Originally launching back in 1993, the legacy of Doom is one of the longest and most important in gaming. It’s still seeing sequels, it’s still raising the bar on game combat, and its position in the pantheon of electronic entertainment is unquestioned. It’s also given rise to a constant question that’s become one of the longest-running jokes in gaming – can it run Doom?
Why the Question
The idea behind this question arrived through the fame that Doom originally commanded, and how prolific its arrival on gaming devices became. Originally launched for MS-DOS, Doom was officially ported to a huge range of new systems over the years. Some of these ports were fantastic efforts on less powerful hardware, and others were less well received, but each still raised the profile of Doom’s availability.
In 1997, the developer at id Software released the source code of Doom to the public. This made unofficial ports possible, and fans responded with complete insanity. Doom was, at the time, a revelation in programming excellence. Despite how cutting-edge it was on release, it demanded little hardware power.
The outcome was fans taking the idea of ports to the next level, pushing the game to every conceivable type of device. There’s even a website today to track many of these devices, which include ultrasound scanners, graphics calculators, Porche 911 screens, cameras, office phones, and more.
A Point of Bedrock
The idea itself is fun, but the foundation of the concept runs much deeper. In the context of gaming, Doom was more than just forward-thinking, it’s essentially the grandfather of all FPS games. In fact, before the name FPS was decided on, there was a period after Doom when titles in this genre were called Doom-clones. It was even installed on more systems than Windows at one point, though Microsoft’s OS has since understandably taken the throne.
The value of Doom’s position comes from how it’s essentially a permanent fixture in video games. Outside of video games, for example, card game enthusiasts will be familiar with playing Mississippi Stud online. This classic title has been updated to the modern space, but it’s based on poker which itself dates back to at least 1937. This is more than just a game, it’s a legacy that can be enjoyed on a huge range of modern mobiles and computers, thanks to platforms like the NJ casino app.
As both an art form and a type of interactive media, video games find themselves in an unusual place. For the first time, we have a near-perfect record of their origins and the standout points that marked their gradual development. As Gilgamesh influenced all that came after, Doom consolidated much of what we use and love within its realm.
Will it play Doom is a question that celebrates gaming history, which challenges students in their coding skills, and which continually reminds players of the experiences that they hold dearly. It’s a testament to one of gaming’s greats, a reminder that the place that Romero and Carmack should have on the Mount Rushmore of interactive entertainment. It’s also an excuse to load up the older game on a newer system and start blasting, to once again fight back the demons of hell. Plus, if you’re wondering if your system can play Doom, well, you already have your answer.