Bells and Whistles - ON or OFF?

[voxleo]

Just curious if anyone else finds that they play (certain games) better with the sound OFF? (Think "Pinball Wizard!")

I find it interesting that although I process most of my world through my ears, I've discovered that most games I will play noticeably worse with the music and/or sound effects yammering at me, and on a handful of others better. (Maybe because my processing power is more focused on the visuals when its off?)

But Bejewelled, for instance, I find that I really like the supportive encouragement of the voice when I get a good combo - those one word exclamations were the initial thing that got me hooked on it to begin with. (I'm a Leo - I love the praise! =D ) I will often turn off the music, but it isn't a real distraction if it's on for that one, but some games (like Luxor) I simply cannot STAND to have the music on and if I forget to click the button when it starts I'm doomed to a dismal score.

Carnival Shootout I consistently score better in when ALL sounds are off, but Crescendo Catcher or Amazon Rainmaker I can't even imagine doing in silence. In Miner Speed sometimes the music helps and other times not, depending on my mood, but Candy Crush lulls me to sleepy slow play if I don't keep the music off (don't mind the voice on that one since they changed it from the creepy molester-sounding one, though!)

I also notice that if I like the music itself, I will play that game quite a bit more than others too.

How bout everyone else? Do you find the bells and whistles add to the ambiance or to the irritation in most games? Are there some games in particular that HAVE to be one way or the other or you find yourself floundering?

[haueb]

I play almost every game with effects and music off, this is mainly because I'm always watching movies/tv shows while playing. I get bored if I don't. The only games where I always had the effects of were Hens defense and crescendo catcher, because the sound would make sure you didn't miss anything.
Lately I play Solitaire Swing with the sound effects on too, helpfull there too.
I think king.com should make us able to adjust the volume, that would make me play with the effects on almost all the time. Now the effects are almost always too loud.

[Jacob]

I play all the games with the music off, but I usually keep effects on. Crescendo Catcher is an obvious given that you can't play it well without music.

I played Amazon Rainmaker without music...does the music cue something in that game? Maybe that's why I always sucked at it..

[iammee]

For me with a few of the games where time is important, I have the audio on, such as Abracadabra, and of course Crescendo Catcher. For the rest, I'll have it off or on, depending on waht I'm doing. It's a bit annoying that the older games don't remember that sound should be off, and you've got to waste time with that.

I agree that a vollume control would be very nice, since it's real hard to adjust things, especially if you're listening/watching something else as Haueb said.

BTW, has anyone else noticed in Bunny Bon Bon that even with the sound off, you get the sliding on chocolate noise? Very weird, and a bit annoying when you need everything to be quiet.

[voxleo]

I played Amazon Rainmaker without music...does the music cue something in that game? Maybe that's why I always sucked at it..

Not really a cue, I just really dig the tribal drums when they get "activated." I do kinda suck at it without sound though...

Totally agree about a volume control - most of the WW games allow you to adjust that stuff before each game. For some reason too, the game volumes are always a completely different range from the stuff I've been listening to or watching on the pc when I play and as soon as the game starts I get my ears blasted out. King needs a suggestion box.