11/14/2023 0 Comments Doom gamesI also thought that if I wrote an autobiography, it could double as an id Software and game history book as well, because I remember every single game: when they were made, how long it took to make them, what happened while we made those games. When I thought about it, I was like, yeah, it makes sense that I would, because nothing is written about that time in my life. Bottom: Craddock's mention in the acknowledgments of Doom Guy. Right: Craddock's personalized edition of the book. Afterwards, people were saying, “You should put that in the book.” Left: Cover art for Doom Guy: Life in First Person, by John Romero. They were kind of shocked when they heard my story about how I grew up. Do you have one about just you, and how you grew up, where you came from, that made you make these kinds of games?” I was like, “No, but I'll do that.” I made a talk called "A Life in Games" and gave the talk there. They asked, “What kinds of talks do you have?” I was like, “I’ve got a Wolfenstein one, a Quake one, multiple Doom ones, programming principles of software programmers.” They said, “We've heard those. Romero: Well, I guess it happened before I even went there. To start off, I understand that there was a convention in Canada where you were going to speak, but they didn't want you to talk about your games they wanted you to talk about the man behind the game. Ĭraddock: This is really exciting, because for decades, writers like me have been telling your story by threading it into other narratives, but DOOM GUY marks the first time that we're getting your story directly from you. John, I think we talked for five and a half hours straight for that. I've talked to John for several of those books and articles such as Rocket Jump for Shacknews, and for FPS: First Person Shooter, which is a documentary about… Pac-Man! No, it’s about first-person shooters. Craddock, and I am the author of over 30 books about how games are made, people who make them, and why you play them. Craddock: Thanks for coming out, everyone. Craddock (left) and John Romero at San Diego Comic-Con 2023.ĭavid L. On Thursday, July 20, Romero and I took the stage and talked for an hour about his book, some of his favorite anecdotes from a life spent making games, why he chose to take the high road when writing about negative incidents, why a Doom II mod called Myhouse.wad is taking the Internet by storm, and much more.Īuthor’s note: This interview has been edited lightly for clarity. That has all happened, of course, and the cherry on top was being asked by Abrams, the publisher of Romero’s memoir, to host Romero live on stage at the 2023 San Diego Comic Con. If you would have told me the Icon of Sin himself would refer to me as the “foremost chronicler of FPS history” in the acknowledgments section of Doom Guy: Life in First Person, his memoir and one of the most anticipated gaming books of all time, I not only would never have believed you, I’d have thought you a cruel prankster. If you’d have told 10- or 11-year-old me that they would eventually interview id Software co-founder and Doom co-creator John Romero dozens of times, neither version of yours truly would have believed you. A year later, my friend Aaron and I sat in the back of our Sunday school to whisper over a preview of Doom in a gaming magazine. When I was 10, a little old lady gave me the shareware version of Wolfenstein 3D.
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