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Developing Games with OpenAL?

Posted by Cliff on from the seeking-resources-and-experiences dept.

AciDive asks: "I am currently working on developing a game and I want to use OpenAL for the sound. I have downloaded the SDK and currently have it working with Dev-C++. The reference documentation that comes with the SDK is good but it leaves something to be desired. What I would like to know is has anyone here on Slashdot ever done any sound programming with OpenAL and if so what resources did you use to get yourself started?"

7 of 18 comments (clear)

  1. I guess you could use that..... by trompete · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I use LibSDL because I want to do more than just sound in a cross-platform application. Did you consider using SDL for sound before you chose OpenAL?

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    More than enough BS
    1. Re:I guess you could use that..... by eviltypeguy · · Score: 4, Informative

      OpenAL provides a 3D audio API, SDL does not. OpenAL can even use SDL as an output device, and it is cross platform and portable. If the poster wants 3D audio, then OpenAL is is only "free" cross-platform portable choice.

    2. Re:I guess you could use that..... by Lord+Omlette · · Score: 3, Informative

      The submitter apparently wants to be in good company...

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      [o]_O
  2. canonical help by jvalenzu · · Score: 5, Informative

    Subscribe to the mailing list . Try #openal on irc.freenode.net. You can read a brief introduction to it in Game Programming Gems 4 as well, but as always the most up to date references are online.

  3. Re:Not that good by Dreadlord · · Score: 2, Interesting

    UT2004 uses OpenAL for sound too.

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    The IT section color scheme sucks.
  4. As a matter of fact... by mstorer3772 · · Score: 2, Informative

    I'm using OpenAL right now in my own little game project. It's kind of a cross between Robotron 2084 and Asteroids. It represents upwards of 20 hours of work and it shows (meh). As does my utter lack of artistic ability. The particle effects aren't bad though.

    I'm not doing a whole lot with OpenAL, but I *am* using it. Positional audio, which is the only sound I have in game. No music (yet).

    My project, "Bubble Cruiser", is using OpenAL on top of the default sound engine (DirectX I believe). I had some initial trouble but have massaged it into something pretty decent.

    Advice: Start from their sample code. The Creative SDK comes with a couple samples that will get you started.

    I tried writing the code from scratch at first but ran home to the samples almost immediately.

    And I wasn't terribly impressed with the docs either. Typical. But between the API reference and the sample code, you'll do fine.

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    Fooz Meister
  5. OpenAL? by All_Star25 · · Score: 2, Informative

    I'm using it on a SF project (no sound code committed to CVS yet; hence no link) and in addition to the developer docs included with the SDK, I took a look at some DevMaster tutorials on the web. They cover the basics and also some more advanced topics. It was a good start for me, even though, depending on what you want to do with it, you might have to make up some of your own stuff on the way. At least, that's what I did.