The concept of music being everywhere is as old as time. It has come to a point that saying so may seem trite to some. There is truth in those words regardless of how cliché they may seem. We can hear the components that make up a musical piece in the still and serene mountains and in the busy concrete jungles. Rhythm is present in the singing of birds and in the revving of the automobile alike.
Technological advancement has made the individual inseparable from their music. Streaming apps allow each of us to explore new artists as we take long walks in our home city. The latest music-listening device is also enable us to listen to some of our favorites while we relax on the couch after a busy day.
But music is ubiquitous in other media platforms as well. Film and television often use music to create atmosphere and build up to a big scene. Audio books have begun implementing musical accompaniment to create tension. Video games have a long and storied history of incorporating music as a guiding force for the player. Our goal here is to explore how modern digital games can use music to its fullest potential.
Digital Games and Music
Music is a big component of the digital gaming industry whose popularity seems to be growing by the day. We can especially find the presence and influence of music in the iGaming sector. The growing success of online slots has proven immensely effective in getting people interested in the world of gambling. We can certainly understand why these simple and straightforward games are such a huge hit. But what many may be shocked to learn is that slots utilize music more than any other casino staple.
The simplicity of pokies is part of the reason why game developers have to get creative when designing the game. Slot developers have opted to inject their games with life by crafting incredible visual and audio aesthetics. Music plays a big role in giving each individual game its own unique identity. Some of the music that players will come across in the modern slot market is relatively rudimentary and straightforward. But it doesn’t always have to be.
The modern market is absolutely brimming with examples of complex musical genres being incorporated in the gaming experience. We need look no further than the music-based licensed slot games. These titles use the aesthetics of an already existing franchise. The most popular example may be the famous Guns N’ Roses slot, which has managed to garner an international audience. It is one example of how music affects the realm of digital gaming.
What Can Games Learn from Music
Flow is a key consideration in the creation of music. The classical artists of the past were primarily interested in striking the right tempo and rhythm so that their music can move the hearts and souls of the audience. Game developers today may not look at the games that they design in terms of tempo. But a certain flow certainly plays a role in game design. Most games do have progressive difficulty scales after all. It is possible for a clever designer to use tempo as a reference for designing a great game.
Atmosphere is also a very important thing to think about when it comes to game design and music. The grandiose compositions of classical musicians remain deeply influential on modern culture. Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries is an immensely influential composition that most have heard today, even if it is unwittingly. Game designers will often use music to strike a certain atmosphere of terror or accomplishment. Many of the best developers use music as a way to give instant feedback to the players.
The final lesson that we are looking at is gradual difficulty progression. Classical pieces often start out simple and get progressively more complex. It is a way to lull the audience into the flow of the game and get them ready for the grand finale. That lesson has been largely internalized by most modern game developers. Modern games will often start out simple and very straightforward. But as the player unravels the mystery, they begin to notice that the game has become more difficult. This difficulty scale should go unnoticed if the designer has done their job right.
What Music and Gaming Have in Common?
Game developers stand to learn a lot from musicians. But is the opposite true? Can a modern day musical artist find something in video games that will shape their path? We live in a time where everyone can pick up a guitar and start learning the ropes. It is even possible to find some pretty good home equipment on a budget these days. It shouldn’t come as a shock that a lot of modern musicians have background in gaming culture these days.
An entire genre of music has formed around the concept of approaching the art as a science. Perhaps the idea was not directly inspired by game design. But we can certainly see how those who are fascinated by programming and computers might fall instantly in love with mathrock. The genre combines elements of heavy metal and hardcore punk in order to create a complex sound that has no equal. It is an example of how art can be found even in the dull world of mathematics.
We also would be remiss if we did not bring up the musical games that took the world by storm a decade ago. Guitar Hero served as many people’s introduction to some of the most beloved bands of the past century. A lot of younger people got introduced to classic hard rock and heavy metal acts through the game. It is also interesting to note that a lot of musicians have been inspired by video games themselves. Billie Eilish and Kesha have both admitted that they incorporate video game aesthetics in their music videos and even in the sound that they hope to achieve.
