The screen goes 640x480 for a half-second, and then returns back to my desktop.
Here is the console output:

DOOM 1.1.1282 linux-x86 Oct 4 2004 08:21:14
Hostname: darkstar.example.net
Alias: darkstar
IP: 127.0.0.1
------ Initializing File System ------
Loaded pk4 /usr/local/games/doom3/base/game00.pk4 with checksum 0x7dafc4d4
Loaded pk4 /usr/local/games/doom3/base/game01.pk4 with checksum 0x16cf3b8a
Loaded pk4 /usr/local/games/doom3/base/pak000.pk4 with checksum 0xc3ecb87a
Loaded pk4 /usr/local/games/doom3/base/pak001.pk4 with checksum 0x500fdda6
Loaded pk4 /usr/local/games/doom3/base/pak002.pk4 with checksum 0x64243cc7
Loaded pk4 /usr/local/games/doom3/base/pak003.pk4 with checksum 0x79bee669
Loaded pk4 /usr/local/games/doom3/base/pak004.pk4 with checksum 0x765e4f8b
Loaded pk4 /usr/local/games/doom3/base/pak005.pk4 with checksum 0x8ffc3621
Current search path:
/root/.doom3/base
/usr/local/games/doom3/base
/usr/local/games/doom3/base/pak005.pk4 (63 files)
/usr/local/games/doom3/base/pak004.pk4 (5137 files)
/usr/local/games/doom3/base/pak003.pk4 (4676 files)
/usr/local/games/doom3/base/pak002.pk4 (6120 files)
/usr/local/games/doom3/base/pak001.pk4 (8923 files)
/usr/local/games/doom3/base/pak000.pk4 (2566 files)
/usr/local/games/doom3/base/game01.pk4 (2 files)
/usr/local/games/doom3/base/game00.pk4 (2 files)
game DLL: 0x0 in pak: 0x0
file system initialized.
--------------------------------------
----- Initializing Decls -----
------------------------------
------- Initializing renderSystem --------
using ARB renderSystem
renderSystem initialized.
--------------------------------------
5151 strings read from strings/english.lang
Couldn't open journal files
execing editor.cfg
execing default.cfg
couldn't exec DoomConfig.cfg
couldn't exec autoexec.cfg
5151 strings read from strings/english.lang
----- Initializing Sound System ------
sound system initialized.
--------------------------------------
----- R_InitOpenGL -----
dlopen(libGL.so.1)
Open X display
Initializing OpenGL display
Using XFree86-VidModeExtension Version 2.2
Xlib: extension "XFree86-DGA" missing on display ":0.0".
Failed to detect DGA DirectVideo Mouse
Free86-VidModeExtension Activated at 640x480
Couldn't get a visual
dlopen(libGL.so.1)
Initializing OpenGL display
Using XFree86-VidModeExtension Version 2.2
Xlib: extension "XFree86-DGA" missing on display ":0.0".
Failed to detect DGA DirectVideo Mouse
Free86-VidModeExtension Activated at 640x480
Couldn't get a visual
idRenderSystem::Shutdown()
Fatal X Error:
Major opcode of failed request: 105
Minor opcode of failed request: 0
Serial number of failed request: 32
BadValue (integer parameter out of range for operation)
Fatal X Error:
Major opcode of failed request: 2
Minor opcode of failed request: 0
Serial number of failed request: 36
BadWindow (invalid Window parameter)
Fatal X Error:
Major opcode of failed request: 4
Minor opcode of failed request: 0
Serial number of failed request: 37
BadWindow (invalid Window parameter)
Sys_Error: Unable to initialize OpenGL

Please help It took me the whole night to download on poor GPRS and now it won't work!

according to this on id's website , the message "couldn't get a visual" usually means your running 16bit color, it needs to be set at 24.

HTH

Mad.

Its true set it to 24 bit, ID doesnt want it to be set at 16 bit. Im guessing because they want the gaming industry to move away from 16 bit.

how do you set it to 24 bit? i have kde and fc2

Hi,
Just edit your XF86Config or Xorg.conf or anything else you have as properties of your X:

Section "Screen"
DefaultDepth 24 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Here!
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
...
...
..
Cheers,