There has always been a synergy between video games and rock music. In the early days, music made for gameplay leaned more towards rock music than any other genre, and over time, it became lucrative for artists to release tracks that could be used as theme songs for video game titles or gameplay. This trend gained popularity so much that composing gaming music started being taught in prestigious institutions of higher learning! Now, we have artists whose main occupation is producing gaming music. This article explores how famous rock bands have influenced the gaming industry.
Popular rock songs in games
The popularity of rock songs in video games is because of their synergy and most gamers’ history. Nostalgia helped shape people’s perception of gaming music, where adults who used to play arcade-style games in the early gaming consoles relished listening to those soundtracks played in concert format. Such crowd reactions helped grow this sector into a highly lucrative one. As of 2009, rock music-themed game titles like Guitar Hero and Rock Band had made more than $2.3 billion, earning rock bands like Aerosmith more money than they made from album sales.
Other game titles followed suit including Brütal Legend’s gameplay which focuses on heavy metal and includes over 100 tracks from bands like Megadeth and Mirrorthrone. Halo 2 has some of the best music ever composed for video games and includes tracks from bands like Incubus, Hoobastank, and Breaking Benjamin. Killing Floor 2 has guest appearances from metal artists like Evanescence’s drummer Rocky Gray and members of Demon Hunter and Living Sacrifice. Splatterhouse, an old-school horror game, includes tracks from bands like Five Finger Death Punch, Lamb of God, and Mastodon.
Many famous rock bands like AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses and more have tracks in multiple iconic game titles including Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Guitar Hero 2, Rock Band 2, Madden NFL Football, and have even inspired their own games! Guns N’ Roses for example have their own inspired slot game offered at many well-known online casinos. As well as slot games, online casinos also offer popular table games too such as Blackjack over at leovegas.com/en-gb/blackjack.
Success in rock music gaming
Game titles that used rock music reached stratospheric gaming success heights like never before. Guitar Hero and Rock Band video games became billion-dollar success stories by basing their gameplay on rock music. Therefore, subsequent releases could bank on such success, which had a snowball effect. The music genre trends are ever-changing, but it is for certain that video game developers can continually depend on rock music to create their perfect gaming soundtrack.
The appeal of rock music in games
Imagine you’re slaying through a crowd of zombies or shooting down aliens. Would you rather feel the electrifying thump of rock music or listen to fleeting pop music, or worse, classical music? Rock music, especially heavy metal, fits perfectly with the adrenaline rush and gore on display at such moments. Rock music amplifies the chaos of the game and makes a hero or villain look cool. Furthermore, playing a game with cameos from famous rock stars and bands adds to the thrill of the game. These features make the game feel almost like a private concert from your rock music idol. While other genres may come close to evoking similar reactions, rock music has done so well for so long.
