DOOM Alpha

1993 · MS-DOS · id software

Read more about this prototype on DoomWiki.org Original description: In order to create a complete collection of historic DOOM versions, as released to testers at the time, id Software has allowed to place this file, the May 22, 1993 alpha version of DOOM, in the official idgames archive. This file is collected here because of the historic interest shown in it, and is not supported by id Software in ANY way. Please do NOT contact id Software about this file. If you ignore this request, you will be summarily BFG-ed :) -- Frans P. de Vries | fpv@ftp.cdrom.com | Doom/Quake archive backup maintainer Additional notes: Below are two posts to the Doom newsgroups that comment on various aspects of this alpha version. They are included for your perusal, feel free to explore further. -- Frans P. de Vries | fpv@ftp.cdrom.com | Doom/Quake archive backup maintainer From: robertd@lekera.southern.co.nz (Robert Densie) Newsgroups: rec.games.computer.doom.misc Subject: Re: Doom 1.0 or lower?!?! Love to see it! Date: Sun, 03 Dec 1995 13:25:05 +1200 Theodore Duffy (tduffy@freenet.columbus.oh.us) wrote: : I read something recently around here, someone was talking about having : played the original beta release .99 or maybe 1.0 , with no barrels and : other weird stuff. Anyone know where I could find a copy of it? Just for : nostalgia's sake, and curiousity... : ForkLord (who still has his Doom 1.2 disks around here somewhere) I have seen and played the 0.99 version of Doom, I think I deleted the 0.99 version having upgraded it to 1.00. BUT ALSO I have here a version here (doom05-1.arj & doom05-2.arj) It's an ALPHA version of doom (I just run it to make sure) called "Doom: Evil Unleashed". Start up screen says Doom Alpha by Id Software. It has the basic Doom engine, but * The imps and pink demons are in the game they don't move or anything just stand there * No barrels (as noted above) * A lot of graphics from wolf is used (eg medic kit, gold treasure cup) * The map key is "a" not tab * The strafe and open door key are both alt * No sounds! * The two weapons you start with are (1) bayonet and (2) rifle * There is no run key (that I could find, so makes getting around really slow) * It is quite easy to recognise some of the structures in the game (so the whole map structure is now over two years old). I can't quote exactly were they are from but I do recognise them * In the screen options there is high, medium, low, <another one>, and HIGH RES, so it looks like there use to be a high res mode that was taken out in the official release. I other thing I did notice while looking through the doom.exe file is that there is reference to "E1M10 E1M11 E1M12 E1M13", so it looks like there was original more than 9 levels per episode The files included in the archives are config.lmp 152 3-12-95 12:43 doom.exe 471452 22-05-93 17:49 doom.wad 3522207 22-05-93 18:00 dos4gw.exe 231179 11-11-92 9:01 I know this version is really really old (as per the dates above), but I am still worried about what could happen if I did post it, It is now over two years old so who would really care it I did. --> What does everyone else think?? <-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- PLEASE, just follow-up this article in this news group, don't email me It costs me to send and receive email so I don't want my mail box full of "please post these files" from every Doom fanatic out there ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -- | Robert Densie, Christchurch, New Zealand | OS/2 Warp Supporter | | robertd@lekera.southern.co.nz | STRESS, The confusion created when one's mind | To err is human, to overrides the body's basic desire to choke the | really foul things up living shit out of some asshole who needs it! | requires a computer From: fpv@xymph.iaf.nl (Frans P. de Vries) Newsgroups: rec.games.computer.doom.misc Subject: Re: Doom 1.0 or lower?!?! Love to see it! Date: 21 Dec 1995 21:42:19 +0100 Organization: Home Robert Densie (robertd@lekera.southern.co.nz) wrote: } It's an ALPHA version of doom (I just run it to make sure) } called "Doom: Evil Unleashed". Start up screen says Doom Alpha by } Id Software. Thanks for posting it (and to Chris for you know what ;-). I had a look at it too, and noted: } It has the basic Doom engine, but } * The imps and pink demons are in the game they don't move or anything } just stand there There are 2 Barons of Hell in E1M12. If you shoot a monster with your rifle, it just disappears, i.e. there are no death frames yet. } * No barrels (as noted above) There are barrels in one level but not as we now know them. Like all things (monsters, treasures, ammo, etc.) they just disappear when shot with the rifle. } * The map key is "a" not tab } * The strafe and open door key are both alt The 'm' key toggles between normal viewing point and a viewing point at floor level. You can continue to run around like this, but I presume this is a preliminary hack at the death players