Another experimental sound change.

sound.py

@@ -19,19 +19,43 @@ 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
+        except Exception as e:
             if attempt == max_retries - 1:
-            print(f"Sound playback failed after {max_retries} attempts")
+                print(f"Sound playback failed after {max_retries} attempts: {e}")
                 return None, False
 
     return None, False
@@ -487,8 +511,9 @@ 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:
+        # 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
 

speech.py

@@ -289,14 +289,18 @@ def _play_dialog_sound(entry, dialog_config, sounds):
             if hasattr(sounds, 'sounds') and sound_to_play in sounds.sounds:
                 # Sound class instance (like from libstormgames Sound class)
                 sound_obj = sounds.sounds[sound_to_play]
-                channel = sound_obj.play()
+                from .sound import get_available_channel
+                channel = get_available_channel()
+                channel.play(sound_obj)
                 sound_duration = sound_obj.get_length()
                 if sound_duration > 0:
                     pygame.time.wait(int(sound_duration * 1000))
             elif isinstance(sounds, dict) and sound_to_play in sounds:
                 # Dictionary of pygame sound objects (like from initialize_gui)
                 sound_obj = sounds[sound_to_play]
-                channel = sound_obj.play()
+                from .sound import get_available_channel
+                channel = get_available_channel()
+                channel.play(sound_obj)
                 sound_duration = sound_obj.get_length()
                 if sound_duration > 0:
                     pygame.time.wait(int(sound_duration * 1000))

utils.py

@@ -476,7 +476,9 @@ def x_powerbar():
         leftVolume = (50 - position) / 100
         rightVolume = (position + 50) / 100
         tone = generate_tone(frequency)
-        channel = tone.play()
+        from .sound import get_available_channel
+        channel = get_available_channel()
+        channel.play(tone)
         channel.set_volume(leftVolume, rightVolume)
 
         # Visual representation
@@ -519,7 +521,9 @@ def y_powerbar():
     while True:
         frequency = 220 + (power * 5)  # Adjust these values to change the pitch range
         tone = generate_tone(frequency)
-        channel = tone.play()
+        from .sound import get_available_channel
+        channel = get_available_channel()
+        channel.play(tone)
 
         # Visual representation
         screen.fill((0, 0, 0))