Back in the old days of arcade halls packed with slot games, you’d always encounter the recognizable sound of reels spinning and bells ringing. The glitzy lights of the electronic offerings were always accompanied by equally flashy sounds, and when you walked into one of these places you knew what you’d be getting.
Now that the slots market has ballooned online, the sounds used in the games have evolved away from this old set up. Today’s games use sound in several different ways, and this undoubtedly elevates the immersive experience for players.
Sound in Modern Slots is Part of a Multisensory Approach
If you look at any list of online slots, you’ll notice that there are hundreds to choose from. They come in various genres, with players initially connecting with them based on their name and artwork. The slots for real cash at Paddy’s range from dinosaur-themed titles like Pirots 2, to futuristic offerings like Nitropolis. It’s clear that these concepts help players differentiate the games from one another. The detailed designs also come with immersive themes that are designed to pull players in and engage them.
This is where sound comes in to enhance this effect. Audio acts as another element of this multisensory approach, with all aspects geared to sucking players into the world of the game. Developers now have full teams of musicians and sound engineers, testing out different methods and ideas to make the sounds as interesting as possible. A Greek-themed title will have epic music to reflect its grand scale, while a fruit-based offering may have fun and cheeky sounds to complement the symbols on the reels. Along with background music, the games also have special sounds for the spinning reels and when symbols match on the pay lines.
Interactive Sound Could be the Next Development For Slots
It’s amazing to think how far the sound has come in the slots market, but what’s on offer today may only be the start of something even more incredible. Slots are evolving rapidly, and they are set to undergo many changes over the next few years. This is because sites like GlobeNewsWire expect virtual reality to boom by 2030. When VR hits the online casino industry, slots could undergo a monumental shift.
Some slot developers have already toyed with the concept of VR slots, and their ideas have featured massive reels set in fantasy worlds. In these settings, music and sound would be even more important, as there would need to be sound effects when players traverse their surroundings. In the entertainment industry of the future, there’s likely to be an even greater focus on interactive experiences according to Medium. This could come in the form of interactive sound for slots, where the player’s actions influence the sounds produced by the game.
Sound is just as central now for slots as the themes are. It adds depth to the games and increases the immersion levels. In the future, sound could play an even greater role in the rise of VR slot games.
