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WHAT IS GLOOME:
GLOOME is a commercial-friendly GPL-compliant rebrand of the GZDoom engine, which is based on the ZDoom engine, which in turn is based on id Software's Doom engine. It's a little bit incestuous.
All of the code from Doom has been relicensed from the Doom Software License to the GPL license, and all legally troubled code (such as the code taken from Ken Silverman's BUILD engine) have been either removed or rewritten and licensed to be GPL compatible.
GLOOME GITHUB:
https://github.com/marrub--/GLOOME/
All of the GLOOME source code is stored here, free for anyone to look at, persue, fork, or modify for their own purposes, as per GPL requirements.
WHY GLOOME:
There's been a lot of discussion as of time of this writing about the viability of using Doom source ports to create full-fledged indie games. A lot of people have come out with some astounding projects; massive mapsets, complete gameplay overhauls, redone graphics, etc. But every now and then, there's a project that's completely unlike Doom at all, to the point where people say it would be better as its own thing, rather than a "mod". And sometimes these discussions just kind of ... end with the usual question marks.
Is it possible to do this? Can mods really become standalone games? Would it even be feasible to undertake all the work for a small community? What draws the line between an extremely in-depth "mod" and a fully standalone "game"? Wouldn't we still need to have a doom2.wad to run? If we still have ties to Doom, won't that cause legal issues? What would Carmack do?
This fork hopes to address these issues. As mentioned before, all of the licensed code has been rewritten. All of the legally-questionable code has been plucked out and replaced with either more legally-compliant code or outright rewritten. The engine itself is completely open-source and free for anyone to modify, adjust, distribute, or whatever as they please.
With this, we now have an engine where someone can make a completely new not-Doom game with and distribute among other sites, like RPG Maker was to Yume Nikki or Cherry Tree High Comedy Club.
Someone completely unfamiliar with Doom, the Doom modding scene, or anything at all can just download a game, fire up the .exe, and play it without needing any know-how or "drag this .pk3 onto this .exe" or "load up multiple files" or "DON'T PUT IT IN YOUR SKINS FOLDER FOR THE LOVE OF GOD". If somebody wanted to make a full-fledged indie first-person-shooter, they can use this engine to create a slew of new maps, new enemies, new levels, new items, new weapons, and more, and then throw it up on Steam without worrying about Doom copyrights.
FAQ:
Q: So with this I could develop a whole game in maps, sprites, sounds, etc, and then release it commercially for money? A: Did you not read the above blurb? Yes!
Q: So how exactly would I make something? A: GLOOME reads, recognizes, and utilizes the exact same code that Doom mods have been using for years now--DECORATE, SBARINFO, and ACS. They're easy to pick up, easy to use, and provide a lot of power. Likewise, it recognizes the same map format that Doom mods have been using, and people can just as easily draw a few linedefs, create a room, and get going.
Q: Can I create something other than an FPS with this? A: Yes. While an FPS is obviously the native genre and one the engine can handle the best, people have long been stretching the boundaries to create a wide variety of different things. People have made arcade shmups, 2D platformers, puzzle games, action RPGs, sneaking games, and visual novels.
Q: Is there netplay support? A: GZDoom's peer-to-peer netplay structure has not been touched and should work the exact same way, all frustrations intact. Do note that support for this is limited, and may break in the future due to neglect. Poor little netcode.
Q: Can this run Doom or Doom mods? A: Yes, you'll have to supply your own copy of Doom or Freedoom to run it with. It CAN play Doom and Doom mods, but that...isn't the point.
Q: What does this offer me over the GZDoom engine? A: Mechanically? Nothing. Playing on GLOOME is no different from playing on GZDoom. Internally, however, there are a few changes to help game makers, such as adding customizable cheat codes and new functions in ACS and DECORATE.
Q: In terms of exact numbers, what featureset is this compatible with? A: GZDoom 1.8.10 doesn't line up with an exact ZDoom version number, but if generally if you set your goal to be compatible with 2.7.1 then you should be fine. We have a whole ton of extra dev features, and we've already backported some newer features, so it should be good.
Q: Why GZDoom 1.8.10? Why not go with the most recent hardware renderer? A: 1.8.10 is more compatible with a wider variety of hardware with less issues, with the downside of being a bag of dicks to wade through on the programming end. There are many aspiring developers and modders that simply can't run the OpenGL upgrade that came with post-1.8.10 versions, and more importantly there are plenty of players as well. Plus, if we purposely don't try and stay 1:1 with GZDoom, less chance of getting into any potential upsets with Graf or Randy, since they'll still have the feature-superior engine. We could also talk it out like reasonable adults, sure, but Just In Case.
Q: But won't the GPL license cause some issues? Needing to distribute the source code along with your project might be a problem. A: It won't cause any problems. In fact, it's practically a non-issue. Either download and .zip up the source code on the github or provide a link to the github, and you're good to go. The latter is easier, but the former will provide more tech-savvy people the ability to see exactly what the engine is, how it works, and what a bundle of hacks it is.
Q: Does this run with Brutal Doom? A: No, stop that.
CREDITS:
John Carmack
Randy Heit and Christoph Oelckers
JP LeBreton
marrub
TheZombieKiller
fgsfds
TerminusEst13