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Acorn Arcade forums: News and features: Doom and Heretic Updates
 

Doom and Heretic Updates

Posted by Tim Fountain on 00:00, 12/5/1999 | , ,
 
Here's the list of changes to Doom and Heretic:


Changes in 2.05 (over 2.01)


FrontEnd:

  • The network window has had a 'names' button added to it, in which you
    may configure player names. Use -pname <myname> for newer games.
  • Sound setup window now has a 'setup music' option which when enabled
    plays MIDI music whilst setting up the game.
  • 'No scaled status bar' and 'Open text window' added to Misc window.
    These respectively give an unscaled (ie smaller) status bar, and open the
    new text display window on startup.
  • 'No startup warnings' added to Misc window, preventing warnings being
    displayed and requiring confirmation during startup.
Game:
 
[General]
  • -precachedemo added to ensure that all the demo is precached, for
    demonstration purposes.
  • Deathmatch games should now always receive the keys they need (problem
    with deciding the keys required on a level)
  • 24 bit StrongARM code speed up (over 2fps faster on 320x256x256)
  • Multiple sprite rotation problem fixed (reported in osiris.wad).
    Consequently, rotation problems will now be reported as warnings
    on startup and may be ignored with -noinitwarnings.
  • Desktop games should now be more playable, especially in network games
    with new key and mouse handling allowing much better control.
  • Now displays the 'end of game' (ENDOOM) message when you quit (desktop
    only).
  • Descriptive configuration files are now created.
  • No longer need to use -devparm to save screenshots in full screen mode.
  • Now millenium compliant (would have never failed, but was 'wrong')
[Visual]
  • Messages window, giving a desktop display of the HUD messages in either
    a fixed pitch font or the system font; useful when messages are turned
    off in the game. Use -font for the font, -nofont for the system text.
    -opentextwin will open the messages window initially. -notextwin will
    disable the window entirely.
  • Add -moreblood to the 'others' line for more violent blood splatters.
  • Linear and bi-linear smoothing possible in both 8 and 24 bit for walls
    and objects.
  • Use -noscaledbar, or select the option from the Misc window, to stop the
    status bar scaling in variable resolution modes.
  • Smoothing effects are now available from the Options->Display->Smoothing
    menu. There are different capabilities between 8bpp and 24bpp.
  • Use IDRESAMP to change all the effects in one go.
  • Use IDCACHE to change column caching. Column caching is the 'StrongARM
    optimisation' and hence will speed up SA redraw if enabled.
  • Cross hair colour configuration added.
  • -monsternames can be used to show names over monsters heads.
  • -diminmenus will dim the background when menus are in use
  • Iconbar gameplay
  • Can change resolutions midgame
[Networking improvements]
  • Changed networking error messages:

    NetUpdate: netbuffer->numtics > BACKUPTICS
    becomes
    Tried to transmit more tics than our buffer can handle
     
    TryRunTics: lowtic < gametic
    becomes
    Attempted to run a historic tic
     
    gametic>lowtic
    becomes
    Attempted to run a futuristic tic

    Which (even if not completely understandable) are less scarey.
  • BACKUPTICS is now 16, rather than 12; this should speed network games
    slightly.
  • Option to display scores in a number of forms :

    on :
    'level frags' / 'total frags'
    full :
    'level kills' - 'level suicides' / 'total kills' - 'total suicides'
    extended :
    'level kills' - 'level suicides' + 'level monster kills' /
    'total kills' - 'total suicides' + 'total monster kills'

  • Option to details over player heads, for which -allownaming is required on
    the controller for Health, Weapon, and Name
  • Net 'Net options' menu option, allowing some 'in game' control over
    network game options.

    Hold - if enabled will ignore settings for exiting levels after a
    number of kills, or a number of kills ahead.
    Exit level - exits the level immediately
    End at - changes the number of kills at which the level ends
    End ahead - changes the number of kills ahead at which the level ends.
    -allowcontrol must be used on the controller for these options to be
    available.

  • -pmi allows 'post mortem invincibility'. This means that after dying, you
    will be invincible for a period. You also cannot shoot for this period.
  • Can change name whilst in games.
  • Can change level limitations (eg end at, end ahead) or retain level during
    the game.

    Note:
    Network games between mixed 2.01 and 2.02 or later must not use features
    which are not present in the lowest of the versions. It is recommended
    that the lowest DOOM+ version be the controller as this should give the
    most reliable performance.

DOOMFS:
  • Better support for Heretic and Hexen WADs
NetDoom:
  • New driver using new BACKUPTICS.
  • Added 'List' button to list machines on an Access network.
  • Added 'drag and drop' facilities for machines in list window (or machine
    names)
  • 'Auto' button to auto-configure all machines on an Access network.

SDoom:
  • New driver using new BACKUPTICS.
NetSpec:
  • Minor update detailing change to BACKUPTICS.

 
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Acorn Arcade forums: News and features: Doom and Heretic Updates