If DCC refuses to let you do anything with WAD files then one of three things
may be occuring:
1. You don't have any WAD files.
2. You have the shareware version of DOOM.
3. You have the registerd version of DOOM but DCC thinks you have the
shareware version. If you do in fact have DOOM 1.2 or 1.666 registered
then you probably have the file DOOM1.WAD from the shareware version
still in your DOOM directory. Deleting or renaming DOOM1.WAD will clear
up the problem.
- Support for the -timer option has been added so that timed DEATHMATCH
games are now possible using DCC. Note that DOOM seems to be very
sensitive to WAD files when using the -timer option. During testing,
I found that DOOM would refuse to run when players selected WAD files
that replaced sounds and/or graphics. Generic levels-only WAD files
seemed to work OK. This is a problem with DOOM, not DCC.
- You can now run DOOM's SETUP.EXE from within DCC. This allows you to
modify your mouse, keyboard, sound card, etc. configuration without
exiting DCC. This option appears under the Edit menu.
- Version 3.2 release notes:
- A WAD file description editor has been added that allows you to annotate
your WADs.
- DCC now swaps itself to disk when shelling to DOOM thus freeing all but
about 1.5k of DOS memory. This solves problems with loading very large
WAD files. Also, networked machines that have a lot of DOS memory
occupied by network drivers should run without problems.
- DOOM versions 1.2 and 1.666 are now supported by a single version of
DCC. New features of DOOM 1.666 supported are:
- Fast Monsters option
- DEATHMATCH v2.0 (ammo, weapons, etc. respawn)
- Multi-player demo recording
- Demo recording buffer size setting
- Version 3.1 release notes:
- The WAD file Browse function has been expanded to allow you to view
stats for each level map in a WAD file. The information displayed
shows the number of items present at each skill level. Stats are listed
for each type of monster, weapon, and ammo. The number of cooperative
and deathmatch player start positions are also shown.
- A Delete button has been added to the Select WADs dialog box to allow
you to delete WAD files from disk. Now, the next time you download a
batch of WADs from your favorite BBS, you can try them out and trash
the ones that aren't worth keeping without exiting DCC.
- Version 3.0 release notes:
- The WAD file level re-assignment bug is now fixed. DCC would sometimes
mangle a WAD file when you attempted to re-assign its levels. This only
happened on WAD files whose directories were not at the end of the file.
I stupidly assumed that the directory would always be at the end of the
WAD file and therefore anything following it got truncated. Sorry for
any inconvenience this may have caused (you had your WADs backed up,
didn't you?). Hopefully, not many of you were bitten by this bug as I
found it myself and have had no reports of problems from users.
- The WAD File Path selection is now more straight-forward with a Windows
file manager-like expand/collapse directory tree. Also, you no longer
need to exit and restart DCC to scan the WADs in the new directory.
- What is DOOM Control Center?
DOOM Control Center is a utility program that greatly simplifies
running serial/modem/network games. DCC replaces and enhances all of
the functionality of DOOM's SETUP.EXE with the exception of the hardware
configuration portion.
- Features:
- Uses all of the command line features that are built into DOOM but
are not accessible through SETUP.EXE.
- Start on any level of any episode.
- Select NO MONSTERS for serious DEATHMATCH games.
- Give monsters eternal life (for you crazies out there).
- Specify external WAD files so that you can play modified levels of DOOM.
- Easy to use Windows-like mouse driven user interface; just point and
click! (keyboard also supported, mouse not required)
- WAD file level assignment editor
- WAD file browser
- Supports separate directory for WAD files
- Saved game WAD file tracking
- Record and playback DOOM demo (.LMP) files
- Chat macro editor
- Saved game file editor
- Allows the use of third-party serial and network drivers
- Context sensitive hints displayed on the bottom screen line
- Notes:
- DCC.EXE must be placed in your DOOM directory.
- DOOM Control Center was designed for use with DOOM versions 1.2 and 1.666;
as such it expects to find DOOM.EXE, IPXSETUP.EXE, SERSETUP.EXE,
DEFAULT.CFG, demo (.LMP) files, and your save game files in the same
directory from which DCC was launched (i.e. your DOOM directory).
- If you use third-party replacements for the network and/or serial
drivers make sure they are named IPXSETUP.EXE and SERSETUP.EXE;
otherwise DCC will not be able locate and run these programs.
- The user interface for DCC is simple and very intuitive if you are using
a mouse. If you don't have a mouse (you should get one! DOOM is much
easier to play with a mouse!) press the F10 key to get to the main menu,
then use the cursor keys to navigate the drop down menus. Once the
desired menu item is highlighted hit the enter key to activate it. This
will usually open a dialog box. Inside dialog boxes use tab and
shift-tab to jump between item groups. Within item groups use the cursor
keys and spacebar to make selections.
- The Edit | Default Params menu item brings up a dialog box that allows
you to set up your favorite configuration so that you don't have to keep
selecting your COM port, Network Socket, etc. every time you play.
Note that this dialog box is divided into two sections; Multi-Player
Defaults and Single-Player Defaults. I usually play multi-player games
in DEATHMATCH with no monsters and the easiest skill level (more ammo!)
while single player games are usually normal monsters and Ultra-Violence.
Whatever your preference, you have the flexibility to set things up to
suit your taste. The WAD File Path lets you tell DCC where to look for
your WAD files. If your WADs are in your DOOM directory simply leave
this item blank. If you change the WAD file path DCC will scan the WADs
in the new directory when you save the defaults. Note that the Selected
WADs list will be cleared when you change the WAD file path.
NOTE: If you are using DOOM v1.2 and your WADs are in a separate directory
you should strive to keep the WAD path as short as possible due to
the 128 character DOS command line limit. This limitation does not
apply to version 1.666 as DCC takes advantage of the new response
file feature.
- Notes on loading saved games
- DCC keeps track of the WAD file(s) in use when games are saved.
You will be prompted to add the necessary WAD if you attempt to load a
saved game without first selecting the WAD file. Note that this
feature will only work if DOOM is launched from DCC. If you run DOOM
from the DOS command line and save a game, DCC has no way of knowing
what WAD files you used (unfortunately, DOOM does not store this info
in the save game file). Also, if you have a previous version of DCC
ignore the gibberish in the documentation referring to loading saved
games and external WADs. If you save a game while using an external
WAD then you need to use the WAD when you load the game if the WAD
completely replaces a level.
- The Load Game dialog boxes have a control group named Monster Options;
this item does not affect the level on which the game was saved,
however, it does affect the following levels. For example, if you
don't select No Monsters when you load a saved game that was started
with No Monsters then there won't be any monsters on the saved level,
however, there WILL be monsters when you exit that level and proceed to
the following levels. DCC remembers the Monster Option in effect when
a game is saved (provided DOOM was launched from DCC) and will
automatically select it for you when loading the saved game.
- When loading multi-player saved games the Game Type (Cooperative or
DEATHMATCH) must be set to the type of game that you were playing when
the game was saved. DOOM does not store this information in the save
game file. DCC remembers the Game Type in effect when a game is saved
(again, provided DOOM was launched from DCC) and will automatically
select it for you when loading the saved game.
- The WAD Files menu item brings up a dialog box that lists
all of the WAD files that are in your WAD file directory (with the
exception of DOOM.WAD). Double-click with the mouse or use the cursor
keys and spacebar to select WAD files from the Available WADs list. Next
to this list is a 3 x 9 matrix that shows you the episode(s) and level(s)
that the highlighted WAD file replaces. Note that WAD files that only
replace sounds or textures do not indicate any replaced levels. As you
select files, they will appear in the Selected WADs list on the right.
There is another 3 x 9 grid next to the Selected WADs list that shows you
the episode(s) and level(s) replaced by all of the selected WAD files
combined. When there are one or more files shown in the Selected WADs
list (i.e. the Selected WADs list is not empty) a check mark (u) will
appear next to the WAD Files item on the main menu to alert you that
external WAD files will be specified when you run DOOM. Also, when you
have WAD files selected that replace at least one game level, a window
will be displayed when you close this dialog box that shows you which
level(s) are replaced. To clear the Selected WADs list simply press
the Clear button.
- The Re-assign levels button brings up a dialog box that shows you all
of the level map(s) that are in the currently highlighted WAD file in
the Available WADs list. To change the order of the level(s) or assign
them to a different episode, highlight the level that you want to
change in the list box on the left and then select the new assignment
(ExMy) on the buttons on the right side. When you are finished, click
on the Save Changes button to save the new level assignments to the WAD
file.
- The Browse button allows you to view the internal directory of a WAD
file. The browser lists the names of the resources as well as their
size and offset within the WAD file. If you know the names id has
assigned to the WAD resource data you can determine what aspects of the
game a given WAD file will replace. For example, a WAD that replaces a
single level will have at least 11 directory entries consisting of ExMy,
THINGS, LINEDEFS, SIDEDEFS, VERTEXES, SEGS, SSECTORS, NODES, SECTORS,
REJECT, and BLOCKMAP. Music resources are identified by D_ExMy (x and
y are the episode and level numbers), sound effects are DSxxxxxx
(example: DSPUNCH is the punching sound), game demos are DEMO1, DEMO2,
and DEMO3, etc. For a complete list of resource names and their
functions I suggest you obtain a copy of the DOOM specs written by
Matt Fell.
- DCC detects collisions between WAD file level assignments (i.e. you
attempt to select WADs that replace the same level). When this occurs
you are given the option to re-assign the levels of the offending WAD
file.
- The Level(s) Replaced grid in the Select WADs box allows you to
quickly double check which level is replaced by which file. Simply
click on the 'X' in the ExMy column/row and the corresponding WAD file
will be highlighted in the Selected WADs list.
- The Level(s) Replaced box that appears in the upper right after you
close the Select WADs box will also show you the WAD file associated
with a particular level. Again, simply click on the 'X'.
- DCC will recognize the first 500 WAD files that it finds in the
specified directory. Any beyond this number will be ignored. And
really, if you have more than that you should seriously consider
getting some professional help. ;-)
- New game selection with external WADs
- DCC will automatically default to the first episode and level that
is replaced by an external WAD file.
- The level(s) replaced are indicated by an 'X' in the WADs column to
the left of the episode and level selection buttons. Once again,
clicking on the 'X' will show you the associated WAD file name.
- If you specify WAD files during multiple player games make sure that
all players have their own copies of the files and that everyone selects
the same ones. If you don't, DOOM will crash with a consistancy failure.
- Notes on recording and playing back demo files
- When recording demos do not include the file extension (.LMP) when
entering the demo file name. DOOM will add this automatically.
- Demo files must be in your DOOM directory as DOOM.EXE does not allow
path names to be used with LMP files.
- If you playback a demo that was made from an external PWAD you must
make sure that the appropriate PWAD is selected.
- DCC generates many command line parameters automatically for DOOM.EXE,
SERSETUP.EXE, and IPXSETUP.EXE. Following is a list of the command
parameters that are supported:
DOOM.EXE: -episode selects the starting episode
-skill selects the skill level for new games
-devparm necessary to use -warp (see below)
-warp selects starting episode and level
-nomonsters runs doom with no monsters
-respawn causes monsters to re-appear 8 seconds
after you kill them
-fast puts monsters into hyper-active mode
-deathmatch players have all the keys, transport into
levels at random locations, and score is
kept based on how many times you kill the
other player(s)
-altdeath version 2.0 deathmatch rules
-timer sets time limit on deathmatch games
-loadgame specifies which saved game to load
-file specifies a list of .WAD files to replace
the original level maps
-record record a demo (.LMP) file
-playdemo playback a demo (.LMP) file
SERSETUP.EXE: -com selects the com port that you are using
-answer sets the modem to answer the phone on modem
games
-dial causes the modem to initiate the call and
dial the number given
IPXSETUP.EXE: -nodes specifies the number of players in net games
-port selects the network port address that is to
be used for the net game
If you are using a modified version of SERSETUP.EXE or IPXSETUP.EXE
then you may need to generate command parameters that are not listed
above (anybody who is playing serial or modem games is certainly using
a modified driver as id's original SERSETUP had bugs that made the game
unplayable). For example, your SERSETUP.EXE may support commands that
allow you to set the baud rate, irq number, port address, etc. If you
need to use these parameters you may specify them by selecting
Extra Params | Driver Params from the Edit menu. This will open a dialog
box where you can enter different parameter strings for serial, modem,
and network games. The command strings that you input here are simply
inserted into the command list normally generated by DCC. Once you
figure out the correct parameters DCC will remember your settings and
use them again when running future games.
NOTE: For running modem games you still need to make sure that MODEM.CFG
contains the proper initialization strings for your modem. The
Extra Params option is strictly for driver parameters, not modem
initialization.
- When running modem games, DCC remembers the telephone numbers that you
call and will default to the last number dialed.
- DOOM shareware version
- In keeping with id Software's wishes, DCC detects the shareware version
of DOOM and disables all of the WAD file functions (this was also true
with DCC v2.0, I just forgot to mention it in the DOC's).
Have fun! Now you can spend your time playing DOOM instead of fooling
around trying to figure out what command line parameters you need!
I would like to extend my thanks to the following people:
Fellow DOOMer and DCC beta tester Jeff Ebert for his many valuable
suggestions and eager willingness to play DOOM at all hours of the day and
night for the sake of testing DCC. :) Thanks Jeff !
Richard Heimlich for encouraging me to continue developing DCC and his
never-ending DCC wish list. :)
Josh Jackson for his help in getting the disk swapping routine worked out.
I would also like to acknowledge the work of Matt Fell et al for the
valuable information contained in the DOOM Specs, without which, many
of the features in DCC could not have been implemented.
