DOOM Retro v5.4 (updated May 2, 2024)

[S3M_XM]

I've finished the second half Eviternity II (including the secret levels) on Doom Retro and I've reported issues on this source port. I don't know if goes here or the Eviternity II thread.

The DSSAWUP sound lump is an unknown format because the lump is a marker.

The ship's cannon blast doesn't make a sound unless you teleport there from the switch that lowers down the sector.

MAP32 has a "freeze"(not a frame spike) on the player (including your projectiles), but not the monsters (who are not on the instakill sector) when a large amount of monsters get killed at once. This also happens with MAP36 at the final fight.   It takes time to kill all the enemies instead going all at once.

When it "recharges" the eighth light wall doesn't go on, as when the switch raises up, it does the instakill sector automatically, the second wave occurs automatically as well. Pressing the switch activates the third wave with the electrified water on, but it doesn't kill them and you as well. But when it does it again, it reaches to the eighth light and automatically activates the switch, the instakill sector stays on permanently. The only way as if you stayed at northern and southern parts away from the water and strafe run to the exit.

      When I looked at Meowgi's VODs (which it was played on DSDA-Doom) on those maps it shouldn't do that in the first place.

After completing MAP30 and the text screen, it takes you to the default ending screen and not MAP37 (which is the credits map).

When I took an in-game screenshot, it looks jumbled from taking a very large area? This is a taken screenshot from MAP26: Myriad. It seems to do that with other wads too.

Spoiler

Somehow, the HUD doesn't show skull keys if you have the key cards first.
 

[bradharding]

5 hours ago, S3M_XM said:

I've finished the second half Eviternity II (including the secret levels) on Doom Retro and I've reported issues on this source port. I don't know if goes here or the Eviternity II thread.

The DSSAWUP sound lump is an unknown format because the lump is a marker.

The ship's cannon blast doesn't make a sound unless you teleport there from the switch that lowers down the sector.

MAP32 has a "freeze"(not a frame spike) on the player (including your projectiles), but not the monsters (who are not on the instakill sector) when a large amount of monsters get killed at once. This also happens with MAP36 at the final fight.   It takes time to kill all the enemies instead going all at once.

When it "recharges" the eighth light wall doesn't go on, as when the switch raises up, it does the instakill sector automatically, the second wave occurs automatically as well. Pressing the switch activates the third wave with the electrified water on, but it doesn't kill them and you as well. But when it does it again, it reaches to the eighth light and automatically activates the switch, the instakill sector stays on permanently. The only way as if you stayed at northern and southern parts away from the water and strafe run to the exit.

      When I looked at Meowgi's VODs (which it was played on DSDA-Doom) on those maps it shouldn't do that in the first place.

After completing MAP30 and the text screen, it takes you to the default ending screen and not MAP37 (which is the credits map).

When I took an in-game screenshot, it looks jumbled from taking a very large area? This is a taken screenshot from MAP26: Myriad. It seems to do that with other wads too.

  Reveal hidden contents

Somehow, the HUD doesn't show skull keys if you have the key cards first.
 

Hi @S3M_XM. Thanks for the bug report! I'll make my way through these issues. For the screenshot problem, change the vid_scaleapi CVAR to direct3d9 and they should be fine.

[S3M_XM]

Thanks! Changing to direct3d9 works normally; for the screenshot jumble it was in vid_scaleapi direct3d11 for context that I forgot to add.

[CacoKnight]

Tried to load this wad earlier but it gives some sprites error? https://www.doomworld.com/forum/topic/139690-b-l-e-a-k-mbf21-31-maps

 

[bradharding]

2 hours ago, CacoKnight said:

Tried to load this wad earlier but it gives some sprites error? https://www.doomworld.com/forum/topic/139690-b-l-e-a-k-mbf21-31-maps

 

Thanks. DR seems to be struggling with the fact that there's two sets of SS_START/SS_END markers in the wad. I'll look into it.

[Fireseth]

Playing on DOOM Retro the past few years, I have nothing much but nice things to say about it. I remember the first time playing with it and not liking some of the changes, like the greyscaled background when in a menu screen. Then I realized that DOOM Retro is trying to be its own thing, with its own unique visual characteristics, which I find really cool and is the reason why I only use DOOM Retro for vanilla-style gameplay. One interesting characteristic of DOOM Retro is how all of the SFX sound. They are all the same SFX, but they just sound... Different. The best way I can describe it is that DOOM Retro perhaps has more clarity. Just take a listen yourself. I really only have one gripe with DOOM Retro and that's how I never liked how the automap font and the player statistics font do not match. The way statistics are implemented into the automap seem out of place when compared to other source ports and how they add it, in my opinion. Other than that, DOOM Retro started as a source port I never really liked but then later it grew into becoming my favorite source port! Keep up the fantastic work, seriously!

[bradharding]

On 4/10/2024 at 4:15 AM, Fireseth said:

Playing on DOOM Retro the past few years, I have nothing much but nice things to say about it. I remember the first time playing with it and not liking some of the changes, like the greyscaled background when in a menu screen. Then I realized that DOOM Retro is trying to be its own thing, with its own unique visual characteristics, which I find really cool and is the reason why I only use DOOM Retro for vanilla-style gameplay. One interesting characteristic of DOOM Retro is how all of the SFX sound. They are all the same SFX, but they just sound... Different. The best way I can describe it is that DOOM Retro perhaps has more clarity. Just take a listen yourself. I really only have one gripe with DOOM Retro and that's how I never liked how the automap font and the player statistics font do not match. The way statistics are implemented into the automap seem out of place when compared to other source ports and how they add it, in my opinion. Other than that, DOOM Retro started as a source port I never really liked but then later it grew into becoming my favorite source port! Keep up the fantastic work, seriously!

Thanks for the kind words @Fireseth. I'm glad you're enjoying it. I hadn't noticed the difference in SFX before tbh. It certainly wasn't intentional, but am also happy to leave it as it is. As for the font used for player stats in the automap: I've experimented with using DOOM's regular font, and quite frankly don't like how it looks. I'll play around some more though. (BTW Thanks again for your suggestion on Github!)

[CacoKnight]

I like the fonts YOU picked more for this port, if they are all the same, where is the fun? I think keeping it unique in some ways is a good thing. 800p though ..:)

[Fireseth]

12 hours ago, bradharding said:

I've experimented with using DOOM's regular font, and quite frankly don't like how it looks. I'll play around some more though. (BTW Thanks again for your suggestion on Github!)

I really do like the original DOOM Retro font though, really nice addition to the console. Regarding the automap statistics, I'm sure there are ways to keep your new original font but make it "fit" more with the DOOM theme... Maybe change of colors, location on screen, wording, etc, etc. Besides that, if nothing ends up changing, I'm sure it will grow on me. This is pretty much the only (subjectively) bad thing I have to say about the source port, which says a lot about the source port!! :)

I'm glad the feature I suggested on Github was added so quickly! Super happy to see and now play with!

[bradharding]

12 hours ago, Fireseth said:

I really do like the original DOOM Retro font though, really nice addition to the console. Regarding the automap statistics, I'm sure there are ways to keep your new original font but make it "fit" more with the DOOM theme... Maybe change of colors, location on screen, wording, etc, etc. Besides that, if nothing ends up changing, I'm sure it will grow on me. This is pretty much the only (subjectively) bad thing I have to say about the source port, which says a lot about the source port!! :)

I'm glad the feature I suggested on Github was added so quickly! Super happy to see and now play with!

Hmm.. perhaps what I could do is implement an am_playerstatscolor CVAR. It'll still be white by default, but this would allow you to make the stats red (or whatever).

[Fireseth]

On 4/14/2024 at 11:20 PM, bradharding said:

Hmm.. perhaps what I could do is implement an am_playerstatscolor CVAR. It'll still be white by default, but this would allow you to make the stats red (or whatever).

This sounds like a great idea! I think red or yellow would be the colors I would try out with it.

 

UPDATE: The change is wonderful! Red or yellow text definitely fits so much more IMO. White just seemed out of place.

Edited April 22 by Fireseth

[Fireseth]

I haven't encountered any bugs recently so here I am with another cosmetic thing to nitpick about! It seems that the berserk pickup notification is designed for 16:9 play, rather than the traditional and more "retro" 4:3 play. When a player picks up the berserk pack, the very last sentence is cut off because it's too long. Rip and what? Rip and teabag, maybe...

[bradharding]

1 hour ago, Fireseth said:

I haven't encountered any bugs recently so here I am with another cosmetic thing to nitpick about! It seems that the berserk pickup notification is designed for 16:9 play, rather than the traditional and more "retro" 4:3 play. When a player picks up the berserk pack, the very last sentence is cut off because it's too long. Rip and what? Rip and teabag, maybe...

Thanks. I might drop "rip and tear" only when 4:3, or drop it entirely (it was a 2016 thing).

 

... "rip and teabag"...? Intriguing... :P

[bradharding]

Hi all! I've just released DOOM Retro v5.4! Please visit www.doomretro.com to download and for the full list of changes. Thanks again for everyone's support!

[Fireseth]

8 hours ago, bradharding said:

Hi all! I've just released DOOM Retro v5.4! Please visit www.doomretro.com to download and for the full list of changes. Thanks again for everyone's support!

Beautiful!!! Can't wait for the next update! And the one after that, and the one after that, and the one after that, etc...

[Najork]

Something odd happening with savegames for me in 5.4. The following happens with a brand new installation of 5.4.0.0.

 

Steps to reproduce:

1. Start vanilla DOOM with E1M1 and hit F2 to save. Savegame name prompt is HANGAR, accept.

2. Complete E1M1 and exit to E1M2 NUCLEAR PLANT.

3. Press F3 to load the previous savegame, the name in the first save slot is now NUCLEAR PLANT, which is what is saved if you load it. HANGAR savegame has disappeared.

 

Looking in the savegames\doom folder the original savegame for HANGAR has been renamed to doomretro0.save.bak with a new doomretro0.save containing savegame data for NUCLEAR PLANT. Renaming the .bak file by removing the .bak makes it visible again as HANGAR and it can be loaded properly. I'm not clear whether this is a bug or by design? I have not been using Doom Retro for a while, I used it to play Dr Sleep's DANTES.WAD for a retro experience which was great.

[bradharding]

2 hours ago, Najork said:

Something odd happening with savegames for me in 5.4. The following happens with a brand new installation of 5.4.0.0.

 

Steps to reproduce:

1. Start vanilla DOOM with E1M1 and hit F2 to save. Savegame name prompt is HANGAR, accept.

2. Complete E1M1 and exit to E1M2 NUCLEAR PLANT.

3. Press F3 to load the previous savegame, the name in the first save slot is now NUCLEAR PLANT, which is what is saved if you load it. HANGAR savegame has disappeared.

 

Looking in the savegames\doom folder the original savegame for HANGAR has been renamed to doomretro0.save.bak with a new doomretro0.save containing savegame data for NUCLEAR PLANT. Renaming the .bak file by removing the .bak makes it visible again as HANGAR and it can be loaded properly. I'm not clear whether this is a bug or by design? I have not been using Doom Retro for a while, I used it to play Dr Sleep's DANTES.WAD for a retro experience which was great.

This is happening because the autosave CVAR is on. When you finished E1M1 and entered E1M2, the game was autosaved and its savegame description was updated. Just disable the autosave CVAR if you don't want this.

[S3M_XM]

When I was play PUSS 33 (RC1) on Doom Retro 5.4, I noticed the names in the automaps are just named MAP01 instead of the map name because I know in 5.3 had that, but not in the current version; also there's other things I've noticed.

      This is for maps 1 to 31.

 

When I advance to the map in that wad with "pistolstart on", I have 50 bullets instead of 150.

 

The Rocket Launcher guy's death sprites wears green instead of red, making inconsistent with the red clothing.

 

After pressing the switch inside the elevator and dying inside there, you don't advance to the next map and stuck on a loop.

 

In some intermission screens, such as completing MAP06, MAP11, & MAP20 and advancing to the next map crashes with a W_GetNumForName error (ADBROK2 for MAP07), GRASS for MAP12), & GRAS for MAP21).

     But warping to maps 07, 12, & 21 don't crash.

          There's a also another bug related to this is where "pistolstart on" and advancing to the next map, this doesn't reset to the default weapons and ammo, where I have to put "pistolstart on" on the console again in order to register.

 

When I complete MAP30, it just gives you the default text screen and ends at the screen cast, I don't know if has to do with UMAPINFO.

 

Completing MAP31 takes you to MAP16.

 

 

[bradharding]

2 hours ago, S3M_XM said:

When I was play PUSS 33 (RC1) on Doom Retro 5.4, I noticed the names in the automaps are just named MAP01 instead of the map name because I know in 5.3 had that, but not in the current version; also there's other things I've noticed.

      This is for maps 1 to 31.

 

...

 

 

 

Thanks @S3M_XM. I can already see the regression I made in v5.4 regarding the map names. I'll look into the other issues you raise.

[Najork]

Ah, by design. Thank you for clarifying. The wiki does not say exactly how this works, perhaps you could add a note in the cvar list.

[valkiriforce]

Hey Brad, thank you for the updates! It's been a while, but I had a small request I wanted to make here: do you think having the option for colored HUD numbers would be possible? It's similar to how a lot of the Boom source ports have it where the higher and lower numbers change colors depending on your stats. I had this thought for a while but never voiced it until now, and I was curious to hear if it would be within your interests to include it.

[Fireseth]

3 hours ago, valkiriforce said:

Hey Brad, thank you for the updates! It's been a while, but I had a small request I wanted to make here: do you think having the option for colored HUD numbers would be possible? It's similar to how a lot of the Boom source ports have it where the higher and lower numbers change colors depending on your stats. I had this thought for a while but never voiced it until now, and I was curious to hear if it would be within your interests to include it.

This idea sounds like it fits with DOOM Retro's cosmetic direction. Nice little retro option to have the HUD more animated and reactive.

[bradharding]

On 5/17/2024 at 9:46 AM, valkiriforce said:

Hey Brad, thank you for the updates! It's been a while, but I had a small request I wanted to make here: do you think having the option for colored HUD numbers would be possible? It's similar to how a lot of the Boom source ports have it where the higher and lower numbers change colors depending on your stats. I had this thought for a while but never voiced it until now, and I was curious to hear if it would be within your interests to include it.

Hi! To be honest, I've never been a fan of this in other ports, but I'll consider it, thanks!

[Aubrey De Los Destinos]

Hello, first of all, Doom Retro is my favourite source port. I've been following it on and off for years, but now that I have an account here, I can get in touch.

 

The last version I played before 5.4 one was 4.7.2, and one thing has changed between them. So, I noticed that by default, pressing the left stick toggles always run, and I think that's a bad UX. “Doom 3” on Nintendo Switch has it, and it's very frustrating because I accidentally press it every now and then, usually when the situation becomes heated, so on top of the fight with many monsters, I am suddenly moving slowly. The other day, I was checking “Liminal Doom,” and I toggled it off in the middle of a fight with Archvile. Luckily, “Doom 3” thought me well about that, so there was no surprise, but I believe that this might be frustrating for less savvy players. I removed it from my settings, but I would like to suggest getting rid of it out-of-the-box.

 

But other than that, 🔥. I don't know what it is what was done to rendering, but these pixels on shades are fantastic. Not necessarily how I remembered Doom back in the 90s, but definitely retro and nostalgic. And it's probably the best implementation of vibrations in a gamepad that I have encountered in my gaming career.

[bradharding]

9 hours ago, Aubrey De Los Destinos said:

Hello, first of all, Doom Retro is my favourite source port. I've been following it on and off for years, but now that I have an account here, I can get in touch.

 

The last version I played before 5.4 one was 4.7.2, and one thing has changed between them. So, I noticed that by default, pressing the left stick toggles always run, and I think that's a bad UX. “Doom 3” on Nintendo Switch has it, and it's very frustrating because I accidentally press it every now and then, usually when the situation becomes heated, so on top of the fight with many monsters, I am suddenly moving slowly. The other day, I was checking “Liminal Doom,” and I toggled it off in the middle of a fight with Archvile. Luckily, “Doom 3” thought me well about that, so there was no surprise, but I believe that this might be frustrating for less savvy players. I removed it from my settings, but I would like to suggest getting rid of it out-of-the-box.

 

But other than that, 🔥. I don't know what it is what was done to rendering, but these pixels on shades are fantastic. Not necessarily how I remembered Doom back in the 90s, but definitely retro and nostalgic. And it's probably the best implementation of vibrations in a gamepad that I have encountered in my gaming career.

Thank you @Aubrey De Los Destinos! I'm glad you're enjoying it, and welcome!

 

You of course can disable the left thumb from toggling always run by entering unbind leftthumb in the console, but because it is undocumented, I'll consider just removing it by default. (Or maybe it would be better as a run action? Hold it down to run? I'll think more on it...)

 

Doom Retro is quite different from the original Doom in several ways (you can enter vanilla in the console to see many of the most obvious differences). The most striking difference is the smoother, slightly darker and dithered lighting. (BTW there are a couple of fixes/improvements coming to gamepad vibrations in the next version...)

[Aubrey De Los Destinos]

The problem is easiness of accidentally pressing the stick, especially when action gets hot. In general, I think that always run makes total sense with a gamepad because if I want to move slower, I will move the stick less. With analog input, I control the speed. And anyway, who walks in Doom?

[bradharding]

12 hours ago, Aubrey De Los Destinos said:

The problem is easiness of accidentally pressing the stick, especially when action gets hot. In general, I think that always run makes total sense with a gamepad because if I want to move slower, I will move the stick less. With analog input, I control the speed. And anyway, who walks in Doom?

Fair enough. I'll remove it by default then. :)

[Aubrey De Los Destinos]

There is one thing I like (and maybe it's possible in other source ports too, but I didn't find it): I can set bobbing even when I stand. So I set it to 5% and it imitates nervous breathing, even when I'm waiting. I find it motivating to move.

[Dweller Dark]

I was wondering: Would it be possible to turn the fullscreen HUD into something approximating the GZDoom fullscreen HUD (the one with the medpack/armor sprites on the left)?

 

I think it would be cool if the sphere sprites could replace the medpacks if picked up and be animated.

[bradharding]

On 6/4/2024 at 11:11 AM, Dweller Dark said:

I was wondering: Would it be possible to turn the fullscreen HUD into something approximating the GZDoom fullscreen HUD (the one with the medpack/armor sprites on the left)?

 

I think it would be cool if the sphere sprites could replace the medpacks if picked up and be animated.

Hi @Dweller Dark. Thanks for the suggestion. I may look at adding different HUD styles in the future, but it isn't a priority at this stage.