John Romero
Reporting and statements that mention John Romero.
Latest coverage
In 1997, Warren Spector told us the upcoming PC classic Deus Ex was inspired by Final Fantasy, Miyamoto, and 'the…
A 1997 interview with legendary game designer Warren Spector reveals his early inspirations for the upcoming PC classic Deus Ex, including Final Fantasy VII and Shigeru Miyamoto's work. Spector discussed his move to Ion Storm and his vision for a first-person RPG that blended console accessibility with deep simulation, initially planning to use the Quake II engine before ultimately opting for Unreal.
The design lead of Half-Life's biggest competitor says that its publisher was so 'pissed off' by the time the game launched that it didn't bother testing it properly: 'We got trashed in the press because of bugs'
Robert M. Atkins, design lead for the 1998 first-person shooter Sin, revealed that its publisher Activision was upset with the developer Ritual Entertainment's formation of the Gathering of Developers publisher alliance. This strained relationship led to Activision allegedly not properly testing the game's gold master, resulting in significant bugs at launch that harmed its reception. The game also faced immense competition from Valve's Half-Life, which released shortly after.
Fallout lead Tim Cain argues games industry crisis hasn't reached the level of the 1983 crash: 'I don't…
Veteran developer Tim Cain argues that the current video game industry crisis, marked by layoffs and studio closures, does not yet match the severity of the 1983 crash. While acknowledging the current situation is dire for many, Cain believes the '80s collapse was more devastating, leading to a complete collapse of the US console market and the loss of a generation of developers.
In the early 1990s, Doom was famously installed on more PCs than Windows itself—but how many was that, actually?
An analysis explores the historical popularity of Doom in the early 1990s, citing figures suggesting it was installed on more PCs than Windows. While shareware downloads reached 20 million, a study referenced by Gabe Newell indicated Windows was on 30 million PCs in the US, with Doom being the number one product. The article questions the exact numbers and the significance of Doom's widespread adoption compared to the dominant operating system of the era.
Original Doom soundtrack to be inducted into US National Recording Registry
The original 1993 Doom soundtrack, composed by Bobby Prince, is being inducted into the US National Recording Registry. This marks the third video game soundtrack to receive this honor, following Minecraft: Volume Alpha and the Super Mario Bros. theme. The registry recognized Prince's innovative use of MIDI technology in creating the iconic score.
Doom Just Received One Of The Highest Cultural Honors In The US
The original Doom soundtrack by Robert Prince has been added to the US Library of Congress's National Recording Registry, recognizing its cultural and historical significance. The soundtrack, created by id Software during an era of technical limitations, is celebrated for its "adrenaline-fueled" and "riff-shredding" accompaniment to the genre-defining first-person shooter.
id Founders Attending QuakeCon 2026
The QuakeCon website has announced that the 30th anniversary edition of the convention will feature appearances by original Quake co-founders John Carmack, John Romero, Tom Hall, and Adrian Carmack. Further details about the event's programming are expected soon.
The original Doom soundtrack joins 'our national playlist' in the US Library of Congress
The soundtrack for the original Doom has been inducted into the United States Library of Congress's National Recording Registry. Composer Bobby Prince's work is recognized for its cultural and historical importance, joining other notable recordings like Taylor Swift's 1989 and the Super Mario Bros. theme. The induction highlights the significant impact of video game music on national heritage.
Doom is 10 years old today, and you can pick it up for just $2 on Steam
The 2016 reboot of Doom is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and Bethesda Softworks is offering the game for a limited time on Steam for $2, a 90% discount. Other Doom titles are also on sale, with prices ranging from $2 to $23.09, but the 2016 version is the cheapest and a highly recommended purchase.
Everyone knows Wolfenstein 3D made the FPS a phenomenon. What this mod presupposes is… what if it didn't?
The Isowulf mod reimagines Wolfenstein 3D from an isometric perspective, prompting speculation about whether the first-person shooter genre would have emerged if this had been the original design. Despite the hypothetical impact, the mod is praised for its faithful recreation and the enduring quality of id Software's original design.
It's time to set the record straight: Doomguy's armor does not have a tummy window, his shirt just got ripped
This article clarifies that Doomguy's iconic armor from the original Doom does not feature a deliberate 'tummy window,' but rather a ripped shirt exposing his abs, a detail stemming from Don Punchatz's cover art. While subsequent games and fan art have often depicted this as an intentional design choice, John Romero confirmed that the torn shirt was an artistic decision by Punchatz, not an in-game feature.
Doom co-designer still has the real chainsaw that inspired the OG FPS's iconic weapon, even though it leaks oil and…
Doom co-designer Tom Hall still possesses the actual "Eager Beaver" chainsaw that inspired the iconic weapon in the original first-person shooter. The chainsaw, which leaked oil and was kept in a bowl at id Software offices, was modeled after Hall's personal tool. Hall, who also co-founded Ion Storm and contributed to Deus Ex, was a key figure in Doom's development.
After 36 years at the legendary FPS studio, Raven Software co-founder Brian Raffel is retiring
Brian Raffel, co-founder and Vice President of Raven Software, is retiring after 36 years with the studio. Raven Software, known for its work on titles like Heretic, Soldier of Fortune, and multiple Call of Duty games including Warzone, has been a significant FPS developer since its founding in 1990. Raffel also held a Vice President role at Activision following Raven's acquisition.
Massively Overthinking: So how panicked are we about the state of the games industry?
Industry veterans Brenda and John Romero expressed deep concern over the current state of the games industry, citing funding issues, AI concerns, and studio closures. The Massively OP staff discusses these worries, with some feeling resigned and others cautiously optimistic about a potential industry correction, particularly concerning the future of MMORPGs.
John and Brenda Romero reflect on the industry crisis
John and Brenda Romero reflect on the current crisis within the video game industry, noting the significant downsizing of their studio, Romero Games. Despite financial challenges, they express determination to continue game development.
John and Brenda Romero reflect on the industry crisis
John and Brenda Romero reflect on the current state of the gaming industry, touching upon potential PR strategies related to the use of AI in game development. The discussion highlights concerns about how AI-generated assets might be presented to the public.
Iconic Devs Say the Industry Feels 'Crashier' Now Than the Actual Video Game Crash of the 80s
John and Brenda Romero, founders of Romero Games, believe the current state of the video game industry is more challenging than the 1983 crash. They cite difficulties in securing funding and widespread layoffs, even at successful studios like EA's Battlefield division, as evidence of the industry's instability.
Evening Interviews
John and Brenda Romero reflect on the current state of the video game industry, comparing it to the crash of the 1980s. They suggest the present situation is more severe than the historical downturn.
The industry is in a 'really horrible place,' say Brenda and John Romero
Brenda and John Romero describe the current state of the video game industry as 'horrible,' drawing parallels to the 1983 crash due to widespread layoffs and studio closures at companies like EA, PlayStation, and Epic Games. Brenda Romero also expressed concern over the push for generative AI, stating that Romero Games is not utilizing the technology.
Doom co-creator John Romero is "not going to stop making games" despite the state of the industry because…
Despite the current challenging state of the video game industry marked by layoffs and concerns over generative AI, Doom co-creator John Romero remains determined to continue making games. He and his wife Brenda Romero, who also runs Romero Games, acknowledge the difficulties but are committed to their craft, finding inspiration in the potential for creating new and exciting projects.
