Background music has long been a part of video games. The first game to have continuous background music was the arcade classic “Space Invaders” and the music’s pace would increase as the enemy descended on the player. Even from these early days, designers understood that interactivity increases players’ enjoyment.
From there, background music progressed quickly. Games introduced level starting, game over themes and sound effects, and started sampling music. In the console era, developers incorporated renditions of popular themes, and today, games feature real-time sound effects.
But why is background music in video games? Below is a look at the reasons for this, plus some of the most popular tunes appear on gaming playlists.
Music helps to tell the story
Music is an important storytelling device in video games, sometimes even more than the visual details. Music adds excitement to dull moments in the game, infuses tranquil scenes with trepidation and injects pace and direction into action sequences.
Music also tells parts of a story that other devices do so more clumsily. This could be something as simple as setting the scene, identifying different cultures or hinting at an ominous, unseen threat.
Music drives immersion
A video game simply isn’t complete without music and sound effects, and these help the player to immerse themselves in the game more. Combined with solid sound effects, the music can really tap into the feelings of the player as they play the game. If they’re in a quiet forest in the game, the music can contribute to recreating the sense of stillness, and the player really gets the sense of being in a forest.
Video games designers aren’t the only gaming experts who understand the prowess of music to drive immersion. In the igaming space, music is also powerful in the games. The quirky world of online bingo is one area where music really enhances the player’s experience. Learn how to play bingo online and you’ll see be able to soak up the audio treats bingo spoils players with.
Music keeps players on track
As well as telling the story, music lets players know where they are in the game. This could be informing them a new level is starting. It can indicate whether they’re moving towards danger or have missed a turn. Without the music, the game would likely become frustrating for the player and less immersive. Ultimately, music conveys the game’s tone, mood and general atmosphere.
Music stimulates the memory train
Music improves the player’s performance by stimulating the “memory train.” This helps the player to remember things like the rules of the game, the mission and other factors that influence the player’s performance. The music triggers an alertness in the player and is worked into the soundtrack for this reason.
Popular background music for video games
Music is such a big immersion factor in video games that some have become as famous for their music as for the gameplay. Below is some popular background music for games.
The Final Countdown (Europe)
This classic rock track from the 1980s matches the Guardians’ rock ‘n’ roll vibe in the “Marvel Guardians of the Galaxy” game. Like some rock groups, the Guardians are a bunch of misfits that find each other and pursue a common goal together. Other nostalgic tracks include “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go,” by Wham!, turning the game into quite the fist-pumping listening experience for the player.
The Tetris Song (Alex Kostrov, George Strezov)
This classic is one of the biggest background tunes in the whole of gaming. What few people know is that it originally began its life as a 19th century, Russian folk song called “Korobeiniki.”The song’s appearance on the Nintendo Gameboy led people to refer to it simply as “The Tetris Song.” Some of the world’s top orchestras have performed their own epic versions of the song.
“Billie Jean” (Michael Jackson)
Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” is just one track from a wide spectrum of hits on “Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.” The game’s makers, Rockstar Games, worked hard to create a “Miami Vice”-type vibe as they tried to bring the 1980s to life. The soundtrack was instrumental in this. Both the game and the series became known for its soundtrack, which featured some of the most effective use of licensed music ever in a video game.
Background music is essential in any video game. Some games have even become as well known for their music as for the game’s quality itself. The music helps players to immerse themselves in the game and follow what’s happening. Without it, the game would lack atmosphere and entertainment value, leaving a very flat game that people can’t wait to put down, which is terrible news for a games developer.
