C-Dogs SDL is a port and extension of the classic top-down shooter, originally for DOS. Cong Xu has been updating the game over the years, getting it to feature parity and beyond with the original game.
One of the biggest updates to the game in the past few years was the addition of support for Wolfenstein 3D and mods of the game. If you own a copy of Wolfenstein 3D, Spear of Destiny or the Mission Packs, you can play them as campaigns within C-Dogs SDL!
if you have an installed Steam or GOG copy of Wolfenstein 3D or Spear of Destiny, C-Dogs SDL will automatically detect these installations and the campaigns will be added to the game.
If you're using a different installation of Wolfenstein 3D or Spear of Destiny (ie from a CD-ROM), simply create a folder in /missions with the files from your game (The extension will vary depending on which game you're installing, between .WL1 .WL6 and .SOD).
Mapsets and mods can be played, but some require a few extra steps; if you have your Steam or GOG copy, you can put just the modded files in their own folder within your game's \missions folder. C-Dogs SDL will combine them with your Wolfenstein 3D or Spear of Destiny installation to build the campaign.
If you are using a different installation of the games, you will need to have the mapset files and any remaining necessary game files inside the folder within \missions.
With just a minute of effort, it is easy to add compatibility with C-Dogs SDL for your Wolf3D project!
campaign.json
Wolf3D mods and mapsets can also be played, as long as they don't change the game engine. To make your game compatible with C-Dogs SDL, you can create a simple campaign.json file that will look similar to the following:
{
"Version": 16,
"Title": "Wolf3D - Astrostein",
"Author": "Bruce Ryder",
"Description": "A three level demo of a never released project that ported Laz Rojas' Astrostein from Mac Wolf3D to DOS back
on the 2nd of October, 1996.\n\nRate this campaign, and download more at Campaign Dogs! http://cdogs.morezombies.net",
"Ammo": true,
"SkipWeaponMenu": true,
"RandomPickups": false,
"DoorOpenTicks": 210,
"Missions": 3
}
This is the campaign.json file included in the download for Astrostein, a 3 level demo by Bruce Ryder.
The first set of variables, "Title", "Author" and "Description", are used for the display of information in the Campaign Select menu of C-Dogs SDL.
The last 5 elements are important, and except for the "Missions" variable, should stay the same as the above example for each Wolf3D campaign.
"Missions" is important, as without it C-Dogs SDL automatically assumes the amount of levels present based on the Wolf3D mod's file extensions. For example, WL1 files are automatically assumed to have 10 levels, and .SOD would have 21.
Using Astrostein as an example again, it is a 3 level project that uses the 60-level WL6 files. By assigning "Missions" a value of 3 in the campaign.json file, we tell C-Dogs SDL that the game actually ends at level 3. Without it, C-Dogs would try to play the other 57 maps as well.
Your own campaign.json file
{
"Version": 16,
"Title": "Game Title",
"Author": "Author Name",
"Description": "\n\nRate this campaign, and download more at Campaign Dogs! http://cdogs.morezombies.net",
"Ammo": true,
"SkipWeaponMenu": true,
"RandomPickups": false,
"DoorOpenTicks": 210,
"Missions": 60
}
Create a new file in notepad with the above text, changing the "Title", "Author", "Description" and "Missions" values to match your game. Save it as "campaign.json", and include it alongside your game files on release.
This simple inclusion has minimum impact on the game files, but gives the player everything they need for C-Dogs SDL compatibility, giving them an additional way to experience your game!
Mapsets that are C-Dogs SDL ready can also be uploaded to Campaign Dogs, a child of Wolf3D.net dedicated to C-Dogs SDL campaigns!
