freedoom.github.io/about.txt

= What is Freedoom?
// See COPYING.adoc for license terms of this file.

== A free FPS action game

image::img/screenshots/tn_p2_1.jpg[alt="Freedoom Screenshot",link="screenshots.html",float="right"]

In 1999 https://www.idsoftware.com/[id Software] released the source code to their
classic game https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doom_(1993_video_game)[_Doom_]
(under the https://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.html[GNU General
Public License]). The game as a whole did not get this treatment, however, which
means that while the _program code_ that powers _Doom_ is free, the actual
_content_ of _Doom_ - graphics, audio, levels, setting and characters - remains
proprietary. The Freedoom project aims to fill this gap and create a complete
https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html[free and libre] first person shooter game.

By itself, _Freedoom_ is just the content of a game and must be paired with a
https://doomwiki.org/wiki/Category:Source_ports[_Doom_-compatible] game engine
to be played: the link:download.html[download] page lists some
recommended programs.

_Freedoom_ is actually three entire games, with two single-player
campaigns and one collection of multiplayer deathmatch arenas (_FreeDM_).

++++
<div style="clear:both; height: 15px;"></div>
++++

== A compatible free replacement

youtube::Rc4zIP1S6-I[width=320,height=180,style="float:right;"]

There is a massive decades-long
https://doomwiki.org/wiki/Idgames_archive[back catalog] containing
thousands of _Doom_ levels and other mods made by fans of the
original game.  _Freedoom_ aims to be compatible with these and allows
most to be played without the need to use non-free software.  The
video to the right shows a _Doom_ mod running under _Freedoom_.

Just as https://www.gnu.org/[the GNU project] was started to develop a
free operating system to replace Unix, we aim to provide a free
replacement for _Doom_.  If you have artistic skills (visual, musical,
or maybe you just like making levels!) then you can
link:help.html[help us] achieve that aim by contributing to the
project!

++++
<div style="clear:both; height: 15px;"></div>
++++

== A collection of reusable artwork

image::img/flats-thumb.png[alt="Screenshot showing textures",float="right"]

_Freedoom_ contains hundreds of original textures, sound effects and
music tracks that can be reused royalty-free by _Doom_ level authors
and other independent game developers.

_Freedoom_ is liberally licensed under the
https://github.com/freedoom/freedoom/blob/master/COPYING.adoc[BSD license]
- all you need is to include that same copyright statement and credit
the _Freedoom_ project.

For some examples of projects that have used _Freedoom_'s assets, take a
look at the link:using.html[projects] page.


++++
<div style="clear:both;"></div>
++++