Hey guys,
I just wanted to share an experience I've had, and maybe trigger others to do also.
About one and a half week ago, I received a book I bought, called "Masters of Doom".
It tells the real story of the two Johns (Romero and Carmack).

What happened for me is that I got pulled into the book completely, I couldn't wait to find out what happened next, and next etc. (finished it yesterday).

Some things it brought and tought me:
- motiviation
- lessons learned, being stubborn can both bring a lot and take a lot
- they're a big fundation of what we now know as the FPS
- Doom still feels great although dated, I've just finished Doom 1 completely in before last difficulty. Next up is completely playing Doom2, Quake and Quake2 again

In short; a great book for inspiration and fun

Thanks!

I've? bought it (well it was given to me) a few week ago, its going up in my priority list ^^

I read this years ago. It's quite astonishing how much of what we take for granted nowadays came from the early years of id, as well as how little genuine innovation they accomplished once those early years were over. I'd guess that their last great revolutionary achievement was Quake, with everything since being just variations and refinements.

Jep. Also think about the playing speed in Doom. It's completely unrealistic, but that wasn't the goal at all, it just feels great 'flying' through the levels and strafing away from enemies. In games 'today' most of the time 'realism' seems more important then fun and a good feeling in playing.

A very inspirational book, and one I have kept close by since 2003(just before Doom 3 was released). On a lunch break at work, a colleague asked me "are you still reading that book? Its been like weeks now?" and I replied with a playful smile "Honey, I've been reading this book since 2003." ^_^

The thing I like about this book is that it illustrates how other people can hold you back from being successful. My favourite scene in the book is when Romero and Tom are making so much noise, John Carmack packs up his laptop and goes home to finish an engine. For me it was family life and so I decided I would get a laptop when I had the first opportunity. I've still got that laptop and take super-care of it.

This was also the book to dispel my fear of maths, encourage me to use Linux and take on the challenge of a degree that lasted six years(distance learning). Despite not leaving the day job after 15 years of teaching myself programming, I have at least fulfilled my personal goal of becoming a stronger programmer.

I owe it to David Kushner's Masters of Doom.

as well as how little genuine innovation they accomplished once those early years were over. I'd guess that their last great revolutionary achievement was Quake, with everything since being just variations and refinements.

To be fair to them, once you have developed a round wheel when no one had ever seen a wheel before, then it can be hard to see different improvements made to it that are still rather big deals.

They did a "classic game postmortem" on Doom at GDC a few years ago:

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great, thanks for the video

Jep. Also think about the playing speed in Doom. It's completely unrealistic, but that wasn't the goal at all, it just feels great 'flying' through the levels and strafing away from enemies. In games 'today' most of the time 'realism' seems more important then fun and a good feeling in playing.

I don't think you have played any CoD after CoD 2.

Issue is not about "realism" but just games that are more fine tuned to console players. Grab Crysis 2, Battlefield 3 or CoD Modern Something, then grab Rage, Crysis 1, STALKER or Counter Strike, then tell me how they feel.

Yep, I understand what you mean (played all of them to be honest :) except Stalker and Counterstrike)