The Importance of Music Choice in iGaming UX
The Importance of Music Choice in iGaming UX
User experience consists of many different elements that combine to leave an imprint. Most of the attention is understandably on visual and textual aspects of the user interface, but sound is just as important for getting the right message across. This is evident in the iGaming industry, where competition is very intense and providers are looking for an edge wherever they can find it.
To help you understand the importance of music for a well-functioning iGaming business, we will try to answer some of the most common questions about this topic.
Why Does the iGaming Industry Rely on UX so Much?
The main product that iGaming companies sell is entertainment – it’s true that you can make some money while playing online but most people do it for fun. Since personal experience is so central to the product, it stands to reason that iGaming providers are doing their best to keep the players in a great mood. That’s hard to do if the website has technical issues or the best content is difficult to find. Another reason why iGaming companies tend to prioritise UX is that most of them offer very similar services, so they are looking for ways to stand out from the crowd. It’s much harder to invent new games or enable faster money transfers than to design a functional, user-friendly website that people like to spend time at. In the mobile gaming era, online gambling sites also need to be well-suited for screens of various sizes, which demands a cleaner, more practical look.
Is Music Really Necessary for Online Gambling?
Admittedly, sound is not really necessary in order to enjoy a casino game but it can elevate the experience to a higher level. Its role is both practical and aesthetic, and depending on the game genre can improve playability up to an extent. Sound effects can serve an auxiliary function in some games and alert the player to specific events or outcomes, but even then audio is mostly redundant with visual cues. Music can also provide a background for the game and set the mood – for example, a horror themed game could have spooky music accompanying some segments while a game based on a pop culture show could repeat its main musical theme. Gambling websites can also have atmospheric music to greet the visitors of the homepage, although this is increasingly going out of fashion.
What Do Users Think about Music on Gambling Sites?
Opinions are divided when it comes to music on iGaming platforms – some players enjoy it and see it as a huge part of the deal, while others mostly ignore it. Many people like to keep a narrow focus while they are playing online slots for real money, so they turn the sound off before they start a game. Others prefer to have an audio component to help them relax and become more immersed in the game. To satisfy both sides, iGaming providers can make the music optional in their games and make it very easy to toggle the sound on or off. Of course, variability of music is very important – even players who appreciate great sound design might be turned off if they are forced to listen to the same tune over and over, especially if it’s not well-suited for the gaming genre in question.
How Music Connects to Other Elements of Your UI
You shouldn’t view music as an isolated communication channel – it works only when it’s used in conjunction with other media to create a unified impact. Sound is inseparable from the visuals and game mechanics that it closely follows, and users will experience it in combination with the other media bits. That’s why it’s not enough to simply slap a catchy melody on top of a finished game, as music should be developed in parallel with other parts of the user interface. It should complement the visuals and help to advance key storylines in the game, reinforcing the main theme and keeping things more dynamic. Flashy visuals and slick game actions may be the main selling points, but without music the whole package won’t feel complete and may fail to make an impact.
How to Choose Best Music for Your Website
Selecting the best musical score for an online game is a bit tricky, as there are several factors to consider. The first one is availability – much of the music you can find online is copyrighted and can’t be used in a commercial context without permission. Obtaining permissions for songs from high-profile artists might be prohibitively expensive, so it’s better to hire a sound engineer to create the soundtrack from scratch. It’s very important to understand that the music won’t be consumed as a standalone, and to choose tracks that can be easily matched with gambling content without causing a distraction. Anything with vocals is probably a no-go, while you should also avoid intense guitar solos or dramatic drum rolls. Setting the volume to the most appropriate level is also essential, as you don’t want to drown out key sound effects or overwhelm the player with loud music.
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