Slot games are carefully crafted by developers to promote player engagement and retention, employing visual effects, game mechanisms, bonuses and symbolism to boost the popularity of their products.
Another of the many techniques utilised in the development of slots is sound design, whose potency can be harnessed in a variety of ways. Sound has the ability to evoke memories and nostalgia, to capture players’ attention, create an immersive soundscape, or to enhance the overall gaming experience.
Characteristics of slot soundtracks
Anyone who is familiar with slot games will have encountered various elements of sound design.
Themes can be reinforced through the use of soundtracks. Irish-themed games employ folk tunes. Wild West-based titles use soundtracks inspired by Western films, such as Ennio Moricone’s famous scores, to add depth to the game’s setting. Similarly, games set in space, ancient Egypt, or fantasy realms all draw auditory inspiration from the movies.
Music within these games can also vary depending on the mood of the game and the current stage the player is at. Bonus rounds frequently feature higher-tempo music, raising the stakes and letting the player know that the game is on.
Alternatively, peaceful and melodic music can be used to create a pleasant, calming atmosphere, creating an immersive space in which the player feels comfortable.
Often, when just one symbol is required for a win, gameplay includes tense, suspenseful music, further adding to the thrill.
When players hit a win, additional sound effects accompany the visual celebrations. These frequently represent victory or wealth, employing grand trumpet sounds and showers of coins to indicate big wins.
The psychology of sound
As developers are well aware, all of the sounds used in slot games serve a psychological purpose. In fact, audio specialists are often employed in the development phases to help determine which sounds will best enhance the game, and how to tap into the player’s psychology.
Sound effects can be used to create positive mental associations between gambling wins and releases of dopamine, the neurotransmitter and hormone associated with pleasure, thereby conditioning players to further seek out these chemical rewards, and influencing their behaviour.
The use of specific ambient sounds can create a comforting, immersive experience, keeping players spinning happily for longer, boosting their mood, and potentially even making them less aware of their losses.
The importance of player retention
Keeping players engaged is everything in the slot development game, and consequently modern slot games are finely tuned to promote player retention.
Beyond sound, a plethora of other methods are used by casinos to improve player retention rates, such as high-end visual effects and the use of specific colours to elicit emotion.
The use of bonuses is amongst the most effective ways of increasing retention, particularly when the terms and conditions are enticing enough. An example of this is the case of no wagering slots, which enable players to keep their winnings from free spins, rather than having to re-wager them until little or none remains. By rewarding players with great bonuses like these, a bond of trust is formed between player and operator.
Legislation
Unsurprisingly, regulations exist which relate to sound design in slots. These are intended to minimise manipulation, and to ensure that the online slot playing experience is a fair and transparent one.
The Gambling Commission is the authority responsible for licensing and regulating gambling in Great Britain. Its duties include ensuring that all practices are fair to the player. For this reason, it has included sound-related factors in its guidelines, which must be followed by operators.
Nevertheless, its current policies on sound don’t go to any great lengths. The main reason for this is that the effects of sound are subjective, and therefore difficult to regulate.
The GC does, however, rule against “sounds or imagery which give the illusion of a win when the return is in fact equal to, or below, a stake”. It seems likely that, given the ongoing gambling legislation reform, additional sound-related regulations may be on the way.
What the future holds
The use of sound in slot machines is nothing new. In fact, it has been suggested that bricks-and-mortar casinos are designed to be intentionally womb-like in their sound and setting.
Emerging technologies such as augmented and virtual reality systems will surely play a part in this, with both already being used to promote immersion in gaming.
Artificial intelligence may even be capable of anticipating which sounds to play for the best result, and precisely when to play them based on the player’s reactions. AI is already used to determine the best bonuses to offer players and when to offer them, based on depositing and withdrawal patterns.
By applying psychology, technology, and creativity to sound design, modern gambling will certainly continue to evolve, developing ever more effective ways of tapping into our psyches and making the experience even more gripping.
