[Kde-games-devel] Fwd: New package dependencies in KDE Games

[Ian Wadham]

Hi guys, This is forwarded for your info.  Cheers, Ian W.

----------  Forwarded Message  ----------

Subject: New package dependencies in KDE Games
Date: Friday 13 May 2011
From: Ian Wadham <iandw.au at gmail.com>
To: kde-packager at kde.org

Hello packagers,

Raphael Kubo da Costa from the release team list suggested
I write to you to let you know about changed package dependencies
in the KDE Games module.

In KDE 4.7, two games are becoming dependent on the OpenAL
and SndFile packages for sound output.  The games are
Granatier and KGoldrunner.  Both games can be compiled
and built without sound, but it is highly undesirable to build
them in silent mode unless it is absolutely necessary.

At present we are discussing what kind of CMake dependency
to use, on the thread "OpenAL and SndFile as hard dependency
for Granatier" at release-team at kde.org.
 
SndFile reads and decodes the sound files, which are all *.wav
files at present and should be handled by all versions of SndFile.

OpenAL plays the files from buffers.  It is very good at playing
short, frequently repeated and overlapping sounds, which are
precisely linked to on-screen actions, such as you get in games.

As I understand it, both packages are available on a wide variety
of platforms, although Mac and Windows versions may require
installers to be added.  Please see details at:

http://connect.creativelabs.com/openal/OpenAL%20Wiki/Platforms.aspx
http://connect.creativelabs.com/openal/Downloads/Forms/AllItems.aspx
http://connect.creativelabs.com/openal/OpenAL%20Wiki/Resources.aspx
http://www.mega-nerd.com/libsndfile/

In the longer term, in KDE 4.8, the KDE Games team are planning to
review and release a new games library which will include the wrappers
for OpenAL and SndFile sound-functions that now appear in Granatier
and KGoldrunner.  We then expect other games to use the new sound
library, so we would appreciate your support at this preparatory stage.

All the best, Ian W.
KDE Games Team

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