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-
- (Thanks to Tom Neff (tneff@panix.com) for muchos corrections to my initial
- innacurate witterings :)
-
-
- Q: What is a WAD file? What do they contain?
-
- The file that comes with the game, namely DOOM.WAD, or DOOM1.WAD, or
- whatever (it's the big one) contains all the information that the game
- needs to know about the layout of the various levels, the graphics used,
- objects, creatures, sounds, music and so on.
-
- This file, or a modified version of it, is called an IWAD file - it is
- the main data file which Doom loads.
-
- Now that Doom level editors exist (such as Deu, DOOMED, DoomCAD, etc),
- people can design their own add-on levels. These are loaded 'alongside' the
- IWAD file and searched first during gameplay. When this is done, the IWAD
- file is NOT changed in any way.
-
- Such a file is a PWAD file, i.e. any additional file loaded after the IWAD
- file is loaded.
-
- The bad news (if you have the shareware version only) is that ID requested
- that people making editors design them so that they will not create levels
- that can be used with the Shareware version of the game, in order to
- encourage people to buy the full version and, therefore, help ID make even
- more excellent games.
-
- Also, it is widely accepted practice amongst PWAD designers that PWAD files
- are constructed so that they contain textures, weapons, etc., that are NOT
- in the Shareware IWAD file (such as a plasma rifle); in this way, a PWAD
- designer can put a non-shareware texture in the very first room, say, which
- will crash out Shareware Doom straight away.
-
- So, if you currently only have the Shareware version, all the more reason
- for you to rush out and buy the full game! :) Editors, PWAD's, sounds, etc,
- etc... :)
-
- It is _possible_ to make PWAD's that will work with the Shareware version,
- but anyone who makes noises about wanting such PWAD's and/or editors that
- can make them will get flames bigger than your average solar flare! :D
- (note: all shareware versions later than 1.2 will refuse to load any PWAD
- file by default).
-
- Hope this helps.
-
- Byeee! :)
-
- Ian.
-
- )*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- The Doom Help Service (DHS).
-
- email address: mapleson@cee.hw.ac.uk
-
- WWW addresses:
-
- Home page: http://www.cee.hw.ac.uk/~mapleson
- DHS: http://www.cee.hw.ac.uk/~mapleson/doom/doom.html
-
- Ian C. R. Mapleson BSc,
- Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering,
- Heriot Watt University,
- Riccarton Campus,
- Edinburgh,
- Scotland,
- United Kingdom.
-