Version: (using Devel) OS: Linux Installed from: Compiled sources This may be related to bug 197686. While investigating that bug I tried adding Escape (Esc) as a shortcut to applications other than KGoldrunner. As expected, it could only be added as a Custom shortcut (using the Configure Shortcuts... dialog) and that worked fine. However, pressing Esc in the application GUI failed to produce the desired action. I tested this with several KDE 4 applications.
In bug 197686 P and Esc are assigned by the program code as Default primary and alternate shortcuts for KGoldrunner's Pause action.