ZDaemon

ZDaemon is a modified Doom source port based on ZDoom for both Windows and *NIX (server only at this time), purposely-built for playing multiplayer games of Doom over the internet. It used to be open source, but the source has been closed due to cheating incidents and security issues. The current version is 1.08.01 (December 31, 2005). However, there is already a new server, 1.08.02 (April 6, 2006), which fixes a critical security vulnerability.



ZDaemon
ZDaemon itself is based on ZDoom 1.23, which was one of the last major versions of ZDoom before moving to its current 2.xx codebase. It features some of the features available from ZDoom such as the majority of line types, sloped lines, and deep water, but it lacks some of the more advanced functions of later versions of ZDoom, such as an uncapped framerate, advanced ACS scripting support, DECORATE, flat and texture mixing, and other similar features.

However, ZDaemon itself features vastly improved netcode over ZDoom, stats/experience collection, teamplay support and Capture the Flag support. In version 1.07.01, unlagging support was added.

As with most networked games, ZDaemon is plagued by a heavy flood of immature behavior. This is accepted to be an issue with all online gaming, but the concentration, possibly matched by its age, seems to be much greater than some of the younger releases of multiplayer games. 'Dirty tactics' are contested by some as something that should be impossible, with an exception of certain tactics being implemented with the use the 'BFG9000', the game's superweapon, although this isn't recognized as cheating in the formal sense, but generates some disdain to those that employ a heavy use of it amongst some players. Still, debate remains regarding players possibly using programs known as Aimbots; programming/hacking methods, that if wielded by a user, results in perfect hits without the need for actually aiming. Unfortunately, this is something that regularly finds its way into the multi-play gaming arena quite often. Another well-known, but as yet, unaddressed long-used cheating tactic, particular to ZDaemon, is exploited from the use of the console (an interface between the game engine and the user for entering commands, messages or setting game variables, brought up by a pre-defined key press) which, when flooded with messages results in the end-game multiplay bodycount to remain balanced amongst certain players.

ZLauncher
ZLauncher is a specialized launcher made specifically for ZDaemon. It provides an official list of currently available servers for people to play on. However, it also features a buddy list, GETWAD (automatic wad downloading), a quick link to ZSL (the server launcher) from the menu, a WAD file setup utility, demo recording, playback utilities, a built in chat lobby (based on IRC), and embedded forum access. It is maintained by team member Kilgore.

ZSL
ZSL, or ZDaemon Server Launcher is a program for invoking the ZDaemon server program with a specific configuration instead of having to edit the server configuration files by hand and start zserv manually. It is maintained by team member Doom2pro.

Other Utilities
GETWAD This is a modular utility created by team member Kilgore that looks on many major file repositories for map files, which it then downloads and extracts to a users specified map directory automatically.

ZRC This is a modular IRC client created by team member Kilgore that is simply that - an IRC client. However, when used in tandem with ZLauncher, it automatically joins a specialized IRC server. Since everyone who uses ZLauncher is logged in to this chat server, you can chat with everyone who is logged in to ZDaemon and has ZLauncher open.

Source code controversy
In ZDaemon 1.07, the development team stopped releasing the source code to ZDaemon due to numerous attacks and cheating incidents. While many people argue that the source code was licensed as GPL at that time (which would mandate the release of source code), the development team claims that the source came from a mixed number of conflicting licenses, and thus was only subject to one of them. The Doom Public License, which allowed for the source to be closed was determined by the development team as the license that ZDaemon was subject under.

This action caused a number of people to leave the community until the ZDaemon source was released again. The move has been criticised as a form of security through obscurity, making development of some cheats more difficult but not addressing the causes. The move also makes development of alternate ZDaemon clients and servers impossible, and is uncommon in the Doom community where most source ports have their source code publicly available.

The developers have agreed that anyone wanting to develop a new feature or bugfix can do so using the older ZDaemon 1.06 codebase and submit it to the core development team for inclusion.

Bans
The ZDaemon master server will only advertise servers that enforce a ban list controlled by the ZDaemon staff. Servers that do not enforce this ban list are not shown to users. The effective result of this is that the ZDaemon staff have the ability to globally ban anyone they choose from all ZDaemon servers. This is supposedly to allow cheaters to be banned, but bans have allegedly been placed on innocent users as well.

GetWAD controversy
Doom source ports require a Doom IWAD file which contains the graphics, levels and other media that are used in the game. This means that although source ports can be freely downloaded, users must still buy a copy of Doom in order to play. The GetWAD system included in ZDaemon allows any WAD files to be automatically located and downloaded, including IWAD files. There are no restrictions placed on this. Although this practice is not officially condoned by the ZDaemon staff, they have been criticised for encouraging software piracy through failing to prevent automatic downloading of the Doom IWAD files.

Trojan
ZDaemon staff member Doom2pro released a trojan program purporting to be a ZDaemon cheat. When run, the program would inform the ZDaemon staff and delete several files from the user's computer. Although Doom2pro supposedly acted independently of the rest of the ZDaemon staff, ZDaemon has nonetheless been criticised for his methods.

The ZDaemon community
The ZDaemon community itself, while not part of the ZDaemon program in a strict sense, plays a huge role in experience of playing ZDaemon online. It features many methods of discussion, many ways to 'get involved', and the ZDaemon team themselves would host many things that normally would get relegated to other outside organizations or websites. The community include stuff such as:

The ZDaemon Forums ZDaemon Chat #zdaemon on irc.freenode.net (defunct) ZDaemon Tournaments ZDReview

Clan activity
ZDaemon features a highly active clan scene. However, there are several major clans of note within ZDaemon.

Dwango United (DUI) Created by former users of the DWANGO online gaming service of the mid 90's, it boasts a large number of active participants. http://www.dwangounited.org

Oldschoolers (OS) A clan made up of more oldschool players. They are almost immediatly recognizable by their ^OS tag.

UniDoom (UD) One of the oldest existing clans, they are famous for using "UD on top!" as their slogan. Their active and inactive roster encompasses more than 30 players, mappers and coders, however disputes between the clan and the ZDaemon developers and community have resulted in the exodus of a good portion of them from the community. http://www.unidoom.org

Bad Taste (BT) Founded by ATG (Sleepless) and 206, it's current roster mostly consists of staff members and a few mappers. They are hard to spot at times, since they sometimes play sans clan tag. http://bt.keystone.gr

Limp Gimps (LG) A tightly knitted English clan (with the exception of one Dutch member) founded by enVision (Rat Arsed), the roster only contains 5 members of which 3 are staff. Also good at mapping. http://limpgimps.getsomewhere.net

A more extensive list of clans can be found at the ZDaemon Home Page.

The ZDaemon Team
Raider Project Leader and Launcher Admin

Doom2pro Development

Danni (the mad coder) ''Development

Kilgore Development and Support

Lyfe Development and Launcher Admin

List of games that ZDaemon is compatible with

 * DOOM Shareware version
 * DOOM
 * DOOM II
 * The Ultimate Doom
 * Heretic
 * Hexen

Game adaptations
The voices said for announcements of CTF mode have originated in Quake III Arena.