Atract Mode Demo Loops

Need help running various source ports? Did your computer break? Ask here.

Moderators: GZDoom Developers, LZDoom Developers, UZDoom Developers

Forum rules
Please be as descriptive as possible in your posts (list your hardware and operating system, the version of the source port you are using, any mods you are running and how they're being loaded, etc.)
This will help others to give you a solution!
Kernel_Panic
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Aug 27, 2018 4:43 pm

Atract Mode Demo Loops

Post by Kernel_Panic »

Hi,
Sorry if this has been asked and answered before!
When I used to play DOOM and DOOM II back in the '90s, the games would play prerecorded video loops of gameplay.
Fast forward 25 years, and I've been playing the games on GZDoom for a while now, and it kind of bothers me that these loops are missing.
Is there a way to enable them?

Thank you in advance for all your help! :D
User avatar
Graf Zahl
Lead GZDoom+Raze Developer
Lead GZDoom+Raze Developer
Posts: 49252
Joined: Sat Jul 19, 2003 10:19 am
Location: Germany

Re: Atract Mode Demo Loops

Post by Graf Zahl »

GZDoom does not care about keeping demos compatible between versions, which would require re-recording them each time, and that's not worth the effort.
User avatar
JPL
 
 
Posts: 523
Joined: Mon Apr 09, 2012 12:27 pm

Re: Atract Mode Demo Loops

Post by JPL »

If you'd like to see the demos that come with the original IWADs, check out a source port with demo compatibility like Crispy Doom: https://github.com/fabiangreffrath/crispy-doom/releases
User avatar
okbuddy
Posts: 31
Joined: Fri Jun 21, 2019 3:45 pm

Re: Atract Mode Demo Loops

Post by okbuddy »

Is there any easy way for non-programmer types to re-record the vanilla demos? I ask because I am both insane and bored enough to do so for each new release as I also greatly miss watching those demos. Using another source port is out of the question. I tried recording new demos that were my own playthroughs that attempted to mimic the vanilla ones but it just wasn't the same. Thanks in advance either way.
User avatar
Caligari87
Admin
Posts: 6256
Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2004 3:02 pm
Preferred Pronouns: He/Him

Re: Atract Mode Demo Loops

Post by Caligari87 »

Not really? Demos only consist of player input, and GZDoom changes enough of the underlying simulation that the player's input in the vanilla demos will quickly no longer reflect what happens in the game world (desync, basically). The only solution is what you tried, re-recording the demos "as close as possible" in the updated simulation. Unfortunately, this will always only be a temporary fix as your new imitation demo will no longer be compatible next time GZDoom makes a change to the underlying simulation code.

8-)
User avatar
okbuddy
Posts: 31
Joined: Fri Jun 21, 2019 3:45 pm

Re: Atract Mode Demo Loops

Post by okbuddy »

Understood. I suspected it was so but thought I would ask. Thanks for the info.

Return to “Technical Issues”