Doom is a first-person shooter video game developed by id Software. Created primarily by John Carmack and John Romero, it revolutionized gaming technology and established many conventions of the FPS genre.
Technical Innovations
Carmack’s engine introduced breakthrough techniques:
- Binary space partitioning (BSP): Efficient rendering of complex levels
- Texture mapping: Detailed surfaces at playable framerates
- Variable lighting: Atmospheric lighting effects
- Network play: Multiplayer over networks
- Modding support: WAD files enabled user content
Cultural Impact
Doom shaped gaming culture:
- Popularized the first-person shooter genre
- “Deathmatch” became standard multiplayer mode
- Established shareware as viable distribution
- Created the modding community culture
- Led to concerns about video game violence
Engine Licensing
Doom’s success established engine licensing:
- Other games licensed the Doom engine
- id Software’s business model influenced the industry
- Led to increasingly sophisticated licensed engines
Open Source
In 1997, id released Doom’s source code, spawning:
- Source ports with modern features
- Doom running on countless devices (calculators, thermostats)
- Educational tool for game programming