Support for DOOM 64

[nels]

I was wondering if there was a chance that there could be support for Doom 64 on G/LZDoom, maybe by using Doom 64 EX or D64: Retribution, either way is some like this ever going to happen?

[Graf Zahl]

Doom64 is VERY different from the other games,, if it's ever going to happen it'll mean a lot of work.

[Redneckerz]

Only the GEC brothers are doing something with this (Called DZDoom) and it includes PSX Doom compatibility as well.

[nels]

oh, alright, Do you have the link for it?

[Gez]

Support for Doom 64 might come after its rerelease. Not immediately after, mind you, but if we support the game it'll be the official version that people can buy, and until this version is available there's nothing we can really do.

Most of the features needed are already there. Assuming it'll be very similar to Doom64 EX and distributed with a doom64.wad similar to those that can be generated from the original ROM with D64X's WadGen utility, then what's needed is
- reading the map format
- adding support for the macro system and new special types
- adding ZScript versions of the actors
- adding the laser effect
- allowing per-actor palette overrides for sprites (cf. the whole knight/baron situation where they use the exact same sprites but a different palette)
- supporting Doom 64-style switches, and
- supporting Doom 64-style skyboxes including the firesky.

Additional work may involve making sure the Doom 64-style material color system we have works like it does in the original game.

[Redneckerz]

oh, alright, Do you have the link for it?

Its currently still called GZDoom (GEC) which is confusing as heck, but the rebrand should occur soon i believe.

ZDoom thread is here.
DoomWorld thread is here.

[Casualfan]

So now that the Doom 64 remaster has been out for a few years, would adding support for it be easier or more feasible now?

[Rachael]

Support doesn't happen just because it's been out any length of time. GZDoom simply does not have enough people in development (or enough interest among said people) for this kind of thing right now, that's really all there is to it. But the source is open and anyone can contribute.

[Graf Zahl]

THere's also a legal issue here: The source of the remaster is closed, so we'd have to reverse engineer the differences to Doom64 EX which would put the project in a legal gray area.
This is not going to happen for an engine that sees use for commercial development,

Unless something dramatically changes there won't be any Doom64 support.

[tsukiyomaru0]

Could talk with the dev of Doom 64 EX about it, since he did work with the Doom 64 Remaster and may be able to see what can be done about it faster.

[Rachael]

Kaiser is quite busy these days, and I am sure he values his time. I don't know what Kinsie has up his sleeve but if Kaiser is going to be involved he likely would be already, if not at least in-the-know anyhow.

[Gez]

The main issue is that Kaiser is not really the one who can call the shots here. It's up to id Software, their publisher Bethesda, and their corporate overlords at Microsoft whether the Doom 64 code can be properly released under the GPL. The legal validity of Doom64 EX's license can be questioned since one could argue in court that the intellectual property of the reverse-engineered code belongs to id Software, not to Kaiser, so Kaiser did not have the right to release it under a license of his choosing.

[Graf Zahl]

Precisely that. And it's for the same reason I'd never advocate for Raze to be used commercially, even if we manage to rid the code base of the Build license.