The People’s DooM (T.P.D.) is a freeware IWAD for use with the game DooM, and with the various DooM source ports currently available around the net.

DooM was a gaming phenomenon when it was released back in December of 1993.  The gaming world may have moved on, but DooM has managed to remain popular, even to this day.  In December 1997, id software released the original source code for DooM to the public.  This source code, in Unix format, was ported over to other platforms, such as Windows and Linux, by various gaming enthusiasts, thereby creating the DooM source ports.

Although the ports are freely available to all who want to use them, there is one little hitch.  Most of the information used By DooM, and therefore the ports as well, is stored in a special data file call a WAD.  There are two types of WAD; patch WADs, or PWADs, which contains partial replacement data for the game to use, and DooM’s internal WADs, or IWADs, which are required for DooM and the source ports in order to run.  Although PWADs have been made by users for years, and are freely available on the net, the only way to get hold of any of the IWADs is to own a copy of the original DooM, DooM II, or Final DooM, and that can be a problem, since finding a copy of DooM is becoming harder and harder these days.  Some people resort to piracy to get hold of the IWADs, but this is really not a good idea.  id Software still owns, and is still enforcing, the copyright on DooM, and pirating software, to be quite honest, is really bad karma in any case.

So how can we allow more people to play DooM, without having them resort to piracy?

The answer is simple.  We build a new IWAD.

This is no easy task.  We are not just throwing out a few levels here.  What we are doing is creating a file that replaces EVERYTHING that DooM and the source ports need to run with 100% new and original material.
 

Goals of This Project
 

• We want to create a fully functioning IWAD for DooM and the DooM source ports.

• This IWAD, once finished, is to be professional quality.  In other words, we want it to be good enough that one would seriously consider buying it, if it was available in a store.

• All resources within T.P.D. are to be original.  Nothing within the new IWAD should be taken from another source, such as the original DooM IWAD, or derived from such.  Furthermore, T.P.D. is intended to have its own look and feel.  It is not just intended to be a DooM look alike.

• In order to ensure compatibility with maps within all existing PWADs, provided these maps are used with the appropriate source port if necessary, all textures from the original DooM IWAD will have an equivalent texture, albeit with a different appearance, in T.P.D..

• To further allow compatibility, all equivalent textures will have a similar theme to those they replace.  I.e. Textures meant to take the place of tech theme textures in the original DooM will also have a tech theme.  Original textures specific to T.P.D. will be given their own unique texture names.

• Once completed, the IWAD should have its own complete story.  The levels should be complete, and the game should be able to stand on its own.  Again, this is consistent with the creation of a quality product.

• Eventually, we would like create specific versions of T.P.D. for the different DooM source ports, such as DooM Legacy, and ZDooM, in order to take advantage of the port specific features.

Also ...
 

• An optional hack patch (DEH) will be created for the IWAD.  This patch will make appropriate text changes, and allow for improved animation and make changes in some monsters’ behaviour.  Any additional graphics required to go along with the patch will be included within the IWAD.  NOTE: The hack patch will not be required to run the game with the IWAD.

• With the exception of the patch noted above, no non-standard data will be created for the IWAD, such as MD2s or MP3s, until the IWAD is complete, since they are not necessary for the IWAD to function.

• In order to avoid comprising between the two types of play, there will be no levels that combine both single / coop play and deathmatch play.  Instead, the first three episodes of T.P.D. will be reserved for single / coop play, and the fourth episode will be reserved for deathmatch.