A new architecture for the VORPAL middleware

• Grant number: 24/20973-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Computer Science - Computing Methodologies and Techniques
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Gomes de Queiroz
• Grantee: Gabriel Haruo Hanai Takeuchi
• Host Institution: Instituto de Matemática e Estatística (IME). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This IC research project proposes a reimplementation of the architecture of the VORPAL middleware, used for the creation of procedural adaptive soundtracks in digital games, i.e. soundtracks that dynamically respond to game parameters. The VORPAL middleware, developed in Pure Data and its respective library libpd in C++, offers a graphical interface for sound design and an audio engine for realtime processing.The main goal of this project is to overcome the current limitation corresponding to a unique global scope of the original VORPAL implementation, by introducing support to multiple instances, which allow for better code encapsulation, modularity and safety. These improvements are essential for software organization, comprehension and scalability, benefitting both developers and sound designers. Besides, the project includes updating middleware dependencies, such as libpd and OpenAL, while maintaining compatibility the the game engine Godot.Validation of code changes will be addressed through tests with the game Sound Wanderer, developed in Godot and already integrated to VORPAL. It is expected that the proposed modifications result in greater flexibility, modularity and safety i the creation of realtime adaptive soundtracks.