Wolfenstein Versions – The Wolf Front

This is a list of all known versions of Wolfenstein 3D for MS-DOS. It merges the changelog compiled by Svenhoefer with additional information from The Cutting Room Floor (TCRF). It includes prototype, shareware, registered, retail, and obscure variations of the game.

Development & Prototype Builds

Version 1.0 (1992-03-12) — Alpha

EGA and VGA versions available
No episode selection; help screen red with green text
Secret doors vanish instead of sliding
No “End Game” menu option
Debug cheats use F10 directly; no activation needed
Memory readouts and view settings differ
Main menu cursor starts on "New Game"

Level design:

All of E1L1–E1L10 differ significantly
Several layouts have more rooms or unfinished areas

Graphics:

Over 50 sprites and wall textures differ
HUD, BJ face, gun sprites, props, objects are early iterations
Crown and jewel graphics are placeholders
No shading on chaingun/machine gun pickups

Audio:

One background track used in all levels
All enemy alerts use Brown Guard voice
Different enemy gunfire sound

Bugs/Missing:

Easiest difficulty not present
Extra lives can’t be collected
No exit/victory screen
Hans Grosse functions not implemented
No parental advisory screen

Version 1.0 (1992-03-14) — Beta

Early BETA for testers via Software Creations BBS
Planned EGA and VGA builds of all 3 episodes.
Demo loop
High scores
Ordering info, help text
End-of-game sequences
Included README and feedback forms

Version 1.0 (1992-04-13) — Final Episode 1 Beta

Improvements:

Stereo sound for SB Pro
Par times, kill/secret/treasure ratios
Baby Mode added
Mouse sensitivity setting
F7/F8 QuickSave/QuickLoad
Sliding pushwalls implemented
Dog "yipe" SFX added

Issues:

Demo works only on first boot
Boss is too easy
Ending still not implemented
Dev tips from Romero included in README
Version 1.0 (1992-04-Late) — Apogee Review Beta
Cursor defaults to “Read This!”
“VGA version” label replaced by “in COLOR”
Time-locked build (stops working after May 1st)
HELPART.WL1, ORDERART.WL1, WOLFART.WL1 mostly complete

Shareware, Registered & Retail Releases

Version 1.0 (1992-05-05)

First official public release
Apogee logo added to initializing screen

Version 1.1 (1992-06-01)

Released for Shareware, includes Trilogy (Episodes 1–3)
Removed debug shortcuts (TAB+O, TAB+N)
Debug keys: LAlt + LShift + Backspace via -goobers
DeathCam feature introduced
Score threshold for extra lives raised to 40,000
Title and HUD tweaks
New shareware content: Bones, vines, racks, utensils, stove, dirty walls

Fixes:

Save/load time bug
Secret door in E1L7
Inaccessible tile fix in E1L1

Version 1.1 (1992-06-14)

Shareware and registered builds
“Snappity” sign changed to “Aardwolf”
Covered hands added to machine gun sprite
Secret floor code handling for E1L1 improved
Level floor consistency patches (E1L2, L3, L4, L6, L8)
Bug introduced: secret elevator in E1L1 broken again

Version 1.2 (1992-06-25/28)

Fixed E1L1 elevator using correct floorcode
Maze fix in E2L8
Object tweaks in E5L6 and E6L7
Still labeled as V1.1 in UI/readme

Version 1.4 (1992-11-01)

Joystick calibration added
Re-recorded demos
Added Spear of Destiny info
Level tweaks across most episodes:
Enemy placement, wall textures, audio triggers
BJ portrait behavior adjusted
Minor sprite enhancements: elevator switches, tables, plants, chandeliers

Version 1.4 (1992-12-15/22)

Apogee mailing address updated
Shareware EXE renamed to WOLF3D.EXE
File modification dates removed

Retail & OEM Variants

Version 1.4 (1993-08-03) — No-Cheats Version

-goobers debug parameter stripped
Result of Apogee anti-cheat policy

Version 1.4 (1993-09-03) — Mindscape/Id Software

F1 redefined as boss key
Help and ordering screens removed
Apogee logo replaced with id Software logo
Ordering prompts stripped from end text

Version 1.4 (1993-09-13) — GT Interactive

GT logo replaces id Software on boot
Credits screen rearranged
Font graphic for "2" changed

Version 1.4 (1994-04-13) — GT Interactive

Hidden code after high scores removed
“Aardwolf” sign replaced by pile of bones
BJ face no longer animates between levels (bug)
Crash screen no longer tells users to call Apogee

Version 1.4g (1994-10-01) — Apogee Re-release

Re-enables -goobers cheat
Bundled with AARDWOLF.TXT and SETBLAST.EXE

Version 1.4 (1998-03-13) — Activision CD Release

GT logo replaced by Activision’s
No installer; distributed via CD
Exit screen removed
Includes Windows WOLF.ICO icon

File Naming Notes

Alpha: WOLF1V.EXE

v1.4 Shareware: W3D-E1.EXE, later WOLF3D.EXE

Files Modified in Early Alpha (by third parties)

README.WL1

WOLFART.WL1

ORDERART.WL1

HELPART.WL1

Known Debug Key Combos by Version

v1.0 Alpha: F10+key (no activation needed)
v1.1: Ctrl+Tab+Enter (original), later changed to LAlt+LShift+Backspace with -goobers
v1.4 (no-cheats): -goobers removed
v1.4g: -goobers restored

Dev Notes: Excerpt from 1992 Beta Letters

"Try to break this game down — we dare ya! Please run through all 3 difficulty modes [...] If you’re a big Keen fan, this may NOT be the game for you. But if you’re into Wing Commander — you’ll love this."
– John Romero

"There’s now a PAR TIME at the end of levels. If you beat it, you get MEGAPOINTS!" – v1.0 April Beta

Texture Differences in Early Builds

Crown shadow, vase, skeleton, armor, lamp, barrel: all had early versions
Hans Grosse was unfinished in alpha
Machine gun and chaingun pickups had no shadows
Wall textures: dozens of bricks, wood, steel, and art textures were placeholders

Audio Differences

Startup music: different tune
Gunfire: different firing sound
Alert sounds: reused voice lines
Dogs: added later in beta with special SFX

Audio Differences by Version

Prototype (Alpha/Beta):

Single music track used across all levels
Different startup/intro music
Firing sound differs from final
All enemies use the Brown Guard’s alert sound

April Beta:

Introduced stereo support for SB Pro
Dog "yipe" sound added
Sprite, Texture & HUD Differences

Enemies & Characters:

Hans Grosse: Unfinished in Alpha
Guards: Misplaced transparent pixels
SS: Lacked final shading

Weapons & Pickups:

Chaingun & Machine Gun: No shadow in Alpha
Extra Life icon: Early design used
Ammo clip: Visual differences

Environmental Props:

Crown: Shadow rendering changed
Treasure Chest: Replaced by scattered jewel sprite in Alpha
Skeleton, Plant, Lamp, Vase, Armor, Puddle, Barrel: All visually distinct in early versions

Wall Textures:

Dozens of variations across early and retail versions:
Hitler portraits, wood panels, blue cells, red/gray bricks
Eagle archways, steel walls, signs
Shading and alignment tweaks

HUD & UI:

BJ face had different expressions/shading
“Get Psyched!” text was smaller
HUD weapons less shaded in Alpha
Option screen and pop-ups used different UI layout

Developer Notes — Beta Excerpts

March 1992 Letter (John Romero):

"Try really weird things, try to break this game down — we dare ya! [...] If you're the kind that could get into Wing Commander, you'll love this game."

April 1992 Notes:

"PAR times are based on my own playthroughs. [...] Use the mouse and keyboard together — that’s the secret to mastering this game."

Final Beta (May 1992):

"If you would like an autographed copy of the Wolf3D Hint Book, send Jay a message requesting one."

Complete Version History of Spear of Destiny (DOS)

This document lists all known versions of Spear of Destiny, the prequel to Wolfenstein 3D, along with changes, fixes, and regional variations. It combines information from Wolf3D.de and TCRF to provide a definitive overview.

Official Release Versions

Version 1.0 (1992-09-18)

Initial commercial release by FormGen
No cheat protection
Debug keys work without requiring command-line flags
Game includes only Episode 1: "Spear of Destiny"

Version 1.1 (1992-10-26)

Bug fixes and optimizations
Minor level layout adjustments
Some sound/music tweaks
Still no cheat protection

Version 1.2 (1993-01-12)

Introduced cheat protection
- Debug keys (Tab + cheats) require -goobers command-line flag
Included in most later retail releases

Version 1.4 (1993-12-14)

Adds a splash screen warning about using cheats
Released with updated Mission Packs (Return to Danger / Ultimate Challenge)
Includes updated ordering information and FormGen contact details

Expansion: Mission Packs (SoD Mission Disks)

These were sold as retail add-ons and bundled in later compilations. Each pack added a new 21-level campaign using the same engine and assets.

Mission Pack 1 – Return to Danger

New storyline: B.J. battles a mad German scientist creating a doomsday device
New level maps, but mostly reused art/sound assets
Originally released in 1994 by FormGen

Mission Pack 2 – Ultimate Challenge

Another standalone campaign with new map layout
Similar asset reuse; only the maps and storyline differ
Bundled with Return to Danger in compilations

Alternate Builds & Retail Packages

GT Interactive Compilation (1994–1995)

Released Spear of Destiny bundled with Wolfenstein 3D and both mission packs
Uses Version 1.4 of the engine
Includes the cheat warning splash screen
Debug keys still require -goobers

Activision (1998 CD Release)

Includes Spear of Destiny and Wolf3D on one disc
Based on Version 1.4 engine
Menu shortcuts provided via Windows installer
No major changes to the engine, but files are timestamped differently

Steam / GOG (Modern Re-releases)

Typically use Version 1.4 with DOSBox
Files preconfigured for modern systems
Cheat warning splash screen retained
Some versions disable audio/music by default until configured

TCRF Differences & Unused Content

TCRF documents internal leftovers and unused features across all SoD versions:

Unused Assets

Unused wall textures not seen in any map
Extra sound effect slots remain blank
Unused graphics tiles for alternate doors and props

Hidden Developer Messages

Hidden sign texture: "Call Apogee and say AARDWOLF"
Easter egg string in mission pack code

Debug Mode Differences

Version 1.0–1.1: Cheats like TAB + W, TAB + B, etc. work freely
Version 1.2+: Requires -goobers to activate debug mode
Version 1.4+: Adds warning screen on cheat activation