Chocolate Doom vs. DOSBox?

[Rithm Fluffderg]

I'm asking about this because I'm having a hard time finding an exact list of differences and features for Chocolate Doom, especially compared to running the game in DOSBox.

I know that DOSBox is a DOS emulator and Chocolate Doom is a port that seeks to recreate the original gameplay as is for DOOM, Heretic, Hexen, etc. That's *all* I know. I know that Chocolate Doom is supposedly more accurate than DOSBox. But nobody seems to actually mention how or why.

So basically, what I want to know is, what are the exact features of Chocolate Doom, which doesn't even seem to be listed on the program's wiki as near as I can find, and what are its advantages over DOSBox?

(And I'm asking here because this is one of the games I'm focused on playing, since I actually tend to prefer Heretic over DOOM)

[V I D A L]

Neither. Use GZDoom

[Hyper Sonic]

GZDoom is the best source port to play Doom engine games, been playing 4k@60fps and having a blast. Full +90/-90 pitch view as well.

[Rithm Fluffderg]

Not what I asked.

[Hyper Sonic]

Source ports are free, why not just try them and see what you think?

[Rithm Fluffderg]

Originally posted by 3DMightyMouse:

Source ports are free, why not just try them and see what you think?

Because I want a straight answer as to what Chocolate Doom actually does, in the form of documentation, other than vague ideals, before I download it.

I can find documentation for other source ports. I want documentation for Chocolate Doom.

[Hyper Sonic]

I think it does Doom, and Heretic, for free, why not just try it out, it might be tasty! I just bought Strife Veterans Edition for under $3, maybe it's still on sale. It's based on choco strife which is based on choco doom, a fun around about way to try out the choco source port.

[Rithm Fluffderg]

Originally posted by 3DMightyMouse:

I think it does Doom, and Heretic, for free, why not just try it out, it might be tasty! I just bought Strife Veterans Edition for under $3, maybe it's still on sale. It's based on choco strife which is based on choco doom, a fun around about way to try out the choco source port.

It 'might' be tasty?

I would rather know if it was tasty or not BEFORE I download it. I shouldn't have to explain why.

And that is why I want some documentation, or even a simple features list, so I can look over its features and decide if I want it or not.

This is getting more than a little frustrating. Why is it so hard to answer a simple question?

[Hyper Sonic]

Not sure which wikis you've read so far, but here's 2 I've found
http://doom.wikia.com/wiki/Chocolate_Doom
https://doomwiki.org/wiki/Chocolate_Doom#Extra_features
Wikis / docs aren't going to tell you everything, nothing like actually trying it. For example, Doomsday engine looks great on paper and in videos, but when I tried the latest I couldn't stand the input lag.

[Rithm Fluffderg]

Originally posted by 3DMightyMouse:

Not sure which wikis you've read so far, but here's 2 I've found
http://doom.wikia.com/wiki/Chocolate_Doom
https://doomwiki.org/wiki/Chocolate_Doom#Extra_features
Wikis / docs aren't going to tell you everything, nothing like actually trying it. For example, Doomsday engine looks great on paper and in videos, but when I tried the latest I couldn't stand the input lag.

Would you believe I was trying to look for Chocolate Doom documentation on Chocolate Doom's own wiki?

You'd think that place, of all places, would have been more in-depth.

And anyways, this told me what I wanted to know and now I'm happy. Thank you for that.

(Also I've tried Doomsday and never noticed any input lag)

[Hyper Sonic]

Glad you've found it useful! Ya independent sites many times will have more informaiton than the product's own website. Doomsday didn't used to have input lag, it was sometime after v 1.8.6 that it was introduced (at least for me and a few others.) Since them I've been using GZDoom which has everything I could ask for.

[Rithm Fluffderg]

Originally posted by 3DMightyMouse:

Glad you've found it useful! Ya independent sites many times will have more informaiton than the product's own website. Doomsday didn't used to have input lag, it was sometime after v 1.8.6 that it was introduced (at least for me and a few others.) Since them I've been using GZDoom which has everything I could ask for.

Glad you found a port you like, then :)

As for me, I'm enjoying Chocolate Heretic. Runs better than DOSBox, definitely, though the default controls are, as they always have been, complete ass. Thankfully it's a little easier to change them with Chocolate Doom's engine than it is with DOSBox.

My only issue is that the VirtualMidiSynth's volume settings trump Heretic's in-game volume slider if I'm using the Midi setting. But that's not a big loss because I can just use the Soundblaster emulation that Chocolate Heretic does.

Despite this, it's nice to just enjoy a game in its classic state again, without having to squint at a tiny screen.

[Johns723]

From what I know about Chocolate and Vanilla Doom...

DOSBox would be considered Vanilla Doom because it doesn't change anything in the game (doesn't change menu / hud appearance / doesn't add secret notifications in the middle of the screen / etc.). It doesn't make any graphics transparent or add new textures, etc.

Chocolate Doom would be running the game under software/programs like GZDoom where the menus, huds, items, have been modified in some way (even if it only means changing the hud to fit a higher resolution setting than was originally intended).

[Hyper Sonic]

Even the creators of Doom now play Doom on sourceports. Only reason the original was 320x200 was because that's all the hardware at the time could handle. The original Heretic had the y-shearing hack for pitching, sourceports fix that.

Some sourceports also has textured automaps. Once I discovered that there's no going back to the vector graphics automaps.

[Rithm Fluffderg]

Originally posted by Johns723:

From what I know about Chocolate and Vanilla Doom...

DOSBox would be considered Vanilla Doom because it doesn't change anything in the game (doesn't change menu / hud appearance / doesn't add secret notifications in the middle of the screen / etc.). It doesn't make any graphics transparent or add new textures, etc.

Chocolate Doom would be running the game under software/programs like GZDoom where the menus, huds, items, have been modified in some way (even if it only means changing the hud to fit a higher resolution setting than was originally intended).

Uh...

Actually...

https://www.chocolate-doom.org/wiki/index.php/Chocolate_Doom

Originally posted by 3DMightyMouse:

Even the creators of Doom now play Doom on sourceports. Only reason the original was 320x200 was because that's all the hardware at the time could handle. The original Heretic had the y-shearing hack for pitching, sourceports fix that.

Some sourceports also has textured automaps. Once I discovered that there's no going back to the vector graphics automaps.

I mean, sure, objectively the other sourceports are better.

But sometimes you just want the old stuff back, flaws and all.

That's why Chocolate Doom exists.

[Jimmy Rustler]

I understand wanting to play it in a higher resolution, although I prefer Chocolate Heretic as well. When the Crispy fork gets finished, that's what I'll use for the higher framerate.

But don't kid yourself; widescreen is questionable from a gameplay perspective, and mouselook is just outright cheating. If you're okay with that, may God have mercy on your soul.