Masters of Doom How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture

Masters of Doom How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture

Doom, the video game in which you navigate a dungeon in the first person and messily lay waste to everything that crosses your path, represented a milestone in many areas. It was a technical landmark, in that its graphics engine delivered brilliant performance on ordinary PC hardware. It was a social phenomenon, with individuals and companies hooking up networks specifically for Doom tournaments and staying up for days to blast away on them (well before the Internet went big-time). The game’s publisher, id Software, used an unusual shareware marketing strategy (give away the first levels, charge for the more advanced ones) that worked very well. On top of it all, the gore-filled game raised serious questions about decency in products meant for use by school-age kids. Masters of Doom explores the Doom phenomenon, as well as the lives and personalities of the two men behind it: John Carmack and John Romero.

This book manages, for the most part, to keep clear of the breathless techno-hagiography style that characterizes many books with similar subjects. He tells the story of Carmack, Romero, and id–which includes far more than Doom and its successors–in novel style, and he’s done a good job of keeping the action flowing and the characters’ motivations clear. Some of the quoted passages of dialog sound like idealized reconstructions that probably never came from the lips of real people, but this is an entertaining and informative book, of interest to anyone who’s let rip with a nail gun. –David Wall

Topics covered: The biographies of John Carmack and John Romero, and of their company, id Software. The development and marketing of all major id games (including Wolfenstein, Doom, Doom II, and Quake) get lavish attention.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Great Read
While I didn’t purchase the book for me, my boyfriend (who never reads anything) loves this book. He can’t put it down and told me it’s one of the best books he’s ever read. Coming from someone who never reads, you think that doesn’t mean a lot, but the fact that he’s finished it speaks volumes!

He loves this book. He says the realism puts you right there with them and that even the littlest details gives you a great story. He likes the depth of detail within the book.

So if you can’t get your man to read- buy this book. Besides, Game Informer put this book among the best video game books ever. So my boyfriend isn’t the only one who likes it!

5 Stars Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture
I grew up with Doom 1 & 2 and Quake 1. These games had a lasting impact on me (especially Quake’s online & social network) and I’ve been curious about id Software for some time. This book gives a very detailed insight on how id Software began and the lives of the people behind it.

This book exceeded my expectations – the id guys are a wacky bunch. As an id Software fan I’m biased and I give it 5 stars. I however think it’ll be a worthwhile read for non-id fans as well.

5 Stars A story as explosive as Doom itself!
This book will give you new perspectives on gaming, business, and the human psyche – keeping you engaged throughout. It struck a chord with me as a child of the Doom generation. I’ve spent much time exploring and building levels for these games, but never had it occurred to me that there could be such a monumental story behind id and its “egos”.

Masters of Doom will leave you with a new understanding and appreciation for the folks who brought these classics to life, and every lost soul who has contributed to the gaming industry.

Even if you’ve never played Doom, this makes for a great read. And if you are a Doom-head from way back, many light switches will go on in your head as you think “wow, so THAT’s what was going on behind the scenes!” or “now I get why that game turned out with x feature or y theme.” You’ll feel like you lived the journey.

5 Stars The most inspirational book ever !
This book is absolutely magnificent. Being an avid Doom fan and having played every single iD Software game since Wolf3d, this book actually makes me feel as if I am sitting in the same room as Romero and Carmack while they made the best games ever ! It is so inspirational. I am an Electrical Engineer but this book makes me want to blast those walls down and become a game programmer or designer. David Kushner does an amazing job, this book is like the original Doom games – you cant put it down once you start. I wish I could give it more than 5 stars.

5 Stars Get this book!!
If you ever played DOOM in its heyday, you need to pick up this book. This is a captivating account of the story of ID Software from John Romero and John Carmack’s childhood, through their programming for another company, and the story behind each game that they made up to Doom 3. Honestly, of all the hundreds of books that I’ve read in my time, this has to be the best one — I simply could not put it down until I had finished it, and when I did, I wanted to start it all over again. This is how histories should be told, and if I ever write a book, I want it to be like this one.

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