John Romero
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Gamescom Asia touts new records for international attendance and showfloor size
Gamescom Asia, in its sixth year, has set new records for international attendance and showfloor size, relocating to Bangkok and partnering with Thailand Game Show and Ace Bangkok. The event aims to fill a gap in the Asian market by uniting business and consumer audiences, attracting publishers and developers from across Asia, the US, Europe, and South America.
Evening Reading - October 27, 2026
This edition of Evening Reading covers several game-related news items including Pokemon Unite ending service in March 2027, Valorant's latest patch, and a cyberattack on Warhorse Studios. It also notes the announcement of a Nintendo Indie World Showcase, Capcom delisting Street Fighter 5, and Evo Brazil's confirmed dates. Business news includes investments from Nvidia and AMD into Facebook, and Seagate's earnings report.
Two Creators of the Original Doom Are Arguing About its History on Social Media
Co-creators of the original Doom, John Romero and Sandy Petersen, are publicly disputing their recollections of the game's history, specifically the origin of its DeathMatch multiplayer mode, on social media platform X. The disagreement highlights differing perspectives on the development of the iconic 1993 first-person shooter.
Evening Reading - October 26, 2026
This edition of Shacknews Evening Reading covers a variety of industry news, including a review of Phantom Blade Zero, a delay for Emberville's Early Access release, and Skydance launching a voluntary buyout program. It also touches on OpenAI facing a lawsuit from Texas and the bankruptcy of Finnish esports organization ENCE. Microsoft is offering voluntary exit buyouts to employees, while Arrowhead Game Studios is focusing on Helldivers 2 over a potential Helldivers 3.
Shacknews hosts John Romero, Yacht Club Games, and Bohemia Interactive for Extra Life 2026
Shacknews is hosting a 24-hour Extra Life charity stream on November 7-8, 2026, to raise money for Children's Specialized Hospital. The event will feature appearances from developers like John Romero, Yacht Club Games, and Bohemia Interactive, playing a variety of games.
Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show 2026 announces four additional pavilions from Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, and the US
Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show 2026 has announced four new national pavilions from Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, and the US, bringing the total to 20 from 12 markets. The event will feature exhibitors from 29 countries and regions, marking its most international line-up to date. The show will take place from October 29 to November 1 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre.
Doom and Gears of War creators among the developers paying tribute to legendary FPS dev Richard 'Levelord'…
Tributes are being paid to legendary FPS designer Richard 'Levelord' Gray, who passed away at age 68. Gray was known for his work on iconic titles such as Duke Nukem 3D, Quake, Half-Life: Opposing Force, and Sin, and was celebrated for his innovative level design and hidden easter eggs. Industry figures like John Romero, Cliff Bleszinski, and Scott Miller have shared fond memories of his talent and character.
Legendary FPS level designer Richard 'Levelord' Gray passes away at 68
Legendary level designer Richard 'Levelord' Gray, known for his work on Duke Nukem 3D and co-founding Ritual Entertainment, has passed away at the age of 68. Gray also contributed to Quake expansions and the game SiN. His passing was mourned by industry figures like John Romero.
Legendary level designer Richard 'Levelord' Gray has died
Legendary level designer Richard Gray, known as 'Levelord', has passed away at the age of 68. Gray was celebrated for his significant contributions to iconic first-person shooters like Duke Nukem 3D, and also co-founded Ritual Entertainment, working on titles such as Quake: Scourge of Armagon and Sin. Tributes from industry figures highlight his talent, kindness, and lasting legacy in game development.
GamesIndustry.biz to host panel at Game Republic's Investment Summit at MCM Comic Con October 2026
GamesIndustry.biz will host an Investment Panel at Game Republic's Investment Summit at MCM Comic Con, featuring discussions on game funding, development, and building sustainable studios. Separately, Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery have completed their $111 billion merger, now operating under the name Skydance, with potential for "difficult decisions" and "changes and impacts" as the new entity integrates.
Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show announces exhibitor lineup for 2026
Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show has revealed its exhibitor lineup for 2026, featuring major companies like Capcom, Bandai Namco, and The Pokémon Company, alongside Nintendo and PlayStation represented by partners. The event will also host over 70 speakers, including John Romero, who will receive a lifetime achievement award. Separately, a Valve bug has led to the accidental leak of achievement data for numerous unreleased and unannounced Steam games, including Fable, Persona 6, and Kingdom Hearts 4.
Warren Spector announces his retirement from game development
Veteran game developer Warren Spector, known for his work on Deus Ex, Thief, and Disney Epic Mickey, has announced his retirement from the industry after a 44-year career. Spector expressed mixed feelings but cited age, health, and a changing game business as reasons for his departure, though he hasn't ruled out future consulting or writing projects.
I got so freaked out by the fact that Gordon Freeman is canonically 27 that I decided to find out how old all the other classic FPS protagonists are, and it didn't make me feel better
This article explores the canonical ages of various classic first-person shooter protagonists from the 1990s, starting with the surprising revelation that Gordon Freeman is only 27. It delves into the lore of characters like B.J. Blazkowicz, Kyle Katarn, and Duke Nukem, discussing how their ages were determined or left ambiguous by developers.
'Thank you so much for the best weekend ever': The id Software gang got together at QuakeCon, and it sure looks like everyone had a great time
The id Software co-founders Adrian Carmack, John Carmack, Tom Hall, and John Romero reunited at QuakeCon for the game's 30th anniversary, marking their first gathering since 1994. Despite past internal conflicts and recent industry layoffs, the reunion was described as a highly positive and emotional experience by attendees, including former employees like American McGee and Donna Jackson.
Quoteworthy
John Romero shared an anecdote about id Software selling empty Doom boxes to Taiwanese pirates to circumvent distribution issues, stating it was a form of distribution for them. Trent Reznor also commented on Doom's impact.
Doom creator id Software used Taiwanese pirates to help distribute the game, John Romero reveals
Co-founder of id Software, John Romero, revealed that the company collaborated with Taiwanese pirates to distribute the game Doom during the Shareware era. Instead of fighting piracy, id Software provided cheap copies to pirates to ensure widespread distribution in regions where they lacked a presence. This strategy helped establish the game's reach and was considered crucial for distribution.
Trent Reznor on Doom: 'In some ways I felt a parallel with what I was trying to do with music'
Trent Reznor, composer for the original Quake, drew parallels between his music and the groundbreaking nature of Doom. He discussed his initial fascination with Wolfenstein 3D and how Doom's technological advancements and creative freedom resonated with his own artistic expression. Reznor expressed pride in his work on Quake and its enduring legacy.
30 years after it 'ruined id Software,' Quake gets another big update while the studio once again grapples…
MachineGames has released a new update for id Software's 1996 game Quake, titled 'Dawn of the Machine,' adding a new chapter with 19 levels and new weapon variants. The update also includes archival development materials and previously unfinished levels. The announcement coincided with the 30th anniversary of John Romero's departure from id Software, a period that saw several key figures leave the company after Quake's development.
John Romero says id Software once sold empty Doom boxes to Taiwanese pirates so fans there could have legit copies:…
John Romero revealed that id Software once sold empty boxes of Doom to Taiwanese pirates to legitimize their distribution of the shareware version. The company was content with this arrangement, viewing it as a way to get the game out to as many people as possible before the internet was widespread. id Software also opted not to implement copy protection, believing it was a losing battle.
Evening Gatherings and Events
John Romero has been announced as the keynote speaker for the upcoming Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show event. Further details regarding his address are expected closer to the event dates.