[Issue Report]: Monster Shounds With A Filepath Longer Then 8.3 Fails To Load From MPQ

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[Issue Report]: Monster Sounds with a Filepath Longer than 8.3 Fails to Load from MPQ

In this issue report, we will be discussing a problem that arises when loading monster sounds with a filepath longer than 8.3 characters from an MPQ file in the DevilutionX version 1.5.4. The issue is that the game fails to load the sound, resulting in no response. This problem has been observed on both Windows and Linux operating systems.

The issue at hand is related to the way the game handles filepaths in MPQ files. In the past, it was possible to load sounds from disk without any issues, but when loading from an MPQ file, the game seems to have a problem with filepaths longer than 8.3 characters. This is likely due to a buffer limitation in the sound or MPQ buffer.

The symptoms of this issue are as follows:

  • The game fails to load the monster sound.
  • The game does not respond or provide any error message.
  • The issue is specific to MPQ files and does not occur when loading sounds from disk.

To reproduce this issue, follow these steps:

  1. Create a mod with a monster that has a sound file with a filepath longer than 8.3 characters (e.g. hgrunt1a1.mp3).
  2. Load the level with the monster in the game.

The expected behavior is that the game should load the sound file and play it without any issues. However, in this case, the game fails to load the sound, resulting in no response.

There is no additional context to provide at this time.

Based on the symptoms and steps to reproduce, the possible causes of this issue are:

  • Buffer limitation in the sound or MPQ buffer.
  • Incompatible file format or encoding.
  • Bug in the game's sound loading mechanism.

In conclusion, the issue of monster sounds with a filepath longer than 8.3 characters failing to load from MPQ files in DevilutionX version 1.5.4 is a real problem that needs to be addressed. The possible causes of this issue are buffer limitation, incompatible file format or encoding, and bug in the game's sound loading mechanism. To resolve this issue, further investigation and testing are required to identify the root cause and implement a fix.

Based on the analysis of this issue, the following recommendations are made:

  • Investigate the buffer limitation in the sound or MPQ buffer and consider increasing the buffer size.
  • Test the game with different file formats and encodings to determine if the issue is related to the file format or encoding.
  • Review the game's sound loading mechanism to identify any bugs or issues that may be causing the problem.

Future work on this issue will involve further investigation and testing to identify the root cause and implement a fix. This may involve:

  • Collaborating with the game developers to identify the root cause and implement a fix.
  • Testing the game with different file formats and encodings to determine if the issue is related to the file format or encoding. Reviewing the game's sound loading mechanism to identify any bugs or issues that may be causing the problem.

In our previous article, we discussed the issue of monster sounds with a filepath longer than 8.3 characters failing to load from MPQ files in DevilutionX version 1.5.4. In this article, we will provide a Q&A section to address some of the common questions and concerns related to this issue.

A: The root cause of this issue is likely due to a buffer limitation in the sound or MPQ buffer. When the filepath is longer than 8.3 characters, it may exceed the buffer size, causing the game to fail to load the sound.

A: This issue is specific to MPQ files. However, it's possible that similar issues may occur with other file formats if they have similar buffer limitations.

A: Increasing the buffer size may help resolve this issue, but it's not a guaranteed fix. The game's sound loading mechanism and the MPQ file format may have specific requirements that need to be met in order to load the sound correctly.

A: Yes, there are a few workarounds that can help resolve this issue:

  • Use a shorter filepath for the sound file.
  • Use a different file format that does not have the same buffer limitations.
  • Modify the game's sound loading mechanism to increase the buffer size.

A: We cannot guarantee that this issue will be fixed in future versions of DevilutionX. However, we will continue to investigate and test the game to identify and fix any issues that may arise.

A: Yes, you can contribute to the fix of this issue by:

  • Reporting any issues you encounter with the game.
  • Providing feedback and suggestions on how to improve the game.
  • Collaborating with the game developers to identify and fix issues.

A: You can find more information about this issue on the following resources:

In conclusion, the issue of monster sounds with a filepath longer than 8.3 characters failing to load from MPQ files in DevilutionX version 1.5.4 is a complex issue that requires further investigation and testing. We hope that this Q&A section has provided some helpful information and guidance on how to address this issue. If you have any further questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.