Video Games Player Experience Background Music

Impact of Background Music on Gameplay Experience

Overview

This project explores the effect of distinct background music on player experience and performance in video games. A 2D smartphone game was developed featuring varied custom-developed background music tracks.

Key Highlights

  • Developed a 2D smartphone game featuring varied background music conditions
  • Background music tracks were composed in collaboration with the Music Department at Idaho State University
  • Conducted a user study with 40 participants and performed statistical analysis to evaluate changes in gameplay experience and performance across music conditions

Related Publications

2024

The Disparate Impact of Distinct Background Music on Gameplay Experience: An Empirical Analysis

Tasnim, R., Eishita, F., Armstrong, J., Ludema, E., Russel, J.

21st International Conference on Information Technology: New Generations (ITNG 2024). Springer International Publishing

Abstract

In modern video games, music has become an unavoidable component. Previous research showed that to fabricate the connection between games and players, music is inevitable. While it has been widely accepted that music has the power to impact people's minds, it is yet to discover the differential impact of distinct categories of tunes on players' gameplay experience. In this paper, we have conducted a controlled experiment to investigate the impact of different in-game background music on the gameplay experience. We hypothesized that, different background music will deferentially impact players' gameplay experiences. Aligned with our hypothesis, the experimental outcome demonstrated that our three original music—Fruit Drop, Iced, and Soar have a distinctive impact on an individual's gameplay experience.

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