Editing Source port (section)

==Description==
Source ports are often [[Fan labor|created by fans]] after the original developer hands over the maintenance support for a game by releasing its [[source code]] to the public (see [[List of commercial video games with later released source code]]). In some cases, the source code used to create a source port must be obtained through [[reverse engineering]], in situations where the original source was never formally released by the game's developers. The term was coined after the release of the source code to [[Doom (1993 video game)|Doom]]. Due to copyright issues concerning the sound library used by the original DOS version, id Software released only the source code to the Linux version of the game.<ref>{{cite web |first=John |last=Carmack |author-link=John D. Carmack |url=ftp://ftp.idsoftware.com/idstuff/source/doomsrc.txt |title=doomsrc.txt |access-date=2008-10-23 |work=Doom source code release notes |publisher=[[id Software]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151202081913/ftp://ftp.idsoftware.com/idstuff/source/doomsrc.txt |archive-date=2015-12-02 |url-status=dead |date=1997-12-23 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Wilson |first=Hamish | date=2022-03-14 | title=Building a Retro Linux Gaming Computer - Part 16: We Are All Doomed | url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2022/03/building-a-retro-linux-gaming-computer-part-16-we-are-all-doomed/ | website=GamingOnLinux | access-date=2023-02-02}}</ref> Since the majority of Doom players were DOS users the first step for a fan project was to ''[[Porting|port]]'' the Linux ''source'' code to DOS.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://doomwiki.org/wiki/Source_port |title=Source Ports |access-date=2008-10-23 |publisher=Doom Wiki}}</ref> A source port typically only includes the engine portion of the game and requires that the data files of the game in question already be present on users' systems.

Source ports share the similarity with [[unofficial patch]]es that both don't change the original gameplay as such projects are by definition [[mod (computer gaming)|mods]]. However many source ports add support for gameplay mods, which is usually optional (e.g. [[DarkPlaces engine|DarkPlaces]] consists of a source port engine and a gameplay mod that are even distributed separately<ref>{{cite web |url=http://icculus.org/twilight/darkplaces/download.html |title=LordHavoc's DarkPlaces Quake Modification: Downloads |access-date=2008-10-23 }}</ref>). While the primary goal of any source port is compatibility with newer hardware, many projects support other enhancements. Common examples of additions include support for higher video resolutions and different [[Aspect ratio (image)|aspect ratio]]s, hardware accelerated renderers ([[OpenGL]] and/or [[Direct3D]]), enhanced input support (including the ability to map controls onto additional input devices), 3D character models (in case of [[2.5D]] games), higher resolution textures, support to replace [[MIDI]] with [[digital audio]] ([[MP3]], [[Ogg Vorbis]], etc.), and enhanced [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]] support using the [[Internet]].

Several source ports have been created for various games specifically to address online multiplayer support. Most older games were not created to take advantage of the Internet and the low latency, high bandwidth Internet connections available to computer gamers today. Furthermore, old games may use outdated network protocols to create multiplayer connections, such as [[IPX]] protocol, instead of [[Internet Protocol]]. Another problem was games that required a specific [[IP address]] for connecting with another player. This requirement made it difficult to quickly find a group of strangers to play with — the way that online games are most commonly played today. To address this shortcoming, specific source ports such as [[Skulltag]] added "lobbies", which are basically integrated [[chat room]]s in which players can meet and post the location of games they are hosting or may wish to join. Similar facilities  may be found in newer games and online game services such as Valve's [[Steam (service)|Steam]], Blizzard's [[battle.net]], and [[GameSpy Arcade]].