It's possible, but the reason I doubt it is they're already under enough memory and processor constraints to make the game run on those poor poor decade-old consoles. Running all of that AND a 'quick and dirty' beat-mapping algorithm? On a weapon that started out as a bug and worked into a neat weapon with dramatic effects as it goes? Doubtful. Possible, but doubtful.
Also, damage is static likely, considering it's upgradable. I suspect the gun 'fires' pulses, and the light show is more for effect, than them actually being the damaging projectiles. Tough to confirm though, because things tend to die too quickly either way with it wubbing at them...
So wait you're telling me the weapon was originally a bug? or what?
Also, I just tested the gun with all 3 customized skins, and the gun and the environment is effected by the audio playing from it. When playing a song, the gun itself has a needle in the middle of the vinyl that ticks over the left the more intense the song gets (the sliders towards the back are also effected by the music in how they slide (they slide downwards)). Also watch the wavelengths (or more the scope) that leaves the weapon. It may look all the same but in actuality when a more intense note comes again, you'll see the lines spike up higher then more subtle tones (it maybe hard to see at first, but focus on the spot where you see the peaks occur, and look closely you'll see at some times the lines stay lower in height, it may not seem that way at first, but you're mind might be blurring it all so it all looks the same). Oh yes and there is also the environment effect I talk about where you see the screen "pulse". (tip, use the Pop Star skin, you'll probably see some of these the best with that one, then just shoot the gun into the air watching it)
The needle, sliders, scope line, and environmental pulse all will follow the same style you might say. The more intense (aka a harder bass you might say) the needle will fly to the left more, the sliders will go down more, the scope line will spike higher, and the environmental "pulse" occurs.
I can't say for sure, but I wonder if maybe they are on standards, at least with the pulse and scope line (the other two might have like set markers to hit when these other two do, and then tween in between).
Yes I know a lot, but I have a thing for music, and have a natural musical ear as well as naturally picking up on the beat of a song.
Now once again I don't know a whole lot about how to work with audio on the computer ... yet, but one theory is they programed it so if the song hits a certain volume, freq, or whatever, that these set points I talk about above are then triggered. This would probably require very little work, and nothing more then a few if statements ... but then again who knows, maybe I should write up a question in the "Ask Volition" section of the forums cause now I am really curious