LxDoom runs in text mode as well as graphical
mode. You need not start the X Window System to run LxDoom,
however, we recommend running it in graphical mode because in the
other mode we were unable to use the mouse properly.If you like id Software's Doom as much as we do, and if you're wondering how you can play it under Linux, this is the right page to read! Here we'll tell you how to download, install, and run LxDoom.
LxDoom is a Linux Port of Doom, created by Colin Phipps. When id Software released the Doom Source Code in 1997, many enhanced versions of Doom (ports) came out. One such is Boom, by TeamTNT. This was a DOS port, and it was modified by Phipps to work under Linux. Remember, LxDoom is not a direct conversion of Doom to Linux, rather, it is a conversion of Boom. Hence, all the additional features and commands that work with Boom will also work here, plus you have some more functions that are specific only to this Linux version.
LxDoom's homepage is at http://lxdoom.linuxgames.com. You can go there and download the latest version of the software in .RPM format. Alternatively, you could also find LxDoom at Doomworld's Source Ports section. Remember that the RPM you get will be the LxDoom engine i.e., the program, only - you will also need a game data file, which is the WAD file that you get with Doom.
Installing LxDoom is quite simple. Just download the RPM, and log on as root. Then just go to the directory where you downloaded it, and double click the file. It will install itself in the right place. The default installation directory is /usr/games.
Now that you have installed the engine, you will need a valid Doom WAD file. The WAD file is where Doom stores all the sounds, graphics, level data, etc. LxDoom will work perfectly with all the Doom games, that is, Registered Doom, Doom shareware, Doom II, The Ultimate Doom, and Final Doom. The names of the WAD files you can use are DOOM1.WAD (for Shareware Doom), DOOM.WAD (for Registered Doom and Ultimate Doom), DOOM2.WAD (for Doom II), DOOM2F.WAD (French version of Doom II), TNT.WAD and PLUTONIA.WAD (the Final Doom WADs). You will need ATLEAST ONE of these to play LxDoom. That means, you need to have purchased atleast one of these games. Fortunately, the Doom shareware is freely available, and you can download the DOS version from many websites. You will get the Doom shareware WAD, that is, DOOM1.WAD. Just put it (or any of the other valid WAD files mentioned above) in the directory /usr/share/games and you can now launch LxDoom.
LxDoom runs in text mode as well as graphical
mode. You need not start the X Window System to run LxDoom,
however, we recommend running it in graphical mode because in the
other mode we were unable to use the mouse properly.
In GNOME or KDE, open a new terminal window, and type cd /usr/games. Then type ./lxdoom.
Remember we told you that there are additional parameters you can use with LxDoom? For recording yourself playing Doom, i.e., demo recording, you can use ./lxdoom -record somename. To play back a recorded demo, use ./lxdoom -playdemo somename. You can also use -fastdemo and -timedemo just like in Boom.
You can also modify the BOOM.CFG file in the place where the LxDoom files have been installed. This allows you to change LxDoom's various options. (Do this only if you know what you're doing!).
LxDoom supports high resolutions like 800x600, 640x480, although it's default is 320x200. We recommend 320x200, but if you have a faster system you can try the higher resolutions. When we tried it, however, we found that the game slowed down considerably at higher resolutions.