Doom Guy: Life in First Person, a new 384-page autobiography from video game designer and DOOM co-creator John Romero, is now available for purchase at Amazon and other retailers starting at $11.99. In an excerpt of the book that can be found at The Verge, Romero shares his experiences with some of the earliest developments in PC gaming, including his work with John Carmack, who’s credited with creating a rendering engine that changed everything. Fans of Romero can meet up with him at San Diego Comic-Con, which runs from July 20 to July 23.
John Romero, gaming’s original rock star, is the cocreator of DOOM, Quake, and Wolfenstein 3-D, some of the biggest video games of all time. Considered the godfather of the first- person shooter, a genre that continues to dominate the market today, he holds a unique place in gaming history. In DOOM Guy: Life in First Person, Romero chronicles, for the first time, his difficult childhood and storied career, beginning with his early days submitting Apple II game code to computer magazines and sneaking computers out the back door of his day job to write code at night.
Industry-redefining breakthroughs in design and tech during Romero’s time at id Software made DOOM and Quake cultural phenomena, and this thrilling story recounts every step of the process, from collaborative, heavy metal–fueled days spent crafting the industry’s most revolutionary and cutting-edge games to a high-profile falling-out with id cofounder John Carmack. After years in the gaming spotlight, Romero is now telling his story—the whole story—shedding new light on the development of his games and his business partnerships, from the highest highs to the lowest lows, sharing insights about design, code, the industry, and his career right up to today. Sharing gratitude for a lifetime in games, Romero reveals the twists and turns that led him, ultimately, to be called DOOM Guy.
DOOM Guy author copies arrived! It is amazing to see this in print finally. Launching July 18. Support your local bookstore if you can! pic.twitter.com/UoY8T3I6CS
— John Romero (@romero) May 31, 2023