Switch

Switches are implemented using wall texture names that are built-in to the Doom rendering engine. At initialization time, the engine finds each texture name listed in the "Off" column below (in the TEXTURE1 or TEXTURE2 lump), and links it with the name in the "On" column. When a linedef using a switch texture has a type that can be activated, the texture is replaced by its counterpart when used. If the line effect can be repeated, the switch keeps its alternate texture for a full second, before reverting to its initial appearance; internally, repeatable switches are referred to as buttons. Switches play the sound DSSWTCHN when activated, and DSSWTCHX when resetting. Exit switches play DSSWTCHX.

Switches can be activated by pressing USE key in range less than 48 map units, the same as doors.

Switches in Doom follow the convention of having a name prefixed by SW1 (for the "Off" version) and SW2 (for the "On" version). However, this is purely a convention; the engine works with a hardcoded list of names, and a pair of custom textures named, for example, SW1DUMMY and SW2DUMMY will not be considered as a switch.

Switches follow a tiered system: all switches present in the shareware version of Doom are expected to be found in the full version; and all switches present in the registered version are expected to also be found in Doom II. However, since a few Doom switches were not used in the Doom II levels, they were replaced by dummies, despite the needed patches for their definition being actually present in DOOM2.WAD.

Animated switches are possible, if a switch texture (on, off, or both) is included in an animation range. This effect is notably used in Final Doom, where to achieve it the textures have not been sorted alphabetically.

Doom switches

Off	On	Version	Dimensions	Description
SW1BLUE	SW2BLUE	R	64×128	Skull in alcove on COMPBLUE wall
SW1BRCOM	SW2BRCOM	S	128×128	Fader with red/green LEDs on BROWN96 wall
SW1BRIK	SW2BRIK	C	64×128	Fader with red/green LEDs on BIGBRIK2 wall
SW1BRN1	SW2BRN1	S	64×128	Double-throw knife switch on BROWN1 wall — copy of SW#BRCOM in Doom II
SW1BRN2	SW2BRN2	S	64×128	Green LED button on BROWN1 wall
SW1BRNGN	SW2BRNGN	S	128×128	Green LED button on BROWNGRN wall
SW1BROWN	SW2BROWN	S	128×128	Double-throw knife switch on BROWN96 wall
SW1CMT	SW2CMT	R	64×128	Double-throw knife switch on CEMENT3 wall
SW1COMM	SW2COMM	S	64×72	Fader with red/green LEDs on SHAWN wall
SW1COMP	SW2COMP	S	128×128	Button with red light on COMPTALL/COMPWERD wall
SW1DIRT	SW2DIRT	S	64×128	Fader with red/green LEDs on BROWN144 wall
SW1EXIT	SW2EXIT	S	32×72	Button with red light on GRAY5 wall
SW1GARG	SW2GARG	R	64×128	Embossed gargoyle face on METAL-like wall
SW1GRAY	SW2GRAY	S	64×128	Button with red light on GRAY1 wall
SW1GRAY1	SW2GRAY1	S	64×128	Green LED button on GRAY1 wall
SW1GSTON	SW2GSTON	R	64×128	Skull in alcove on GSTONE1 wall
SW1HOT	SW2HOT	R	64×128	Skull in alcove on SP_HOT1 (red bricks) wall
SW1LION	SW2LION	R	64×128	Embossed lion face on METAL-like wall
SW1MARB	SW2MARB	C	64×128	Skull in alcove on MARBLE1 wall
SW1MET2	SW2MET2	C	64×128	Fader with red/green LEDs on METAL2 wall
SW1METAL	SW2METAL	S	64×128	Green LED button on METAL1 wall
SW1MOD1	SW2MOD1	C	64×128	Green LED button on MODWALL1 wall
SW1PANEL	SW2PANEL	C	64×128	Skull in alcove on PANCASE2 wall
SW1PIPE	SW2PIPE	S	128×128	Double-throw knife switch on PIPE2 wall
SW1ROCK	SW2ROCK	C	64×128	Skull in alcove on ROCK1 wall
SW1SATYR	SW2SATYR	R	64×128	Embossed satyr face on METAL-like wall
SW1SKIN	SW2SKIN	R	64×128	Cacodemon eye on SKINBORD/SKINTEK wall
SW1SKULL	SW2SKULL	C	64×128	Double-throw knife switch embedded in giant skull computer on SP_FACE2 wall, to be bordered with SK_LEFT and SK_RIGHT walls
SW1SLAD	SW2SLAD	S	64×128	Red LED button on SLADWALL wall
SW1STARG	SW2STARG	S	128×128	Double-throw knife switch on STARG3 wall — copy of SW#BRCOM in Doom II
SW1STON1	SW2STON1	S	64×128	Fader with red/green LEDs on STONE2 wall
SW1STON2	SW2STON2	S	64×128	Red LED button on STONE2 wall — copy of SW#BRCOM in Doom II
SW1STON6	SW2STON6	C	64×128	Button with red light on STONE6 wall
SW1STONE	SW2STONE	S	64×128	Fader with red/green LEDs on STONE wall — copy of SW#BRCOM in Doom II
SW1STRTN	SW2STRTN	S	64×128	Fader with red/green LEDs on STARTAN1 wall
SW1TEK	SW2TEK	C	64×128	Green LED button on TEKGREN2 wall
SW1VINE	SW2VINE	R	64×128	Green LED button on GRAYVINE wall
SW1WDMET	SW2WDMET	C	64×128	Blue (off) or red (on) skull on WOODMET1 wall
SW1WOOD	SW2WOOD	R	64×128	Skull in alcove on WOOD1 wall
SW1ZIM	SW2ZIM	C	64×128	Skull in alcove on ZIMMER1 wall

The following codes are used in the "Version" column above:

• S - Shareware
• R - Registered/Ultimate Doom
• C - Commercial — Doom II

Other games

Heretic has only two types of switches, a "normal" one (SW1OFF/SW1ON) and an "exit" one (SW2OFF/SW2ON), with only one switch sound, called SWITCH. Although the switch textures are 64x128, they are usually used at a much smaller scale, indented in a little alcove, allowing to compensate for the lack of variety. The normal switch button shows a blueish-gray trident symbol, with the teeth pointing up and converging; while the exit switch shows a deep blue trident symbol, with the teeth pointing down and parallel.

Hexen offers more variety, with four different switch sounds depending on the switch texture. SWTCH6 serves as a generic switch sound, CHNSWCH8 serves as the sound for a chain being pulled, SWTCHRP1 for a rope being pulled, and SWTCHV4 for a valve handle being rotated. Finally, certain textures meant to be used with puzzle items have their own switch sound defined, PUZSLV. The switch animations are also improved, switch textures having not just an on and an off state, but also some intermediary steps. As an evolution of Heretic's design of placing switches in small alcoves, most of Hexen's switches are small textures, 32 in width and 32, 40, or 48 in height.

Trivia

• The actual real-life position of the gargoyle switch was found by Doomworld forums user Val in December 2022. It can be found in Milwaukee in Windsor Place.

See also

• Animated flat
• Animated wall
• ANIMATED
• SWITCHES

Sources

• Unofficial Doom Specs