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- =============================================================================
- DOOM Front End v3.10
- =============================================================================
-
- ------
- NOTICE
- ------
-
- To those of you with a previous version of this program, or any other programs
- that I have released, you will find that my EMAIL address has changed.
-
- My previous address was: joshjackson@delphi.com
-
- My new address is: jsoftware@delphi.com
-
- ----------------
- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
- ----------------
-
- Thanks Id for such a KICK ASS game!! DOOM is a registered trademark of Id
- Software.
- Hank Leukart for the "OFFICIAL" DOOM FAQ.
- Matt Fell for the Unofficial DOOM Specs v1.3
- Greg Lewis for his DeHacked source
-
- --------
- CONTENTS
- --------
-
- =SECTION ONE= Introduction
- [1-1] What is DFE?
- [1-2] Distribution of DFE
- [1-3] Obtaining the Source
- [1-4] Disclaimer
- *[1-5]*Installing DFE (New to DFE v3.00)
-
- =SECTION TWO= Using DFE
- [2-1] Single Player Games (Updated for v3.00)
- [2-2] Serial Link Games
- [2-3] IPX Network Games
- [2-4] Modem Link Games
- [2-5] Sprite Viewer
- [2-6] Map Viewer
- [2-7] Configuring DFE
- [2-8] Using IPXFER
- [2-9] WAD Sound Player
- [2-10] Item Locator
- [2-11] LineDef Tag Associator
- [2-12] Map Statistics Collector
- *[2-13]*Exe Hacker (New to 3.10)
-
- =SECTION THREE= Misc Info
- [3-1] Known Bugs
- [3-2] Trouble Shooting
- [3-3] Version History
- [3-4] Setting up an IPX Network for DOOM
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- SECTION *1*: Introduction
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- [1-1]: What is DFE?
-
- DFE is a Front End for that wondrous program DOOM! For those of you that
- are not familiar with the term "front end", well, it is simply a way of
- configuring DOOM without all of the hassles of trying to remember the which
- of the bazillion command line parameters you can pass to DOOM and the
- SERSETUP/IPXSETUP programs you need to use. DFE gives you an easy to use,
- text based user interface for selecting things like: Starting Episode,
- Starting Map, Skill Level, Number of players, etc.
-
- [1-2]: Distribution of DFE
-
- PLEASE distribute this utility to anyone and everyone that can make use of
- it. There is no registration fee or any other such BS. The only thing
- that I do request is that you include this document, in its entirety along
- with the program. The following files are needed for DFE:
-
- DFE.TXT (This document)
- TECHNOTE.TXT (Technical Information on DFE)
- DFEINST.ZIP (Install ZIP)
- DFE.EXE (The Front End Loader/Intercommunication program)
- DFESYS\DFESYS.EXE (The Real Mode system program)
- DFESYS\MAPVIEW.EXE (DOS Protected Mode map viewing program)
- DFESYS\EXEHACK.EXE (DOOM.EXE hacking/patching program)
- DFESYS\RTM.EXE (DOS Protected Mode Interface Manager)
- DFESYS\DPMI16BI.OVL (DPMI Manager Overlay)
- DFESYS\DFEVIDEO.DRV (The 256 color Video Driver for DFE)
- DFESYS\THING.DEF (Things Definition file for the Map Viewer)
- DFESYS\SOUND.DEF (Sounds Definition file)
- DFESYS\THNGLIST.FIL (Thing List for the Exe Hacker)
- DFESYS\UNIVBE.EXE (Universal VESA driver in case your card isn't
- VESA compatible)
-
- [1-3]: Obtaining the source for DFE
-
- If you would like a copy of the source to this program, I will gladly mail
- you a copy. It was written in Turbo Vision for Borland Pascal v7.
-
- Mail your request to the following:
-
- Jackson Software
- 10506 Bayard Rd.
- Minerva, OH 44657
-
- Please include $9.95 for a 1.44 floppy containing the source, or if
- you make any donations of $5.00 or more, I will send you the latest
- copy of both the compiled version and the source code over the internet.
-
-
- [1-4]: Disclaimer
-
- This program come with with no warranty, expressed or implied. Anyone
- who uses this program, uses it at their own risk (what risks these are,
- one can only guess).
-
- The Author excepts NO responsibility for anyone who should become
- clinically insane, or otherwise incapacitatied for any reason during
- the use of this program. Nor shall the Author be held responsible for
- anyone out there that obtains the source, and thinking they are a brain,
- should modify it and cause damage to themself or their computer.
-
- *[1-5]* Installing DFE (New to v3.00)
-
- If you are running an older copy of DFE, I would recommend that you
- delete the DFE program and any of its associated files. This version
- of DFE is COMPLETELY different.
-
- To begin, unzip the DFE310.ZIP file into your DOOM directory. Next you
- will have to unzip the embedded ZIP file. Do this with the -d parameter!
-
- eg: pkunzip DFEINST -d
-
- The -d parameter will ensure that the DFESYS directory is created. It is
- necessary for the DFE system files to be in this directory.
-
- NOTE: DFE <MUST> be installed in your DOOM directory to function properly!
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- SECTION *2*: Using DFE
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- [2-1] Single Player Games
-
- After Loading DFE (this should not be too difficult!) you will receive a
- menu giving you selections for Single Player, Serial Link, IPX Network, and
- Modem Link. To play a single player game, select modem link (just kidding)
-
- After selecting your game type, you will be prompted for the episode name
- or an External Wad file. If you choose a predefined Episode (1-3), you
- will then be given a list of your game options. This area will differ
- depending on the game type and episode selected. For a single player game,
- you will be given the option to select your level, skill, no monsters, and
- respawn.
-
- The option of No Monsters is exactly what it sounds like, NO MONSTERS. In
- a single player game, the only use I can think of for this is when you
- just feel like poking around, trying to find secrets and the like.
-
- Respawn is a rather nasty option. If selected, anything you kill will
- return to life 8 seconds later.
-
- After you have made your selection, press the OK button or Enter if you
- haven't already selected the cancel button.
-
- The option of loading and External WAD file is not a whole lot more
- difficult than the above. From you Episode selection box, simply select
- External WAD File. You will then be given a file list dialog box. Select
- the appropriate WAD file. DFE will then open the selected WAD file to
- ensure that is both valid and contains a level to play. If both of
- these criteria are met, it will then load the level names out of the WAD
- file. At this point in time, you can only have up to 9 levels in a patch
- wad file and access it from DFE.
-
- [2-2] Serial Link Games
-
- If you have not read 2-1 yet, please do so, as I only explain the
- difference between a the two here.
-
- In a Serial Link game the only real differences from a single player
- game is the selection of your COM port and whether or not you want to play
- a DEATHMATCH or DEATHMATCH 2.0 (DOOM 1.4 only)
-
- Before DFE will spawn DOOM, it will attempt to locate the DOS external
- command MODE.COM. It uses this utility to set the Baud rate and parity
- of your selected COM port. If it can not locate MODE, it will simply
- display a message box, pause briefly, and then continue with execution
- of SERSETUP.EXE.
-
- [2-3] IPX Network Games
-
- If you have not read 2-1 yet, please do so, as I only explain the
- difference between a the two here.
-
- In an IPX Network game the only real differences from a single player
- game is the selection of the number of players and whether or not you
- want to play a DEATHMATCH or DEATHMATCH 2.0 (DOOM 1.4 only)
-
- Please do note that an IPX driver must be loaded before DFE will even
- enable the IPX Network menu selection. It is NOT necessary to be connected
- to a Local Area Network (LAN), nor does there need to be any form of
- server present for IPX Network DOOM to work. Simply installing LAN cards
- in more than one machine, linking them with cable and loading the IPXODI
- packet drivers is all that is necessary. (See section 3-4 for information
- on setting up your own DOOM network!)
-
- [2-4] Modem Link Games
-
- If you have not read 2-1 yet, please do so, as I only explain the
- difference between a the two here.
-
- In a Modem Link game the only real differences from a single player
- game is the selection of your COM port, whether or not you want to play a
- DEATHMATCH or DEATHMATCH 2.0 (DOOM 1.4 only), and the type of modem
- connection you will be making.
-
- The possible modem connections are: Dial and connect, Wait for call, and
- Already connected. If you specify Dial and connect, you must fill in the
- Number to Dial field.
-
- [2-5] Sprite Viewer
-
- This function has been dropped from the main menu and has been incorporated
- into the Map Viewer.
-
- [2-6] Map Viewer
-
- This Function allows you to view the DOOM maps before you play the game.
- It will display monsters, weapons, and "goodies". The goodies include
- keys, ammo, health kits/bonuses, armor, soul spheres (supercharge),
- invisibility sphere, light goggles, radiations suits, berserk, and computer
- area maps.
-
- If you select this option from the main menu, you will then be prompted
- for the desired episode. You can also specify an external WAD file, this
- is real handy when downloading DEATHMATCH WAD files from various BBSs, etc.
-
- After selecting the episode or WAD file of your choice, you will be
- given a list of viewer options. First of these options is the level that
- you wish to view. Next, whether or not you want it to display the
- monsters, weapons, or goodies, the skill level you want to view (Viewing a
- skill level will show you just what you are going up against.), and finally
- whether or not you want to view it as a MultiPlayer game (some items will
- only appear in a multiplayer game).
-
- Once you are viewing the map, the following keys will have effect on the
- map:
-
- M (Toggle monsters on/off)
- G (Toggle goodies on/off)
- W (Toggle weapons on/off)
- P (Toggle Multiplayer on/off)
- 1-5 (Select skill level 1-5)
- S (Toggle secrets on/off)
- + (Zoom in on map)
- - (Zoom out)
- Home (Return view to original)
- Arrows (Move map around on the screen, handy for zooming)
-
- You will also notice the status display in the upper left hand corner.
- This display shows the current status of the display toggles. Using the
- mouse to select any one of these options is allowed and works the same
- as pressing the keys to do so.
-
- Note: if you have an FAST computer (486/33 or better with VLB), you may
- experience a double click effect on the buttons. This is cause by the
- map viewer redrawing the map fast enough that it doesn't give you time
- to get your finger off the mouse button. If this happens, simple press
- the letter on the keyboard rather than clicking on the Toggle buttons.
- (This will be fixed in future verisons)
-
- The color scheme used by ViewMap is as follows:
-
- Blue Walls (Lines)
- Lt. Blue Doors (Lines)
- White Secrets (Lines)
- Green End Level triggers (Lines)
- Red Monsters (circles)
- Yellow Weapons (circles)
- Green Goodies (circles)
-
- Note for DOOM TechHeads: New to v2.10 of DFE is the ability to view not
- only secret LineDefs, but also Secret Sectors. This will allow you to
- see ALL area of the map that the Game will consider a secret. Any
- sectors that Are marked as secret will add to your percentage of secrets
- found at the end of each level.
-
- New to v2.50 is the displaying of end of level triggers. These items
- will be displayed as green linedefs.
-
- To view a sprite from the map viewer, simply click on the dot on the map.
- This will give you a picture and description of the selected sprite. Do
- note that the map viewer does not display obstacles (such as barrels,
- candles, etc.)
-
- [2-7] Configuring DFE (New to DFE 2.00)
-
- If version 2.00 I have included the ability to save a default configuration
- for each of the game types. To setup your game configurations, select
- "Configurations" from the games menu.
-
- The first configuration option you will want to setup is your PWADS list.
- This list contains upto 5 PWADs that can be automatically loaded with
- your game. This will allow you to specify PWADs that contain sounds/
- graphics replacement and do not include any playable levels. (Previous
- versions of DFE only allowed for the loading of one PWAD and only if
- it contained a playable level.) Do note that the PWADS list must contain
- names of PWADS that are in your DOOM directory (No path names can be
- specified).
-
- Once you have selected your favorite PWADS, you are ready to setup the
- rest of DFE. To begin with, I will explain setting up a one player game
- and then explain the differences between a one player and the other
- multi-player options.
-
- First select One Player from the configurations sub menu. You will be
- given a list of the 5 PWADs, your default skill level, and whether or not
- you wish to have NOMONSTERS or RESPAWN active by default. By selecting
- any of the PWADs, they will automaticall be loaded when you start your
- game. Do note that the PWADs that your have selected from the list will
- one be active in the game type specified. To specify any of these PWADs
- for other game type, you must configure them individually. Once you
- have selected your desired game options, click the OK button. Your default
- game options have now been saved.
-
- For serial link games, the additional options in your configurations will
- be the selection of your default COM port and whether or not you wish
- to play in DEATHMATCH mode.
-
- For IPX network, additional options are the number of player, DEATHMATCH,
- and the default IPX socket to use. NOTE- the IPX socket number is in
- DECIMAL format. You should be careful when specifying a socket when
- you are attached to a Novell Network or other server based LAN.
-
- For modem games, you will be given the option of selecting your default
- COM port, DEATHMATCH, and the default phone number to dial.
-
- [2-8] Using IPXFER (New to v2.00)
-
- In v2.00 I have also built in my IPXFER utilities. This is a powerful
- set of IPX file transfer programs that allow you to send and receive
- files over an IPX network VERY rapidly.
-
- >>WARNING<< These utilities are VERY sensitive!! If you are having
- trouble getting your IPX network to function properly in the first place,
- IPXFER more than likely will not work. Unlike the stand alone versions,
- the send and receive functions in DFE can not be terminated by a CTRL-BREAK.
- During most of the IPXFER processing, you can press ESC to abort the file
- transfer, but during some, the processor time is devoted almost completely
- to your IPX driver. If you experience a "LOCKUP" while attempting to
- establish a connection between the two computer, it may be necessary to
- reboot. If this happens, you can switch over to my stand alone versions.
- (IPXFER11.ZIP contains sendnet.exe, recnet.exe, and closes.exe)
- If you are still having difficulties getting your IPX network to run, get
- yourself a copy of my IPXNET12.FAQ or contact me.
-
- IPXFER is designed to send files to one computer at a time. When using
- this function, DO NOT begin multiple receives. This will cause a packet
- sequence crash.
-
- Sending files: Select Send Files from the IPXFER menu. You will then
- be given a change directory dialog box. Change to the directory that
- contains the files that you wish to transfer. After clicking the OK
- button, you will be prompted for the file specification. The default
- file spec is *.WAD. (Even though this program gives you a VERY high
- CPS, it is a good idea to avoid sending the 10Mb DOOM.WAD file.)
- Once you have entered the file specifications to send, your computer
- will begin an attempt to establish a connection with the receiver.
-
- Receiving files: Select Receive Files from the IPXFER menu. You will
- then be given a change directory dialog box. Change to the directory that
- you wish for IPXFER to place the received files into. After changing
- directories, your computer will begin an attempt to establish a connection
- with the sender.
-
- [2-9] The sound player (New to v2.10)
-
- This option has been added so that you can preview the sounds contained in
- either the DOOM.WAD file or a PWAD file. Before using this option, you
- must set up your sound blaster settings in the Configurations menu. If
- you do not have a sound blaster, you want to disable the sound blaster
- option in the same area as the Sound Blaster setup.
-
- Once you have set your Sound Blaster options, DFE will prompt you if you
- wish to restart. This is similar to the way Windoze works. If you do
- not restart DFE, your Sound Blaster options will not take effect. Once
- you restart, DFE will attempt to inialize your Sound Blaster. If it is
- successful, the Sounds option will be enabled. If it is not, it will
- inform you and the option will remain disabled. NOTE: you MUST have a
- sound blaster compatible card! The options for setup are the following:
-
- IO Ports: 220h, 240h
- IRQs: 2,5,7 (I didn't include 10 because DOOM won't support it)
- DMA: 0,1,3
-
- These are the valid options for a standard Sound Blaster, it you are using
- a clone, make sure to set your emulation for any of the above options.
-
- Once you're set up, select Sounds from the Resources menu. You will be
- given a Dialog box that will allow you to select and WAD file you wish
- (Including but not limited to the DOOM.WAD). Once you have made your
- selection, DFE will attempt to locate any valid sound enties. If none
- are found, you will be told so. If DFE does find sound entries, it will
- only present you with a list of sounds that are contained in the specified
- WAD file. This eliminates the headache of trying to figure out which of
- the sounds come from the DOOM.WAD and which ones come from the PWAD.
-
- Simply select a sound and press enter or double click on it.
-
- Oh, by the way, make sure your speakers are turned on! :)
-
- ***New to version 2.20***
- You will notice that the Sound Player now has a button labled "Export".
- This button will allow you to save any WAD file sound into Wave file
- format.
-
- [2-10] The Item Locator
-
- This feature is handy when downloading PWADs. It will allow you to locate
- any item on any level. It will also inform you of which skill levels the
- item appears on, as well as whether or not is only appears in multiplayer
- games.
-
- To use this option, select Item Locator from the Resources menu. Your
- will then be given a file dialog box to choose the desired WAD file from.
- Note that is you wish to use a DOOM internal map, simply select the main
- WAD file. After selecting the desired WAD file, you will be given a list
- of all of the available WAD file objects. Select the item you wish to
- locate. After doing so, you will be given a list of the levels that are
- contained the the WAD file (support all 27). Next, the Item locator will
- begin initialization and search the map for the specified object. If it
- can not locate any on this level, it will inform you so. If it DOES find
- matching items, you will be given a graphical map with all of the selected
- items apearing in yellow. This current item will have a small red box
- around it. If you look up in the upper left hand corner of the screen,
- you will see a "Next" button and a message the reads something like:
- "Levels 1 2 3 4 5 Multiplayer" This would indicate that the item appears
- on skill levels 1-5 and only in multiplayer games.
-
- If you click in the Next box, the next item will be selected and its
- properties displayed. To view any of the items, simply click on them with
- the mouse pointer, this will give you a sprite viewer window similiar to
- the one seen in the map viewer. Note: Clicking on an object that is not
- selected with the red box will cause it to become the current item.
-
- If a object is inside an area of the map that is outlined in white, this
- is a secret area.
-
- *[2-11]* LineDef Tag Associator
-
- This option was VERY highly requested, so I figured it was time to add it
- to DFE. The associator is accessed through the resources menu and then
- the Maps sub menu. It will allow you to locate those tough to find trigger
- locations for lifts, doors, and other such moving areas.
-
- Once you have selected your desired map and level (either a PWAD or the
- DOOM.WAD), you will be given a graphics display of the selected map. By
- default, the search method is sector based, but can be canged to linedef
- by clicking the Mode button in the upper left hand corner. When viewing
- a map with the Tag Associator, any linedefs or sectors that have a tag
- association will be displayed in purple. With the exception of the
- secret areas (which are white) and the end of level trigger (green), all
- other areas of the map will be displayed in gray. NOTE: the white areas
- (secrets) may have associtation, but will still be displayed in white.
-
- To select an area of the map, simply move the mouse cursor to it. The
- selected area will appear in red and any areas with the same tag number
- will aprear in yellow.
-
- The associator does not yet inform you of the action required to activate
- a specified linedef. This will be implemented in future releases.
-
- Many thanks to the authors of DEU for the formulas for selection of
- sectors and linedefs! (and the goofy little sound when selecting either)
-
- *[2-12]* Map Statistics Collector
-
- This feature was another highly suggested feature. It is located in the
- resources menu, under the Maps submenu. It will display the number of
- cooperative/deathmatch player start positions, as well as the number
- of each weapon and the number of each type of monster that is present
- on the map. It does not yet distinguish beween items that only appear
- on specified skill levels, or in multiplayer mode only. These options
- will be implemented in future releases.
-
- *[2-13]* Exe Hacker
-
- This feature was added to enable you to create DOOM.EXE patches that will
- drastically change the way the DOOM engine performs. New monters can
- be created, properties changed, plus an infinite amount of other details
- altered. If you are not familiar with DeHacked, I suggest that you get
- yourself a copy. This section was based on the source code obtained
- from Greg Lewis, author of DeHacked. I would also suggest obtaining a
- copy of Matt Fell's DEHACKER.ZIP which contains vital information that
- has been used to help all of us DOOM hackers develope EXE hacking code.
-
- >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>WARNING<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
- -THIS FEATURE IS FOR REGISTERED DOOM 1.2 ONLY.
- -IF YOU ARE NOT SURE WHAT YOU ARE DOING WHEN USING THE EXE HACKING
- FUNCTIONS - STOP! YOU WILL UNDOUBTEDLY CRASH THE GAME!!
- -SINCE THIS FUNCTION DOES MAKE MODIFICATIONS TO THE DOOM.EXE ITSELF, IT
- RECOMMENDED THAT YOU EITHER BACKUP YOUR DOOM.EXE -OR- SAVE A PATCH FILE
- THAT CONTAINS A PATCH FOR RETURNING YOUR DOOM.EXE TO ITS ORIGINAL STATE.
- (THIS IS DONE BY LOADING UP THE EXE HACKER WITH AN UNALTERED COPY OF
- DOOM.EXE AND THEN SAVING A PATCH.)
-
- =SECTION THREE= Misc Info
-
- [3-1] Known Bugs
-
- At this point in time, the only bug known is with the sound player. On
- some machines, it will only play the first 32k of the sound and then fill
- in the rest with screach like garbage. It will also refuse to play sounds
- on some Sound Blaster compatible cards.
-
- New sound code development is underway, it should be fixed in the near
- future.
-
- [3-2] Trouble Shooting
-
- The following is a list of problems that you may encounter while running
- DFE.
-
- Q) Why am I running out of memory when running DOOM? I used to have
- plenty.
- A) Beats me! DFE only uses about 1k of memory when it has swapped out!
-
- Personally, I have a 386dx/40 with 8Mb of RAM, I have never had a
- problem with memory, even when I am running a series of IPX network
- drivers and a 2Mb disk cache.
-
- Q) Why is the IPX Network selection disabled?
- A) You don't have an IPX driver installed! (Same goes for the IPXFER
- selections)
-
- Q) Why won't the Serial Link work?
- A) Welp, there is slew of problems that you could be having. Mainly,
- you should make sure that you have the DOS command MODE.COM in either
- the current directory or the Path. (DFE uses this to ensure that your
- COM port is set correctly)
-
- Secondly, I have not had much luck with Serial Link, especially when
- linking two computers of different speeds together. After about 2-3
- minutes of play they will begin to bog down until the game becomes
- unbearably slow.
-
- Q) Why is Modem Link DOOM so slow?
- A) Make sure that you are connected at 9600 baud, N81. Also, make sure
- that any error correction or data compression is turned OFF! This
- makes a big difference in the way the game performs.
-
- Q) Why won't the Map Viewer allow me to view maps or sprites?
- A) DFE was unable to set 640x480x256 color mode. This can be caused by
- any of the following:
- 1) An incompatible SVGA video card
- 2) Lack of an SVGA video card (DUH!)
- 3) Not enough video RAM (265k SVGA cards don't support this mode!)
- #1 can be corrected on most machines by installing the supplied UNIVBE
- driver or a vendor provided VESA driver.
-
- [3-3] Version History
-
- v1.0 Allowed you to only select the level you wanted to play from existing
- levels.
-
- v1.1 Added Map Viewer and .OVL file to save on memory. Map Viewer was in
- a separate executable file. Allowed the selection of external WAD
- files.
-
- v1.2 Removed .OVL and added memory swapping. Saves an extra 150k of memory
- Integrated the Map Viewer into DFE.
-
- v1.21 Fixed a small bug in v1.2 that would not allow you to view a map if
- the filename was 8 characters long. (Sounds weird, but thats what I
- get for using so many stinking pointers and linked lists in this
- program!)
-
- v1.3 MapView has been COMPLETELY rewritten into fully object oriented
- code, allowing for better control over the map (Internally).
- MapView also now allows you to "Click" on any sprite on the map
- and view it.
-
- v1.31 Fixes a Memory allocation problem when disposing of a Map Viewer.
-
- v1.32 Fixes a bug when loading an external WAD file, it would not present
- you with the correct list of contained level names.
-
- v1.33 Ok, Ok, I know, another bug. Hopefully, this will be the last
- release before v2.0. The problem of loading multi-player games
- when loading an external wad file (on some computers) has been fixed.
- (SHEEZE, why don't you guys ever tell me these things?!?)
-
- v2.00 Well, it's here. Its not quite what I had anticipated though. It
- does not incorporate a new GUI for the map viewer (This has been
- put on hold for a while), nor does it include the mentioned MAP
- SEARCH. HOWEVER, I have rewritten a boatload of the DFE main code
- to include a configuration option and I have built my IPXFER program
- into the DFE code. The IPXFER code used is 100% compatible with
- either v1.00 or v1.10 of my seperate IPXFER (sendnet and recnet)
- utilities. The overlay file is back, this is due to the mass amount
- of memory needed by the MAP/SPRITE viewer. DFE still swaps itself
- out of memory before playing DOOM, however.
-
- v2.10 Added Sound Blaster WAD file sound playing option. MapView now
- displays secret sectors as well as secret Linedefs.
-
- v2.20 Added the Item Locator. The main DFE code has been broken up and
- MAJORLY overlaid. The size of the executable file is almost as small
- than the .OVL file. Also added the capability to export the DOOM
- sounds to WAV file format.
-
- v2.50 Added the LineDef tag associator to enable you to figure out many of
- those nearly impossble secrets. Also added the capability to export
- sounds from a WAD file into WAV format, and a Map Statistics
- collecter to gather information about the items contained in a PWAD,
- as well as the number of each type of player starting position.
-
- v3.00 Main system code has been rewritten. The Map/Sprite viewers (this
- included the Item Locator and LineDef tag associator) has been
- moved from the main executable to a DOS Protected Mode program. This
- will ensure that you have enough memory before attempting to view
- large maps and sprites. IPXFER has been very highly optimized, with
- most of the code rewritten in assembly language. DFE now reqires
- you have a DFESYS directory off of you DOOM directory. This will
- keep things nice and tidy, considering there are now over a dozen
- files to the DFE system. All that is required to be in your DOOM
- directory is the file DFE.EXE, this is now a tiny little (about
- 20k) file that loads and executes the DOOM Front End System.
-
- SWAP code has been rewritten so that it will not interfere with
- resident programs that reside at the top of low memory (just
- beneath the 640k boundry). This was causing some systems to hang
- when you exited DFE. If anyone is still experiencing this problem,
- PLEASE let me know.
-
- v3.10 Added the EXE hacking capabilities to DFE. The patches saved by
- DFE are compatible with DeHacked v1.3. It can read DeHacked v1.2
- and v1.3 patches. It will also allow you to compile your patches
- into a COM file so that they can be executed from the command line.
-
- HACKERS BE WARNED: The executables that are contained in the DFESYS
- directory will report that they are for internal use only, THEY ARE!
- The DFE Loader program (DFE.EXE) sets up an intercommunications
- buffer so that the loader, main system, and any DPMI programs
- can communicate with one another. Attempts to override this (so
- that you could use the map viewer by itself, etc) will more than
- likely result in a system crash.
-
- Future programs:
-
- Soon, DFE will include the following items:
-
- - A PWAD tracking system to keep track of your PWADS and allow you
- to enter decriptions of them.
-
- - A PWAD compiler. This feature will allow to to disassemble your
- favorite PWADs and regroup them into one PWAD.
-
- [3-4] Setting up an IPX Network for DOOM
-
- If you have never played IPX Network DOOM, you are missing out BIG TIME!
- Imagine playing up to 4 player DOOM with very little or NO slowdown in
- game performance. Unlike Serial Link or Modem Link DOOM which can very
- seriously slow down the game if one of the two players (and ONLY two
- players) is running on a 386 based or a slower 486 based machine, IPX
- networks give you high speed, fluid game play. The reason is simple,
- DOOM is designed to communicate with a serial device (this includes modems)
- at only 9600 baud. At this rate, you are only transferring around
- 800-1000 bytes per second. A SLOW network transfers about 1,250,000
- bytes per second!! Some of the faster networks can transfer up to
- 16,000,000 bytes per second! (Talk about a speed increase!)
-
- Welp, Jackson Software can help. I am currently selling everything that
- you need to setup a full blown EtherNet IPX driven network. This may
- sound a bit expensive, but its not too bad. (I have one myself)
-
- Do note that it is not necessary to set up a Novell LAN or any other such
- outrageously priced network just to play Network DOOM. All that is needed
- is a set of EtherNet (or similar) cards, the cables, your computers, and
- DOOM!
-
- My current setup for IPX DOOM is 1 386dx/40Mhz, 2 486sx/33Mhz, and 1
- 486dx/50Mhz With these machines I can not tell the difference between a
- single player game and a multiplayer game as far as speed is concerned.
-
- If this sounds appealing to you, here is how to obtain your network
- hardware:
-
- Send check or Money Order to:
-
- Jackson Software
- 10506 Bayard Rd.
- Minerva, OH 44657
-
- Phone:
- (216) 868-1169
-
- EMAIL:
- jsoftware@delphi.com
-
- Network Pricing:
-
- One EtherNet Node.........................................$75
- LanPro NE2000 EtherNet Card
- Software Drivers
- Instructions for NetDOOM Setup
- The latest copy of DFE
- 10ft EtherNet Coax Cable
- 2 50ohm EtherNet Terminators
-
- Two EtherNet Nodes........................................$145
- 2 LanPro NE2000 EtherNet Cards
- Software Drivers
- Instructions for NetDOOM Setup
- The latest copy of DFE
- 10ft EtherNet Coax Cable
- 2 50ohm EtherNet Terminators
-
- Three EtherNet Nodes......................................$215
- 3 LanPro NE2000 EtherNet Cards
- Software Drivers
- Instructions for NetDOOM Setup
- The latest copy of DFE
- 2 10ft EtherNet Coax Cables
- 2 50ohm EtherNet Terminators
-
- Four EtherNet Nodes.......................................$285
- 4 LanPro NE2000 EtherNet Cards
- Software Drivers
- Instructions for NetDOOM Setup
- The latest copy of DFE
- 3 10ft EtherNet Coax Cables
- 2 50ohm EtherNet Terminators
-
- The following is included on disks FREE of charge for each purchase
- of any of the above Network packages:
-
- The DOOM Hacker's tool kit (Disk 1)
- The Latest version of the Unofficial DOOM Specs
- The Latest version of the "Official" DOOM FAQ
- The Latest version of the DEU level editor
- Includes a demo and all C source
- The Pascal Source for DFE
- Includes MANY routines for accessing a variety of info
- in the WAD file.
-
- The Jackson Software's "Outstanding DeathMatch WAD collection"
- (Disk 2)
- This collections includes many of my favorite WAD files
- created by varying authors especially for DEATHMATCHES!
-
- !ATTENTION! Tired of the old dog of a computer that you have? Need
- something with a touch more zip for DOOM and anything else
- that requires some decent speed?
-
- Call Jackson Software today and ask about setting up a real
- screamer of a computer. I am currently selling everything
- from a super cheap 386/33 to a full blown Pentium/90!
-
- Prices on Pentium systems start at under $2000
-
- Happy Hunting!
-
- \ /
- (O) (O)
- |
- \_____/
-
- JJ
-