1. A method for intelligently combining audio effects generated in accordance with a game process with audio from a media player on a portable computing device, the method comprising: receiving audio from the media player; receiving a plurality of sound effects from the game process, wherein the sound effects are generated in response to game-playing actions of a user of the portable computing device; for each of the plurality of sound effects, receiving sound effect configuration information indicating chain or loop specifications for the corresponding sound effect; determining if there are enough active audio channels to play the plurality of sound effects and the audio from the media player simultaneously; modifying the audio from the media player at least in part in accordance with the sound effect configuration information; and when there are not enough active audio channels to play the plurality of sound effects and the audio from the media player simultaneously, mixing selected ones of the plurality of sound effects with the modified audio from the media player based on pre-established priorities and based on the sound effect configuration information.