 
You're behind the wheel of a fully loaded racing vehicle, battling for the finish line. As the tachometer revs, so does your pulse. You feel every close call, every tight turn.
Relax. You're just sitting at your computer playing the latest racing video game. So why the sweat on your brow? Some game enthusiasts chalk it up to an affecting combination of realistic visuals and all-encompassing sound.
But video games haven't always delivered such visceral experiences. In the old days—you know, the 1970s—games were just simple, habit-forming fun. Exciting sound wasn't even an option.
Words. And a few sounds.
Some of the earliest computer games, known as "interactive fiction," had little or no audio. These text-based adventures were created by trailblazers who imagined computers doing more than just computing. Their fork-in-the-road journeys, similar to "choose your own ending" paperbacks, looked like this:
Not a very dynamic experience.
In the late 1970s, the popular Atari home console systems turned home gaming into a phenomenon. Yet, there were still none of today's vibrant visuals or heart-pounding sound effects. Most home video game sounds resembled a "beep" or "blip," and technical limitations resulted in musical notes even sounding out of tune.
"Technology has certainly changed that."
Sound that seems to surround
Computer hardware has improved in leaps and bounds (and that's an understatement), allowing for high-performance, home theater-style audio. In response, today's game producers have actually made it essential for gamers to listen to their surroundings.
 "Gamers have come to expect audio cues to help them navigate through increasingly complex game play," said Craig Henricksen from the Bose Home Entertainment Division. "Multichannel audio playback helps a gamer better engage in the action."
Is there an enemy creeping just out of visual range? Are those heavy footfalls over your shoulder ... or off to the side? "Directional sounds have expanded the environment," said game producer Mark Flitman. "It feels as if the area extends beyond the PC screen."
Your screen may still provide just two dimensions, but the right audio system lets you hear all around you—and respond to games in all new ways. Designers even enhance the action by adding a profusion of sound effects. From a rabid stock-car racing crowd to creepy, creaking doors, atmospheric sound helps transport your brain to your playground of choice.
With all these gaming refinements, the excitement of surround sound is no longer just for the living room. Serious PC gamers can now get a similar aural experience at their desktops: home theater-style sound, but with a more direct, compact footprint.
Beyond the games
Within the past few years, game sound has expanded into territory outside of gaming. Game publishers have filled their creations with popular music, from current chart-toppers to classic rock hits. As a result, game audio now affects not just the player, but also the music industry.
 In 2002, one blockbuster action game spawned eight soundtrack releases, with one reaching number 20 on the Billboard charts. And two years ago, a Nile Rodgers-produced game soundtrack hit number eight on the charts.
Clearly, the days of short beeps emanating from tinny speakers are behind us. And so are the sound of today's creatures, enemies and other assorted rivals. Right behind us.
For information on the newest Bose computer speaker system:
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