Music is strongly linked to emotions, and therefore performance. Many top sports stars listen to music as a way to psych themselves up before a big competition; top USA gymnast Aly Raisman listens to country music before heading out to the floor, while Cristiano Ronaldo likes a bit of Phil Collins, George Michael and Brazilian tunes to get himself in the zone. Meanwhile the king of the ring Floyd Mayweather sticks to rap and hip hop to get pumped up for a big fight.
But what effect does music have in our everyday lives?
Benefits of listening to music
Listening to music has many psychological benefits, including:
- Improvement in cognitive performance
- Reduced stress
- Improved eating habits
- Better memory
- Pain management
- Improved sleep
- Increased motivation
- Improved mood and reduced symptoms of depression
The strong link between music and increased performance is true for gaming: the right soundtrack can impact a players performance, and allow them to make the most of their time, money, and the all-important casino bonus that may be on offer. The right music can help players relax, become energised, or even more engaged with the activity. The wrong music can be off-putting and lead to players disengaging and leaving the platform altogether.
Different types of music and their impact on mood
There are many different genres of music, many of which are used on gaming. This includes:
- Reggae
- Pop
- Rock
- Hip Hop
- Techno
- Country
- Classical
- Metal
- Jazz
All of these will have an impact on mood and emotions. Pop and Techno for example (due to the beat and up-beat nature of the music) lead to a release of dopamine among listeners. Meanwhile, the fast tempo of country and reggae leads to increased heart rate and many listeners feel like singing and dancing along, becoming more energised as they listen.
Rock music tends to be upbeat, and have catchy lyrics, also raising heart rate and getting individuals in the mood to move and get involved.
On the other hand, classical music, while also releasing dopamine, is more relaxing and a great stress reliever. Listeners will not want to get up and jump about when listening to a Mozart concerto or Beethoven Symphony, but they will remain engaged and focused.
Metal and jazz are the two genres which most divide people; people either love them or hate them. Metal, with its fast tempo and dense structure certainly gets the blood pumping. Some listeners find this off-putting and unpleasant, but for others the need to focus on the music is a way of switching off other emotions such as stress and anger. Jazz, due to its highly improvised nature is often a conversation between instruments, and again, is less popular that other genres, especially as an accompaniment or soundtrack.
How music is used in gaming
Music is key to gaming. The right music sets the scene and provides an immersive environment for the player, particularly in online settings. The right music also engages players: if an online casino is playing the ‘wrong’ music, players will leave and not come back.
Rock and pop are the most popular genres for online casinos. This is because players will be most familiar with the music, engaging them with the game from the outset. The type of music also lends itself to this environment, as it is upbeat and catchy, leaving the listener feeling invigorated and motivated.
Online casinos also use different genres of music to create different effects. For example, when there is a particularly tense moment in a game, like when waiting on a final spin on the slots, they will use a crescendo to build tension, increasing the volume and intensity of the music. As the final reel stops, the music will change again to release the tension.
The use of different speeds has an impact on how people play. Fast beats increase the pace of betting, making a multiplayer game of poker more dynamic and keeping all players engaged. On the other hand, a slower pace in a simple player game may allow the player time to take in all the elements of the game and get the most out of it.
Volume is also important. Even though the user can change the volume, it can be set relative to other elements of the game, and some operators layer different tracks to be able to focus different parts of the music. The juxtaposition of fast and slow, loud and soft, can be used to bring the game to life.
In conclusion
Music is such a big part of daily life, and as technology advances it has been integrated more and more into new forms of entertainment. Online casinos use all the different nuances of music to engage players, and bring the games they offer to life.
