Sound is a crucial ingredient in the success of any slot title, so SlotBeats is analysing the crucial steps taken to ensure that the sound is perfectly crafted for player engagement and success.
In the first part of our roundtable on the importance of sound, we are looking at how sound impacts the overall immersiveness.
Taking part in this roundtable are Chris Danaher, Head of Business Development at Realistic Games, Greg Dugan, Senior Audio Designer at Push Gaming, Johan Sjödin, Audio Director at Thunderkick and Volodymyr Ponikarovkyi, Sound Producer Stream Leader at Playson.
How does sound design influence player engagement and immersion in gambling slots?
Chris Danaher: People experience life through their primary senses, including hearing. As sound plays such a significant role in our everyday lives, it goes without saying that it‘s one of the most important factors in a slot game. Just like visual design, well-crafted sound is essential for an immersive gameplay experience. Without it, players can be more susceptible to distraction.
Greg Dugan: Sound design in slots primarily enhances the game’s visual theme. From the moment players enter the game, press the spin button, and hear the first symbols land, they should immediately get an auditory sense of the game’s thematic basis. Additionally, sound design significantly boosts the feeling of winning and the excitement of triggering special features within the game. This creates considerable tension and anticipation during gameplay.
Johan Sjödin: Sound and music are integral to curating a well-rounded, fully immersive product, drawing the player into the slot’s theme and bringing the title to life. It turns a simple press of a button into a dynamic experience with excitement, suspense and drama, making every spin feel rewarding and engaging.
A strong soundtrack that is fully aligned with the theme and gameplay can elevate a slot to new heights, providing a more comprehensive, multisensory experience. While sound alone will not determine a game’s success, it is one of many key factors, alongside theme, features, mechanics and mathematics, that contribute to a balanced product.
Volodymyr Ponikarovkyi: Sound is an integral part of the gaming experience – it profoundly impacts how we perceive visuals, adding depth and emotional context. At Playson, we perceive slots as a rhythm-based type of game. As a player, you are always experiencing a rhythm of reels, and rhythm is a crucial aspect of music. Slots, in their nature, are musically orientated games. Sound not only supports the visual aspect but also provides players with feedback on everything that happens – from big wins to those tense near-misses. It is the rhythm of sound that engages players and adds to their immersive experience, creating a captivating atmosphere and overall experience.
What effects do specific sounds, such as win jingles or near-miss cues, have on players?
CD: There are two main effects. The primary one is the anticipation-reward loop. This happens when a near miss or a contributing return encourages a player to keep playing in the hope of a big win. If/when the big win happens, the accompanying sound effect anchors that feeling of reward in the brain.
Secondly, well-designed sound helps players to learn the nuances and mechanics of a game. It can be easy for even the most seasoned player to become overwhelmed and overstimulated by the fast-moving reels, extra mechanics and bonus rounds. The soundscape creates an identifiable pathway for players to recognise individual elements of a game.
GD: When winning, it captivates the player and emphasises the thrill of each cash prize. A player may briefly turn their head away from the game, hear the audio begin to shift, and quickly glance back to see if they’ve won. Near-miss audio cues are not overly emphasised, but they certainly build anticipation and suggest the potential of what could occur.
JS: For developers, it’s all about designing a game that maximises player enjoyment. Near-miss cues supplement gameplay by providing an additional sense of anticipation that keeps players interacting with the title, while win jingles reinforce the spin’s success and fuel the overall excitement. The audience is searching for entertainment and connecting sounds to gameplay, whether that be through big wins or almost triggering the bonus round, which dramatises the experience and boosts engagement.
VP: However brilliantly coded the game is, when playing it silently, it feels a bit bodiless. Attaching the right sound to the action makes it tangible and almost physical. It is imperative that win jingles or near-miss cues never irritate players, which can be caused by an imbalance between the real value of a game event for a player and how it is shown with audiovisual effects. Depending on the relative value of a game event, such as a win, near-miss or winning a bonus game, they should blend into a game rhythm and melody, or standout melodically and rhythmically, underlining the key event that has occurred during the game.