idNews/idTalks_working_on1.3
From: "John Van Essen"
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action,alt.games.doom
Subject: Doom news from David Taylor
Organization: University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Date: Thu, 17 Mar 1994 05:00:23 GMT
I e-mailed David Taylor at id software, reminding him of his Barney contest
(following is an exerpt from his Feb 12th post to the newsgroups), and
I also asked for an update on Doom 1.3. Reply follows exerpt...
> This is a personal thing as I hate Barney, but I saw the Barney
> patches to Doom and... er... he's flat. I'll offer an official Doom
> tee to the artist who can draw the best Barney graphics patches by
> March 11. Not interested in straight scans. Want to see your
> artistic talents (used for Good). Good sfx and death frames a big
> plus.
>
> =-ddt->
----- Forwarded message begins here -----
From: David Taylor
Tue, 15 Mar 94 23:27:59 -0600
> So - it's March 15th. Who won?
Nobody sent me anything. No one so far. Will keep it open until I
get a juicy one. :)
> BTW, time to rev up the e-mail magnet up a few gauss, eh?
> Can you update the masses on c.s.i.p.g.action and alt.games.doom
> with one of your little newsletters soon? How's the progress on 1.3?
It's pretty-much stymied. The problem is this. The last great
frontier of bugs on Doom is the DOS-specific stuff, specifically
sound code and serial code. The sound code needs replacing to fix,
too large a fix for v1.3. I'm actually considering this for an
alternative release (not in the normal version stream) for those
that want to try for stabler sound support. The serial code needs
massaging, but because the source code is out, it tends to put out
its own fires.
We are not putting any new features in v1.3. We want it to be the
last version. It'll be done when we get a warm-mushy feeling about
it and can play it without it crashing on our machines (which it
does right now).
> Don't mention any time frame for releasing it (!!!!!!)
Will be sure not to. :)
> When you upload 1.3, don't forget about ocf.unt.edu.
Will try to remember.
> Thanks. Bye.
Could you send up the previous status to the net? Thanks...
=-ddt->
------ Forwarded message ends here ------
I then asked for some clarifications - here is his reply:
----- Forwarded message begins here -----
From: David Taylor
Wed, 16 Mar 94 11:01:54 -0600
Subject: Re: News for the net - need clarifications :)
> Before I post your previous response per your request, a few clarifications?
> There are some questions that come immediately to mind:
>
> Does this mean id hasn't fixed any sound problems? Or does this
> mean that the *best* solution is a rewrite, but what's there
> works better than before, but not perfect? Which problems are
> known about but will have no solution in 1.3?
Changes have been made to the sound code. For instance, it now
runs under Windows again. It works for a while under OS/2 but cuts
out after a while unless you have the latest patches for OS/2 2.1.
But the code isn't totally stable. It still crashes in net games
in random places. The sound library will probably never be totally
stable. By replacement, I mean a different third-party sound
library.
> It's nice that the serial code being out helps put out fires.
> That's fine for netters, but how about mail-order people?
> What will they be getting? A few ambitious souls have written
> their own interface programs, apparently. Do you plan to
> supply any of these freeware programs with Doom?
Doubt it. When you distribute other people's code, you tend to
get the tech support calls for it, whether you cover the stuff with
disclaimers or not.
Hope this clarifies things. Don't have time for much else.
=-ddt->
------ Forwarded message ends here ------
So - there you have it. If you have questions, mail to help@idsoftware.com.
John Van Essen