Introduction

When you think about it, sound is not absolutely necessary to the majority of video games; most of us have played a game with the sound off at one point or another. Having said this, most gamers would certainly agree that sound effects and music make the experience much more enjoyable. In fact, there are many games in which sound and music comprise most, if not all, of the gameplay. Consider playing Guitar Hero or Rock Band with no sound. While you could play and win based solely on the visual cues, why would you want to? The fun of rhythm and music games lies in the rhythm and music. Take the music out of Dance Dance Revolution and you're just stomping on a beat pad.

A game's music and effects definitely add to the experience and are often part of our gaming memories. When I think of my favorite games, I can always remember the music that played in the background and the sound effects as I played. While this is true for most gamers, the opposite effect can be said...