January 11th, 1997 Prototype

This is a sub-page of Proto:Blood.

This prototype is documented on Hidden Palace.

The January 11th, 1997 prototype of Blood was one of two early builds of the game that had bled out prior to the official release of the prototypes. Unlike the February 1996 prototype, his build was officially released onto magazines of the era and was even acknowledged by Monolith on the game's website back in the day.

Not only is this after development had been picked up by Monolith Productions, but this was also some weeks before they would announce the acquisition of the Blood IP from 3D Realms.

This build only has the first three maps of the first episode. While close to the final, some of the more interesting things about it are normally not used and can be found in the files.

To do: Lots of non-surface-level investigation needed.

General#

README.TXT#

The readme included with the build makes mention a few interesting things:

• The Napalm Launcher is called the "Incinerator". Likely an early name for it.
• The Doctor's Bag is spelt as "Dr.'s Bag".
• The Chrysalid Pod (just called the "Chrysalid") from the Plasma Pak is mentioned among the enemies, denoted as being expected to be in the full retail version. Seeing this build was only a month and a few weeks away from the shareware release in March, it must've been a very late cut from the game.

Bootup Menu#

300px|right The bootup menu for the build describes it as a shareware beta build. It is stated to be version 0.91.

Main Menu#

Prototype	Final

The option to play online is not present in the prototype, considering it is technically shareware. No demos are present in the build, resulting in a pitch-black screen. There is one episode in this build with the first three maps of the first episode. The Way of All Flesh is just called Episode1.

The INI contains commented-out definitions for the other episodes, also showing them with simple names. These only have the names and no maps.

Map Name#

The map name is shown in the top lefthand corner at the beginning of the level.

HUD#

This is the first available prototype to feature the final game's HUD, including the simple "simplified" HUD one can toggle in the final game as well.

End Level Switches#

Prototype	Final

The end level switches use generic switches rather than the unique Tchernobog's seal (which doesn't exist in this prototype).

Results Screen#

There is no results screen if you complete a level, you are just transported to the next map.

Cheats#

This version has cheats unique to this version. Press T, enter the cheat and press ↵ Return.

To do: messages printed with these.

Unused Credits#

Watch on YouTubeA version of the text-based credits seen in some of the 1996 prototypes and source codes is present here in this build. It is normally unused, but it is possible to re-enable this in-game. The game uses graphics for the credits like the final game.

This version has seen some names removed along with still having some people not credited in the final release like some folks from 3D Realms. Of note, it includes a message from Nick Newhard thanking his wife Helen for putting up with the game's developers having been in their house and for her help during the game's development.

This is still present in the 0.99 shareware versions but was removed in the final release.

Voxels#

This is the first available prototype to feature voxels. All of the final game's voxels (including the unused ones) are present here.

Graphics#

Removed Graphics#

Graphic	Tile Number	Notes
	19	Also present in 0.99 shareware.
	1024-1027	A sprite with a dancing stripper from Duke Nukem 3D. Also present in 0.99 shareware.
	2052	Overwritten with the GT Interactive screen in the final game.
	2464-2465

Red Dot Sprite#

Various tile numbers use a placeholder red dot sprite, simar to one that was in the April 1996 build.

Some of these would still have this dot design in the v0.99 shareware release.

• 7 - also in 99b
• 9 - also in 99b
• 14 - also in 99b
• 66 - also in 99b
• 73-76
• 133
• 143
• 151
• 161-162

While these got proper (but not necessary final) sprites.

• 183
• 191
• 201
• 205
• 208
• 284
• 318-319
• 328
• 335
• 353

Music#

Interestingly, the LoudMouth songs from previous prototypes are still present here.

Music doesn't play in this build by default, seemingly due to the game trying to look for CD tracks. The user can specify -nocd and the music will play in levels.

The music is still found in BLOOD.RFF, rather than SOUNDS.RFF like in the final (despite the later file now being present).

Sounds#

One of the more interesting parts of this build is the many sound differences present.

These can be found in SOUNDS.RFF unless otherwise noted.

To do: Upload the audio here and get sound IDs.

Voice Announcements#

Present in BLOOD.RFF is high-quality versions of The Voice's announcements from the game's multiplayer. This are in WAV format rather than the game's SFX/RAW formats.

Early Enemy Sounds#

There are quite a lot of early and removed sounds for the game's enemies.

Speargun Sounds#

Sounds for the cut Speargun weapon exist here. These only have .RAW files, and no SFX files.

Weapons#

Most of the non-shareware weapons don't do anything if picked up.

Spray Can#

The Spray Can is still able to be used; however it is missing several sprites.

Tesla Cannon#

The Tesla Cannon's pickup is now using its final design but there still seems to be some remanets of the Speargun.

Attempting to pick it up will crash the game.

Life Leech#

This prototype is the first one to feature the Life Leech. While it doesn't appear to be useable in the game, its pickup sprite and the weapon's eye lights when fired are present in the game's files. The pickup's voxel is also here.

Beast Claws#

The Beast Claws have seemingly had their coding removed at this point, only their graphics and QAV files are left.

Items#

Clone#

All of the Clone's sprites have been removed from the game at this point expect for one marked for deletion. Only its inventory icon would survive to the final release.

Doppelganger#

All of the Doppelganger's rotation sprites have been removed from the game at this point expect for one marked for deletion.

Speargun Spear#

Intended sprite has been deleted but can still be picked up; however, it is pretty much useless.

6 Speargun Spears#

The graphic for this pickup is still present here. It can be picked up but is pretty much useless.

Explosive spears#

The graphic for this pickup is still present here. It can be picked up but is pretty much useless.

Enemies#

Fanatic#

The Fanatic still has the ability to throw dynamite.

Innocent#

Although two Innocents appear in Phantom Express getting ran over by the train, they don't seem to have been actually implemented in this build. They have their sprites in the files.

Phantasms#

Phantasms are present in this build. Due to lacking their graphics, they will be invisible.

They have odd behavior in this build, where they throw dynamite as an attack. Of course, this often will damage them.

Tchernobog#

right Tchernobog's placeholder sprite from all the way back in the December 1995 prototype would make one last appearance here. It is unchanged from there.

Tchernobog's physical model did in fact exist around this point.

Text#

Changed#

I . . . lIVE . . . AGAIN!!!

I LIVE AGAIN!

Message9 for E1M1 in the INI was altered. The "L" in lives is improperly undercapitalized.

Sorry, loading and saving games
are not supported
in this demo version of Blood.

Loading and saving games
not supported
in this demo version of Blood.

This unused text was changed in the final release to be less apologetic.

Levels#

Some of Caleb's one-liners have captions defined in the INI, which are seen in the top lefthand corner of the screen.

E1M3: Phantom Express#

Completing this level loops the player right back to Cradle to Grave.