The last couple of years have been mostly about revitalizing the internal parts of Doomsday. While this work is still ongoing, we have now reached a point where we are able to make changes also in the user-facing parts. The highlight of this release is the introduction of a completely new, OpenGL 2 based UI framework that is used for replacing the old in-game console and for providing an easier way to select a game to play in ring_zero.

The road to version 2.0 is still long, but this release is an important milestone: new graphics code is now being applied in the user interface, and libdeng2 based resources are starting to be utilized more. While the biggest task ahead is naturally the next-gen_renderer, we have now gathered most of the components that allow us to begin work on it.

In preparation for future work on the next-gen renderer this release also features a revised internal map representation, modelled with a half-edge_map_data_structure and geometry meshes. This new model combined with several significant bug fixes to the internal BSP builder has already greatly improved compatibility with id Tech 1 format mapping constructs. In the future this model will be instrumental in improving map hack support and facilitate the efficient generation of map geometry for new rendering algorithms.

As we approach 2.0, more and more of the old engine components will be replaced or enhanced. This brings along with it a cleaner, more elegant architecture as the brambles of the old ad-hoc code are being cleared away. Consequently the code base becomes easier and easier to work with, and we are able to tackle harder, more complex, high-level features.

• The first revised UI components are in place (ring zero, task_bar, console).
• Internal map data and id Tech 1 map hack improvements.
• Scripted Info: declarative (“object notation”) for doomsday_script, basis for definitions in the future. Used for defining the default UI style in this release.
• Fixed several bugs: gameplay and resources.
• Support for Windows XP has been discontinued: we are no longer spending any time developing/testing on Windows XP.
• Support for Mac OS X 10.4 has been discontinued. This also means PowerPC CPUs and Qt 4.6 are no longer supported — the minimum requirement is now OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard).

Completed:

• task_bar: replaces old in-game engine UI (control_panel remains)
• new_rendering_subsystem: an alternative to the old one (used for the next-gen UI widgets)
• qt_based_text_rendering: used in the new UI
• half-edge_map_data_structure
• fix_open_al_plugin

Progressed:

• scripted_ui: introduced new UI framework, added set of basic widgets
• ringzero_gui: started with game selection menu
• interactive_shell: next-gen console widget, connected to the task_bar

If you are upgrading an existing installation of Doomsday, note the following:

• OpenGL 2.0 is now the minimum required version (used to be 1.4).
• Shift-Esc no longer opens the control_panel. Instead, it shows the task_bar, and you can open the Control Panel via the de_menu in the bottom right corner. You can also bind any key or other event to panel to open the Control Panel your own way.
• The special console activation key has been removed. There is now a regular binding for opening/closing the console and task bar (the default key for this is Tilde). Remember that if you have problems opening the console, at least Shift-Esc will always provide access to it. As always, defaultbindings can be used to restore the default bindings.
• Some of the keys to control the console command line have changed.
• Several old console variables have been removed. The first time you load a game, errors about these will be printed in your console log.

• Closed bugs for the 1.11 milestone
• Known issues: list of open bugs in the Bug Tracker

• detailed_list_of_changes_in_doomsday_version_1.11