Switch

From DoomWiki.org

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

  • The actual real-life position of the gargoyle switch was found by Doomworld Forums user Val in December 2022.[1] It can be found in Milwaukee in Windsor Place.

See also[edit]

Sources[edit]

References[edit]

  1. Val (4 December 2022). Real Life Location of one of the Gargoyle switches. Doomworld. Retrieved 6 December 2022.