Music has long been synonymous with gaming in almost all of its features, such as death screens or cutscenes. Titles such as Pac Man or Doom may not have been as memorable for its absence of music and jingles. Music not only changed how cinematic gaming can be but also changed the level of immersion. Music helped revolutionize and reinvent gaming time and time again.
Gaming continues to reach new limits each year, but music helped shape what gaming is like today. Read further for more.
Early Video Game Music
Early video games had several limitations like graphics, static level design, and even music. The first use of sound in video games dates back to the release of Pong in 1972 made possible by its engineer, Al Alcorn. He customized his hardware where he tinkered with the digital circuits and sync generator. It was the first ever instance of sound used in video games which was groundbreaking in game development.
For years, game developers aimed to include music in video games as it opened more doors for creativity. Space invaders would claim the title of the first video game to incorporate music in 1978. The arcade title managed to achieve this through a noise generator chip which programmers realized could act as a synthesizer. They used this by synching the ‘invaders’ to increase the bass notes tempo when descending to the player. This allowed for thrilling high-paced gameplay at the time and higher levels of immersion and attention needed by the player. Eventually, music would be incorporated into other gaming foundations that would enhance the immersive experience.
More Than Background Music
Music continued to evolve gaming by elevating a games’ experience through levels, power ups, and cutscenes. For example, Super Mario Bros. standardized how time, music, and the player can be one interactive experience. Koji Kondo, the original Super Mario Bros. composer, believed that “incorporating sound showcases this interactive nature.” Kondo knew that games reacted in real time and wanted to add to the interactivity and experience that gaming could achieve. As gaming evolved, so did the genres, storytelling, and experiences it could bring to life with the help of music.
Music in Storytelling
Video games transformed into a legitimate art form largely due to story driven single player games. For example, Fallout 4 opens with the famous “War Never Changes” cutscene that sets the grounds to a solemn post-apocalyptic world. The accompanying music matches the apocalyptic theme and helps bring the world to life before the players take control. Besides cutscenes, music can enrich boss battles, climaxes, intros, end credits, and general scope of a game’s world.
Music Helped Bring Gaming to Life
Music can help bring a space odyssey, a hero’s journey, or a post-apocalyptic world to life. Likewise, video games happen in real time and the addition of music helped shape what gaming is like in the present. Music revolutionized gaming by pushing the limits of storytelling and game development to a legitimate art form enjoyed by millions.
For more about gaming visit FerryGodmother.com.