Installing Doom on Your Raspberry Pi
The Raspberry Pi isn't just a tool for learning programming and building projects—it can also be a portable gaming console. One of the most thrilling uses is running classic games like Doom, the legendary shooter that has defined a generation of gaming. In this guide, you'll learn how to install Doom on your Raspberry Pi, allowing you to relive the action and excitement of this classic game right from your compact computing device.
Prerequisites
Before you start, make sure you have:
- A Raspberry Pi (model 2 or newer is recommended for better performance).
- A microSD card with Raspberry Pi OS installed.
- A stable internet connection on your Raspberry Pi.
- External peripherals (monitor, keyboard, mouse, and optionally, a set of speakers or headphones for audio).
Step 1: Update Your Raspberry Pi
Ensuring your Raspberry Pi is up-to-date helps improve performance and compatibility:
sudo apt update sudo apt full-upgrade -y
Reboot your Raspberry Pi if it has been a while since its last update.
Step 2: Install Chocolate Doom
Chocolate Doom is a modern source port of the Doom engine that aims to accurately reproduce the experience of Doom as it was played in the 1990s. It's lightweight and works beautifully on the Raspberry Pi.
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Install Chocolate Doom:
Open your terminal and enter the following command:
sudo apt install chocolate-doom
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Confirm Installation:
Check that Chocolate Doom is installed correctly by running:
chocolate-doom -version
This command should return the version of Chocolate Doom installed.
Step 3: Add Doom Game Files
To play Doom, you'll need the original game files, specifically the WAD files. If you own a copy of Doom, you can transfer the WAD files from it. The most commonly needed WAD file is DOOM.WAD for the original Doom or DOOM2.WAD for Doom II.
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Copy WAD Files to Raspberry Pi:
Place the WAD files in a directory on your Raspberry Pi, such as
~/games/doom/. -
Configure Chocolate Doom:
Launch Chocolate Doom’s setup tool to configure game settings and point it to your WAD files:
chocolate-doom-setup
Follow the on-screen prompts to set up your display, controls, and audio preferences.
Step 4: Launch Doom
With everything set up, you're ready to play Doom. Run the following command, ensuring you replace <path-to-wad> with the actual path to your WAD file:
chocolate-doom -iwad ~/games/doom/DOOM.WAD
This command starts Doom using the WAD file you specify.
Conclusion
Installing and playing Doom on your Raspberry Pi is not only a nod to the nostalgia of 90s video gaming but also an excellent example of the versatility of the Raspberry Pi. Whether you're blasting through demons in single-player mode or exploring the depths of custom WADs, your Raspberry Pi provides a perfect gateway to hours of entertainment. Enjoy your journey back to the heart of classic gaming, and don't forget to save your game!