Openal turned out to be a bust. Attempt to improve sound playback reliability.

sound.py

@@ -48,12 +48,33 @@ def find_available_channel():
         channel.stop()
         return channel
 
-    # If no silent channels, stop the first busy channel as last resort
+    # If no silent channels, stop channel 1 as last resort (avoid channel 0 - reserved for cutscenes)
     # This ensures sounds always play rather than being silently dropped
-    channel = pygame.mixer.Channel(0)
+    channel = pygame.mixer.Channel(1)
     channel.stop()
     return channel
 
+def play_sound_with_retry(sound, loop=False, max_retries=3):
+    """Play a sound with retry logic, returns (channel, success)."""
+    for attempt in range(max_retries):
+        # Try normal playback first
+        channel = sound.play(-1 if loop else 0)
+        if channel:
+            return channel, True
+
+        # If failed, force allocation and try again
+        try:
+            channel = find_available_channel()
+            channel.play(sound, -1 if loop else 0)
+            if channel.get_busy():  # Verify it's actually playing
+                return channel, True
+        except Exception as e:
+            if attempt == max_retries - 1:  # Last attempt
+                print(f"Sound playback failed after {max_retries} attempts: {e}")
+                return None, False
+
+    return None, False
+
 def get_channel_usage():
     """Return channel usage info for debugging."""
     total = pygame.mixer.get_num_channels()
@@ -98,7 +119,7 @@ class Sound:
             pygame.mixer.pre_init(44100, -16, 2, 4096)
             pygame.mixer.init()
             pygame.mixer.set_num_channels(48)
-            pygame.mixer.set_reserved(0)
+            pygame.mixer.set_reserved(1)  # Reserve channel 0 for cutscenes
 
         self.load_sounds()
 
@@ -175,6 +196,7 @@ class Sound:
 
         # Check if sound exists
         if soundName not in self.sounds:
+            print(f"Sound not found: {soundName}")
             return None
 
         # Handle cut scene mode
@@ -186,12 +208,11 @@ class Sound:
             pygame.event.clear()
             pygame.mixer.stop()
 
-        # Play the sound with guaranteed channel allocation
-        channel = self.sounds[soundName].play(-1 if loop else 0)
-        if not channel:
-            # If no channel available, force allocation
-            channel = find_available_channel()
-            channel.play(self.sounds[soundName], -1 if loop else 0)
+        # Play the sound with retry logic
+        channel, success = play_sound_with_retry(self.sounds[soundName], loop)
+        if not success:
+            print(f"Failed to play sound: {soundName}")
+            return None
 
         # Apply appropriate volume settings
         sfx_volume = self.volumeService.get_sfx_volume()
@@ -308,12 +329,11 @@ class Sound:
             if not soundName:
                 return None
 
-            # Play the sound with guaranteed channel allocation
-            channel = self.sounds[soundName].play()
-            if not channel:
-                # If no channel available, force allocation
-                channel = find_available_channel()
-                channel.play(self.sounds[soundName])
+            # Play the sound with retry logic
+            channel, success = play_sound_with_retry(self.sounds[soundName], False)
+            if not success:
+                print(f"Failed to play falling sound: {soundName}")
+                return None
 
             if channel:
                 channel.set_volume(
@@ -330,7 +350,7 @@ class Sound:
             pygame.mixer.music.set_volume(self.volumeService.get_bgm_volume())
             pygame.mixer.music.play(-1)
         except Exception as e:
-            print(f"Error playing background music: {e}")
+            print(f"Failed to load background music {musicFile}: {e}")
 
     def adjust_master_volume(self, change):
         """Adjust the master volume for all sounds."""
@@ -432,7 +452,8 @@ def play_bgm(musicFile):
         pygame.mixer.music.load(musicFile)
         pygame.mixer.music.set_volume(volumeService.get_bgm_volume())
         pygame.mixer.music.play(-1)
-    except: pass
+    except Exception as e:
+        print(f"Failed to load background music {musicFile}: {e}")
 
 def adjust_master_volume(change):
     """Adjust the master volume."""
@@ -498,12 +519,11 @@ def play_sound(sound_or_name, volume=1.0, loop=False, playerPos=None, objPos=Non
 
     # Case 4: Sound name with dictionary
     elif isinstance(sounds, dict) and isinstance(sound_or_name, str) and sound_or_name in sounds:
-        # Play the sound with guaranteed channel allocation
-        channel = sounds[sound_or_name].play(-1 if loop else 0)
-        if not channel:
-            # If no channel available, force allocation
-            channel = find_available_channel()
-            channel.play(sounds[sound_or_name], -1 if loop else 0)
+        # Play the sound with retry logic
+        channel, success = play_sound_with_retry(sounds[sound_or_name], loop)
+        if not success:
+            print(f"Failed to play sound: {sound_or_name}")
+            return None
 
         # Apply volume settings
         sfx_vol = volumeService.get_sfx_volume()
@@ -597,12 +617,11 @@ def play_random_falling(sounds, soundName, playerX, objectX, startY, currentY=0,
     if not matched_sound:
         return None
 
-    # Play the sound with guaranteed channel allocation
-    channel = sounds[matched_sound].play()
-    if not channel:
-        # If no channel available, force allocation
-        channel = find_available_channel()
-        channel.play(sounds[matched_sound])
+    # Play the sound with retry logic
+    channel, success = play_sound_with_retry(sounds[matched_sound], False)
+    if not success:
+        print(f"Failed to play falling sound: {matched_sound}")
+        return None
 
     if channel:
         channel.set_volume(