Update 2:40 PM: Zircon Now Has "Record demo at any time"
This is how to record a demo in DarkPlaces or Zircon.
Type disconnect, type record mydemo1 and then start the map.
If you are at the console disconnected with no map running, there is no need for the disconnect.
"Record During Single Player Game"
Similar. Save the game, disconnect, record mydemo and load the game
Original WinQuake/GLQuake Did Not Have Record Demo At Any Time
The original WinQuake/GLQuake did not have record a demo at any time.
The record demo at any time in Quake came from ProQuake. ProQuake simulated the startup server messages that a client would have received during level load.
ProQuake demo record at any time spread to JoeQuake and later on to engines like Quakespasm.
While Quake level startup is a list of models and sounds, DarkPlaces startup has dozens of subsystems including a particle system, Client Side QuakeC and a large laundry list of other subsystems.
It may not be possible to simulate DarkPlaces level startup -- it probably is not possible, therefore would require storing that data --- which is the same overhead as always recording a demo -- but always forcing the user to take the performance hit of recording a demo without the user asking for it.
Notes:
- Plan to potentially research this further and update article if any options related to the topic already exist.
