John Romero was the lead designer of one of the most influential video games of all time, ‘Doom’ released in 1993. For the past couple of decades, ‘Doom’ has become well-known to gamers and non-gamers alike, and Romero has become an icon of the industry. Now, Romero has written a memoir about his time at id Software and the development of ‘Doom,’ titled ‘Daisy Is Dead: My Search for Doom.’
In the book, Romero chronicles his experience as a lead designer at id Software and the difficult journey the team undertook to make ‘Doom’ a reality. The team had originally wanted to make a shooter where you could run around and explore, a tall order in a 2D world. But they persevered, and eventually, they were able to create something that felt alive and fulfilled the vision they had for ‘Doom.’
The book recounts the early days of id Software when they were just a small group of ambitious developers driven by a passion for their craft. Romero also details the struggles the team faced living and working in the ’90s, from game piracy to the lack of proper funding.
Throughout the book, Romero speaks candidly about his own missteps and the lessons he learned from them. It’s an honest and vulnerable account of his experience at id Software, and the things he did or failed to do that led to the success of ‘Doom’.
Romero’s book is both a gripping account of one of the most influential games ever created and an inspirational tale for any aspiring developer. It shows the hard work, dedication, and creativity that went into making ‘Doom’, and the many successes—and failures—along the way.
If you’re a diehard ‘Doom’ fan, this is an absolute must-read. And even if you’re not, it’s still worth picking up, and you’ll learn a lot about the industry from Romero’s perspective.
