Sounds are one of our most important senses. Sounds help us to recognise familiar jingles, songs, and vibrations within a few seconds. In entertainment, they are important for setting the mood and adding background atmosphere.
Multiple studies have confirmed that in video games, characters identify more with characters if there is appropriate, mood-shifting background music that matches the tone of the video game passage. Alone, this suggests that music can make or break the gaming experience, and good soundtracks are important to a game’s identity and future playability.
In casino games, soundtracks are less common, unless the games are branded titles. However, the sounds are still necessary to add character to the games in the same way that colours do. Players hear certain sounds and jingles that show what will happen next in the game.
In movies, when people win on the slots, there is usually a chime or an extended ding. Naturally, casual gamblers and high-rollers alike understand these sounds have a positive association, which in this case is landing a winning combination on slots.
Now that we have scratched the surface on why sounds matter in slot games, let’s go deeper!
Main Reasons Why Slot Sounds Are Important
There are a few reasons why slot sounds are important. Here are the main ones:
- Emotional Triggers – Sounds have a psychological impact on players. Fun and upbeat sounds enable players to feel similar emotions. When playing, they feel happy and engaged, which means they are likely to play for longer. The sounds are gratifying and tell a story of what will happen next in the game, such as another spin, a bonus round, or a win.
- Structural guidance – As we briefly mentioned, slot sounds provide structural guidance on what will happen in the game. Every time a player presses a button to bet or pulls a lever, they will hear a short, high-pitched sound to indicate that the process has finished. Even if it’s obvious when looking at the screen, the sounds allow players to understand that the machine has completed their request, and then the next stage of the game will begin.
- Maintains attention – Sounds are important in slot games to keep a player’s attention. Sometimes, slot gameplay can be monotonous if a player isn’t winning or if they are playing the base game or a low-volatility slot. As a result, many players may get bored and want to quit, but the sounds tell them not to. In slot games, sounds direct a player’s attention back to the game. Sounds can indicate if a player misses a symbol or wins big, pulling their attention back to the screen.
- Draws players into the casino – The benefit of sounds in slot games doesn’t only draw players into the slot. It draws them into the casino. Casinos are designed to be overstimulating. Players feel immersed in the experience through the constant sounds in their ears and the lights in their eyes. This is especially important in online casinos, where recreating the atmosphere of a real-life casino can be more difficult. Slot sounds do not stop throughout the game, resulting in a constant background noise that players become absorbed in.
- Brand identity – Sounds are vital to the brand identity of slot games and providers. For example, Thunderstruck 2 by Microgaming is heavily influenced by its Viking theme and dark soundtrack with orchestral sounds that resemble Norse music. Even the hammer symbols from the game have sounds; it sounds like hammers being dropped, adding to the realism of the game. Cleopatra by IGT leans into the culture of Egyptian music with flutes, strings, and desert sounds, transporting players to a world as an Egyptian queen.
The Future Of Slot Audio
Slot sounds will remain important in future games. Even if the priorities of game studios have changed to focus on gameplay features, sounds will always be a key part of gameplay. Slot enthusiasts need sounds in-game for atmospheric value, or gameplay becomes boring. Without sounds, slots have no personality or character, and without that, there are no players.
In the future, slot audios could evolve to implement modern sound engineering. Perhaps VR slots may become common in online casinos one day where sounds feel like you are really there. Alternatively, maybe slots will one day have customiseable sound experiences where you can select soundtracks and options for the sounds and jingles you want to hear. You may even find a Bluetooth option one day, where you can play your own music over the slots.
