FG2 Support for Sound Effects?

[Neopagan]

I haven't read anywhere about this but was wondering whether FG2 will support sound effects, I was thinking mainly looping ambient effects like in Battlegrounds. My players love BG and the ambient sound effects really add a nice extra to gaming sessions. FG's environmental lighting coupled with ambient loops would be very nice indeed.

I have tried to convert them to FG but to no avail. I like both packages but FG is easier for scenario creation even if it is a bit of a task to create your own rulesets (my XML Fu is weak!)

So anyone have any info on this little feature?

[richvalle]

As far as I know, 'no'. At least not yet.

I have seen others talk about using another program that does this. Ventrillo?

rv

[Griogre]

Ventrillo does allow streaming sound effects.

[Aescleal]

Eventually I would like to see FG(2) support audio; even voice chat. But even if a voice chat feature never gets considered, an ambiant audio feature would be very useful. BattleGrounds does this, and in my opinion, it's a big redeeming feature.
FG already has an ambient light feature. From a high level look (I'm not a programmer) it seems as though the DM can simply turn on/off a switch on client consoles that changes the color hue of the play screen.

Could this not work with ambient sounds as well? Client computer would have to have the sounds available locally, but there could be default sounds, as well as a preshare. No?

Anyhoo, it's my 2cents, for now!

[Cantstanzya]

This subject has been beat to death in other posts. It is pretty much the consensus that most would eventually like to have support for sound but it is a very low priority. Especially since you can use Ventrillo or Skype among other software to accomplish playing sounds. I'm sure in time it will be supported.

[sunbeam60]

I'm sure in time it will be supported.

Badly, most likely, if ever. In a multitasking world, I just don't understand why people would want sound support in FG, when you can have a perfectly good program that specialises in that kind of stuff running in the background.

One thing I do hope FGII will allow is the ability to distribute custom commands across the network and the ability to load binary libraries (using lua's require or loadlib). That way, a Lua scripter could allow Skype or whatever sound program you want to use to be controlled from within FG, without delivering sub-par features bundled with FGII.

Mind you, that is my personal opinion, but I'd be curious to hear the developers speak out on FG Lua's ability to load custom binary libraries? That ability would suddenly make FGII incredibly powerful in controlling other programs. Both Winamp and Skype supports command channels (I believe Winamp takes window messages while Skype has a string based command interpreter)

[Aescleal]

Well, while I'd love to agree with Sunbeam60 about plugin's for other applications, I'm not overly savy when it comes to loading binary libraries. In fact, I have zero knowledge of what you are talking about (but it sounds cool). I'm sure many other potential buyers would fall into this same state of confusion.
That said, I can appreciate where you are coming from and I'm not sold on the idea of adding in voice communication, because it's likely one of those things that "would" be disappointing if not done well! So leave that 'til last for sure (my 2 cents again).
But since there are a lot of not tech people out there that will by FG (and FG2) here's the portion I really don't get:

Badly, most likely, if ever. In a multitasking world, I just don't understand why people would want sound support in FG, when you can have a perfectly good program that specialises in that kind of stuff running in the background.

If that's the case, we could simply be using IRC channels and bots to play, and forget all about VGT's all together. The OP was referring to abient sound loops, not voice comms. I thought the point of having a VGT was to get options you like, all gathered together under one application.
I have no problem running additional software to make up for shortcomings in my app of choice, but this is a wishlist item, to be sure!

[Oberoten]

Of course the Devs have actually disabeled this Lua function to prevent arbitary code-execution.

IE so nobody can make a ruleset that can format your HD by calling the format command. For every door opened there is a risk, because there will always be unscrupelous people with too much time on their hands.

As for FG doing sound badly if implemented... Maybe if it has to be full voice-chat. I would be happy for the ability to play simple soundclips in MP3 and WAV.

[Dupre]

Initially no sound support in FG2, but we haven't turned our blind eye to this.

[sunbeam60]

I'm sure many other potential buyers would fall into this same state of confusion.


Hey man, sorry for my lack of explanation. I completely agree that whatever you do, it has to be easy. I didn't mean to imply that everyone should acquire technical knowledge in order for FGI/II to work well with other programs.

Instead, I imagine a world where I would download and install and FG module titled "SoundSupport", which would put some nicely looking buttons onto your FG "desktop". When pressed, these would play sounds or enable voice communication or whatever. Behind the scenes, these lovely buttons would actually tunnel the voice communication through Skype and the sound support through Winamp.

If FGII had the ability to load external dynamic link libraries, I myself could whip something like that for everyone else to enjoy. As could many other people, I'm sure.


Of course the Devs have actually disabeled this Lua function to prevent arbitary code-execution.

IE so nobody can make a ruleset that can format your HD by calling the format command. For every door opened there is a risk, because there will always be unscrupelous people with too much time on their hands.

I agree they probably haven't allowed Lua support for the require and loadlib command, but I certainly don't agree with the "Of course"-part of your statement. Firefox extensions can format your harddrive. Winamp plugins can format your harddrive. IE toolbars can format your harddrive.

Yet very few do. The ones that do are removed from the official repositories and receive a crappy review until then. Restricting FGII's ability to interact with other programs on the notion that people will suddenly lose data and blame FG seems to me an incorrect decision.

My wager is that an "open" FGII (open in the sense that it could load binary code for random execution) would produce more stable and more feature-filled functionality for FG. Closing it off and then waiting for the official developers to find the time to produce a lot of the goodies is going to be a loooong wait.

My oppinion, anyway.

[Aescleal]

Hey man, sorry for my lack of explanation. I completely agree that whatever you do, it has to be easy. I didn't mean to imply that everyone should acquire technical knowledge in order for FGI/II to work well with other programs.

Instead, I imagine a world where I would download and install and FG module titled "SoundSupport", which would put some nicely looking buttons onto your FG "desktop". When pressed, these would play sounds or enable voice communication or whatever. Behind the scenes, these lovely buttons would actually tunnel the voice communication through Skype and the sound support through Winamp.

If FGII had the ability to load external dynamic link libraries, I myself could whip something like that for everyone else to enjoy. As could many other people, I'm sure.

That actually sounds pretty cool. I didn't get what you were talking about, but I like that explanation! Is there feasability in adding that functionality? Hmm, that didn't sound right... Is that sort of plug and play (-like) programmability something Smiteworks could/would add into FGII? Or does that open the door to greater problems as suggested by Oberoten?
:)
In that way, I'd think one could definitely "capitalize" on the best of breed applications. I know that some other applications do this. This (https://www.blazeaudio.com/products/voicecloakplus.html) is an example of an app that will do what you are suggesting, if I get your meaning.. I've used it while playing my Dwarf in DDO... but well, I just hope ambient sound gets some Dev love.

Initially no sound support in FG2, but we haven't turned our blind eye to this.
I agree with this.

As for FG doing sound badly if implemented... Maybe if it has to be full voice-chat. I would be happy for the ability to play simple soundclips in MP3 and WAV.

[sunbeam60]

Is that sort of plug and play (-like) programmability something Smiteworks could/would add into FGII? Or does that open the door to greater problems as suggested by Oberoten?

With an additional couple of lines in their source code this would be possible through Lua. Lua supports opening dynamic link libraries (DLLs), which can contain functions that can be called from inside Lua. This way, using FGII scripts, you could invoke additional functionality, which could range from sending mails, planning the next session in Google Calendar, playing sounds or music, creating custom talk channels in your voip program, starting conversations, exchanging links etc. etc.

Unfortunately, the "etc. etc." does also include stuff like formatting your harddrive, installing a trojan horse, sniffing your Microsoft Passport username/password, sending all of your documents to me, storing illegal material on your computer and all the other malicious activity you can imagine.

So adding this functionality in FGII isn't about difficulty, it's just a choice. With it, custom rulesets can do fantastic good and incredibly evil. Just like extensions in Firefox, toolbars in IE, or any other program you download from Tucows or CNet can do fantastic good and incredibly evil.

The key, I think, is to realise that although there are many channels in Firefox and IE where malicious activity can occur, in reality you feel perfectly safe installing extensions in Firefox and IE. Why? Because there are reputable sites where these are downloaded from. If you arrive at a website you don't know, and it wants to install an extension/ActiveX component, you decline and leave the site because it makes you feel a bit suspicious.

But if you're on a reputable site (Mozilla's extension site, CNet or something), you feel fine installing additional functionality.

The same thing, I bet, would arise for FGII. If you go onto a reputable site, with an active FG community presence, you know you're getting good stuff. If not, you run a risk.

But then again, I'm just talking, cuz' I wouldn't be terribly surprised if the developers have just closed their Lua distribution off.

[Oberoten]

The real problem would be when you connect to a new unknown GM...
If you are unlucky you get some stuff that you don't know about with the ruleset/module etc.