularly with the rise in virtual reality. Allen Mattox says that games like Fortnite and Roblox have done brilliantly in collaborating with artists and composers, but it’s only the beginning.

Music Gaming 2

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Last Note

There have been plenty of iconic video game songs in the past years, and they’ve all had their effects on us gamers. With the rise in technology, video game music has become more important with each passing year.

💯 Music Of The Moment


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