ECWolf

About ECWolf

ECWolf is an advanced source port for Wolfenstein 3D based off of the Wolf4SDL code base. ECWolf pulls a substantial amount of code from ZDoom and aims to provide a wide array of mod editing capabilities without the need to modify the source code. Most importantly you will no longer need to replace entire data sets. With ECWolf you could for example add a weapon without needing to distribute every sprite in the game along with it. Mods will be neatly packaged into a single file just like they are for Doom.

Scripting for the game will be very similar to that used by ZDoom as well. Modifying enemy behavior, adding weapons, etc will be simple and require little programming knowledge. Sprites, graphics, sounds, and all will be referenced by name rather than index just like in Doom. Map editing will be more flexible as well, I plan on adding a VM for Hexen's ACS scripting (of course the functions will be different, but the same compiler will be used). Who knows maybe I can figure out how to render portals as well? (That's stacked sectors like not the portal gun.)

Not a mod author? ECWolf will still bring many benefits to the player as well, the ability to customize the control set up has been greatly improved for one (modern control setups are supported). In addition ECWolf supports any number of save slots among other improvements. Not only that, but you will be able to keep all of your games in a single place. ECWolf will support Wolfenstein 3D, Spear of Destiny, and the SoD mission packs in a single executable selectable at startup. Although I can't make any promises I do plan on supporting Corridor 7, Blake Stone, and any other Wolf3D engine games as well (RoTT is kind of scary due to the number of differences, but it's certainly in mind). Oh and I definitely intend to try writing multiplayer code at some point, it probably won't be online oriented though.

If you want to know how ECWolf will feel compared to the original DOS executable, simply compare vanilla Doom and ZDoom. I promise that ECWolf will always use a software renderer, so it will always look and feel like the original Wolfenstein. The minute details may change, much like they have with ZDoom, but you would have to go out of your way to find them.

Sounds overly ambitious doesn't it? Some of it probably is (like portal rendering), but I've already made significant progress towards a mod friendly engine. My work in progress source code is available from the Mercurial repository, but be warned that some transitional code may look unimpressive for various reasons, at the time of this writing there is much work to do.

You can help!

It would be down right impossible for me to support every version of Wolfenstein 3D available. Mainly, I don't have every version and so I can't support what I don't have. I would much rather that everyone run the same version of Wolfenstein 3D (1.4). In order to facilite this I need patch data! If you have more than one version of Wolfenstein 3D I would greatly appreciate getting this data from you.

I'm looking for patches to and from any version you may have. Ultimately I want to get everything patched to the 1.4 with the "Read This!" option.

1. Download this patch utility.
2. Place the wl6 files and the wolf3d exe in the ./old/ and ./new/ directories relative to the patchutil.
3. Run from the command prompt, `patchutil.exe learn "Wolfenstein 3D Registered v1.x"` where x is the version you are creating an upgrade patch for. If you know there is more than one issue of that version, go ahead and use a more descriptive name, I'll figure it out.
4. A patch.txt file will be generated. Compress it and give it some meaningful name. Then get it to me some how. (An email to admin@maniacsvault.net should work.)
5. If you wish go ahead and create a reverse patch by swaping the old and new directories. Just be sure to use a descriptive name for the downgrade.

The patch file will probably be a megabyte or so, this is because of the compression used on wl6 files so they don't diff very well. Don't worry though it is indeed taking the difference so these patches likely can not be used to pirate the game. Also, if you're using Linux the source to the patch utility is in the Mercurial repository as well (in the tools directory).

If you have problems with the program go ahead and contact me and hopefully we can get the problem resolved. (Again email should work.)

Do take note!

It is important to remember that ECWolf is not one of my primary projects at this time (those include Doomseeker and ZDoom). If there does not appear to be any progress for a while don't worry, I haven't forgot about it. It will get done. Watch my weblog for updates (I usually update it about once a month be it about ECWolf or something else). Also you can follow the code changes over at bitbucket.