First, I want to tell you…I didn’t want to write this article, but El Jefe said the subject matter is culturally influential. Like most GenXers I spent most of my formative years ripping and running, and generally getting up to no good. When I needed babysitting Cartoon Express and video games were stand-ins totally approved by my parents. Like many, I had a Nintendo or SEGA systems (Master and Genesis, thank you) and spent most of my childhood years on a pixelated quest when it was too cold, rainy, or hot outside.

One of my era’s culturally significant games is the first person shooter, DOOM. DOOM is where all first person shooters can trace their DNA. Revolutionary at the time, DOOM featured bad guys, monsters, and med kits all shot from your point-of-view. No other game captured the multi-level challenge and depth DOOM had. Hexen, Heretic, Rise of the Triad, Wolfenstein 3D, and my beloved Quake can thank DOOM for making their existence possibly.

DOOM was created by John Carmack and John Romero. After a string of hit titles, the two founders began beefing with each other like any other band. Legend has it, Carmack built a time-logging program to track Romero’s work progress and determined he was slacking. This happened all before Quake’s release. Carmack accused Romero of not being focused on the title and the two broke up shortly after.

Why Are You Bringing Up Old Stuff?

David Kushner talks about all of this in his book, Masters of Doom. Carmack and Romero eventually left id Software and pursued other opportunities. Carmack would eventually land at Oculus and continue working for Facebook/Meta until leaving frustrated and jaded. Romero continued to make games, but none reaching the success he experienced at id Software.

Fast forward 30 years, and the two are coming together on the 30th anniversary of the cultural phenomenon they created.

They’re making an appearance like Darmok and Jalad: LIVE at Tinagra:

In addition to SIGIL II (https://t.co/Ag7KlXUzNw), I've got some other great news to celebrate DOOM's 30th Anniversary. Join me and John Carmack @ID_AA_Carmack to discuss DOOM live, moderated by David L. Craddock @davidlcraddock. Dec 10 8pm GMT on https://t.co/bODJojudA5. Thanks… pic.twitter.com/7lkVVksE1v

— John Romero ⛧ (@romero) November 3, 2023

The Johns claim they don’t bear any ill will towards one another. The past is in the past, but they’ll geek out about DOOM.

You can see both of them on John Romero’s Twitch channel, December 10th at 8pm GMT.

I wasted many-a-night in the computer lab playing Quake with my friends. I may have spent more hours bouncing pineapples off the walls in the House of Chthon than studying.

Other notable games played during my undergrad years?

• Duke Nukem 3D
• Terminal Velocity
• Descent I and II
• System Shock
• Golden Eye 007
• Dark Forces II: Jedi Knight
• Turok: Dinsoaur Hunter
• Mechwarrior
• Ultrabots

-MJ

What, you thought your girl didn’t game?