Difference between revisions of "Master Levels for Doom II"

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m ("The shortest version is that the system using ZDoom's ability to read zip files." Sorry for the lack of knowledge but is there something wrong with that sentence? If not, fine.)
m (Level progression: more direct wording (no "so" needed))
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[[Image:Master_Levels_Box.jpg|thumb|right|Master Levels for Doom II box.]]
 
[[Image:Master_Levels_Box.jpg|thumb|right|Master Levels for Doom II box.]]
[[Image:Masterbig.jpg|thumb|right|Magazine advert for the Master Levels for Doom II.]]
+
[[Image:Masterbig.jpg|thumb|right|Australian magazine advert for the Master Levels for Doom II.]]
 
[[Image:master_levels_cd.jpg|thumb|right|Master Levels for Doom II CD, from the [[Depths of Doom]] collection.]]
 
[[Image:master_levels_cd.jpg|thumb|right|Master Levels for Doom II CD, from the [[Depths of Doom]] collection.]]
The '''Master Levels for Doom II''' was released on [[Timeline#1995|December 26, 1995]] by [[id Software]] as an expansion pack for [[Doom II]]. It was also included as a bonus on the [[Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil]] [[Wikipedia:Xbox|Xbox]] game disc in 2005. The [[Sony PlayStation#Final Doom|PlayStation]] version of [[Final Doom]] includes 13 levels from the Master Levels.
+
The '''Master Levels for Doom II''' were released on [[Timeline#1995|December 26, 1995]] by [[id Software]] as an expansion pack for [[Doom II]]. It was also included as a bonus on the [[Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil]] [[Wikipedia:Xbox|Xbox]] game disc in 2005, and in [[Doom Classic Complete]] on PSN. The [[Final Doom (PlayStation)|PlayStation]] version of [[Final Doom]] includes 13 levels from the Master Levels.
  
The CD contains twenty [[WAD]] files created by various authors under contract.  The file teeth.wad contains a secret level, so there are a total of 21 levels.
+
The CD contains twenty [[WAD]] files created by various authors under contract.  The file TEETH.WAD contains a secret level, so there are a total of 21 levels.  To ease playing these WADs, the collection also includes [[DOOM-IT]], an application created by Chris Badger for id Software which allows the individual WADs to be loaded through a menu interface.
  
As a bonus, a poster and 1830 amateur [[PWAD]] files downloaded from the internet (collectively called [[Maximum Doom]]) are also included. Also of note is that some of the contracted designers for the Master Levels had levels they had previously released on the internet that were included in Maximum Doom.
+
As a bonus, a poster and 1830 amateur [[PWAD]] files downloaded from the internet (collectively called [[Maximum Doom]]) were also included in the retail release. (The Maximum Doom levels are not included with the downloadable version found on [[Steam]].) Also of note is that some of the contracted designers for the Master Levels had levels they had previously released on the Internet that were included in Maximum Doom.
 +
 
 +
The CD also included a digital catalog called [[id STUFF]], which offered encrypted software for which an unlock code could be ordered, as well as mail order products such as T-shirts.
 +
 
 +
==Motivation==
 +
It has been mentioned by [[John Romero]], [[John Carmack]], and several of the involved mappers that the primary motivation for the creation of the Master Levels was to "give the [[D!ZONE]] guys a run for their money," as [[id Software]] had become increasingly dissatisfied with other companies releasing various [[wikipedia:Shovelware|shovelware]] CDs full of Doom add-ons without any of the windfall reaching back to id. According to mapper [[Sverre Kvernmo]], id was looking for skilled mappers who might have a lot of existing unreleased material that could be included. As a result, most of the Master Levels wads are parts of pre-existing series, some of the earlier installments of which had previously been released on the Internet.
  
 
==Levels==
 
==Levels==
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* [[MAP01: Subterra (Master Levels)|Subterra]] (SUBTERRA.WAD)
 
* [[MAP01: Subterra (Master Levels)|Subterra]] (SUBTERRA.WAD)
  
====[[Sverre Andre Kvernmo (Cranium)]]====
+
====[[Sverre André Kvernmo (Cranium)]]====
 
* [[MAP25: Black Tower (Master Levels)|Black Tower]] (BLACKTWR.WAD)
 
* [[MAP25: Black Tower (Master Levels)|Black Tower]] (BLACKTWR.WAD)
 
* [[MAP07: Bloodsea Keep (Master Levels)|Bloodsea Keep]] (BLOODSEA.WAD)
 
* [[MAP07: Bloodsea Keep (Master Levels)|Bloodsea Keep]] (BLOODSEA.WAD)
 
* [[MAP07: Mephisto's Maosoleum (Master Levels)|Mephisto's Maosoleum]] (MEPHISTO.WAD)
 
* [[MAP07: Mephisto's Maosoleum (Master Levels)|Mephisto's Maosoleum]] (MEPHISTO.WAD)
 
* TEETH.WAD:
 
* TEETH.WAD:
** [[MAP31: The Express Elevator to Hell - teeth.wad (Master Levels)|The Express Elevator to Hell]]
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** [[MAP31: The Express Elevator to Hell (Master Levels)|The Express Elevator to Hell]]
** [[MAP32: Bad Dream - teeth.wad (Master Levels)|Bad Dream]]
+
** [[MAP32: Bad Dream (Master Levels)|Bad Dream]]
  
 
====[[Tom Mustaine]]====
 
====[[Tom Mustaine]]====
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== Master Levels Menu Interface ==
 
== Master Levels Menu Interface ==
 +
The {{zdoomwiki|title=Master Levels Menu Interface|linkonly=1}} is a 2010 [[ZDoom]] WAD created by Zippy which is designed to replicate the menu functionality of [[DOOM-IT]] in-game and allow all 21 levels to be played without restarting the engine each time. Once the WADs are added, the Menu Interface can be loaded in ZDoom, and used to play each WAD at any [[skill level]] in whichever order the user wants; they will be returned to the menu each time they complete a level.
 +
===Notes===
 +
*Completing a level takes the user back to the menu and adds an asterisk next to the level WAD file. However, starting a new game will reset the status of levels completed so it is possible for one to save the game right at the menu to avoid this happening. This allows one to load the game when wishing to come back later.
 +
*The secret level from TEETH.WAD (Bad Dream, also known as TEETH2 in this mod) is not listed under the menu hence it is secret. Completing it will not make it available to choose in the menu but it will overwrite stats from TEETH (The Express Elevator to Hell) if one chooses the secret level.
  
{{Wad|
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== Native support ==
| author = Zippy
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[[File:Masterlvpick.png|thumb|right|The Eternity Engine's Master Levels selection menu.]]
| port = [[ZDoom]]
+
Recent versions of the [[Eternity Engine]] include native support for playing the Master Levels from within Doom 2 without use of [[parameter|command-line parameters]] or the need to exit the game to play other maps or the normal game. After configuring the directory in which the maps are stored (it will be automatically detected if installed via [[Steam]] or in the standard DOS install location), the menu pictured to the right can be used to start any of the maps. The secret level of TEETH.WAD is accessible by using the secret exit switch in the first map of that WAD file. After a level is completed, the menu reappears. A new map can be started, or escape can be pressed to return to the Doom 2 title screen.
| iwad = Doom 2
 
| year = 28th August 2010
 
| status = Released
 
| link = {{idgames|id=16188}}
 
}}
 
  
== Premise ==
+
== Level progression ==
 +
While there is no real level progression in the original PC release, the console releases have organized them in episodes, generally based simply on alphabetical order.
  
This mod is a single menu map which is designed to be loaded with the [[Master Levels for Doom II]]. The Master Levels are a loose collection of 20 single map wads commercially released by [[id Software]] that, when originally released, were normally run through a DOS tool that would let the user pick the wad they wanted to play and would launch Doom II with that single wad loaded. The Master Levels Menu Interface allows the user, with a small amount of set up, to have all the Master Levels loaded into ZDoom at once and still choose the order in which they want to play the maps, through an in-game menu. This forgoes the need to restart the engine each time you are loading a different Master Levels wad.
+
{| {{PrettySortable}}
 
+
!WAD name!!Map name!!PC slot!![[Final Doom (PlayStation)|PSX slot]]!![[Xbox|Xbox slot]]!![[Doom Classic Complete|PSN slot]]
== Obtaining the Master Levels ==
+
|-
 
+
|ATTACK.WAD||Attack||1||1||1||1
The Master Levels for Doom II is a commercially released product by id Software and must be purchased. id Software's online store ''does not'' sell the game, so the most convenient online distributor right now is Steam. [http://store.steampowered.com/app/9160/ Here is a link to the Steam page for The Master Levels for Doom II.]
+
|-
 
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|CANYON.WAD||Canyon||1||3||4||2
If Steam is not a desirable solution, the only other option is to look for second hand retailers who might have it, online or offline.
+
|-
 
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|CATWALK.WAD||The Catwalk||1||5||5||3
== Set up ==
+
|-
 
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|COMBINE.WAD||The Combine||1||4||6||4
Using the Master Levels Menu Interface to work with the Master Levels requires a small amount of set up. The text file included with the download of the menu interface (the text file is the same as the one displayed on the Doomworld/idgames download page) contains detailed instructions and should  be referred to. The shortest version is that the system using ZDoom's [[Using_ZIPs_as_WAD_replacement|ability to read zip files]]. Many of the Master Levels overwrite MAP01, but by using the zip system to separate the Master Levels wad files into different logical namespaces, the map contents do not overwrite each other. Generally speaking, the Master Level wads are packed into a maps folder in a zip file to be loaded with ZDoom, however there are a few special steps so please be sure to read the instructions.
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|-
 +
|FISTULA.WAD||The Fistula||1||6||7||5
 +
|-
 +
|GARRISON.WAD||The Garrison||1||—||8||6
 +
|-
 +
|MANOR.WAD||Titan Manor||1||—||10||7
 +
|-
 +
|PARADOX.WAD||Paradox||1||10||—||8
 +
|-
 +
|SUBSPACE.WAD||Subspace||1||11||12||9
 +
|-
 +
|SUBTERRA.WAD||Subterra||1||12||13||10
 +
|-
 +
|TTRAP.WAD||Trapped On Titan||1||—||16||11
 +
|-
 +
|VIRGIL.WAD||Virgil's Lead||3||2||18||12
 +
|-
 +
|MINOS.WAD||Minos' Judgement||5||8||—||13
 +
|-
 +
|BLOODSEA.WAD||Bloodsea Keep||7||—||3||14
 +
|-
 +
|MEPHISTO.WAD||Mephisto's Maosoleum||7||—||—||15
 +
|-
 +
|NESSUS.WAD||Nessus||7||9||11||16
 +
|-
 +
|GERYON.WAD||Geryon||8||7||9||17
 +
|-
 +
|VESPERAS.WAD||Vesperas||9||13||17||18
 +
|-
 +
|BLACKTWR.WAD||Black Tower||25||—||2||19
 +
|-
 +
|TEETH.WAD||The Express Elevator To Hell||31||—||14||20
 +
|-
 +
|TEETH.WAD||Bad Dream||32||—||15||21
 +
|}
  
 
==Sources==
 
==Sources==
 
*{{wikipedia|title=Master Levels for Doom II}}
 
*{{wikipedia|title=Master Levels for Doom II}}
 +
 +
==See also==
 +
* [[Cabal]] series
 +
* [[Inferno (series)|Inferno]] series
 +
* [[MASTERLEVELS.WAD]]
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
*[http://www.cultmovies.dk/mlfaq102.htm The Unofficial Master Levels for Doom II FAQ] by Henrik Larsen
+
* {{Archived link|http://www.idsoftware.com/killer/doommac.html|id Software's ''Master Levels for Doom II'' page|https://web.archive.org/web/20010203124100/http://www.idsoftware.com/killer/doommac.html|archive.org}}
 +
*{{idgames|id=13014|The Unofficial Master Levels for Doom II FAQ by Henrik Larsen}}
 +
*{{idgames|title=Master Levels Menu Interface|id=16188}}
 
*[http://store.steampowered.com/app/9160/ Master Levels for Doom II on Steam]
 
*[http://store.steampowered.com/app/9160/ Master Levels for Doom II on Steam]
[[Category:Games]]
+
*[http://us.playstation.com/games-and-media/games/doom-classic-complete-ps3.html Doom Classic Complete (PSN)]
 +
 
 +
[[Category:Expansions]]
 
[[Category:Commercial PWADs]]
 
[[Category:Commercial PWADs]]

Revision as of 09:57, 18 May 2018

Master Levels for Doom II box.
Australian magazine advert for the Master Levels for Doom II.
Master Levels for Doom II CD, from the Depths of Doom collection.

The Master Levels for Doom II were released on December 26, 1995 by id Software as an expansion pack for Doom II. It was also included as a bonus on the Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil Xbox game disc in 2005, and in Doom Classic Complete on PSN. The PlayStation version of Final Doom includes 13 levels from the Master Levels.

The CD contains twenty WAD files created by various authors under contract. The file TEETH.WAD contains a secret level, so there are a total of 21 levels. To ease playing these WADs, the collection also includes DOOM-IT, an application created by Chris Badger for id Software which allows the individual WADs to be loaded through a menu interface.

As a bonus, a poster and 1830 amateur PWAD files downloaded from the internet (collectively called Maximum Doom) were also included in the retail release. (The Maximum Doom levels are not included with the downloadable version found on Steam.) Also of note is that some of the contracted designers for the Master Levels had levels they had previously released on the Internet that were included in Maximum Doom.

The CD also included a digital catalog called id STUFF, which offered encrypted software for which an unlock code could be ordered, as well as mail order products such as T-shirts.

Motivation

It has been mentioned by John Romero, John Carmack, and several of the involved mappers that the primary motivation for the creation of the Master Levels was to "give the D!ZONE guys a run for their money," as id Software had become increasingly dissatisfied with other companies releasing various shovelware CDs full of Doom add-ons without any of the windfall reaching back to id. According to mapper Sverre Kvernmo, id was looking for skilled mappers who might have a lot of existing unreleased material that could be included. As a result, most of the Master Levels wads are parts of pre-existing series, some of the earlier installments of which had previously been released on the Internet.

Levels

John Anderson (Dr. Sleep)

Jim Flynn

Christen Klie

Sverre André Kvernmo (Cranium)

Tom Mustaine

Tim Willits

Master Levels Menu Interface

The Master Levels Menu Interface is a 2010 ZDoom WAD created by Zippy which is designed to replicate the menu functionality of DOOM-IT in-game and allow all 21 levels to be played without restarting the engine each time. Once the WADs are added, the Menu Interface can be loaded in ZDoom, and used to play each WAD at any skill level in whichever order the user wants; they will be returned to the menu each time they complete a level.

Notes

  • Completing a level takes the user back to the menu and adds an asterisk next to the level WAD file. However, starting a new game will reset the status of levels completed so it is possible for one to save the game right at the menu to avoid this happening. This allows one to load the game when wishing to come back later.
  • The secret level from TEETH.WAD (Bad Dream, also known as TEETH2 in this mod) is not listed under the menu hence it is secret. Completing it will not make it available to choose in the menu but it will overwrite stats from TEETH (The Express Elevator to Hell) if one chooses the secret level.

Native support

The Eternity Engine's Master Levels selection menu.

Recent versions of the Eternity Engine include native support for playing the Master Levels from within Doom 2 without use of command-line parameters or the need to exit the game to play other maps or the normal game. After configuring the directory in which the maps are stored (it will be automatically detected if installed via Steam or in the standard DOS install location), the menu pictured to the right can be used to start any of the maps. The secret level of TEETH.WAD is accessible by using the secret exit switch in the first map of that WAD file. After a level is completed, the menu reappears. A new map can be started, or escape can be pressed to return to the Doom 2 title screen.

Level progression

While there is no real level progression in the original PC release, the console releases have organized them in episodes, generally based simply on alphabetical order.

WAD name Map name PC slot PSX slot Xbox slot PSN slot
ATTACK.WAD Attack 1 1 1 1
CANYON.WAD Canyon 1 3 4 2
CATWALK.WAD The Catwalk 1 5 5 3
COMBINE.WAD The Combine 1 4 6 4
FISTULA.WAD The Fistula 1 6 7 5
GARRISON.WAD The Garrison 1 8 6
MANOR.WAD Titan Manor 1 10 7
PARADOX.WAD Paradox 1 10 8
SUBSPACE.WAD Subspace 1 11 12 9
SUBTERRA.WAD Subterra 1 12 13 10
TTRAP.WAD Trapped On Titan 1 16 11
VIRGIL.WAD Virgil's Lead 3 2 18 12
MINOS.WAD Minos' Judgement 5 8 13
BLOODSEA.WAD Bloodsea Keep 7 3 14
MEPHISTO.WAD Mephisto's Maosoleum 7 15
NESSUS.WAD Nessus 7 9 11 16
GERYON.WAD Geryon 8 7 9 17
VESPERAS.WAD Vesperas 9 13 17 18
BLACKTWR.WAD Black Tower 25 2 19
TEETH.WAD The Express Elevator To Hell 31 14 20
TEETH.WAD Bad Dream 32 15 21

Sources

See also

External links