Hell's Front End
(c) Scott Leis, 1996
HellFE is a front end for Doom, Doom2, Heretic, and Hexen
-games by ID Software and Raven Software
1. Installation
Unzip all files into one directory. You should have:
HELLFE.EXE
HELLFE.INI
HF.BAT
HFSETUP.EXE
SETUP.BAT
Run SETUP.BAT (not HFSETUP.EXE) and provide the following information as
it is asked for:
1. Directory to install HellFE into
2. Directory for Doom
3. Directory for Doom 2
4. Directory for Heretic
5. Directory for Hexen
If you do not have one or more of the games, just type anything (or
nothing) for that game's directory.
2. Running the program
HellFE uses a batch file to run the games, so you must run HF.BAT rather
than HELLFE.EXE. If you run the EXE, the game launch function will not
work.
3. Using the program
Left and Right cursor keys move the cursor through the options one at a
time. Up and Down keys move to the first option in each group.
The Space bar changes options. If an option has a text box, begin text
entry by turning the option on; if the option is already on then it must
be turned off then on again to move the cursor into the text box. The wad
list may be activated in the same way. Options may also be changed by
clicking on the button with the mouse.
In the wad list, use the Up and Down keys to select a wad entry. Press
Enter to edit the selected entry; Enter again to end editing. Editing may
also be triggered by clicking the desired entry or clicking on "Add/edit".
Ctrl-D deletes the selected entry, as does clicking on "Delete wad entry"
Exit the wad list by pressing Esc or clicking on "Exit".
Start a game by moving the cursor to "Single Player Launch" or "Netgame
Launch" and pressing the Space bar. "Single Player Launch" causes HellFe
to ignore most of the Netgame parameters, however the Deathmatch parameter
still makes a difference, so choose Cooperative for a normal one player
game. You can also use the mouse to start the game by clicking on the
"Single Player Launch" or "Netgame Launch" text.
Exit Hellfe by pressing Space with the cursor at "Exit Hellfe" or
clicking on "Exit HellFE"
Please note: For Doom2 or Hexen, the warp parameter can be a one or two
digit number, being the map to warp to. Doom and Heretic
should be given a two digit number; the first digit being the
episode 1-3, and the second being the map 1-9. An invalid
entry will usually result in warping to an unexpected map,
but may cause the game to crash and HellFE to restart.
4. Requirements
I believe HellFE will run fine on a 286 with 1MB RAM, but of course you
can't the game without a 486 and 4MB :-(
Basically, if your computer can run any of the games, then it should have
no problem with HellFE.
5. Problems
If you try to run a game for which you have not provided the correct path,
DOS will say "invalid directory" and/or "bad command or filename" and then
return to HellFE. A bad path will not cause HellFE to crash.
HellFE will not start if HELLFE.INI is not in the same directory as
HELLFE.EXE.
I do not know of any bugs in the program (although several were found
and fixed during testing).
6. Thanks
To Ben Morris for DCK - a great map editor, and the batch file method for
running the games was very useful.
To ID Software and Raven Software for such WICKED games.
To Bill Kirby for the Wolfenstein map editor, from which I used the mouse
unit (written in Turbo Pascal!).
To Borland for Turbo Pascal 7.0, otherwise I might be using Modula-2, or
even BASIC, as a programming language.
7. Legal Stuff
HellFE is copyright Scott Leis, 1996
HellFE may be distributed, but only in the original zip file with all
files unaltered. HellFE may not be charged for or distributed in software
collections without prior permission from me (Scott Leis).
HellFE is freeware, but if you want to send donations (or bug reports),
you can send email to:
[email protected]
and I might give you my postal address... maybe.
Doom and Doom2 are copyright ID Software.
Heretic and Hexen are copyright ID Software and Raven Software.
