WASHINGTON, July 17 — The Doom franchise, a series that fundamentally altered the landscape of the video game industry, stands as a case study in technological dominance. Created by John Carmack, John Romero, Adrian Carmack, Kevin Cloud, and Tom Hall, the American media series began with the original Doom game in 1993. The design behind it redefined what was possible on IBM-compatible computers, introducing 3D graphics, third-dimension spatiality, and networked multiplayer gameplay.
The original Doom is widely considered a pioneering first-person shooter (FPS). For the broader stakes of the industry, it established the template.
The series typically follows an unnamed space marine—known as Doomguy, Doom Marine, or, in the 2016 series, the Doom Slayer—who works for the Union Aerospace Corporation (UAC) and fights demons and the undead to save Earth. By 2005, the series had sold 10 million copies, a figure that signals its entrenched position in the market. Classic games had minimal narrative focus, with story details often in manuals.
This was a deliberate choice. Newer titles, especially the 2016 series, emphasize narrative, reflecting a shift in priorities toward deeper player engagement.
The original game featured eight weapons designed to remain useful throughout, allowing for ‘gun juggling’—rapid weapon switching based on circumstance. Levels featured mazes, colored key cards, and hidden areas, creating a complex tactical environment.
Technical Constraints and Innovations
Due to technical limitations in the early 1990s, players could not jump or look up and down in classic games, though limited platforming was possible via sprinting. Newer titles, particularly the 2016 series, added platforming, expanding the battlefield. Development of the original Doom began in 1992 when John Carmack created the Doom engine.
The game launched episodically in 1993, with the first episode as shareware and two more by mail order. The first episode was designed by John Romero.
The full version sold one million copies. The term ‘Doom clone’ became synonymous with the FPS genre. This is not hyperbole; it reflects the reality that Doom set the standard.
Doom II: Hell on Earth was released in 1994 with new enemies, a Super Shotgun, and complex levels. The 1995 expansion Master Levels for Doom II added 20 levels, and a fourth episode was added to the original game in a 1995 re-release.
The Franchise Expands
From 1995, id Software focused on the Quake series. Two additional games were released under id’s supervision: Final Doom (1996) with 64 levels in two episodes—TNT: Evilution by TeamTNT (completed November 1995) and The Plutonia Experiment by Dario and Milo Casali (completed January 1996)—and Doom 64, developed by Midway Games. The franchise has expanded to include sequels, novels, comic books, board games, and film adaptations.
The player battles Hell’s forces, including demons and the undead, in settings like Mars bases, its moons, and Hell. What this signals is a franchise that has successfully navigated multiple technological eras.
The original Doom introduced IBM-compatible computers to 3D graphics, third-dimension spatiality, networked multiplayer gameplay, and support for player-created modifications via the Doom WAD format. These were not incremental updates; they were paradigm shifts. The broader stakes for any competitor entering this space are clear: Doom has a legacy of innovation and a loyal base.
The calculus for future installments will likely involve balancing the classic minimal narrative approach with the newer emphasis on story, while continuing to push technical boundaries.
