Is modern music crying out for the sort of icons that used to dominate the artistic landscape towards the end of the last millennium? Or are music fans simply being taken for a ride by record companies who own the rights to classic backlists and want to cash in?
It is a debate that will rage on for years to come. However, there can be no doubt that there is at least some genuine hunger for artists of the past.
This can manifest itself in the cultural zeitgeist in many ways, but one that is increasing in popularity is that of online games, some of which are being created almost as an homage to guitar and microphone heroes of yesteryear.
Here are some of the best online games that go out of their way to put music front and center of the entertainment experience they provide.
Music is so often vital in order to create an immersive in-game experience
Reels Spin in Time with the Classics
One genre of online game that has always paid particular attention to bands and recording artists is that of online slots.
Some of the titles that have been released in recent years include Guns N’ Roses, Jimi Hendrix, and Motorhead, all of whose titles leave little to the imagination when it comes to the sort of music and aesthetics they will exude. Many of these can be played using free spins which are collated at comparison websites like oddschecker.
The great thing about playing slots online is that players can either choose to enjoy a game’s music inspired sound effects, or they can mute them, and plug in an album or their favorite track.
There has always been a strong link between music and the world of online games
Entire Gaming Soundtracks Entrusted to Bands
When it comes to bands putting their mark on a gaming title, the gold standard is undoubtedly Quake, whose soundtrack was entirely put together by Nine Inch Nails.
Other musicians to have taken complete artistic control of online gaming scores include 50 Cent and jazz composer Peter McConnell.
Rappers Lend Their Voices and Lyrics to Online Games
Another trend that has been prevalent in many online battle royale games has been imbuing in-game avatars with the dulcet tones of a famous rap artist.
Perhaps the most well documented gaming voiceover was done by Snoop Dogg for COD: Ghosts, where, for a small additional price, the California native provided gamers with advice, encouragement, and commiserations, all in his inimitable tone and style of delivery.
