Setting up LibTAS with GZDoom.

[NightmareZer0]

I thought it would be cool to play around with LibTAS and GZDoom and find some neat things I could make but I can not get the two to work.

 

I tried running WSL2 with Windows 11. Could not get any video. I tried installing PopOS and and a few other distros with VirtualBox and still no video. Decided to put PopOS on the bare metal and try. Still not having much luck. I was told this on Discord "you dont even need any special source code modifications for it to work in libTAS anymore, just add the `-nofork` CLI argument and it works in 2.2.13+ now"  I was getting the console rendered at least but now I am getting 0 video. I was thinking maybe it was a video driver? I am using a 3050 on a laptop (on linux too). I really feel like I am forgetting something or I am not educated enough on Linux usage.

I have been a Windows person most of my life, but I am trying to learn Linux (I got about a year experience off and on). So I am really trying to figure out what I am doing wrong here. I know I probably could just post in their Discord some more, but I also wanted to see if anyone here had any experience with LibTAS and if they had any demos they could show off while they were here at least.

[Dimon12321]

Hello! I think the vast majority of people have no idea what LibTAS is. But even if they had an idea, I think, due to the lack of research, it's still quite difficult to say what the problem is.

 

I don't know what Discord you're talking about, who are "they", but if it relates to Pop OS, then Linux distributions is the last place for investigation.

Also, GZDoom is a standalone application. It doesn't require any drivers to play it, unless you have to compile and build the source code of it.  

Which version of GZDoom you're trying to launch? If it's 4.11.3 or around it, then it might be the reason why you see no video. The nowadays GZDoom launches the render (I believe, both OpenGL and Vulkan) in a separate thread, which makes the game not deterministic for LibTAS in order for it to playback your TAS input correctly. Maybe it doesn't see this thread at all and that's why you see black screen.

I assume, "2.2.13" relates to GZDoom version. Well, that's the right direction you should dig into because old versions of (G)ZDoom are not that complicated. Besides, I would try to launch the game in Software Render first.
You may find it useful: https://github.com/clementgallet/libTAS/issues/478. Maybe you knew about it, but still.

I tried to launch ZDoom 2.8.1 using LibTAS in VirtualBox. As turned out, there is another pitfall for LibTAS because that version of ZDoom uses a internal clock system which LibTAS cannot work with. That means, you should either try some even elder (or newer) version without this clocking quirk, or fix it in the code and recompile the source port.

 

Alternatively, you can try to run Eternity Engine, for example. It has to be compiled, but at least, Heartland will become TASable then

Edited February 7 by Dimon12321

[NightmareZer0]

On 1/20/2024 at 12:37 PM, Dimon12321 said:

Hello! I think the vast majority of people have no idea what LibTAS is. But even if they had an idea, I think, due to the lack of research, it's still quite difficult to say what the problem is.

 

I don't know what Discord you're talking about, who are "they", but if it relates to Pop OS, then Linux distributions is the last place for investigation.

Also, GZDoom is a standalone application. It doesn't require any drivers to play it, unless you have to compile and build the source code of it.  

Which version of GZDoom you're trying to launch? If it's 4.11.3 or around it, then it might be the reason why you see no video. The nowadays GZDoom launches the render (I believe, both OpenGL and Vulkan) in a separate thread, which makes the game not deterministic for LibTAS in order for it to playback your TAS input correctly. Maybe it doesn't see this thread at all and that's why you see black screen.

I assume, "2.2.13" relates to GZDoom version. Well, that's the right direction you should dig into because old versions of (G)ZDoom are not that complicated. Besides, I would try to launch the game in Software Render first.
You may find it useful: https://github.com/clementgallet/libTAS/issues/478. Maybe you knew about it, but still.

I tried to launch ZDoom 2.8.1 using LibTAS in VirtualBox. As turned out, there is another pitfall for LibTAS because that version of ZDoom uses a internal clock system which LibTAS cannot work with. That means, you should either try some even elder (or newer) version without this clocking quirk, or fix it in the code and recompile the source port.

 

Alternatively, you can try to run Eternity Engine, for example. It has to compiled, but at least, Heartland will become TASable then

I should of been more clear. I don't really play Doom till late at night so my brain isn't the most alert. "They" being the libTAS discord. I reformatted since then. So I lost all of my DSDA demos. I pretty much gave up for now. And no I did not know that. I seen someone posting (Shit I can't remember the name of the mod) The sonic mod for Doom Legacy. And it got me wondering if I could run GZDoom with it (I know two totally different engines). I wanted to give Doom Infinite a shot with a TAS. But between having to install Linux/Set up a VM, and figuring out how to get it to work with GZDoom. It seems like more work than a slight curiosity.I thought maybe I was setting something up wrong. But I appreciate the response. Thank you.