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Masters of Doom: A Firsthand Account of How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture

Mitch Foster

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Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture is a 2003 book by David Kushner that chronicles the rise of id Software and the creation of the Doom video game franchise.

The book begins with the early days of id Software, when John Carmack and John Romero were two young programmers who shared a passion for video games. In 1990, they released Commander Keen, a shareware game that was a critical and commercial success. This was followed by Wolfenstein 3D in 1992, which was the first-person shooter that popularized the first-person shooter genre.

Summary of David Kushner's Masters of Doom

by David Tuffley

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1428 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	55 pages

In 1993, id Software released Doom, which was an instant hit. Doom was a revolutionary game for its time, and it helped to popularize the first-person shooter genre. The game was a critical and commercial success, and it sold over 10 million copies worldwide.

The success of Doom led to id Software becoming one of the most successful video game companies in the world. The company went on to release several other successful games, including Quake and Quake II.

Masters of Doom is a fascinating look into the rise of id Software and the creation of the Doom video game franchise. The book is full of interesting anecdotes and insights into the creative process of two of the most influential video game developers of all time.

Key Characters

John Carmack: A brilliant programmer who was responsible for the development of the id Tech engine, which powered the Doom and Quake games.
John Romero: A talented programmer and level designer who was responsible for the creation of many of the most iconic levels in the Doom and Quake games.
Tom Hall: A game designer who worked on the early Doom games.
Adrian Carmack: A programmer who worked on the Doom and Quake games.
Kevin Cloud: A programmer who worked on the Doom and Quake games.

Themes

Innovation: Masters of Doom is a story of innovation. id Software was a pioneer in the development of first-person shooter games, and the company's games helped to popularize the genre.
Creativity: The book also explores the creative process of John Carmack and John Romero. These two programmers were able to create some of the most iconic video games of all time.
Business: Masters of Doom also provides insights into the business side of the video game industry. id Software was one of the first video game companies to achieve mainstream success, and the book provides a behind-the-scenes look at the company's rise to the top.

Reception

Masters of Doom was a critical and commercial success. The book was praised for its in-depth research, its engaging writing style, and its insights into the creative process of John Carmack and John Romero. The book was also a New York Times bestseller.

Masters of Doom is a fascinating look into the rise of id Software and the creation of the Doom video game franchise. The book is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the history of video games or the creative process of two of the most influential video game developers of all time.

Summary of David Kushner's Masters of Doom

by David Tuffley

4 out of 5