This article has a talk page!This page details pre-release information and/or media for Doom 64 (Nintendo 64).
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Development Timeline#
1994
- Late 1994 - Doom 64 starts development at Midway San Diego, with id Software supervising the project.
1995
- May 11th-13th - Midway announces ports of Doom for the PlayStation, SNES and the then upcoming Ultra 64 (which become the Nintendo 64 when it finally released).
1996
- December 10th - The evaluation prototype is compiled
1997
- April 4th - Doom 64 is released in North America.
- August 1th - The game is released in Japan
- December 2th - The game is released in Europe.
Early Development#
Doom 64 went by the tentative title of The Absolution, before being changed. The name was later reused for the final level.
Of note, the name was also reused for the cancelled Doom Absolution, a multiplayer spin-off in the same vein as Turok: Rage Wars that went unreleased supposedly due to the aging nature of the id Tech 1/Doom engine, most of the Doom 64 being assigned to work on the Nintendo 64 port of Quake and "internal politics" at Midway.
Screenshots#
Nintendo Power Issue #85, June 1996#
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Screenshots of the game were featured in Issue #85 of Nintendo Power magazine in June 1996.
A screenshot showing a Mesoamerican step pyramid absent from the final.
GamePro Issue #86 September 1996#
A screenshot showcasing an earlier sprite for the Unmaker that resembles a flame thrower, though Tim Heydelaar believed it was for the Rocket Launcher. Its early pickup sprite was found in the evaluation prototype.
(Source: GamePro Issue 86, September 1996)
Early Footage#
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Pre-Alpha Demo Reel Footage#
A video featuring early gameplay with some of the Mesoamerican architecture seen in the early screenshot above along with Egyptian architecture as well. A video featuring early gameplay of two levels:
Unknown(?) Level
- Features some of the Mesoamerican architecture seen in the early screenshot above along with Egyptian architecture as well.
Early Map01
- Gameplay starts at 4:27
- The cages with zombiemen at the start if the level do not exist yet.
- No decorations or items can be found in the level.
- This means the blue key door does not need it to be opened.
- The switch in the chainsaw room has a staircase that leads directly to it, rather than having to jump from the adjacent platform.
- None of the level's normal enemies are present in this build.
- Oddly enough, there is a mancubus in the open room that houses pinkies.
- There are less iron bars in the level.
N64 Magazine (April 1997)#
Pre-Production Models#
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In 2016, model designer Gregor Punchatz would post early designs of some monsters on social media, mostly on his Facebook.
It should be noted that unlike the games on PC, these models weren't scanned to make the sprites. Rather, after being moulded from concept art they were then used as a reference for the Midway team to make digital 3D models before finally converting them into sprites ala Donkey Kong Country.
Doom Guy#
Models of the Doom Marine that show him without a shirt or a helmet. The yellow one on the right has no head or arms. A more complete shot can be seen in this video on Gregor's YouTube channel.
Early Cyberdemon#
Gregor appeared to have a VERY strange, earlier and complete Cyberdemon model that bears a resemblance to the demons from the cover of the original Doom (to which it's notable that the cover was made by his late father) and has two rocket launchers and metal hooves instead of a singular rocket launcher and metal hoof. It's abdominal area also has a weird cybernetic part sticking out instead of wires connecting it's torso to it's legs. It's also worth mentioning this design was going to be used for one of the covers of the game funnily enough, but the entire cover also got unused. With this info, there is a possibility of a prototype build having this design for the Cyberdemon.
(Source: Facebook post by Gregor Punchatz)
Cerberus#
A model of a cut enemy known as the "Cerberus" (And was also reffered to as "Hellhound" or "Hell Dog") who never made it past the sculpted model. It has the appearance of a hairless two-headed dog, that makes it resemble the mythical greek beast Orthrus. It not known if this enemy had any work done on it, or why it was scrapped.
While a similarly named monster is seen in Doom RPG, it looks nothing like this design and is just a recolor of the dogs from Wolfenstein 3D.
(Source: @GPunchatz)
Pinky#
The original model of the Pinky demon with Gregor Punchatz, obliviously proud with his work.
A close-up and side view of the model from before.
A photo with a much earlier version of the same model that is lacking details. Concept art of the Pinky used as a reference can be seen in the back while Dave Bim is seen working on another model of an unrelated game Gregor was working on around the same time.
Succubus#
A photo for a sculped ennemy who never made it past the concept stage called the Succubus, according to Gregor Punchatz she was originally supposed to have hair.
Miscellaneous#
Heads of the Cyberdemon and Doom Guy. Doom Guy lacks a visor on his helmet and the Cyberdemon appears to be based on the early design seen above.