OpenAL Audio Update: Use 1.0.2553 Patch instead!

[onegreenparker]

Running Ubuntu 7.04,
HP6715s Laptop,
Downloaded PenumbraOvertureDemo-1.0.1.sh,
Ran the .sh in terminal, installed OK.
Started game OK.
Sound clicks every so often, and sounds a bit scratchy at times.
(And video extremely low, but one problem at a time)
Downloaded PenumbraOvertureOpenAlUpdate.sh,
Ran the .sh in terminal, installed OK.
Started game, no start, on next start I get a message ¨Game did not end properly last run, resetting configuration¨
Click on Close.
Restart PC, restart game, same error as above.
Attached is hpl.log
Any fix before I buy the game?

As a Linux user, I am starved for games so please help.

[thetargos]

The original problem might be due to a buffer underrun, the only fix for that that I know of is to generate an .asoundrc file to force a certain buffer size (usually I belive buffer size is of 1024, try 4096). For the exact syntax, though, you will have to see ALSA's wiki

[bmr5770]

Ok - I tried this patch and it crashed for me just like other posters described. I've been messing around with Thib_G's suggestion on the /etc/openalrc (after I downloaded the new OpenAL patch) and tried the following options for the "define devices'(" portion of the file. Here's the results:

(define devices '(alsa)) - crashes on startup before "Loading" screen
(define devices '(artsd)) - crashes on startup before "Loading" screen
(define devices '(esd)) - crashes on startup before "Loading" screen
(define devices '(oss)) - WORKED (to main menu so far)

Please note the following items tho:

It's late (and I have to work tomorrow) so I just got to the main menu (with music and such playing) but there was no longer any crackling sound and it didn't crash.

I'm using Kubuntu 7.04 with the demo.

Beemer

I've not bought the game yet, and I didn't download this patch.
I've always got creepy sound with OpenAL before I make a little modification in /etc/openalrc :
For KDE users ( I'm not, so, I'm not sure it works ) :

Code: (Select All)

(define devices '(artsd))
(define alsa-out-device "default")

For GNOME users :

Code: (Select All)

(define devices '(esd))
(define alsa-out-device "default")

[thetargos]

Interesting. Thanks for sharing.

[bmr5770]

Ok - really weird. I started the game like 3-4 times and actually played all the way through the demo last night and haven't logged out or rebooted. Now, tho, it's refusing to start giving that core dump again.

Not sure what's going on.

UPDATE: Ok - figured it out - Had firefox on a page where a video had played so it had control of the sound device. Once I shut that page, I was able to get back into the game again.

I played through the demo again and there is a background high pitched noise. It's apparent in the ship, along the snow trail and below ground. I *think* it's supposed to be some background ambiance but's. For instance, I can hear the wind on the snow trail and the high pitched sound (which is supposed to be howling maybe?).

WHOA UPDATE: Switched back to the original libopenal.so.0.0.0 and tried again using alsa in the /etc/openalrc - Back to the static/jumpy sound/music. However! Switched the /etc/openalrc to oss again and the old lib was music to my ears . The only time I heard a hint of static was when I picked up and dropped a few things on the dirt floor of the underground entrance rooms and it was *very* slight.

So to recap - after testing on Kubuntu 7.04, if edit the first line of /etc/openalrc (must be root or sudo edit it) to reflect 'oss' instead of 'alsa) *and* use the original openal.lib.so.0.0.0 the sound seems to be fine (provided something else doesn't have control/access to the sound device).

[bugmenot]

I bought the game this morning. The audio was choppy. I installed the patch as directed.

Now the game crashes on startup.



----------

sparc@q6600:~/games/PenumbraEp1$ ./penumbra
./penumbra: line 9: 11851 Segmentation fault (core dumped) ./penumbra.bin "$@"
Penumbra exited unexpectedly, please check
/home/sparc/.frictionalgames/Penumbra Overture/Episode1/hpl.log
for any error messages
Also try running
ulimit -c unlimited
And re-running Penumbra and try and recreate the error
then submit the generated core file or stack trace

----------

It still crashes after 'ulimit -c unlimited'

[ced117]

I think it's a problem with your audio device, try this

[Urkle]

'ulimit -c unlimited' does not fix crashed, what it does it it tells linux to allow the application to dump what is called a "core dump", or memory dump of the application at the time of the crash.
running (where 12345 WILL be different on your system do an ls core* to see what number the core dump was given)

Code: (Select All)

gdb ./penumbra.bin core.12345

then after GDB starts up running

Code: (Select All)

thread apply all bt full

Then copy ALL of the output to a post on this thread. That is what I need to debug what the crash was.

[zerxen]

So... first of all, love this game! { have to say it in my first post }

Preambule:
Intel C2D E6600, 2Gb Ram,GPU 7600GS 256MB,SB Audigy 2
Debian, Fedora 8 32-bit and 64-bit tripple boot

Second, ...
On both of my fedoras,
{ they had some issues with sound from very beginning with this new "pulse audio" thing, but I downgraded to pure "alsa" with emulated oss }
I have experienced this sound issue:
- Original game crashed with open /dev/[sound/]dsp: Device or resource busy
- so, I found out this new lib from Urkle.
- Game was running, but sound was crappy ... too crappy for longer play
- Wondered with google ... no luck, then I tried some of these tricks in /etc/openalrc
- Unexplainable sollution occured to me.

I work as a linux admin, but sound system is a mystery for me yet, so my weird
solution:
1) downgraded to the original sound lib { the one witch did not run for me in the beginning }
2) edited my /etc/openalrc so that it contained only :
(define devices '(oss))
3) now, the fun part, I have started skype { whitch is another weird oss using app }
4) and started the game without any problem :lol:, only that skype lost it's abylity to use sound system as well as all other programs in the system.

If someone knows what has happened, let me know. My quess is that skype is somehow programed to try to recreate missing /dev/[sound/]dsp device to have oss support in alsa ... and so penumbra is able to steal his creation.

But to be honest, I feel like some african shaman speaking stupidity to the crowd. So please someone bring some light in to this matter ...

PS: I have still not tried debian ...

[Urkle]

I am finishing up a PAtch for Mac And Linux which Fixes a GREAT many of the sound issues.. Mainly because I switched to a different OpenAL implementation that is more updated and tested.

Expect the patch in the coming week or 2