Another experimental sound change.

sound.py

@@ -19,20 +19,44 @@ from .services import VolumeService
 # Global instance for backward compatibility
 volumeService = VolumeService.get_instance()
 
+# Global channel manager for explicit channel assignment
+_next_channel_index = 1
+
+def get_available_channel():
+    """Get next available channel using explicit assignment instead of pygame's auto-selection."""
+    global _next_channel_index
+
+    # Try to find an idle channel starting from next_channel_index
+    for _ in range(47):  # Try all available channels (1-47, skip 0 reserved for cutscenes)
+        channel = pygame.mixer.Channel(_next_channel_index)
+        if not channel.get_busy():
+            result = _next_channel_index
+            _next_channel_index = (_next_channel_index % 47) + 1  # Cycle 1-47
+            return pygame.mixer.Channel(result)
+        _next_channel_index = (_next_channel_index % 47) + 1
+
+    # If all channels busy, force stop the current one and use it
+    channel = pygame.mixer.Channel(_next_channel_index)
+    channel.stop()
+    pygame.event.pump()  # Force immediate cleanup
+    result = _next_channel_index
+    _next_channel_index = (_next_channel_index % 47) + 1
+    return pygame.mixer.Channel(result)
+
 
 
 def play_sound_with_retry(sound, loop=False, max_retries=3):
-    """Play a sound with retry logic, returns (channel, success)."""
+    """Play a sound with explicit channel assignment instead of pygame auto-selection."""
     for attempt in range(max_retries):
-        # pygame automatically finds channels and forces allocation if needed
-        channel = sound.play(-1 if loop else 0)
-        if channel:
+        try:
+            # Use explicit channel assignment instead of pygame's automatic selection
+            channel = get_available_channel()
+            channel.play(sound, -1 if loop else 0)
             return channel, True
-
-        # If still failed after retries
-        if attempt == max_retries - 1:
-            print(f"Sound playback failed after {max_retries} attempts")
-            return None, False
+        except Exception as e:
+            if attempt == max_retries - 1:
+                print(f"Sound playback failed after {max_retries} attempts: {e}")
+                return None, False
 
     return None, False
 
@@ -487,9 +511,10 @@ def play_sound(sound_or_name, volume=1.0, loop=False, playerPos=None, objPos=Non
 
     # Case 3: Direct pygame.Sound
     elif isinstance(sound_or_name, pygame.mixer.Sound):
-        channel = sound_or_name.play(-1 if loop else 0)
-        if channel:
-            channel.set_volume(volume * volumeService.get_sfx_volume())
+        # Use explicit channel assignment instead of pygame auto-selection
+        channel = get_available_channel()
+        channel.play(sound_or_name, -1 if loop else 0)
+        channel.set_volume(volume * volumeService.get_sfx_volume())
         return channel
 
     # Case 4: Sound name with dictionary