Rock 'n' Roll. Video games. Kindred Spirits. Parents and politicians have targeted both, blaming them for society's ills. That's not the only thing they have in common. Hit titles like Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero or Lumines show how profitable marrying games and music can be. Rocker Dave Navarro sums it up:

To be featured in a video game is probably the greatest way to reach a large audience right now.

The music-game genre is exploding with sales up 80 percent. What's more, traditionally non-music games give musician opportunities to, as hip-hop producer Dan "The Automator" Nakamura" points out, "to not work with the regular music label system, which is so screwed up right now. You can do the kind of record you want to get done and know it will reach a different audience." Nakamura should know, since he scored NBA 2K7, which featured Mos Def, E-40 and A Tribe Called Quest. As gaming and the music industry move closer and closer together, why can't I help feeling they've still got better-looking groupies? Waaay better. Brian Ashcraft

Music, Games, Kindred Spirits [Reuters]

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