IWAD

From DoomWiki.org

The acronym IWAD is generally interpreted as "internal WAD"[1] and refers to a WAD file which contains all of the external data for a complete game. In order to be identified as an IWAD, a file must contain the "IWAD" (49 57 41 44) magic identifier as the first four bytes in its header. An IWAD file is required for execution of any of the stock Doom engine games. This is in contrast to PWADs, which are "patch" WADs intended to replace or augment the content found in the IWAD.

Resources[edit]

A complete IWAD file usually contains the following, along with other types of resources:

When the game's executable file is started, one of the first things it does is attempt to locate an IWAD file. This is done based on file name; the executable has the names of the Doom, Heretic, Hexen, or Strife IWAD files stored in an internal list.

The executable sets an internal "mode" dependent on the IWAD it finds; because of this, what constitutes "a complete set" in the above lists depends on the name of the IWAD. For example, different music lumps will be used depending on whether the executable is configured to play Doom or Doom II. The executable also behaves differently in other ways: for example, loading of PWADs is disabled when loading a shareware IWAD.

Because of this, it is possible to use the executable from one Doom game with the IWAD file of another, although there are some exceptions to this due to version issues. For example, the Doom II executable cannot be used with a Final Doom IWAD, as that executable was created before Final Doom was released. (The Final Doom IWAD, however, could be renamed to doom2.wad, or loaded as a PWAD.)

Unlike many PWADs, IWADs are not meant to ever be loaded together when starting a game, even in source ports. There exist certain workarounds, such as WadSmoosh, a tool able to merge multiple IWADs into one to allow all content to be played on a single unified IWAD.

IWAD files[edit]

Official[edit]

The following table lists the canonical file names of officially licensed games' IWAD files.

File Game(s)
DOOM1.WAD Doom shareware version
DOOM.WAD Doom registered version; The Ultimate Doom
DOOM2.WAD Doom II
DOOM2F.WAD Doom II French-language version
DOOM64.WAD Doom 64 (2020 port)
TNT.WAD Final Doom - TNT: Evilution
PLUTONIA.WAD Final Doom - The Plutonia Experiment
HERETIC1.WAD Heretic shareware version
HERETIC.WAD Heretic registered version; Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders
HEXEN.WAD Hexen demo and commercial versions
HEXDD.WAD Hexen: Deathkings of the Dark Citadel; not a full IWAD, requires HEXEN.WAD to be played
STRIFE0.WAD Strife: Quest for the Sigil demo version
STRIFE1.WAD Strife commercial version; Strife: Veteran Edition
VOICES.WAD Strife commercial version or Veteran Edition; optional, contains voice sound effects only
CHEX.WAD Chex Quest

Unofficial[edit]

Since the release of the Doom source code and development of advanced source ports, the creation of custom IWAD files which implement new games has become viable.

File Game
CHEX3.WAD Chex Quest 3
HACX.WAD Hacx v1.2 stand-alone edition
freedoom1.wad Freedoom: Phase 1
freedoom2.wad Freedoom: Phase 2
freedm.wad FreeDM

See also[edit]

External links[edit]

References[edit]

  1. Matt Fell (1994), Unofficial DOOM Specs v1.3, Chapter 2. Retrieved on April 16, 2008.